Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Getting New Signage as Part of Its Major Refurbishment

Published March 24, 2026 at 4:48 PM EDT

The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment keeps delivering new details — and the latest comes straight from permit filings. Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a Notice of Commencement for signage installation at the attraction, with Design Communications Ltd. — a frequent WDI vendor — handling fabrication and installation.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom. Photo via WDW Magic.

It's a small detail in the context of an enormous project. Disney has described this as a "mountain-top to cavern-deep refurbishment" — and the scope backs that up. When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens in early May 2026, guests can expect:

All-new trains replacing the originals
Refreshed animatronics and restored effects throughout
A brand-new Rainbow Caverns scene featuring phosphorescent pools and iridescent stalactites and stalagmites
Gold appearing on the mountain — a first in Magic Kingdom's history for this attraction

New signage may sound like a footnote, but for Disney fans who know that every detail on a WDI project is deliberate, fresh signs are a signal of comprehensive investment — the kind of finish work you do when everything else is coming together.

Early May can't come soon enough. For the full story and more details, check out the full story over at WDW Magic.

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