Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Gets Ready for Possum Revival

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is making another noticeable change. The iconic roller coaster reopened from a 16-month refurbishment just months ago, but now it appears that work may be underway to bring back a beloved detail: the spinning possums.

The possums were absent on reopening day and had been missing since the ride's grand reopening in May 2026. Disney confirmed at the time that they would return 'soon,' but nothing had changed until now, when a large dark tarp was spotted covering the tree trunk where the possum branch previously attached.

The clearance issue was said to be why the possums were removed during the refurbishment. Engineers deemed the branch too close to the ride path, and it didn't have time to be corrected before the scheduled reopening. Now that crews could be preparing the trunk for work related to the missing branch, fans are getting excited.

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and having the possums safely reinstalled on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad before the crowd levels surge would be a welcome surprise.