Walt Disney World is temporarily closing Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for a refurbishment, and permanently closing attractions in Dinoland USA for a new land.
Starting with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom, this will close on 6 January for a year-long refurbishment. The ride will reopen “with a little bit of new magic in 2026”.
As revealed at this year’s D23 fan event, Disney is creating a new villains land at Magic Kingdom. This is part of a major expansion dubbed ‘Beyond Big Thunder’ because it will extend the park into a wooded area behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
“In this new [villains] land, you’ll see storytelling on a grand scale that only Disney can deliver,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s theme parks and experiences division.
Over at Animal Kingdom, Dinoland USA is being transformed into a new land called Tropical Americas. The current land will close in phases, beginning with the ‘Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama’ mini-land, which will permanently shut on 13 January 2025.
This contains attractions including the ‘TriceraTop Spin’ ride, the ‘Fossil Fun Games’ area, and the ‘Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures’ shop.
On the webpage for Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Disney says the store is closing “to make way for the Tropical Americas coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in 2027”.
New lands at Disney World
Tropical Americas is themed to a fictional village in the heart of the rainforest. There will be a new Indiana Jones attraction, which takes place inside a mysterious Maya temple.
Additionally, the 11-acre land will include the first ride-through Encanto attraction at a Disney park.
“With Tropical Americas, we’re bringing huge projects to life for generations of fans,” said D’Amaro. “This is the type of signature storytelling that our Disney Imagineers have been creating for 70 years.”
Images courtesy of Disney
