Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Wall Now in Place Blocking Piston Peak Construction Sightlines

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Piston Peak Construction Wall Now in Place at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Posted: Monday May 11, 2026 10:50am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The new construction wall around Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is now complete, blocking views into the Piston Peak construction site from the rollercoaster.

Piston Peak Construction Wall Now in Place at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Heavy-duty support columns were installed several weeks ago ahead of the attraction's May 3 reopening. The wall planking has now been attached to those columns, completing the barrier.

Piston Peak Construction Wall Now in Place at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Riders on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will now see the tall wooden wall rather than the Piston Peak construction activity taking place on the other side. The wall runs along the section of track that previously offered sightlines into the construction zone.

Piston Peak Construction Wall Now in Place at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The wall is not a temporary scrim. As we reported previously, the structure was designed to withstand severe weather conditions including hurricane-force winds and is expected to remain in place for several years while construction of Piston Peak continues.

Piston Peak Construction Wall Now in Place at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Construction Wall Installation - April 2026

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Fox&Hound13 hours ago

Just rode it. Super smooth! Too smooth? Maybe. But great effects. I cannot get over the cleared land for Cars and Villains you see from the ride. Wow! The pictures do not do it justice at all. This expansion has the potential to be MASSIVE!!!!

MisterPenguin1 day ago

Gaps in the wall in which to see Piston construction. It'd be better in full daylight.

Delta-71 day ago

I’m confused.

easyrowrdw1 day ago

I recently got to ride it. It’s different. It’s very smooth and not nearly as fun IMO. It’s certainly not the wildest ride in the wilderness anymore. As for the added elements, the gold at the end looks good. I think I prefer the idea of it feeling like it’s going to collapse though. The beginning caverns look nice. It seems more like a volcanic eruption is about to happen than the mountain being haunted or whatever. Thankfully the latter doesn’t really come through. I look forward to 5 years from now when I’m bumping and sliding around again lol

dmc4931 day ago

MisterPenguin1 day ago

Delta-71 day ago

Looks like it’s running five trains again (easy way to tell is the train arrives on the side of the station opposite of which it dispatched from).

Bocabear3 days ago

I am glad to hear that...It really needed something at the end... the original wall-shaking earthquake was pretty good... the last decade or so with nothing have been pretty lackluster... Glad there is at least something there now...

Mr. Sullivan3 days ago

For my money’s worth, I think the lighting and music combined makes for a very cinematic feeling visual to end on. Some people in my train had an audible reaction to it.

Bocabear3 days ago

I have not been on it yet, but the videos of the finale don't look so great... certainly not comparable to the Disneyland version with an explosion and smoke and projections... Is there something I am missing? Granted I am just watching videos at this point...So I know there are always things that in-person are much better than they look on video... Hoping to see it in person this weekend....

Darth_Darthius3 days ago

I mean at least compared to Space BTM never felt too rough to begin with unless you sat in the back so I'm hoping the new track feels like glass when I make it to MK.

Delta-73 days ago

Mr. Sullivan3 days ago

Just got off it. It is smoother of course but I think some of you have really gaslit yourself into thinking it feels any less thrilling or fast. It does not at all. It felt like BTMRR to me.