The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is returning to the Magic Kingdom, and it could be a golden moment for roller coaster fans.
The ride has been under renovation for 15 months, but is scheduled to return to the Frontierland lineup on Sunday. During that time, the rails have been replaced (the route remains the same) and the rides have been updated. Additionally, Imagineers highlighted the gold elements of the ride, which first opened at Walt Disney World in 1980.
“What we’ve done is expand on the legend that we introduced in Kew… that Barnabas T. Bullion and the Big Thunder Mountain Company are always looking for gold within Big Thunder Mountain itself,” said Dan Flynn, executive show management at Walt Disney Imagineering. “So you’ve always wondered, where is the gold in the mountains?”
Visitors will soon be able to catch a glimpse of it spinning.
“As you go up the last hill, you find this shimmering glow all over the hill, and you actually see the gold matrix for the first time,” Flynn said.
And in traditional theme park story style, something goes horribly wrong.
“Defiantly, the mountain sends out an ominous warning to push you back to your station, warning the miners of what will happen to them if they keep trying to find gold or digging caves,” Flynn said.
The Big Thunder refresh is part of Magic Kingdom’s trend of updating existing attractions. Tomorrowland’s dark ride, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, recently reopened with new blasters and other elements. Country Bears Musical Jamboree, a Frontierland neighborhood and opening day attraction, has modernized its playlist and production in 2024.
The coaster is also nearing new construction as Magic Kingdom adds two Cars-inspired attractions to Frontierland, with the other side of Big Thunder set to become a villain-based land.
“We want to not only invest in new experiences, but also, as you know, update and preserve the classic attractions and pass them on to generations to come,” Flynn said.
“So this is an opportunity for us. Everyone loves Thunder Mountain. A lot of people take their kids on a long roller coaster for the first time, so this is a great opportunity for them,” he said.
Disney previously announced that Thunder Mountain’s new height requirement will be 38 inches, up from 40 inches. Other WDW attractions on the 38-inch level include the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom. Slinky Dog Dash and the Millennium Falcon: A Smuggler Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Kali River Rapids, a water ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Back at Big Thunder, there are other fresh surprises, including 2,000 bats added to the ride’s approach to Rainbow Cave.
“We’ve taken it to the next level again. When the mountain is trying to pull you away from that gold, you’ll see a wonderful glow of color, a rainbow, all over the cave. We were able to bring it to life here,” Flynn said.
“As you go up the mountain, the mountain starts to rumble and the caves turn into ominous omens of things to come, pushing the unsuspecting guests on a journey over that hill and across the rest of the mountain,” he said.
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