Disney World’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Closing in January for Refurbishment

Disney World just announced that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is closing for an extensive refurbishment on January 6, 2025. The ride will be closed for at least a year. It’s scheduled to reopen sometime in 2026. Here’s the official announcement:

“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.”

Before you book a Magic Kingdom reservation for January 6, know that the last day to ride Big Thunder is January 5. Disney’s closing dates can be confusing.

There could be a couple of reasons for the lengthy closure. First, Disney is preparing to transform Rivers of America into a new Cars-themed land. Closing Big Thunder will certainly make that initial demolition work easier.

Second, rumors have surrounded Florida’s ride since Disneyland updated its version in 2012. That update brought a track replacement and new scenes, including the excellent demolition scene, complete with dynamite.

Fans of Florida’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad need to book a Walt Disney World trip sooner rather than later. The last day to ride is January 5, 2025.