Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Updates: More Than Gold in Them Thar Hills

Big Thunder Mountain is well into its current refurbishment, with eight months of closure already under its belt. So Disney thought we might like a peek at some of the updates we can look forward to when it returns!

When Barnabas T. Bullion struck gold in the Big Thunder region, you know the next thing on the agenda was to start the Big Thunder Mountain Company in order to dig it all up. But all did not go according to plan, as strange forces seemed to be afoot. Inexplicable failures and cave-ins shut the mines down, and it seemed that the mountain itself was fighting back. Guests are invited to enter the active – although maybe not so productive! – mine and ride one of the runaway trains.

The ride has always offered the chance to dodge exploding dynamite and falling boulders, race through the town of Tumbleweed, and take in the arid scenery as you pass through the canyons. During this refurbishment, the coaster’s track has been fully replaced. And a few new scenes and effects will come online with the ride when it returns.

When next you ride Big Thunder Mountain, you’ll “rattle your way” through the Rainbow Caverns. These underground natural caverns feature shimmer and iridescence from stalagmites and stalactites, and pools of phosphorescent water. In case you need a bit of help remembering which is which, I always note that stalactites, which grow downward from above, have a ‘c’ for ceiling. And we note that although the track has been replaced, Disney’s use of the word ‘rattle’ means we shouldn’t expect Big Thunder to come back as a super-smooth coaster like Slinky Dog Dash or Guardians that have opened more recently.

These caverns are beautiful, but like the rest of Big Thunder Mountain, they’re not always welcoming. Disney hints that our trip through the caves will be accompanied by a menacing rumble as a sign that the mountain would prefer us to be elsewhere. Disney hinted at “more new magic” to come, and we’ll update here as soon as we have more details!

Are you excited to have updates to Big Thunder Mountain? When do you think it will reopen in 2026? Let us know in the comments!