Progress continues on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment at Magic Kingdom, with a significant milestone reached this week—the first pieces of new track have been positioned inside the mountain.
New Track Now in Place
One new track section is now visible near the entrance into the mountain, providing the first look at the reconstruction phase of the project. While a lot of the work remains hidden inside the mountain, this visible portion confirms that track replacement is officially underway.
The installation follows weeks of demolition, which saw all of the old track removed from the exterior. With new track now being placed, crews are beginning the process of rebuilding the ride system from the inside out.
More Scaffolding and Work Inside the Queue
In addition to the track installation, new scaffolding has been added around the mountain, providing access to areas where further work is needed. Scaffolding has been appearing in different sections throughout the refurbishment, indicating that multiple aspects of the ride are being addressed simultaneously.
Meanwhile, workers have been spotted inside the queue area building, suggesting that improvements may also be underway there. While it's unclear whether the changes are structural, operational, or related to guest experience, it's another sign that this refurbishment goes beyond just track replacement.
Timeline and What's Next
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for refurbishment on January 6, 2025, with Disney confirming that the ride will reopen sometime in 2026. Previous permits suggest the work could extend into at least March 2026.
With track installation now underway, the focus will likely shift toward completing the retracking process and rebuilding areas of the mountain that were removed to access the ride system.
Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox