TRON Lightcycle/Run opens to the public on April 4. For those who have been watching the attraction come to life at the Magic Kingdom for years, it is almost too much to wrap one’s head around. It’s finally time to “Enter the Grid.”
Breaking News: Between March 20 and April 2, guests may have an early opportunity to experience TRON during a limited soft opening. Guests (with tickets to the Magic Kingdom and a reservation) will be able to use the My Disney Experience App to request a place in the attraction’s virtual queue or they may purchase entry into the Individual Lightning Lane.
TRON Lightcycle/Run sits prominently in Tomorrowland next to Space Mountain. Overall, the structure fits nicely in Tomorrowland with its futuristic look and giant white canopy that lights up at night. The attraction is an indoor/outdoor high-speed rollercoaster based on the 1982 and 2010 TRON movies.
So, what is riding TRON Lightcycle/Run going to be like?
TRON Lightcycle/Run is definitely a thrill ride, but adults and kids who enjoy EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster should be able to handle it. The ride reaches a speed of almost 60 mph, includes big drops, and motorcycle-like cornering. It does not go upside down. To ride, you must be at least 48 inches tall. Ride vehicles mimic riding on a motorcycle and guests must lean forward pretty significantly so that both a back restraint and leg restraint can engage. (“Regular” rider seats are available for those who may find the seating uncomfortable.)
Here are some more stats.
- The track is approximately 3,000 feet (that’s about 6/10ths of a mile).
- The rollercoaster launches electromagnetically with synchronized audio and visual effects.
- The timing between sync chamber to the end of the ride is about four minutes. Preview riders have been reporting that the actual coaster experience is around two minutes.
As for the story, TRON Lightcycle/Run takes place after the events of the movie TRON: Legacy (2010). As a rider, you are agreeing to become digitized in order to enter the computerized world and beat the Grid’s most menacing Programs. On your quest, you serve as a member of the blue team in a race against the villainous orange team through a course of energy gates. The team to pass through all eight gates first wins and “survives to race another day.”
When TRON Lightcycle/Run opens in just weeks, be aware that THERE WILL NOT BE A STANDBY LINE. I repeat, you will not be able to walk into Tomorrowland and just get in line.
Instead, guests must request to join a virtual queue on the day of their visit. The rules for joining the virtual queue are as follows.
- First, you can only make a virtual queue request using the My Disney Experience app.
- Second, you must have a ticket to the Magic Kingdom and a reservation to enter.
- Third, on your ticketed reservation day, you must be in the app and ready to hit “join queue” at exactly 7 a.m.
- Fourth, if you don’t get a spot at 7 a.m., you can try again at 1 p.m., but only if you are physically in the Magic Kingdom at 1 p.m.
- Fifth, if Extra Magic Hours are being held on the day of your visit and you qualify to take advantage of them (meaning, you are staying at a Deluxe Resort) a third try at the virtual queue is available to you at 6 p.m.
If all this virtual queue stuff is too much for you, then another option is to purchase entry into the Individual Lightening Lane (a.k.a. Pay More-Wait Less). I.L.L. entry prices vary by the day but expect to pay in the $20 range (per person).
Cast Members, Annual Passholders, and other VIPs have been taking part in preview rides for some weeks now, and the reviews have been positive. Reports call the rollercoaster fast, smooth, but not too scary. The two CONs we’ve heard so far are length (some preview riders complained the ride was too short) and comfort (leaning forward and the restraints are uncomfortable).
Some other fun facts you might want to know about TRON Lightcycle/Run are:
- TRON Lightcycle/Run is practically a copy of TRON Lightcycle Power Run, which opened in Shanghai Disney in 2016.
- An original soundtrack has been composed just for the Magic Kingdom’s attraction.
- The Walt Disney World Railroad runs under the attraction.
- During your ride, bags will have to be stowed in free lockers, but a small glovebox is available for phones and glasses.
- There will be a gift shop!
So, are you ready to take on TRON Lightcycle/Run? The wait is almost over!
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