If there's one Walt Disney maxim his company still honors today, it's that ever-popular notion of "Keep moving forward." As noble as those intentions are, it also comes with a caveat everyone seems to forget. The thing about progress is that it always progresses.
Mixed metaphors aside, big things are happening at the Walt Disney World Resort, and a park-wide refurb is already taking shape. As Disney moves forward with its Beyond Big Thunder project, the first timber has already fallen, and guests will NOT be happy.
They've Been Working on the Railroad
A recent post from AllEars shared that multiple Disney World attractions are shutting down for refurbishment, and today marks the end of the line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Starting January 6, the coaster is currently down with a return date of 2026.
The statement from the Walt Disney World website reads,
"Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will temporarily close for refurbishment on January 6, 2025. The attraction will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026."
Big Thunder is just one of many rides going under for repairs and refurbishment this year, but this writer can't help but think Disney might want to reconsider their repair schedules in the future. While it makes sense to bring down the bigger rides in their supposed "slow season," things start to add up after a while.
Along with the iconic Magic Kingdom coaster, Disney World is also refurbishing popular fixtures such as the Kali River Rapids in Disney's Animal Kingdom park, Disney's Pop Century Resort, and even the ever-popular Stormalong Bay. Many of these attractions and locations are big draws for tourists, which means Disney could suffer a bit of profit loss compared to previous years.
It's not like Disney hasn't done massive refurbs before (looking at you, EPCOT), but when both a massively popular roller coaster, an entire Value Resort, and other popular fixtures are all lumped together, many guests might reconsider their trips. This die-hard Disney fan certainly has.
What we're looking at here is a necessary evil, and if fans (myself included) want the best Disney trip possible, sometimes it's better just to chill out and let the Imagineers do their job.
Are you missing out on the Disney magic this year?