Big Thunder Mountain Lightning Lane Scanners Removed Ahead of May 3 Reopening
The last‑minute switch signals active on‑site tweaks as crews finish paving and queue work before the coaster returns.
Overview
- At Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, newly added Lightning Lane touchpoints were taken out after installation, with on‑site photos Monday showing fresh saw cuts in the pavement where the scanners had been.
- Disney has not said why the hardware was removed or when it will be back, though outlets covering the park expect the scanners to operate once the ride reopens on May 3.
- Lightning Lane touchpoints are the posts guests scan to enter paid express queues through the Multi Pass or Premier Pass programs, so their removal affects how the queue will process riders at launch.
- Walt Disney World has confirmed the attraction returns May 3 after a 15‑plus month overhaul that replaced the entire steel track, introduced new trains, refreshed show elements, and added a Rainbow Caverns scene with audio‑animatronic bats and glowing pools.
- BlogMickey also reported a second layer of construction walls near the entrance tied to the nearby Piston Peak project, which suggests tighter walkways and altered flow around the area even after the ride reopens.