Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Close January 7 for Refurbishment at Disneyland Park

Erin Glover

by , Director, Publicity, Walt Disney Animation Studios

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland Park

In the normal course of a Disney Parks attraction’s lifespan, there are periods of time when it is necessary to close for a major refurbishment. You may recall that this was the case last year with the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which now looks better than ever with its fresh snowfall. Up next at Disneyland park, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close January 7 for refurbishment, reopening in fall 2013.

Updates being made to the attraction will include:

  • New ride vehicles (but don’t worry – they’ll still look like the trains that you know and love!)
  • Track replacement (but the attraction will still follow its current course)
  • Repainting portions of the mountain itself (Walt Disney Imagineering has once again carefully studied Bryce Canyon for inspiration)

We’ll have more updates on these and other aspects of the refurbishment throughout the year, but if you’d like to experience the “wildest ride in the wilderness” one more time before it begins, head on over to Disneyland park by January 6 – its last day of operation until fall 2013.

Check out these posts for more updates from Disneyland park:

Comments

  • In other words they are putting in new metal tube track like they did with the matterhorn..

  • I’m glad that Big Thunder will be getting some TLC. The new paint job should be great.

  • Does anyone know what other rides or attractions are scheduled to be closed at DL in February?

  • Thanks for the heads up. What will happened to old ride vehichels? Will there be still one on property that will be hiddened? Also will the corkey names on the trains (same ones?)

  • Don’t forget the Next Gen installation!

  • Well shoot. We will be there on the 23rd.

  • Oh! Disneyland Park! We’re going to WDW! Hurrah! 😀

  • Aww no! We’re coming for two weeks in April for our honeymoon and BTMR is one of our favourites! 🙁

  • Debra – I’m pretty sure Big Thunder will NOT have the swinging vehicles from the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train ride at WDW. They are probably just putting in new track that will look just like the old track. It’s a refurbishment. Not a redesign.

  • I’m guessing they’re installing the same type of ride vehicle technology being used in 7 Dwarfs Mine. I was most excited to hear about that at the DVC presentation last year. I like that the ride vehicles swing from side to side a bit so riders won’t slide across the seat “squishing” the person next to them during turns!!! Can’t wait for it to reopen!!!!

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