Walt Disney World Is Closing This Fan-Favorite Attraction for All of 2025
One of Walt Disney World’s most popular rides, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, is about to ride off into the sunset for all of 2025, a big surprise to the legions of fans of the classic roller coaster that’s been a park fixture since 1980.According to Disney’s official web page for the ride, the open-air roller coaster will close for “refurbishment” on Jan. 6, 2025, and will reopen “with a little bit of new magic” in 2026. This means a ride that usually has one of the longest lines at the park will be closed for at least a year, if not longer. Read on for all of the details.GetReaders DigestsRead Up newsletter for more travel, tech, books, humor and fun facts all week long.Why is Big Thunder Mountain closing?We reached out to Disney for more details, but as is usual with the company that likes to keep big reveals a surprise until the last moment, no news was available. But that hasn’t stopped Disney fan accounts from coming up with some theories, several of which hold water, in our opinion, in light of recent Disney announcements and other ride refurbishments.The first theory is that the ride will get technical and special-effects upgrades similar to those already added to the attraction in both Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Both of those versions of the ride have a dynamite explosion sequence near the end of the ride, complete with billowing smoke, which the Orlando version is missing. While that seems like a plausible addition to the ride, it’s hard to imagine that would take an entire year to add.Another theory, based on announcements at this year’s D23 fan conference, is that the ride will be closed while construction takes place on the Cars Land expansion in Frontierland, where Big Thunder Mountain is located. This also seems plausible and could easily happen in conjunction with ride updates.What else is closing at Magic Kingdom?While there’s no confirmation as to whether this refurbishment is tied to the construction of a Cars movie–themed Radiator Springs in Frontierland, there are other big closures happening in that area of the park that Disney announced earlier this summer. Both Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, which are near Big Thunder in Fronteirland, are set to close to make room for what Disney describes as “vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.”Although there’s no official date as to when Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America will close, early 2025 is a good guess based on information shared at D23. So if you want to see Frontierland in its current state, you should plan to visit before the end of 2024.What else can you ride while you wait for Big Thunder Mountain to reopen?Don’t despair if you don’t make it to Disney World and the Magic Kingdom before Big Thunder Mountain closes in January; there are several other fun options nearby to add to your itinerary. First up: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a log flume ride that opened earlier this year and combines high-tech animation and video, plus immersive Princess and the Frog theming, to plunge riders into the Louisiana Bayou. It’s adjacent to Big Thunder Mountain.If you’re looking for a classic coaster experience in the park, head to Tomorrowland’s Space Mountain, the indoor “dark” coaster that’s celebrating its 50th birthday in 2025. If you’re after a big-thrill, high-speed, huge-adrenaline-rush coaster experience, then add the recently opened Tron Lightcycle/Run (also located in Tomorrowland) to your daily ride lineup. At 60 mph, it’s one of the fastest rides at any Disney park around the globe.And for a kid-friendly coaster, go with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland. It combines rustic mountain twists and turns with some Snow White lore, making it fun for kids and adults alike.Why trust usAt Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.What to Know About Hidden MickeysDisney Vacation Club BenefitsThe Best Disney World FoodThe post Walt Disney World Is Closing This Fan-Favorite Attraction for All of 2025 appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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