Well, it finally happened! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom has finally reopened after a 16-month-long closure, and we have experienced the new version of this beloved attraction.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is BACK!
We’ve been DYING to get another ride on the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness since it closed, and now that it’s finally happened, we want to tell you ALL about it. So let’s talk about what’s changed on this iconic Magic Kingdom ride, and how it actually may be BETTER in a lot of ways.
We certainly weren’t the only ones ready to ride the new version of this ride — just look at these crowds!
I think people might be REALLY excited for Big Thunder Mountain reopening today or something…🏜️🎢😳 pic.twitter.com/7HDVHU76Xf
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 3, 2026
Okay, first, we have to talk about how the exterior of the ride has changed because Disney has made some updates here. The idea is that this part of Frontierland will seamlessly blend into the new Cars expansion, Piston Peak, that is being constructed nearby. There’s new paint all over the attraction, making it brighter without seeming too new, or like it isn’t dilapidated.
Things are brighter!
Our only slight complaint is that it looked like the final section of the ride, with all the dinosaur bones, wasn’t touched at all. It seemed like they felt that level of wear and tear or fading was acceptable for that area, so there weren’t any updated colors, additions, or changes in that area. It wasn’t enough to take us out of the story, but it definitely is different than other sections of the ride.
This section wasn’t as bright
Then we stepped into the queue and looked around to see if we spotted anything new. Now, the story starts with Barnabus T. Buillion, who struck gold — LITERALLY — in the area during the gold rush. He started the Big Thunder Mountain Company, but the company found itself at war with nature. It’s almost as if the mountain is cursed. So when you board the train, you will learn “just how wild the wilderness can get.”‘
Barnabus T. Buillion
We also noticed that a lot of the interactive elements in the queue are currently only partially functioning or have been disabled. A Cast Member did tell us that the goal is to get them all working again, but at this time, you’ll find most of them to be out of order. We also have to point out that the height requirement has changed for the ride, too. It’s gone from 40″ to 38″ thanks to some new improvements Disney has made to the ride. So the ruler for checking height is a little different now, too.
Some queue elements aren’t working
Okay, let’s talk about the ride itself. So, it got a brand new track and new ride vehicles, and WOW does that make a big difference. You no longer feel like you’re being thrown around like a ragdoll, and instead, it feels as smooth as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train does. Now, this may feel a bit strange to some people, as the smoothness gives it kind of an uncanny juxtaposition since you’re going through all of the same areas that the previous ride had, but it suddenly feels like you’re riding in a luxury vehicle as opposed to a third-hand clunker. It was nice to not step off the ride and be in pain, though!
New ride vehicles!
The ride also has a new scene, Rainbow Caverns, which is a throwback to the ride in Disneyland that preceded Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Rainbow Caverns
One of our favorite parts of the new ride is the addition of the giant golden nugget towards the end of the ride! It was presented as sort of a literal holy grail, and there was definitely some kind of sound effect or music that created that feeling like angels were singing. This was super fun and was like a big showstopper right before the ride ended.
Golden Nugget
It’s also surprising just how much of the Piston Peak and Villains Land construction you can see from both the queue and the ride itself!
From the queue!
Right now, it looks like both sites were “cleaned up” in a way to make it more presentable for this ride’s opening, but we know it won’t stay this way for long, as there’s still a LOT of work to be done in each area. This will absolutely be the best place to keep an eye on the construction as it moves forward, so we’ve got a feeling we’ll be riding a lot!
Construction view from on the ride
Don’t care about spoilers and want to see a WHOLE ride through of the new ride? Check out ours below!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is officially BACK in Magic Kingdom! 🚂 pic.twitter.com/8yk2NrlTue
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 3, 2026
We can’t wait for everyone to experience this updated version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. As always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news!
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Wow, Disney, I’m disappointed. Ride closed for 16 months and tickets at $200 per day, and you couldn’t fix the interactive elements in the queue? I guess it isn’t important to you since you are now catering to people who buy Premier Pass and never wait in line anyway.
Are you kidding me? For years we have wanted the sparks and explosion scene that Disneyland has, and instead we get some cheap lights in the first cavern. What a disappointment! They should have fixed the que elements, added air conditioning, and added the show scenes from Disneyland. Disney fails again. Not surprised at this point.
Wow – Just can’t wait to ride the refurbished BTMR! So glad it will be a much smoother experience as these 60+ year old bones of mine may not have survived the old ride experience any longer. I’ve been riding BTMR since 1972.
The video shows the best spot is still the very last car! But, I love the changes!