Disney World is Bringing a Beloved Ride Back to Life This Summer

The iconic Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park will reopen on May 3, Disney announced earlier this month.

The beloved ride closed in January 2025 for a 14-month refurbishment project, including the installment of a new track and "refreshed" passenger trains. The project also included a comprehensive safety review, which resulted in a lowered height requirement of 38”. 

The roller coaster will reopen with "new magic for fans to discover."

"One such moment comes when the trains rattle their way underground to spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor) and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling)," Disney Parks Blog wrote in its announcement.

"The Rainbow Caverns certainly are beautiful… but they ain’t as friendly as they first appear. In fact, that menacing rumble from deep within the mountain may be a sign that we ain’t welcome."

On Friday, Walt Disney Imagineering shared a sneak peek at the more than 2,000 fake bats featured in the Rainbow Caverns scene at the beginning of the ride.

"All these bats and more await you when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens at @waltdisneyworld on May 3," Walt Disney Imagineering wrote as the caption to its post on Instagram.

Disney says Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — which originally opened in 1979 — will now feature a smoother and more comfortable experience.