Disney Releases More Details on TRON Lightcycle/Run Coaster!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

It seems like it has been forever since Disney announced that they were bringing a brand-new roller coaster to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. The coaster would be called TRON Lightcycle/Run and would be just like the one that is currently one of the most popular rides at the Shanghai Disneyland Resort. The project was first announced at the D23 Expo in 2017 and the plan was to have the ride open for Guests when Walt Disney World began to celebrate its 50th Anniversary on October 1, 2021.

Unfortunately, no one could have predicted that a pandemic would shut down Disney Parks across the globe and put every project on indefinite hold. TRON is still under construction at this time and no opening date has been given. However, the ride is currently undergoing test runs, which means that things are nearly complete, and we could be getting an opening date at any time!

TRON Lightcycle/Run

TRON Lightcycle/Run is based on the 1982 Disney movie TRON and, in honor of the film’s 40th anniversary, Disney is sharing even more details on what Guests can expect from the new roller coaster. Disney Parks Blog shared:

We’re in the testing phase for what will be one of the fastest coasters in any Disney park, and I know you’re going to love it. When this attraction is complete, you’ll climb aboard your very own Lightcycle and launch into the Grid for a race through a dark, computerized world.

Our story picks up following the events of “TRON: Legacy,” whose main character, Sam Flynn, is now opening new gateways into this digital realm at specific locations around the world. The first portal he created is at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle PowerRun, and now Magic Kingdom guests will get their turn through this second gateway.

When you enter the attraction’s queue, you’ll feel as if you’re digitized and entering the Grid for a special Lightcycle race alongside your family and friends. You’ll all join Team Blue (hence the color of the wheels in the photo above) for a high-speed launch into a competition against Team Orange. As you swoop and swerve your way around the course, your goal is to be the first to race through eight Energy Gates and secure your victory. Will your team have what it takes?

Again, we do not have an opening date for the new attraction at this time, but it is hopefully not too far away since test runs are well underway. You can get yourself in the TRON mood and build up excitement for the ride by watching both TRON and TRON Legacy — both of which are available to stream on Disney+. The animated series TRON Uprising is also available to stream.

TRON Could Be Preparing to Open Soon Based On New Permits Filed

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

It seems like it has been forever, but we may finally be getting close to a TRON: Lightcycle/Run opening date! The roller coaster — which already exists at Shanghai Disney — was announced for Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park all the way back in 2017 at the D23 Expo. Originally, the plan was to have the ride built and operational in time for the start of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Unfortunately, no one could have predicted a global pandemic, so work was put on pause and any mention of a potential opening date was shelved.

Construction has been moving along in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland for a while now, but Guests are still impatiently waiting for Disney to give them an opening date. And that announcement may be coming sooner rather than later. We recently reported that Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom saw the TRON coaster doing test runs, which means that the track is complete or nearly complete. Now, two permits filed by Disney could be ready to add the final touches and details to the highly-anticipated theme park attraction.

Tron

Both permits — which can be viewed by clicking here for one and here for two — were filed for the purpose of “fabrication and installation of show set items.” The contractor listed on the permits is Icarus Exhibits, Inc — which seems to be a company that works largely with Disney. According to the company’s LinkedIn page, its slogan is — “If you can dream it, we can build it!” There are also pictures of several Disney Parks attractions and eateries on its site, so this is definitely not the first time they have worked with the House of Mouse.

TRON Disney World

Here is more information on the TRON Lightcycle Power Run attraction that is at Shanghai Disney — but Disney World’s version looks like an exact replica:

Experience high-speed thrills and chills as the Grid comes alive in a heart-pounding race for survival. Created as a friendly way for “Programs” and “Users” to interact, the Power Run pits team against team in the quintessential quest to capture 8 Energy Gates and triumph over opponents.

Prepare for digitization after entering the portal—this is your access into the energy, lights and excitement of TRON’s high-tech universe. As you leave the real world behind, you’ll proceed to the games as a member of Team Blue, ready to compete against some of the Grid’s most menacing Programs.

Hopefully, these permits are indicative that a TRON Lightcycle/Run opening date is just around the corner!

LightCycle Run Doing Test Runs at Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Nearly 5 years ago, Disney announced that it was bringing a new roller coaster to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. That roller coaster would be TRON Lightcycle/Run, which was going to be a replica of the one that was in place at the Shanghai Disneyland Resort. The roller coaster was to be built in Tomorrowland and would be built near another popular roller coaster, Space Mountain. The plan was to have the new TRON coaster built in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary — which kicked off in October 2021.

Unfortunately, as most Disney fans know, all of those initial plans were forced to be changed. The Walt Disney World Railroad closed in 2019 as TRON’s construction expanded, and things were going along as planned. Then COVID hit. Everything was forced to shut down and construction came to a total stop. It was able to pick up after about 6 months, but it seems as though the pause was enough to make everything a complete mess.

Tron

As Disney’s 50th Anniversary date quickly approached, Disney removed all mention of a potential opening date for TRON Lightcycle/Run. The 50th kickoff came and went, and still nothing. Now we are in 2022 and still none the wiser when it comes to the attraction’s opening date. Construction has been moving along at Magic Kingdom Park, but it’s mostly on the outside, so it’s been nearly impossible to tell how things are coming along on the inside.

Tron

However, that is now changing in a big way! Just a couple of days ago, Guests riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover were treated to a sight never before seen. A test run of TRON! One Guest had their camera out and managed to catch a video of the magical moment.

You can watch the video — which was shared by Attractions Magazine — below.

As you can see, there is still a lot of work being done on the Disney Park ride’s canopy, but the track looks like it may be complete. The cars are joined together and are seen gliding along the track.

At this time, we still do not have a timeline for the opening of TRON Lightcycle/Run. But it is a giant step forward that the ride track seems to be complete. While it is unlikely that the theme park ride will be open and operational for peak summer crowds, it may not be completely crazy to think that it might be able to open in time for the 2022 holiday season.

TRON Lightcycle Power Run

Imagineering Ride Team Enters Next Phase for TRON Lightcycle Run

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

The Walt Disney Imagineering project team will soon celebrate a significant milestone on the construction of the TRON Lightcycle / Run attraction, as Guests at Magic Kingdom Park will be getting their first glimpses of ride vehicles on the track! 

As we begin the next phase of ride testing, we’ll soon start a process known as “push/pull,” where sections of the seven-vehicle train are slowly moved through the entire ride track. Once the track is completely ready, trains will begin launch tests at incremental speeds, with the team eventually working their way up to full-speed launches.

All of this exciting progress will be visible to our Guests in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park as trains make their way out of the launch zone and underneath the attraction’s iconic canopy.

Check out this new video for a behind-the-scenes look from Executive Ride Engineer, Jerold Kaplan, as the team prepares for this important milestone.

Ride Vehicles for brand-new attraction spotted on their way to Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

We’ve been watching updates about the construction of the TRON Lightcycle coaster at Magic Kingdom ever since it was first announced! And if you’ve been to Magic Kingdom at all in the last couple of years, you’ve been able to witness the progress of the construction firsthand, especially if you look from aboard a car at the Tomorrowland Speedway.

Credit: Becky BurkettProgress has only continued, and just yesterday, a rig with a flatbed trailer was spotted at the Transportation and Ticket Center Tram overpass bridge near Magic Kingdom, and if you take a close look, you can see what looks like TRON Lightcycle ride vehicles underneath all the heavy plastic.

Yep, those are definitely NOT Guardians of the Galaxy ride vehicles!

During the 2019 D23 Expo in California, one of the TRON Lightcycle Power Run ride vehicles was on display. Let’s compare the two to see for sure if that’s what’s under the plastic.

The arrival of ride vehicles we’re closer than ever to the opening of Magic Kingdom’s newest thrill ride attraction!  Once ride vehicles are installed on the tracks of the coaster, further testing can begin on the experience itself.

The TRON Lightcycle Power Run experience is already enjoyed by Guests at Shanghai Disneyland. The attraction is based on the 1980s futuristic flick, TRON.

Disney’s Shanghai Disneyland Resort website calls TRON Lightcycle Power Run the “ultimate competition:”

“Experience high-speed thrills and chills as the Grid comes alive in a heart-pounding race for survival. Created as a friendly way for “Programs” and “Users” to interact, the Power Run pits team against team in the quintessential quest to capture 8 Energy Gates and triumph over opponents.

Prepare for digitization after entering the portal—this is your access into the energy, lights, and excitement of TRON’s high-tech universe. As you leave the real world behind, you’ll proceed to the games as a member of Team Blue, ready to compete against some of the Grid’s most menacing Programs.”

We anxiously await the opening of the newest coaster at Magic Kingdom since Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which opened in May 2014 as a part of the New Fantasyland expansion project.