Last week, we shared an image of a portrait that’s a part of a new project our Walt Disney Imagineers are currently working on – and today we’re happy to reveal the identity of that man and share details on the role he’ll play in the enhanced storyline of a certain Magic Kingdom Park attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The fellow’s name is Barnabas T. Bullion, and he’s the gold magnate who rules the Big Thunder Mining Company with a golden fist. Imagineers have already begun working overnight in the park on the attraction’s new interactive queue, where you’ll be able to see this portrait, as well as an additional landscape portrait of the mountain itself.

According to the enhanced backstory: “Barnabas T. Bullion is the founder and president of the Big Thunder Mining Company. The longtime mining magnate comes from a powerful East Coast family and considers gold to be his very birthright by virtue of his oddly appropriate name; in fact, he considers the ultimate gold strike to be his destiny. And that is why he is having so much trouble with Big Thunder Mountain. According to superstitious locals, Big Thunder Mountain is very protective of the gold it holds within, and the unfortunate soul who attempts to mine its riches is destined to fail. And so far that prophecy is coming to pass. The mine has been plagued by mysterious forces and natural disasters ever since. And yet the Big Thunder Mining Co. is still in operation. In fact, Bullion is discovering new veins of gold and digging new shafts every day, offering a closer look at the Big Thunder mining operation than ever before. But a word to the wise for anyone attempting to visit the mountain: watch out for runaway trains.”

Look for these new additions and a number of additional interactive elements in the coming months at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the wildest ride in the wilderness!

It sounds like the new interactive queue that we have been talking about for Big Thunder Mountain will be ready for guests soon with an extra dose of a certain Imagineer. As we all know the Big Thunder Queue is one of the worst queues anywhere on property so I think we are all anxiously awaiting this change. What do you think of the enhanced back story?

Mickey Mouse in Town Square Theater still has little to no wait

The Beauty and The Beast area is really starting to look great…

As is Prince Eric’s Castle and rock work.

Over the holiday weekend The Magic Kingdom had a new Stroller Parking test going on:

Stroller parking near the old skyway station was closed. Instead guests could use stroller parking near It’s a Small World.

Royal Subjects were begin asked as they came through the castle to park their strollers here near the Castle while they enjoyed Fantasyland. Guest were also unable to park across from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The cast member at the rear of this photo was doing periodic stroller counts. We believe this to be a test for when the walls move out closer to Winnie the Pooh and the current Dumbo, however this could also be permanent once Fantasyland is completed.

The castle looks great

Dumbo construction is coming along nicely

New Fantasyland aka Crane-land

Someone ought to take down those signs

The Galaxy Stage was setup for Night of Joy in a cast member parking lot behind the Buzz Lightyear Meet and Greet

We still love these Halloween Decorations

Does anyone know what these scarecrow citizens are actually called?

Moving over for a quick stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

These lighting rigs have been put in place for nightly performances by Mulch, Sweat and Shears

Moving over to Epcot the Mexico Pavilion was worthy of this picturesque shot.

At the Japan Pavilion Yakatori House is closed and its walls extend past the Koi pond

The food and wine stand has opened early to serve guests in it’s place however

Limited menu

O Refurbishment

I present to you the backside of Refurbishment….

Aww! Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s newest addition

New Splash Mountain shirts have arrived

Over in Fantasyland, work continues on the “Be Our Guest” Restaurant

Work continues on the facade of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the attraction is now closed

Don’t fear parents, your kids can hula-hoop….

Work continues on the backside of Casey’s on Main Street

Work continues on the facade of El Pirata Y El Perico in Adventureland

The Crow’s Nest has been closed for a few weeks for some reason….

Goodbye Magic Kingdom….

At the Magic Kingdom, work on Disney Clothiers rolls on

The street side of Casey’s is finished, work on the back continues

The Coca-Cola Cool Scanner and Cool Ship are still behind walls in Tomorrowland

Work continues on the Mad Tea Party roof

It may indeed be a glass roof, it is covered at the moment

At the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, wires are hanging from the new posts

The White Rabbit is doing meet and greets outside of the closed Mad Tea Party

At the Transportation and Ticket Center, the small Coffee/Pastry shop has been knocked down for some reason

Half of the monorail platform walkway at the Grand Floridian Resort is being worked on

Over to the Magic Kingdom, where the exterior of the Exposition Hall is still being worked on

Disney Clothiers is still behind tarps, but construction workers were out in the open during the day as well

Walls up outside Casey’s Corner again, workers visible here as well

Views from Cinderella’s Royal Table will be blocked soon

I guess Disney only wants guests to see construction from everywhere else….

The Beauty and the Beast realm buildings are coming along quickly

More work behind the Village Haus

Beams being lifted into place

A view from above the site

The dirt is still being moved around in front of the “Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid” building

Temporary signage at the Thoughtful spot until it closes with the attraction on October 25th

Tarps down on the tree

The tree looks show ready

Piglet is gone!

Expect to see the finished facade and interactive queue in November

“it’s a small world” is back two days early

The exit is now located at the old entrance from pre-2005, using the queue ramp to now send guests out

The entrance hasn’t moved

But guests are now sent to the left and down the old exit ramp

Guests are invited to use both sides

Nothing has changed in the attraction, but some characters are missing for repair

Walls still up in the Haunted Mansion queue

The tombstones are gone for now….

El Pirata Y El Perico behind tarps in Adventureland

A small merchandise cart has popped up near the Princess and the Frog meet and greet in Liberty Square

They are selling Christmas and Princess and the Frog merchandise

New ornament

The Coca-Cola Cool Ship and Cool Scanner are being repaired

The new roof is up on the Mad Tea Party

They look like they may indeed be glass, but are covered for protection at the moment

A lot of work going on at the ride level as well

The Tangled “play and greet” for Rapunzel and Flynn Rider is racing towards a 10/24 debut

Rapunzel’s tower

A number of small lanterns installed

Time to put up the canopy…

Another look at the lanterns

Wow, that was quick!

This was actually taken a little later in the day, they don’t work THAT fast

Let’s take a ride on Dumbo for fun! Ok, Josh went to get pictures…

The top level of the Little Mermaid show building is closed in

Beauty and the Beast buildings

We believe the new cast member tunnel is under this paved area

Another shot of Mermaid

Back to Beauty and the Beast (we’re going in circles on Dumbo remember)

Mermaid…

Beauty and the Beast

I’m dizzy…. but we’ll be seeing a lot more of this

The Coca-Cola Cool Ship and Cool Scanner in Tomorrowland are being fixed up after years in decay

The new roof is on the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland, we still can’t tell if it is glass or not….

Regardless of what the roof may be, the entire building is now pink

Work continues on the Rapunzel and Flynn Rider play and greet in the Fairytale Garden

A canopy is going up

The play and greet is expected to open October 24th, but that could change again

Cranes continue to loom over Fantasyland

The Pooh’s Playful Spot tree is out from behind tarps in front of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The already shrunken Pooh’s Thoughtful Spot has temporary signage that will remain until it closes on the 25th

The building of “Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid” is being closed in quickly

WARNING: Objects behind walls are actually further away than they appear!

In addition to the framework for the “Be Our Guest” restaurant, framework we assume to be for “Enchanted Tales with Belle” is now visible

Work continues on El Pirata Y El Perico in Adventureland

The indoor seating area for Casey’s is still behind tarps

Something missing from the Adventureland sign…

El Pirata Y El Perico is now behind tarps

Donald in front of his new Frontierland meet and greet

A temporary banner on the small food vendor in Liberty Square for the season

Work continues on the new interactive queue for the Haunted Mansion

Work continues on “it’s a small world”

Looks like the material flaps were covered so some facade painting could be done

Work continues on Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Be Our Guest restaurant begins to rise over the walls

Large cranes loom over Fantasyland

Workers visible on the Little Mermaid building

The Rapunzel and Flynn Rider meet and greet will soft-open on 10/15 and officially open 10/25

Wires over the wall

Tarps are now up on the Mad Tea Party walls, making it hard to look in

Work continues on the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

There is a lot of work that needs to be done on the tree

A lot of unfinished branches

The roof inside is still missing

Wires running down the facade

The speakers are clearly visible during the refurbishment

A few new Grumpy t-shirts are available

Work continues on the Rapunzel and Flynn Rider (from Tangled) meet and greet experience

What do you see?

It’s colorful

The top portion of Casey’s Corner is out from behind tarps!

It looks brand new

Some portions are still behind tarps

Disney Clothiers/Emporium is still under

Some painting on Main Street

The Exposition Hall tarps continue to spread

Not much has changed inside

That’s new though

Could it be? For the first time in ages, one of the attraction posters under the train station has been changed! It’s Space Mountain in Starry-O-Phonic Sound

All of the other posters were replaced as well, so they look brand new

The Fantasyland cranes are very visible from all over the park

In Tomorrowland, the Cocoa-Cola Cool Ship and Scanner is behind walls

The Fantasyland cranes visible from Tomorrowland

New Tomorrowland shirts, hats, and towels available. Great artwork!

The roof of the Mad Tea Party is being completely replaced

The cranes!

Work continues on the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Many of the limbs on the tree were shortened for some reason

A number of these posts are now visible

Work moves along on Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Be Our Guest restaurant is starting to take shape as well

A look over the walls doesn’t reveal anything new

There is activity 24 hours a day now

COULD IT BE? IT IS!

Peter Pan’s Flight is out from behind tarps with a brand new look! Yu may want to take a look at what this used to look like…

Everything looks great!

No visible progress at “it’s a small world”

There’s plenty going on at the Haunted Mansion

Land clearing for some new interactive queue elements is underway

Something under a sheet there….

The old gravestones are not behind these walls

Stay tuned for more on these changes at the Haunted Mansion

Donald Duck has a new meet and greet backdrop in Frontierland

It fits the theme nicely

El Pirata Y El Perico is behind walls

It’s Halloween at the Magic Kingdom

It’s also tarp-town…

Still cool to see that name again

The crane is up for the Castle Dreamlights installation

A look down Main Street

This section of the Emporium is still under tarps as well

It’s the most magical crane on earth

Unless you’re in the bucket…

Lights are already visible

Looks like they have to fix something on the castle while they are up there

The crane is located behind the castle

The newest addition to the Magic Kingdom mountain range still lies behind Fantasyland walls

Work continues on the Peter Pan’s Flight facade for month 8 of this project

Work continues on “it’s a small world”

The signage is still where it was

The seating area for Ariel’s Grotto is empty again, perhaps it will go behind walls again soon

Meanwhile, the Winnie the Pooh facade is still emerging

The former entrance is covered by the rare DOUBLE CONSTRUCTION WALL! It’s so intense….

Scaffolding up again on the Playful Spot tree

Strange walls still up inside the Tomorrowland Speedway

New lighting structures in Tomorrowland

They have a very UFO look to them

Storytime with Belle is gone, but Rapunzel and Flynn Rider will be moving in shortly