News Big Thunder Mountain to receive full retrack

[TheCoasterNerd]

I had 2 sources come to me with this information within a short span of time. It'll take over a year, and will result in a much smoother ride. It'll likely close in either July or early August with an announcement coming soon. Please note I got permission to share all details provided by me in this thread.
UPDATE 10/14/2024 This has been announced, and the title of the thread has been changed from "Rumor" to "News". The ride closes Jan 6 and will not reopen until 2026.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

So I wonder if it will get a retheme as well

 

[jrhwdw]

I had 2 sources come to me with this information within a short span of time. One, to protect their job, asked me not to share it, but the second said it was fine. It'll take nearly 3 years, and will result in a much smoother ride. It'll close likely in either July or early August with an announcement coming soon.

Has this happened to any Big Thunder before?

Any relation to Beyond Big Thunder?

 

[Purduevian]

I had 2 sources come to me with this information within a short span of time. One, to protect their job, asked me not to share it, but the second said it was fine. It'll take nearly 3 years, and will result in a much smoother ride. It'll close likely in either July or early August with an announcement coming soon.

How would re-tracking a rollercoaster take 3 years? Incredible Hulk's 3,700ft took 11 months. BTMRR is 2,780ft and is much lower to the ground/less intense of a ride

 

[Starship824]

I had 2 sources come to me with this information within a short span of time. One, to protect their job, asked me not to share it, but the second said it was fine. It'll take nearly 3 years, and will result in a much smoother ride. It'll close likely in either July or early August with an announcement coming soon.

So basically just doing what DLR did a few years ago.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Desperately needed. Though strange Space Mountain wouldn't take priority first...

Has this happened to any Big Thunder before?

Any relation to Beyond Big Thunder?

DL BTM got what I believe was a full retrack in 2012. Paris as well a few years back (not sure if it was as extensive as DL's retrack). Dunno about Tokyo.

 

[ToTBellHop]

3 years? It didn’t take that long to build it!

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

Has this happened to any Big Thunder before?

Any relation to Beyond Big Thunder?

Probably just pathway work

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

3 years? It didn’t take that long to build it!

Idk that's what I heard. Not sure how reliable the timeliness is. What I know for certain is its happening

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

So I wonder if it will get a retheme as well

No

 

[The Leader of the Club]

It'll close likely in either July or early August with an announcement coming soon.

I can’t imagine WDW Operations closing Big Thunder when a new attraction is opening right next door

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

I can’t imagine WDW Operations closing Big Thunder when a new attraction is opening right next door

That's whats happening

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

3 years? It didn’t take that long to build it!

Indeed. And for reference, DL's retrack I believe was actually delayed and went over schedule for its original intended reopening. Still only took 14 months though.

So either Disney are returning to bad habits of dragging out construction times over unreasonably long periods, or more work than just a retrack is being done to the surrounding areas. Like Beyond Big Thunder related crap.

 

[jrhwdw]

Desperately needed. Though strange Space Mountain wouldn't take priority first...


DL BTM got what I believe was a full retrack in 2012. Paris as well a few years back (not sure if it was as extensive as DL's retrack). Dunno about Tokyo.

Thanks!

 

[pigglewiggle]

So Test Track, Big Thunder and possibly Dinosaur will be down when we go. That's disappointing to say the least.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

I wonder if 3 years is also to build around BTM as well. They will keep it closed longer to accommodate other changes too

 

[Smiley/OCD]

There must be ulterior motives for this…for all the crybabies on here that INSIST SM needs a retrack, and they’re doing BTMRR first?
I know what fanboys want and what Disney does are 2 different things, but it doesn’t make much sense to me…I guess SM isn’t as bad as everyone thinks…I love old wooden roller coasters, so the rougher the ride, the better…

 

[arich35]

I will choose not to believe you. Big Thunder is my favorite ride and our 5 year old finally rode it last month and loved it so her not being able to go back on in December and 2 more years after that would be a huge disappointment

 

[Delta-7]

Could it also be getting the C-lift dynamite explosion effects that Anaheim and Paris have now?

 

[pigglewiggle]

Is this true though, really? Can anyone else confirm?

If all those rides are all really going to be closed and all construction starting before December, we are debating if we just push off this trip for a few years and do other trips while they build everything.