BAY LAKE, Fla. – Deemed “the wildest ride in the wilderness,” longtime Frontierland attraction Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is facing a year-long closure.
According to the attraction’s web page, Disney said the Magic Kingdom ride will close on Jan. 6, 2025, for necessary refurbishment and will open in 2026 “with a little bit of new magic.”
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Guests can enjoy the ride until Jan. 5 before the year-long closure.
The announcement comes as Frontierland undergoes major changes.
Below is a timeline of recent changes or what has been announced:
Dec. 23, 2022: Walt Disney World Railroad reopens a refreshed track and an all-new voice to narrate the experience as guests travel from one magical land to the next.
The opening day attraction closed so Imagineers could reroute the train path due to Tron Lightcycle Run construction.
June 23, 2024: Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade — an opening date attraction — closes to become a Disney Vacation Club member lounge.
Nestled between the Frontier Trading Post and The Diamond Horseshoe, the electronic shooting gallery overlooked Boot Hill in Tombstone, Arizona.
Replica 54-caliber Hawkins buffalo rifles were used to shoot nearly 100 infrared light targets both moving and stationary, such as a hotel, a bank, a jail, and cemetery headstones. Despite coin slots that were once used for fees, there was no cost to play.
June 28, 2024: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens to all guests.
Formally known as Splash Mountain, the attraction is the continued story of “The Princess and the Frog.” The log flume ride is a “festive party” during Mardi Gras season that Tiana throws to “thank her family, friends, and the entire community for all the support they’ve given her as a successful business owner.”
July 17, 2024: The Country Bear Musical Jamboree opens with a new show featuring beloved Disney songs and pays homage to the Opry-style shows of Nashville.
Aug. 8-10, 2024: D23 announces new additions to Magic Kingdom including a Disney Villains Land and a new ‘Cars’ land.
In order to make room for the “Cars” franchise in Frontierland, Disney confirmed it would be eliminating Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
Construction on the area is set to begin in early 2025, with one of the “Cars” attractions promised to take you on a thrilling rally race through the mountains while the other is more family-friendly, geared toward “smaller racers.”
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