Imagineering Permit Signals Possums Will Return to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Overview

• A Notice of Commencement filed Thursday by Walt Disney Imagineering lists Icarus Exhibits, Inc. as contractor with a scope described as “install set elements,” the clearest official sign yet that the removed possum figures are being prepared for reinstallation.
• The possum figures were taken down during a 16-month Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment and did not return when the ride reopened on May 3, 2026 because they breached the ride-envelope safety zone during pre-opening tests.
• Park observers have reported tarps and work on the Tumbleweed tree in recent weeks, which aligns with the permit and suggests on-site activity is progressing from assessment toward physical installation.
• Disney has confirmed in the past that the possums would return but has not given a public timeline, and the permit itself authorizes preparation rather than proving the figures are already reinstalled.
• The clearance issue stems from a complete track replacement and stricter ride-envelope testing that changed where the ride vehicle sits relative to scenery, so engineers and set specialists will need to redesign or reposition the possums to meet safety zones before they are rehung.