If you’re heading to Orlando for a holiday from the UK in 2025 and visiting Walt Disney World you might be feeling just a little bit disappointed about the closure of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Missing out on the wildest ride in the wilderness in Magic Kingdom is never something we would advise anyone visiting from the UK to do, but it is time for a refurb.
The popular Magic Kingdom roller coaster reaching speeds of 36mph (58kmh) has had a rougher ride experience the last 6 months or so, You really can come off feeling like you’ve been through the wilderness! So news of a refurbishment closure is not an unexpected announcement. Rumours have been swirling in the Disney community for a while that this was likely during a period in 2025.
Disney say: “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will temporarily close for refurbishment on January 6, 2025. The attraction will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026.”
Clearly teasing a refurbishment with a twist, Disney isn’t just improving ride experience with general maintenance during this time. Disney have yet to share what the renovations are, but Disney fan communities are rife with speculation.
Why close for so long?
Disney have also not said why the refurbishment is going to be so lengthy, but given recent announcements over the last few months we can infer the following:
- At D23 in August fans found out that the Liberty Belle and Tom Sawyer Island were closing for good. This is to make way for a reimaging of Frontierland that includes two new Cars attractions. Disney have submitted plans, currently under review as they were not approved, to fill in the lake. Work on this is going to happen right next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and could affect operations. Disney perhaps feel it is better for visitor experience to complete maintenance and ground works for the Cars addition at the same time?
- The exciting news of Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom means that a new land is being built and you may see the works from Big Thunder. Disney may want to put up some extra scenery during the refurbishment to shield Frontierland from the Villains landscape and vice versa.
Fans are in full speculation mode as to what is going to happen. People want to know exactly what that confirmed ‘little bit of extra magic’ is going to be.
Over at Park Fans, Python_Survivor writes: “I’ve been hearing from three different sources that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be receiving a substantial re-track, likely due to open prior to Beyond Big Thunder’s expansions, and I’ve heard it could go down after this summer season is over, and will last between 16 and 20 months of refurbishment, including site work for BBT, a new track, updated effects, and an updated station.”
Python_Survivor might just be on to something in our opinion, and was certainly in the right ballpark for dates and closure periods. But with nothing from Disney World officially about the work that is going to happen, it is just fan speculation at the moment.
What does the ride closure mean for Magic Kingdom and visitor experience?
This is the longest refurbishment that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has ever seen in its 44 years in Magic Kingdom. Shutting a major thrill attraction for this long is always a bit sad for fans and especially visitors heading out from the UK who are likely on a once in a lifetime trip. Refurbishments are however essential, even though this one feels too long for a Big Thunder Railroad fan.
Visitor experience
For the thrill seekers heading to Magic Kingdom this is a pretty big loss for the whole of 2025. The same for families with older children and teens who are perhaps looking for the bigger ride experiences. It is a loss to experience value at Magic Kingdom in 2025.
With that said, it is essential to maintain the rides for safety and maintenance. There is also never a good time for this essential work to happen. However, visitors booking holidays a long way in advance can rest easy knowing Magic Kingdom has so much more to offer than just one ride experience.
Impact on other attractions
Queue times for the other big 3 thrill rides in Magic Kingdom may be higher in 2025 with Big Thunder out of action. In general, queue times in Magic Kingdom are likely to rise in 2025 with other closures and changes happening. Plus, you need to remember that Magic Kingdom is the most visited theme park in the world where high foot fall means just 1 significant ride closure impacts wait times. With that said, there are always ways to manage your wait time like rope dropping.
Impact on Magic Kingdom
Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are going to feel busier as visitors will have less places to go. Plus, the fast rides are now all concentrated in a small area between the two adjoining lands. This is likely to be even busier too with the planned reimagining of Frontierland meant to start in 2025.
In fact, it looks like Magic Kingdom is loosing nearly an entire land’s worth of space and attractions during 2025. Only the two recently reimagined rides bordering Adventureland look set to be open. That’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Next year, Magic Kingdom arguably faces its biggest challenge for footfall yet with the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe. With a lot of Frontierland now going to be under construction or refurbishment during this time there is a high chance visitors to Orlando could head to Universal instead.
Conclusion
This is one of those bitter sweet, necessary but unfair moments for visitors heading to Magic Kingdom in 2025. For those of you heading out soon, enjoy your last ride before the year long closure. For UK visitors heading out in 2025 it’s a loss, but luckily Magic Kingdom has another mine train style ride to experience. It’s also a little bit smoother of a ride currently. When we find out more we’ll be sure to share the news with you.
