The opossums were missing when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened at Magic Kingdom in May. A new Imagineering permit and a tarp on their old tree hint they’re on the way.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad came back in May with new track and new scenes. A few longtime residents didn’t make it back, though.
The opossums that hang by their tails over riders in the town of Tumbleweed were missing when the ride reopened at Magic Kingdom. Now there are signs they’re headed home.
Walt Disney Imagineering filed a permit on Oct. 8 to “install set elements” at Big Thunder, BlogMickey reported. That came five days after a tarp showed up on the spot where the opossum branch used to be.
What happened to the opossums on Big Thunder Mountain?
They were missing on reopening day, May 3, after a refurbishment that lasted about 16 months. The spot where their branch used to hang was just bark.
BlogMickey said the opossums reportedly didn’t pass a clearance test before the ride reopened. Disney said back in May that they’d return soon.
Disney’s own Big Thunder story on the Disney Parks Blog, posted ahead of the reopening, even told riders to “expect to see opossums hanging by their tails on a tree.” Riders have been waiting on that promise for about five months now.
What does the new Big Thunder Mountain permit say?
Not much, which is pretty normal for these filings. The details:
Owner: Walt Disney Imagineering
Work: “Install set elements”
Address: 4485 Caribbean Way #B, which matches Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Contractor: Icarus Exhibits, Inc. of Orlando
The paperwork doesn’t mention opossums anywhere. But a branch full of animatronic critters would fit “set elements” pretty well.
Why do fans think the opossums are coming back?
Mostly the timing. On Oct. 3, BlogMickey spotted a tarp on the exact spot where the opossum branch used to be. A set installation permit landing five days later is a pretty big hint.
That’s still a guess, though. Disney hasn’t confirmed what the permit covers.
When will the opossums be back on Big Thunder?
Disney hasn’t given a date. If the permit is for the opossums, the work could happen fairly soon, since a notice like this gets filed before work starts.
Until then, look for the tarp on your next ride through Tumbleweed. When it comes down, check the branch.
What changed on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad after the refurbishment?
A lot. Big Thunder reopened with fully replaced track and new scenes, BlogMickey reported.
Disney also leaned into the ride’s story. The Disney Parks Blog’s reopening piece spent plenty of time on Barnabas T. Bullion, the mine owner who was set on pulling every ounce of gold out of the mountain.
That same piece mentions the coyotes howling at passing trains and the geyser field, two classic gags riders know well. The opossums are the piece still missing.
Can you see Piston Peak from Big Thunder Mountain?
Yes. The Big Thunder line looks right over the Piston Peak National Park construction site, where the Rivers of America used to be.
Crews just tore out nearly all of the Frontierland boardwalk there, and Disney says a new one will run along a winding stream when the Cars-themed land opens. Disney hasn’t announced an opening date.
So between the construction and the empty tree, there’s plenty to look at while you wait in line. Here’s hoping the opossums beat Lightning McQueen to Frontierland.
Are there other Big Thunder Mountain rides?
Yes, Big Thunder runs at four Disney parks. Disneyland’s version opened first, in 1979, and Magic Kingdom’s followed in 1980.
Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris have their own versions too. Each park tells a slightly different story around the mountain. At Disneyland, for example, the ride sits next to the Frontierland town of Rainbow Ridge, the Disney Parks Blog says.
Only one of them has fans checking a tree for opossums this fall, though.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
BlogMickey, Oct. 8, 2026: Imagineering permit, tarp and opossum timeline
Disney Parks Blog, May 2026: Big Thunder reopening story, Barnabas T. Bullion and Rainbow Ridge
BlogMickey, Oct. 1, 2026: Big Thunder refurbishment changes
BlogMickey, Oct. 9, 2026: Frontierland boardwalk and Piston Peak construction
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