Trending Now - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopens With Upgrades After Incident

WHO:

WDWMagic - Guests were evacuated from the queue of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

WDW News Today - Walt Disney Imagineers and Disney Parks shared updates about the attraction.

WHAT:

WDWMagic - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed after a fire extinguisher was deployed during its reopening day.

WDWMagic - The attraction had reopened after a 16-month refurbishment, which included new track, new trains, refreshed animatronics, and a new Rainbow Caverns scene.

WDW News Today - The height requirement for the ride was lowered from 40 inches to 38 inches.

WDW News Today - The ride features new trains with pun-filled names such as “U.B. Bold” and “I.M. Fearless.”

WDW News Today - The ride experience was reported to be significantly smoother compared to the previous trackage.

WHERE:

WDWMagic - The incident occurred at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World.

WHEN:

WDWMagic - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened on May 3, 2026.

WDWMagic - The attraction had been closed since January 6, 2025.

WHY:

WDWMagic - The refurbishment aimed to enhance the ride experience with new features and safety improvements.

HOW:

WDW News Today - The refurbishment included refurbishing the queue, updating scenic elements, and adding new effects and critters throughout the attraction.

(UPDATED May 4, 2026 05:57 UTC)

Guests were evacuated from the queue of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom after a fire extinguisher was deployed on its reopening day, following a 16-month refurbishment that introduced new track, new trains, and a refreshed Rainbow Caverns scene. The ride, which reopened on May 3, 2026, now features new trains with playful names like “U.B. Bold” and “I.M. Fearless,” and has a lowered height requirement of 38 inches, making it more accessible. Reports indicate that the ride experience is significantly smoother than before, thanks to updates to the queue and the addition of new effects and critters throughout the attraction.