Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened at the Magic Kingdom on May 3, 2026 after being closed for a major refurbishment. Disney completely replaced the track, updated show scenes, and much more during the 16-month refurbishment. So, what do we think of the updated ride?
Overall, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s refurbishment is a big success! The refurbishment has many more hits than misses. But, it’s not a perfect update. There are a couple changes that we are a bit disappointed by. Thankfully, those misses aren’t enough to take away from what’s still one of our favorite rides at Walt Disney World.
What Works?
- The new track instantly makes Big Thunder Mountain Railroad one of the smoothest rides at Walt Disney World. Some may view that as a negative for the wildest ride in the wilderness, but we think it works. And the track will only get more rough over time.
- The reduced height requirement is a nice change. More guests can enjoy the coaster we all know and love.
- The updated Rainbow Caverns scene is a colorful, welcome change. Lots to look at!
- The fresh paint and touchups on the coaster’s scenes, such as the flooded town, look great.
- Team Back Row rejoice! The last row on the train is still the best and feels just as fast as ever.
- There weren’t any major subtractions. Disney not removing what made Big Thunder what it was is definitely a win.
What Doesn’t Work?
- The final lift hill scene with the gold finale feels pretty underwhelming. It’s hard not to compare it to the exploding effects seen on Disneyland’s version of the ride and wish they did more. It’s a shame the ending feels like a miss.
- The entire mountain looks like it was covered in beach sand. We’re not sure why Disney went with lighter colors for the ride’s exterior. This is a small gripe for what’s still a great ride.
- In the “time will tell” category, we’ll have to wait and see how the coaster feels once Piston Peak is finished. Right now the vibe feels a bit off with the Rivers of America missing next door.
Final Thoughts
The general consensus of the Disney community is positive about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s update. We agree. It’s not perfect and the ending is anticlimactic, but it’s still a super fun ride. It’s also worth pointing out that Disney could have easily jammed some sort of movie or character into the coaster’s theme. They didn’t! Big Thunder is still very much Big Thunder, and that’s a win in our book.
