Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
This week, Walt Disney World Resort uninstalled multiple Lightning Lane entrances at Magic Kingdom Park, without providing any notice to guests. Here’s what Disney Park guests spotted during a recent visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Disney World Installs & Uninstalls Lightning Lane Entrances at Magic Kingdom
On April 20, some Disney Park guestsshared new updates on the ongoing overhaul of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park. The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness closed at the original Central Florida Disney park in January 2025 for its most intensive refurbishment ever, and Walt Disney World Resort has said it will reopen with “new magic” on May 3, 2026.
As the Frontierland roller coaster enters its final days of ride testing, construction equipment is being removed, and crews appear focused on finishing touches in the queue area and repaving near the attraction entrance. Earlier this month, touchpoints were installed for guests who have purchased a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Premier Pass to scan into the express queue area. However, according to BlogMickey, those Lightning Lane entrances have already been removed.
On Monday, the outlet shared a photo of crews working near the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad entrance, where the Lightning Lane touchpoints once sat:
Lightning Lane Tappoints Installed & Then Removed at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
As is typical with ongoing construction, Walt Disney World Resort did not explain why the Lightning Lane tapstyles disappeared or when they would return. However, Magic Kingdom Park guests should expect them to be back in action by May 3.
What’s Going on at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for an over-year-long refurbishment project in January 2025. At the time, Walt Disney World Resort simply said the Frontierland roller coaster would reopen with some “new magic” sometime in 2026. Magic Kingdom Park guests watched the project progress from above the construction walls, confirming the complete replacement of the steel tracks and the new, freshly painted trains.
Over the last year, Walt Disney Imagineering has revealed more about the overhaul, confirming that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will open with the redone tracks, refreshed ride vehicles, and several other enhancements, including a new Rainbow Caverns opening scene. The mountain will begin to grumble as it fights back against the miners ascending a cave full of audio-animatronic bats, phosphorescent pools, and glimmering stalagmites.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will officially reopen at Magic Kingdom Park on May 3, 2026.
Has the paid Lightning Lane service improved or worsened the Disney theme park experience? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
They need to bring back fast passes so everyone can enjoy the rides paid for with their very expensive ticket.
I’m in TOTAL agreement with Judy to bring back Fast Passes! We all pay for admission so make us all have a fast pass not just the privleged who can pay more. Lightening Lane is a slap in the face to “All That Enter This Happy Place”! God bless Walt Disney.
I agree…I’d like to all Lightening Lanes go away…all they do is make the stand by lines longer! If we lived in a society where people didn’t need instant gratification maybe they would be more patient!! I loved the old fast pass system! Bring that back!
Fast Pass please .
I complained to the Disney board the year the Lightening Lane debuted, to no avail. It’s unfair, divisive and simply a money grab at a time families — who were Walt’s focus — can barely afford a once in a lifetime trip. Those who can afford the Lightening Lane can afford multiple trips to the parks, so don’t need it and use it as a badge of wealth. Hardly the egalitarian vision Walt had for his family-friendly Happiest Place on Earth. AX THE LIGHTENING LANE AND BRING BACK THE FAST PASS.
Yes. I agree. Fast Passes were great. I really HATE the way the Lightening Lane system is set up. If they operated it similar to the way Universal does I think it may be more acceptable. They need to ditch the Lightening Lanes, but you know they won’t. It’s all a money grab and as long as people do it, they will keep it in place.
I agree the Ligning Lane needs to go and the Fast Pass needs to return, as well as DAS PASS for those with verfied disabilities.
I struggle with those who come up behind me due to an Iraqi Medical Corpsmann stabbing me in the lower left back. My vest saved my life.
It will not change due to the windfall of millions per month and I will suffer for their extreme profit and my breathing from sand storms and burn pits.
Enjoy your millions at all tou have screwed