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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopens at Magic Kingdom After 16-Month Overhaul

The refresh blends a rebuilt track with new show scenes to broaden access through a 38-inch height limit.

Overview

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad returned with a fully replaced track and new trains that produce a noticeably smoother ride.
  • The attraction’s story now centers on mining magnate Barnabas T. Bullion, with expanded scenes that include Rainbow Caverns and a gold mine finale.
  • A lowered 38-inch height requirement was reported for the reopened coaster, allowing more young guests to ride.
  • Magic Kingdom’s May 2026 paper guidemap marks the ride with a purple “REFRESHED!” label to call out the update.
  • A new side-by-side POV shows a brighter Rainbow Caverns and a shimmering gold-filled third lift in place of the former falling-boulders sequence.