A favorite Walt Disney World attraction recently reopened from a major refurbishment, and eagle-eyed fans may have noticed something was missing from the updated version of the ride. Disney wants to set the record straight, assuring us that despite this ride’s huge recent changes, the Imagineers aren’t done yet. This news comes alongside the announcement of another ride overhaul.
A missing special effect will return to a classic Disney World roller coaster. We have details on what’s currently missing and how Disney approaches updates to its classics. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including dozens of new menu items at Disney World and three additions coming to Disney’s BoardWalk.
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s Missing Critters Will Return
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom reopened in May 2026 following a 16-month refurbishment. That’s a long time for a major attraction to be closed at the world’s busiest theme park.
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Mickey Visit attended an executive media panel last week, where we heard from leadership at Walt Disney Imagineering and Magic Kingdom about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s transformation.
Disney took advantage of the extended downtime to completely replace Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s track, install a new control system, build more comfortable ride vehicles, and create a new show scene involving a rainbow-colored cavern transforming with a haunting red glow as bats emerge.
In the process, Disney’s teams realized there was an opportunity to lower the ride’s height requirement from 40 to 38 inches, allowing more guests to ride.
However, when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened, longtime riders who grew up on “the wildest ride in the wilderness” may have noticed something missing: a charming family of opposum characters who formerly called this attraction home.
Previously, two adult possums and two baby possums hung from a tree during the roller coaster’s pass through the town of Tumbleweed and spun around.
When the ride reopened, the possums were not included, and it drew some real feedback from fans, including on a Reddit thread where user Shootoverland wrote, “I genuinely cannot understand the removal of the possums at big thunder, if the motors for spinning them was broken just let them sit there! Why get rid of them? Also they were my family’s favorite thing to scream at on the ride it just sucks that that seems to be the only casualty in this “refurbishment”” in a thread that they titled “How do we tell Josh D’Amaro that we need the possums back at Big Thunder”.
The attraction didn’t necessarily draw attention to the possum family. The animals were among many animals to look at on the attraction, including a goat, a chicken, and a saloon, among other distinctive features of the town.
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The possums have their fans, and Disney representatives assured Mickey Visit on no uncertain terms that the possums will return soon. We do not know why they were not in the ride when it reopened, but our understanding is that it was the plan all along to have them back on the ride. My guess is that some engineering or safety check that meant they weren’t ready for reopening day.
The possums’ return should not require Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to close or have any impact on guests. Their installation is likely to happen overnight, one of the key ways Disney tweaks and maintains attractions to have minimal impact on guests and operations.
More Changes at Magic Kingdom
Disney is committed to tread the metaphorical waters carefully when updating classic attractions, especially at Magic Kingdom, Disney World’s oldest theme park.
Earlier this year, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin emerged from an eight-month closure with updated special effects and a new character. Disney shared with Mickey Visit that the percentage of guests in feedback surveys who rate the ride as “excellent,” the highest score, has increased by 15 points compared to pre-refurbishment.
Looking ahead, Disney is updating Carousel of Progress to include an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney. Check out the changes just announced here.
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