The opossums are back at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! Walt Disney Imagineering says mom and dad opossums have returned to their tree in Tumbleweed at Magic Kingdom, about six months after the ride reopened without them. The rest of the family is on the way, too. Here’s the latest.
Opossums Return to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Where the two opossums are sitting on the Tumbleweed tree.
- What Imagineering said about the rest of the opossum family.
- How the return connects to the tarp and permit from October.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad came back online in May with smoother track and refreshed scenes, but the critters in the flooded town of Tumbleweed were missing on opening day. Their return has been one of the ride’s last loose ends. Imagineers have now started reinstalling the opossum family, beginning with the two grown-ups.
Mom and Dad Opossum Settle Into the Tumbleweed Tree
Walt Disney Imagineering calls it a welcome home for some old friends of the ride. In the team’s words, “Mom and dad opossum are back, with the rest of the family returning soon.”
One opossum perches high on a branch near the top of the trunk, with its long pink tail draped down over the bark. The other climbs headfirst down the trunk toward the base, like it’s heading out to see who’s passing by. Both have blue-gray fur, pale faces, and pink noses. The track curves right past the bottom of the tree, so riders should get a good look as the train rolls through Tumbleweed.
Imagineers handled the install during the dark overnight hours. A behind-the-scenes look shows two members of the team in Walt Disney Imagineering safety vests working from scaffolding around the trunk. Work lights point at the tree, and the upper opossum is already in place above them. Working overnight ensures that the ride can keep operating for guests when the park is open.
The dark tarp we spotted on the tree in October is still draped over the upper branches, right where the old opossum branch used to attach. That suggests more work is coming on that spot, which fits with the rest of the family returning later.
The Rest of the Opossum Family Is on the Way
Before the refurbishment, the opossums hung over the track from a branch on this same tree, and they were one of the sillier sights on the ride. They reportedly did not pass a clearance test after the full track replacement, so they sat out the reopening. Disney said in May that they would return soon.
Signs of the return have been building for weeks. Five days after the tarp showed up, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a permit to install set elements at the ride. Mom and dad are the first pieces to appear since. Imagineering hasn’t shared a date for the rest of the family, or whether the younger opossums will hang from a branch over the track like they did before. For now, Tumbleweed has opossums. That’s a fun win for one of Magic Kingdom’s classic rides.
Story So Far
- May 3: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened at Magic Kingdom after a 16-month refurbishment, without the opossums in Tumbleweed.
- May 4: We noted a couple of opossums were still missing in our top five improvements at the ride.
- May: Disney said the opossums would return soon.
- October 3: A new tarp appeared on the Tumbleweed tree where the opossum branch used to be.
- October 8: Walt Disney Imagineering filed a permit to install set elements at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
- November 3: Walt Disney Imagineering said mom and dad opossum are back, with the rest of the family returning soon.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!