The wildest ride in the wilderness is almost back… and its [fictional] proprietor has a few words to say about it. Ahead of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad‘s return this Sunday at Magic Kingdom, Disney released an in-character memo from none other than Barnabas T. Bullion, President and Proprietor of Big Thunder Mining Co., complete with official letterhead, his portrait, the B.T.M. seal, and an establishment date of 1850.
If the name sounds familiar but you can’t quite place it, Bullion is part of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.). This is the secret society woven through attractions and lore across Disney Parks worldwide, connecting everything from the Jungle Cruise to Tokyo DisneySea’s Port Discovery. You might have also noticed Bullion’s likeness resembles the one and only Tony Baxter, the legendary Disney Imagineer who served as lead creative on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!
The Note from Barnabus T. Bullion
Bullion’s voice is full of bluster and bravado… while dismissing supernatural gossip. The full note reads:
Big Thunder Mining Co. | Tumbleweed, M.K.
To All Loyal Employees of Big Thunder Mining Co.,
It is with the utmost pride and a reinvigorated spirit that I, Barnabas T. Bullion, President and Proprietor of Big Thunder Mining Co., do hereby commemorate the triumphant reopening of our beloved Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. As I’m sure you’ve all received word by now, we expect to resume operations on the 3rd of May.
After a season of fortifying our infrastructure and seeing our railway bolstered with the latest in locomotive ingenuity, our mighty engines stand ready once more to brave the twists and turns of these lucrative caverns. The clamor of picks and shovels, long absent from our valley, shall again resound amongst these storied hills.
Therefore, all employees—engineers, miners and laborers alike—are hereby summoned forthwith to resume their duties and rededicate themselves to the prosperity of our precious peak.
Your fortitude and fidelity to Big Thunder Mining Co. have not gone unnoticed, and it is upon such steadfast shoulders that fortunes are made and futures secured.
Together, we shall reclaim the golden promise of Big Thunder Mountain and rekindle the spirit of enterprise that is undoubtedly the hallmark of this great company.
Let not rumor or superstition delay your return; these unfounded tales are nothing more than senseless malarkey and shall not deter the resolute nor the ambitious. Gold and good fortune await those with the courage to seize them.
We look forward to welcoming you back on board. Report to your foreman at first light.
Humbly yours in profit and prosperity, Barnabas T. Bullion President, Big Thunder Mining Co.
What’s New with Big Thunder Mountain?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens this Sunday, May 3rd at Magic Kingdom. Disney says we can expect:
- New track and new trains
- Refreshed animatronics and restored effects throughout
- A brand-new Rainbow Caverns scene featuring phosphorescent pools and iridescent stalactites and stalagmites
- A lower height requirement, dropping from 40 inches to 38 inches
One of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic mountain coasters returns very soon. With a few new effects, it’ll still be very much the same experience as before, but with even more of a backstory. Hang on to yer hats and glasses!
