Walt Disney World has lastly formally introduced the opening date of TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom! This publish shares the brand new particulars, AP & DVC preview data, crowd predictions, comfortable opening hypothesis, digital queue v. standby, Lightning Lane standing, and extra!
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, the attraction is formally generally known as TRON Lightcycle / Run (or Tron Lightcycle Power Run) and is a semi-enclosed launched metal bike curler coaster attraction. The seats are just like these on Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom; riders sit on particular person lightcycles, lean ahead, grip a set of handlebars, and a pad behind the seat comes down and snuggly secures the rider in place.
TRON Lightcycle Run is a clone of an attraction at Shanghai Disneyland, which is a gap day attraction there. The curler coaster begins with visitors coming into an enormous gravity/present constructing the place they step onto the Grid and board their very own cycle. Like Space Mountain or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, a lot of the journey is in a darkened present constructing, however not like these, the climax of the attraction is a loop beneath a big color-changing cover, which can be the long-lasting function of TRON Lightcycle Run’s exterior.
TRON Lightcycle Run is technically an enlargement of Tomorrowland, positioned behind Space Mountain and the Speedway. It’ll additionally connect with Storybook Circus and is past the berm of Magic Kingdom because of flyover walkways that information visitors above the Walt Disney World Railroad, which lastly reopened late final month.
The curler coaster is the most important addition to Magic Kingdom since one other curler coaster: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Ironically sufficient, each have been developed for Shanghai Disneyland; the distinction is that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened a decade in the past in Magic Kingdom–a number of years earlier than the theme park in China. Now, TRON Lightcycle Run will debut following Shanghai Disneyland’s sixth Anniversary.
Originally, Walt Disney World introduced that TRON Lightcycle Run would open “in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.” However, the closure and subsequent phased reopening threw a monkey wrench into these plans. Fortunately, followers gained’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer.
Fast ahead to the current, when Walt Disney World introduced that TRON Lightcycle Run will formally open on April 4, 2023. That’s the height of spring break season, falling the week earlier than Easter. But earlier than we get forward of ourselves with crowd evaluation, let’s cowl extra of the main points.
Here’s Walt Disney World’s official announcement in regards to the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run:
The story of TRON Lightcycle / Run picks up after “TRON: Legacy” the place Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, has opened a second gateway right into a digital realm referred to as the Grid. The first of those portals he created is discovered at Shanghai Disneyland with the unique TRON Lightcycle Power Run.
When you enter the queue at Magic Kingdom, you’ll really feel as in case you’re digitized and transported to the Grid for a particular Lightcycle race. It’s your Team Blue in opposition to the Grid’s menacing Programs, Team Orange. Your objective is to be the primary to race via eight Energy Gates and safe victory. The attraction might be one of many quickest coasters at any Disney theme park on this planet.
Before the attraction formally opens, solid members would be the first to enter the Grid throughout particular previews. And I heard preview alternatives are coming for visitors too, together with Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members.
Oh, for many who are questioning how the opening date of TRON Lightcycle Run is April 4, 2023 given final evening’s cryptic clue, we’ll offer you one other clue inside a clue (name it cluception):
C
L
U
Need one other trace?
Match these letters with the corresponding excessive scores for the month, day, and yr (respectively). If you’re nonetheless left scratching your head, you’re not alone. I didn’t determine this one out instantly…or in any respect. (Kudos to our buddy, Mark Willard, who solved it!)
In phrases of commentary, let’s begin with timing. If you’ve been following the multi-year development protection of TRON Lightcycle Run, you’ve doubtless heard “rumors” or hypothesis about its opening, which has repeatedly been unsuitable. That consists of our predictions.
It ought to go with out saying, however there was lots of frustration amongst Walt Disney World followers about the best way the corporate has slow-rolled TRON Lightcycle Run. The greatest time to open the curler coaster would’ve been again in Summer 2021. Even with the closure delaying initiatives, late that yr nonetheless looks like it might’ve been achievable. But I’m not beating that specific useless horse right here.
Once Walt Disney World delayed TRON Lightcycle Run till Spring 2023, we revised our prediction to February 17 on the earliest and May 26 on the newest, narrowing that all the way down to March 10 to April 1, 2023 because the more than likely debut dates.
Given the diploma of testing with human riders, promotional footage from contained in the attraction, and what little stays to be accomplished outdoors the attraction, it seems that Walt Disney World might have opened this journey inside a month or so in the event that they so desired. With Splash Mountain closing on January 23, we have been hoping that Walt Disney World would shock us with an earlier opening–ideally earlier than Presidents’ Day weekend, which might be one of many busiest weeks of the yr.
The March 10 opening prediction was predicated upon the week of spring break for Osceola and Orange County faculty districts. That week has been getting busier and busier at Walt Disney World because the native inhabitants continues to develop. However, with new AP gross sales nonetheless suspended (see our recently-updated When Will Disney World Resume Annual Pass Sales?) and the 2023 Florida Resident Ticket Deal blocked out for these dates, maybe it gained’t be as busy this yr.
Instead, Walt Disney World is formally opening TRON Lightcycle Run on April 4, 2023. That’s about 3 days into the center of peak spring break season, so nonetheless fairly good timing. I nonetheless suppose March 31 or April 1 would’ve made extra sense–each coinciding with the conclusion of the fiftieth Anniversary festivities and with the beginning of spring break crowds, but it surely’s shut sufficient.
Given all of that, it ought to go with out saying that the 2 weeks after the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run might be extremely busy. Last yr, those self same weeks hit 8/10 on the gang calendar for all of Walt Disney World, and eight/10 to 9/10 at Magic Kingdom, particularly.
With the beloved nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After making its triumphant return to Magic Kingdom that very same week, it’s secure to say crowds might be worse. While this might not be mirrored in park-wide wait instances (since issues like this have a tendency to attract followers who could not prioritize re-riding different sights), it’ll completely be mirrored in “feels like” congestion. Those two weeks ought to simply hit 10/10 ranges most days when judged slowly on the premise of looks like crowds.
If you’re trying to goal barely slower dates to your Walt Disney World trip, intention for after April 17, 2023. Between Tax Day and Memorial Day might be shoulder season, bringing with them extra average crowd ranges. Keep in thoughts that that is for Walt Disney World as a complete.
Demand for TRON Lightcycle Run and Happily Ever After goes to be sky-high the whole yr, so that you’re going to come across heavy crowds, congestion, competitors for the digital queue (extra on that under), and many others. regardless of once you go to. We’re merely saying that, in case you have flexibility, it’s much better to go in late April via May 2023 than it’s early April. Your total expertise might be higher.
All in all, it’s thrilling information that TRON Lightcycle Run will lastly opening after a number of years of delays. This is one other blockbuster addition to Walt Disney World. Although the corporate doesn’t launch attraction budgets, it’s believed this curler coaster is far inexpensive than Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. It’s nonetheless one of many dearer additions lately, however a far cry from the almost $500 million that EPCOT E-Ticket is believed to have value.
Now, let’s flip to questions on TRON Lightcycle Run’s Lightning Lane standing, potential digital queue, comfortable openings, AP previews, and extra…
TRON Lightcycle Run Previews
Let’s subsequent flip to the query of sentimental openings and affiliation previews. Soft openings are also called trial operations or technical rehearsals, and are principally an unannounced and managed check interval. They present a possibility for theme parks to open an attraction previous to its official opening and conduct operations and Cast Member coaching in a extra forgiving and low stress setting.
Soft openings usually are not publicized by way of any official assets: not on park maps, the official Disney Parks Blog, annoying TikTook movies, wait time boards, and even within the My Disney Experience app. As a end result, they at all times draw considerably fewer crowds than official openings. They’re a pleasant perk for visitors who’re already within the park and probably the most plugged-in Walt Disney World followers.
Walt Disney World has moved away from comfortable openings in the previous couple of years. Given that precedent, we don’t anticipate basic public comfortable openings for TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom.
The one wildcard that has us doubtlessly questioning that is the truth that this comfortable opening window would fall throughout a busier time of yr, encompassing the primary few days of the spring break season at Walt Disney World. Soft openings of TRON Lightcycle Run might assist take in regular crowds in Magic Kingdom between round March 31, 2023 and April 3, 2023.
I’m not saying I anticipate this to happen, but it surely’s definitely extra believable than comfortable openings have been for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Soft openings in early April 2023 make far more sense than doing them in September or May, that are slower seasons. This time, comfortable openings would operationally advantageous, which is a giant distinction.
Regardless, we already know that TRON Lightcycle Run will supply pre-registered previews for choose teams: Disney Vacation Club, Golden Oak, Club 33, and Annual Passholders–as a result of the announcement signifies as a lot. We anticipate this to work virtually precisely just like the previews for the 2 EPCOT sights within the final yr, proper all the way down to all eligible APs not receiving the e-mail earlier than slots began filling up.
Also just like that, we’re going to exit on a limb and predict roughly 2-3 weeks of previews for TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom. As evidenced by the testing that has been occurring in the previous couple of months, the journey is able to roll–it’s simply the landscaping across the entrance nonetheless to be completed. Walt Disney World is just ready for probably the most opportune time to open it. Offering these previews after Orange County’s spring break ends however earlier than April 2023 begins simply is smart.
These are fairly daring and particular predictions concerning comfortable openings and pre-registered previews, however we’d actually be extra stunned if Walt Disney World doesn’t comply with the very same “preview playbook” for TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom that was used for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. As famous above, the larger variable is comfortable openings, which might happen for a number of days right here.
As at all times, Annual Passholder and DVC preview emails DO NOT exit to everybody who’s eligible. I didn’t obtain the one for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Sarah didn’t get the one for Cosmic Rewind. Maybe TRON Lightcycle Run would be the first time in ages that we each get one…or possibly neither of us will this spherical!
In any case, receiving the e-mail doesn’t matter! The hyperlink inside is what’s essential, and ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE can use that. Both of us might be monitoring our emails like hawks within the coming weeks and will provide you with a heads up ASAP if/when preview registration goes reside. You can subscribe to our free e-mail publication for immediate alerts.
Genie+ v. Individual Lightning Lane
Next up, whether or not TRON Lightcycle Run might be a part of Genie+ or one other Individual Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom. This can be a “wildcard” in title solely, since Walt Disney World hasn’t formally introduced something.
We’d say there’s a larger than 99.999% probability that TRON Lightcycle Run might be an Individual Lightning Lane attraction. It’s actually a query of how a lot it’ll value and the way shortly it’ll promote out every day. My wager is that it finally ends up priced the identical as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. However, debuting this throughout spring break season would possibly imply premium pricing (or will increase for each…and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance).
The different large query is whether or not Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will transfer to Genie+ or if Magic Kingdom would be the solely park with two Individual Lightning Lane sights. My cash is on Magic Kingdom being the lone park at Walt Disney World to have two Individual Lightning Lanes.
Although they’re each curler coasters, they’ve very completely different demographics. Beyond that, Magic Kingdom can be the lone park to have a wholesome quantity of Genie+ capability, even after dropping Splash Mountain. It makes extra sense for Magic Kingdom to maintain two ILL rides than it did EPCOT, each financially and by way of provide v. demand for the Genie+ service.
Standby v. Virtual Queue
Another large query is whether or not TRON Lightcycle Run will use a digital queue. With Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind nonetheless utilizing a digital queue, the reply to this in all probability appears apparent. However, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure each stopped their VQs…and we’ve been anticipating Cosmic Rewind to comply with swimsuit for (actually) months. It hasn’t really wanted a digital queue since (a minimum of) final July.
Regardless, each of the newer EPCOT sights used digital queues for various causes than Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The Galaxy’s Edge headliner did as a result of a scarcity of reliability. The Rat Ride and Cosmic Rewind did so as a result of a scarcity of bodily house again and considerations about crowds navigating to the sights.
TRON Lightcycle Run hopefully doesn’t endure from downtime points and it in all probability doesn’t lack queue house. There ought to be rather a lot contained in the constructing, and there’s positively ample overflow house outdoors. That means we’re within the clear. TRON Lightcycle Run ought to be standby…proper?!?
Probably not. The problem with TRON Lightcycle Run is definitely the method–identical because the EPCOT E-Tickets. The path between Space Mountain and Tomorrowland Speedway that leads again to TRON Lightcycle Run is actually slender. For no matter motive, Walt Disney World didn’t shorten the Speedway observe, and the end result may be very little house main again to TRON Lightcycle Run.
It’s a recipe for potential issues, and will get downright harmful at rope drop as visitors stampede to be among the many first to journey. (This is strictly why Tomorrowland Power & Light Co. is at present closed and being modified–to present each inch of house to facilitate higher crowd stream.)
Even although Walt Disney World doubtless desires to keep away from bringing again the digital queue as a result of drop in visitor satisfaction it causes, I don’t suppose they’ll have every other alternative right here. As such, I’m anticipating a digital queue for TRON Lightcycle Run. (The incontrovertible fact that Disney did the very same factor for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for the very same motive makes me much more assured on this guess.)
While we’ve gotten good at gaming digital queues (and have “speed strategy” recommendation so you may obtain comparable success), my private hope is for a standby queue. It’s the extra guest-friendly method that ranges the enjoying discipline, is much less worrying, and ends in fewer complaints.
Plus, if there’s a digital queue, TRON Lightcycle Run gained’t open for Early Entry–and we actually hope it’s, as that’ll relieve stress from the SDMT Shuffle, making that simpler for households.
Ultimately, we’re wanting ahead to experiencing TRON Lightcycle Run opening on April 4, 2023 at Walt Disney World. Even although it’s not my favourite curler coaster on this planet (it gained’t even be my private favourite in Magic Kingdom), I’m excited to see this lastly debut. It’s been a number of years within the making, and can make lots of WDW followers comfortable.
That’s actually the core of the apple. TRON Lightcycle Run is prone to be a crowd-pleasing attraction that wows visitors with its thrills and provides a little bit of ‘fantasy fulfillment’ to lifelong TRON followers who lastly get to step onto the Grid and board a lightcycle. That alone will make it a high tier attraction for a lot of visitors–and it’s undeniably cool to glide below that illuminated cover and over visitors at evening. (With Walt Disney World’s perfectionist planners, I already know technique for scoring boarding teams which might be referred to as at evening as a substitute of throughout daytime hours will certainly be “a thing.”) It’ll doubtless rival Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Avatar Flight of Passage as the most well-liked new sights in all of Walt Disney World, as Magic Kingdom’s first main addition in virtually a decade.
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Your Thoughts
Are you excited for the grand opening of TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom on April 4, 2023? Think it’ll have a digital queue or standby line proper at opening? What about comfortable openings v. pre-registered previews? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!