Overview
- Disney announced on Tuesday that two adult opossum figures — a mother and father — have been reinstalled on the Tumbleweed tree at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
- The figures were removed during a 16‑month refurbishment and did not return when the ride reopened on May 3, 2026 after they failed ride‑envelope clearance tests.
- Imagineers mounted the adults overnight to avoid daytime disruptions and placed them higher on the branch and trunk so they no longer hang low over passing trains.
- An October Notice of Commencement named Icarus Exhibits to install set elements, and a tarp still covers part of the tree signaling further staged work to restore the rest of the family.
- Disney has not given a firm timetable for the remaining figures, leaving uncertainty about whether the smaller opossum babies will return to their original hanging positions and showing how parks balance nostalgic scenery with modern safety rules.