Watch Out! This Magic Kingdom Ride Is Gonna Get SUPER LONG Lines Soon

The weeks of Christmas and New Year’s are some of the busiest at the parks all year.

Crowds in Magic Kingdom

If you’re at Disney World, you’re likely experiencing long lines for rides and food, less space for walking, and just overall more people everywhere than is typical at other times of the year. Luckily, the crowds will likely soon end as the celebrations end and people return home. However, there is one Magic Kingdom ride that may have a LONGER line in the coming week as all the others drop.

As we head into 2025, several anticipated closures are coming closer and closer. But one ride’s temporary closure is even more anticipated than the others because it’s going to be a VERY long closure. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is closing on January 6th for at least a year.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Disney has stated that the ride “will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026.” That likely means this ride will be closed for over a year, which is a long time for any ride, but especially for this ride that is one of the most popular at Magic Kingdom. Because of that, we bet we’ll continue to see long lines and lots of crowds here even after the holidays and celebrations as people get their last ride on the “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness.”

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

We’ve recently seen a GIANT crane erected near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It may be for the refurbishment of the ride or potentially for the construction work on the new Villains Land beyond Big Thunder. Regardless, it is very large and very hard to miss.

Crane behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

There is also construction scrim up at the ride to hide work going on behind it on Villains Land.

Construction scrim at Big Thunder

Lots of exciting things are coming to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and beyond it in the coming years! We’re not sure what the “new magic” will be on the ride, but it certainly sounds fun.

Crane near Big Thunder

Also closing on January 6th for refurbishments are Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom and Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros at EPCOT. If you’re hoping to enjoy these three rides before their temporary closures, be sure to head there soon! Luckily, these other two closures aren’t nearly as long as the one for Big Thunder.

Kali River Rapids

We’ll be watching the wait times at Big Thunder in the coming days and for any new updates on the refurbishment. Be sure to keep following AllEars for all your updates!