Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has a reopening date! Today, Walt Disney World Resort announced that the popular attraction will be reopening on May 3, 2026. When it does reopen, it will have a new height requirement that is lower than what it used to be. The new height requirement will be 38″. This is down from its previous height requirement of 40″.

The Story Behind Big Thunder Mountain

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad dates back to the early days of America’s first major gold rush. During this time, Barnabas T. Bullion struck gold in the Big Thunder region. Bullion saw a future full of riches and created the Big Thunder Mountain Company.

The future wasn’t as golden as he hoped, however. There was a cost to his greed, and Bullion soon found himself in a battle with the forces of nature… and also in a lot of trouble. Strange and unexplainable things began to happen. Machines began to fail. Cave-ins shut down the mines.

As the miners continued to try to dig deeper into the heart of the mountain, the forces of Big Thunder fought back. When this attraction reopens, passengers who board this railroad will learn just how wild the wilderness can get.

Polishing and Adding New Shine

Along with refurbishing the attraction from the top of the mountains to the bottom of the caves, Big Thunder Mountain also received some new magic to be experienced.

One of these new moments will be discovered when the trains rattle underground and into the beautiful natural caverns. These are full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (ground) and stalactites (ceiling).

While these Rainbow Caverns are beautiful, they may not be as friendly as they look. Riders might notice a menacing rumble from deep within the mountain, warning of what is to come.

Are you excited about the reopening of Big Thunder Mountain? What are you most looking forward to experiencing when it reopens? What do you think about the new height requirement? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!