TRON Lightcycle Run is Walt Disney World’s latest attraction, opening in 2023 at Magic Kingdom after being introduced approach again in 2017. This curler coaster evaluation shares our ideas on the joys journey, comparisons to different points of interest, and whether or not it’s definitely worth the time and power to affix the digital queue or value of shopping for line-skipping Lightning Lane entry.
We first skilled TRON Lightcycle (Power) Run nearly 7 years in the past at Shanghai Disneyland. That seems like a lifetime in the past, particularly given the whole lot that has occurred since and whereas watching the torpid tempo of the curler coaster’s development at Magic Kingdom.
I’ve made no secret about being a bit let down by TRON Lightcycle Run there, and had cautioned Walt Disney World followers to not anticipate an excessive amount of given the drawn out timeframe of the addition. Given that, the conclusion of this TRON Lightcycle Run journey evaluation may appear foregone. However, expectations are a humorous factor.
After pondering that it’s not that nice for a number of years and telling everybody else to mood their expectations, my first time on the Magic Kingdom model of TRON Lightcycle Run exceeded my very own. Ride quantity two was simply pretty much as good, confirming that TRON Lightcycle Run was higher than I remembered.
For me, it was possible a matter of perspective. My first time doing all of it these years in the past, TRON Lightcycle Run was the #2 attraction attraction in a brand-new fort park that was billed as being revolutionary–and with a finances on par with Tokyo DisneySea.
Our first journey within the new park was Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, which set an impossibly excessive customary that will be a tricky act for something to comply with. Even although I knew they have been essentially totally different experiences, TRON couldn’t dwell as much as that prime mark. Nothing else may.
There are two doable the explanation why I’m providing that anecdote. Maybe it’s filibustering in a journey evaluation a few curler coaster that’s underneath 2 minutes lengthy and at the hours of darkness, as there can not conceivably be that a lot to say about this journey (problem accepted). The different is that perspective is essential, and it’ll possible form your individual opinion of TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom.
If you have got been watching the gravity constructing slowly rise and ETFE cushion cover be put in at a snail’s tempo whereas doing loops aboard the TTA PeopleMover, maybe you’ve set equally excessive expectations. Imaginations can run wild, particularly when seeing one thing for such a very long time and having the possibility to actually mull it over. Maybe your thoughts has already programmed its model of TRON Lightcycle Run, and any deviation from that can disappoint.
Even in case you’re not a diehard Walt Disney World fan who has visited a number of occasions since development started, it’s nonetheless doable for impossibly excessive expectations for TRON Lightcycle Run. In reality, all it would take is first driving Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Or, maybe you learn up on and jumped by way of the hoops of the digital queue, getting up earlier than 7 am to attain a boarding group, spending extra time on the net ‘grid’ of My Disney Experience to journey TRON Lightcycle Run than some other attraction at Walt Disney World. Another risk is that you just spent $20 on an Individual Lightning Lane for TRON Lightcycle Run, fairly the excessive value when measured in ‘dollars per minute’ of the journey expertise.
The converse can also be true. Maybe you went into TRON Lightcycle Run chilly, or knew that development was purposefully drawn out, and never resulting from any sophisticated facets of the attraction. It’s doable you like the digital queue, favoring a pair minutes of effort at 7 am or 1 pm to keep away from a pair hours within the standby line. Likewise, possibly your worth of a Lightning Lane is measured not in journey length, however in time and complications saved.
This simply scratches the floor on a spread of the explanation why Walt Disney World followers could be underwhelmed, overwhelmed, or someplace in between with TRON Lightcycle Run. Since this is a evaluation, let’s change gears from the hypothetical to the place we stand on every defining side of the attraction.
Let’s begin with one of many largest constructive notes of the expertise, which is what it provides to Magic Kingdom as a complete. If you’ve been watching TRON Lightcycle Run take form over the past however-many years, you’re most likely conversant in the Upload Conduit cover that covers the outside portion of the curler coaster.
Although I nonetheless assume it’s regrettable that Disney didn’t shorten the Tomorrowland Speedway monitor to open up the realm a bit extra, the plaza underneath the Upload Conduit is one thing particular. The move of the walkways, huge cover overhead, and views into the remainder of Tomorrowland are unbelievable.
This entire area simply oozes kinetic power. Standing underneath the Upload Conduit at night time because it modifications colours and the lightcycles whizz by overhead, the speedway vehicles putter alongside beneath, and the TTA Peoplemover glides by is nothing in need of unimaginable. It’s proper up there with the submarine lagoon at Disneyland as the final word in atmospheric experiences. Once the entire space round TRON Lightcycle Run is open-access, this plaza goes to be a top-notch spot for watching Happily Ever After.
For me, that is the spotlight of TRON Lightcycle Run. That would possibly appear to be a backhanded praise, but it surely’s actually not. I completely adore points of interest which have one thing to supply everybody, and enhance the park expertise as a complete. I want it weren’t fairly as disconnected from the remainder of Tomorrowland, however when you’re again on this TRON plaza, it seems like an natural extension of Magic Kingdom.
My favourite “part” of TRON Lightcycle Run up to now has been merely standing underneath the Upload Conduit for a couple of hours at night time, taking these images. This is a technique that TRON Lightcycle Run races laps round different new points of interest at Walt Disney World. The journey itself received’t be for everybody, however what the kinetic power and atmospheric high quality that it provides to Magic Kingdom definitely is.
The Upload Conduit and its ambiance is a type of issues that places the theme into the park. This is a stellar addition to the ‘skyline’ at Magic Kingdom, and one other reminder of what makes these parks particular. As at all times, the entire is greater than the sum of its elements.
With that glowing reward out of the way in which, let’s enter the queue, instantly after tapping into the digital queue or Lightning Lane. TRON Lightcycle Run is a combined bag right here, greeting friends with ribbed archways set beneath the cover that should conceal the gravity constructing.
There are little blue indicators garnishing these arches highlighting Team Blue, in addition to an ENCOM SHV 20905 digitizer laser, by way of which human Users move from the actual world into the digital world of the Grid.
After passing underneath the laser, Users enter a hallway with lighting and designs meant to evoke a circuit board and the digital realm. As a sucker for flashing lighting, I recognize this…however additionally it is very clearly a flashy hallway.
This will not be the one ‘obvious hallway’ within the queue for TRON Lightcycle Run. Perhaps it is a “me problem” and a matter of impossibly excessive expectations, however I discovered these sections caught out when distinction with the ‘wow moment’ and spectacular areas of the queue and journey as a complete in TRON Lightcycle Run.
To every their very own, however the objective right here is impressing upon friends that they’ve entered the digital realm, and I discovered this suspension of disbelief tough at occasions. To be clear, I’m not saying that recognizing an everyday hallway ruined the immersiveness of the expertise or something of the type.
Rather, that the depth of the themed design and stage of element was not constant all through TRON Lightcycle Run’s opening act. I’d really go a step additional and say TRON Lightcycle Run is missing the extent of consideration and polish all through, with a bunch of “little things” which can be minor in isolation however add up in combination.
Truthfully, I don’t assume it is a “me problem” or results of impossibly excessive expectations. Again, Cosmic Rewind is an effective distinction. That attraction transitions friends by way of a number of settings, however every is completed with such care and element that believability and suspension of disbelief is straightforward. That attraction has a harder activity, however sticks the touchdown higher.
None of the shortcomings in TRON Lightcycle Run are make or break, and I’d think about that almost all friends received’t even discover them. But this is a evaluation and Imagineering has created sure fan expectations by touting its consideration to element and emphasis on the whole lot (that’s exactly why so many people grew to become followers), so that is all far sport.
The aforementioned ‘wow moment’ in TRON Lightcycle Run happens after passing by way of the primary digital hallway. I don’t wish to spoil something, however there’s a quick pre-show reveal that could be very spectacular. This can also be comparable in thought to a second in Cosmic Rewind, and is the sort of factor that elevates one thing from ‘ride’ to ‘attraction.’
Following that reveal, the following room of the queue is likely one of the extra spectacular ones. The thematic thrives and design are principally nicely carried out in right here, however what instructions your full consideration is a preview of the lightcycles making ready for launch. So a lot about TRON Lightcycle Run has been described as a ‘nextgen’ Space Mountain. I don’t assume that’s a good characterization, however this does remind me of the Space Mountain load space overlook (at Disneyland) on steroids.
Towards the tip of the queue, friends arrive on the lockers. TRON Lightcycle Run is the primary attraction at Walt Disney World to require lockers for just about something bigger than a telephone or pockets. This is a brand new system for the home Disney parks, however hardly new–curler coasters all over the world having been requiring lockers for years.
New to TRON Lightcycle Run, a double-sided and digitized locker system is used to retailer luggage and unfastened objects whilst you race your Lightcycle. These free lockers pair straight together with your MagicBand, ticket media, or supplied keycard so you possibly can simply lock and reopen your locker with a fast faucet.
All objects should be positioned both in a locker earlier than you board your Lightcycle, or in a small compartment positioned on the attraction car that may maintain objects reminiscent of cellphones, glasses or wallets. I positioned my digicam bag and tripod within the locker, and it took some contortions to suit each. For reference, my bag is 12.2 x 8.66 x 18.11 inches (per Amazon) and I don’t assume it will’ve match if it have been a lot bigger than that.
If it’s your first time utilizing required lockers at a curler coaster, you won’t be appropriately impressed by this. As somebody who has used many of those, that is pretty much as good because it will get. The lockers at TRON Lightcycle Run (like VelociCoaster earlier than it) are an absolute breeze and complete gamechanger. It’s easy and seamless, with a stage of unprecedented ease and nil friction.
Load for TRON Lightcycle Run can also be much like Cosmic Rewind, proper all the way down to the twin platforms and the way Cast Members direct friends to every aspect. Cast Members are completely masterful at this, and TRON is already proving extraordinarily environment friendly–regardless of some hiccups–due to how adept they’ve grow to be at directing friends.
Those aforementioned hiccups are the problems encountered by bigger sized friends. Suffice to say, in case you’re tall, have muscular legs, or are plus-sized, you would possibly have points with the conventional journey automobiles on TRON Lightcycle Run. We cowl the whole lot you must know in TRON Lightcycle Run Problems for Larger Guests. If you assume you can have issues becoming into the lightcycle, we’d extremely suggest studying that. It covers widespread points, but additionally “solutions” for enhancing your possibilities of driving the attraction in an ordinary seat.
TRON Lightcycle Run is a semi-enclosed launched metal bike curler coaster, that means that it goes from zero to excessive velocity very, very quick. There are primarily two (unequal) halves to the journey, with the primary happening underneath that swooping outside cover and affording breathtaking views of the folks round and, in case you go searching a bit, Tomorrowland and distant areas of Magic Kingdom.
Following that, friends enter an enormous gravity constructing (an enormous darkish warehouse) the place you’re on Team Blue and racing towards the Grid’s menacing Programs – Team Red, Team Yellow or Team Orange. Your objective is to be the primary to race by way of eight Energy Gates, digital markers that Users and Programs compete to “capture.” The first workforce to seize all eight Gates by passing by way of them is said the winner. (Spoiler: you win.)
Much of the fan debate about TRON Lightcycle Run has revolved round whether or not it’s too brief. That was my criticism after first driving in Shanghai Disneyland. Depending upon the way you measure journey length, it’s someplace between one and two minutes.
Some followers have argued that the thrilling half is simply ~60 seconds, and that’s too brief. Others have countered that it’s about on par with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and there’s not heated debate about its length. (I’d argue that’s as a result of it’s older. That coaster debuted through the nascent years of the web, and the ship has sailed for on-line arguing about length. Just like it would for TRON Lightcycle Run’s size by 2025.)
Personally, I’m of two minds about this. First of all, I don’t assume there’s any onerous and quick rule for what’s “long enough” for a curler coaster. Not in seconds or in toes of monitor. It’s extra an artwork than a science, and satisfaction comes from any variety of issues–pacing, cadence, thrills, format, and so forth.
Part of the “problem” with TRON Lightcycle Run is that it has two distinct sections: the cover and the Grid. From my perspective, the cover is immensely satisfying. Flying underneath the swooping cover and over the sidewalks resulting in the attraction is extremely cool, and I may by no means get sufficient of this–however really feel roughly content material with it after every journey.
The gravity constructing is a unique story. As famous above, there are eight Energy Gates you must seize. While the “story” will not be actually important to having fun with the attraction–and simple to overlook as a result of quite a bit is happening contained in the gravity constructing because of screens and visible results–I really assume it helps to know what’s happening, and focus your consideration on it. (In my view, there’s nothing to spoil right here.)
Focusing on capturing the Energy Gates narrows your consideration, and initially makes it really feel like TRON Lightcycle Run goes to final some time, as there’s vital area between the primary 5 Energy Gates. Then the climactic second of the race occurs, and also you receive the ultimate three gates in pretty fast succession.
If there have been only a tad extra spacing between these last few Energy Gates, I feel TRON Lightcycle Run could be the proper length. Of course, I wouldn’t complain if it have been many minutes longer than that–I may journey this factor all day–however I wouldn’t assume it’s in any respect too brief in that case.
As it stands, I believe an enormous a part of the notion that it’s too brief stems from the cover part and the Energy Gate race being so separate from each other. If it have been only a race by way of the Energy Gates or just swooping round underneath the cover–and never each–it will most likely really feel extra full, however it will even be a single distinct expertise as a substitute of two.
Upon the conclusion of TRON Lightcycle Run, I’m left craving these experiences once more, not pondering “that’s it?” and able to transfer on. So by that metric, TRON Lightcycle Run principally delivers for me on the journey itself. The music, visuals, pacing, and sense of exhilaration are all prime notch. For me, TRON will not be as satisfying as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or VelociCoaster, however these are elite points of interest–it falling barely in need of these marks is extra reward for them than an indictment of TRON Lightcycle Run.
There’s additionally the truth that it’s essentially totally different. More than anything, I’d categorize TRON Lightcycle Run as a “wish fulfillment ride.” It doesn’t matter in case you’re a fan of the movies, straddling the lightcycle and racing by way of the Grid is, itself, an expertise that will likely be etched in your reminiscence lengthy after the specifics of the curler coaster–and most different rides you probably did on trip at Walt Disney World–fades away.
To reply the titular query, all of that makes TRON Lightcycle Run definitely worth the power and energy of the digital queue. (To that time, seek the advice of our TRON Lightcycle Run Virtual Queue Strategy Guide for enhancing your odds of efficiently scoring a free spot to journey.) As somebody with robust disdain for the pay-per-ride Individual Lightning Lanes, I can not reply that one. I personally have by no means purchased a type of, however my circumstances additionally differ from a once-in-a-lifetime vacationer.
Hopefully the above commentary about TRON Lightcycle Run being a want achievement attraction and indelible reminiscence may help you resolve for your self. Failing all of that, merely standing underneath the cover gazing up and round is an expertise that’s simply “worth it” for anybody who can’t journey.
Ultimately, I don’t love TRON Lightcycle Run in the identical approach as different latest additions to Walt Disney World, however there’s completely one thing to be mentioned for its memory-making high quality and coolness issue. The distinctive nature of the journey plus the kinetic high quality of the Upload Conduit that quantities to a park enhancement gratifying for all–not simply thrill seekers–add as much as make TRON Lightcycle Run a robust addition to the Walt Disney World journey roster and Magic Kingdom mountain (?) vary.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider TRON Lightcycle Run? Are you excited for this new Magic Kingdom curler coaster, or does it not curiosity you? Thoughts on the aesthetic and kinetic power it provides to this nook of Tomorrowland? Agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions beneath within the feedback!