Well, look who’s moving back into Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom!
Walt Disney Imagineering has shared some adorable behind-the-scenes photos showing the return of a familiar family of opossums to the wildest ride in the wilderness. Mom and Dad have officially made it back home, and according to Imagineering, the rest of the family will be joining them soon!
If you’ve ridden the wildest ride in the wilderness… err… Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World, you might remember these little critters hanging out in a tree along the attraction’s track. They’re one of those fun details that can be easy to miss when you’re speeding through the mountain, but once you know where to look, it’s almost impossible not to check on them every time you ride.
And while the opossums might not be the biggest part of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, they’re certainly part of its charm. I love that Imagineering is taking the time to bring these familiar faces back as work continues on the attraction.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been closed since January 2025 for extensive refurbishment, scheduled to reopen in 2026. The project includes enhancements to the ride and updates to the surrounding mountain and its themed details.
Seeing the opossums return is another encouraging sign of progress, although Disney hasn’t announced a specific reopening date yet.
In the meantime, it’s fun getting these little glimpses of what’s happening behind the construction walls. There are so many details throughout Big Thunder Mountain Railroad that guests might not even notice on a typical ride, and it’s nice to see some of those familiar touches finding their way back home.
Now we just need the rest of the opossum family to get settled in, and hopefully, it won’t be too much longer before we’re all racing through the mountain again!
