The Opossums Are Back on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Six Months After Magic Kingdom Reopened the Ride Without Them

Two of Tumbleweed's opossums are back. Walt Disney Imagineering says the pair are home on their tree at Magic Kingdom, six months to the day after the coaster came back without them.

Imagineering announced it on Instagram on Tuesday morning: "Imagineers are happy to welcome some old friends home to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at @waltdisneyworld! Mom and dad opossum are back, with the rest of the family returning soon."

Mom and dad opossum back on the Tumbleweed tree. Image: Walt Disney Imagineering, via WDW News Today.

Where to look

Both figures are adults, and neither is hanging over the track the way the family used to. According to Blog Mickey, one is perched on a branch near the top of the trunk, its pink tail hanging down the bark, while the other climbs headfirst down the trunk toward its base. WDW News Today describes the second one as climbing out of a hollow in the trunk.

Blog Mickey reports that the track passes close to the foot of the tree, and expects riders to get a good look on the way through Tumbleweed.

One opossum up top, one on the lower trunk. Image: Walt Disney Imagineering, via WDW News Today.

Why they were missing

The opossums came out during the ride's long refurbishment and did not come back when Big Thunder reopened on May 3. WDW News Today reports the reason was clearance: when Disney tested the ride envelope, the figures intruded on the required clearance around the trains and riders. Disney could not correct that in time for the reopening, the site says, but promised the opossums would return.

The signs have been piling up since. Blog Mickey reported a tarp on the tree on October 3, covering the spot where the old opossum branch had been, and Imagineering filed a notice of commencement for the ride on October 8. WDW News Today reports that the filing lists Icarus Exhibits, Inc. as the contractor to "Install set elements" at the ride, and that Icarus has worked on other Big Thunder set pieces.

The overnight install, with one opossum already in place. Image: Walt Disney Imagineering, via WDW News Today.

Imagineering's behind-the-scenes photo shows the job being done at night: two crew members on scaffolding at the trunk, their orange vests marked Walt Disney Imagineering, lit by bright work lights. Blog Mickey says the install was done overnight so the ride could keep running for guests during the day.

What about the babies?

Before the refurbishment, WDW News Today notes, one adult and two babies dangled from a branch over riders. Imagineering has not said when the rest of the family arrives. Blog Mickey says "Imagineering hasn't shared a date for the rest of the family," and adds that Imagineering has not said whether the young opossums will hang over the track again. WDW News Today says it does not know whether they can, given the clearance problem that kept them off the ride in the first place.

Blog Mickey also notes that the tarp it first spotted in October is still on the tree where the old opossum branch attached, and takes that as a sign more work is planned there.

The Tumbleweed tree, with the ride's track running past its base. Image: Walt Disney Imagineering, via WDW News Today.

We covered Big Thunder's reopening on May 3, including the new track and the Rainbow Caverns bats. The opossums were missing that day.

So, team hanging-over-the-track or team safely-on-the-trunk? Tell us where you want the babies to end up.

Sources

• Walt Disney Imagineering on Instagram (November 3, 2026)
• WDW News Today, "BREAKING: Opossums Return to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom"
• Blog Mickey, "Opossums Return to Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom"
• Blog Mickey, "Possible Possum Revival at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad"
• Blog Mickey, "New Imagineering Permit Could Be Latest Sign Big Thunder's Opossums Are Returning"

Image credits: Walt Disney Imagineering, via WDW News Today.