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Lots of exciting changes are in the works at the Magic Kingdom, and the most exciting is the newest addition to Tomorrowland: TRON Lightcycle / Run, the next roller coaster to arrive at the Walt Disney World Resort.
TRON Lightcycle / Run originally debuted as TRON Lightcycle Power Run at the opening of Shanghai Disneyland in 2016. The following year at the 2017 D23 Expo, the Walt Disney Company officially announced that a version of the attraction would be coming to the states with TRON Lightcycle / Run in the works for the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.
Disney World’s next new thrill ride has been years in the making, lending to it becoming one of the most highly anticipated upcoming attractions ever to debut at the Magic Kingdom. Whether you are wondering what all of the fuss is about or simply want to make sure you have all the tips you need to ride, we’ve got you covered….
Credit: Disney
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The Basics of TRON Lightcycle / Run
What kind of attraction is TRON Lightcycle / Run?
TRON Lightcycle / Run is a high-speed roller coaster with a launch, tight turns, and drops. The attraction begins indoors, but includes an outdoor speed run under a canopy that is sure to offer stunning views of Tomorrowland, especially in the evenings as the exterior of the coaster is lit up alongside Space Mountain.
What is the story behind TRON Lightcycle / Run?
Walt Disney Imagineering created the new TRON coaster by taking inspiration from the original film, TRON (1982), to immerse Guests in the story as they prepare to “Enter the Grid.” In the process, Guests will board their own Lightcycle (or a standard, accessible seat, but more on that later) as they join Team Blue to race through 8 Energy Gates in the fully computerized world of TRON.
Credit: Disney
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Considerations Before You Ride TRON Lightcycle / Run
Does TRON Lightcycle / Run have big drops or go upside down?
This new Walt Disney World is sure to offer quite a thrilling experience for Guests with the coaster’s tallest point taking riders about 70 ft. off the ground. The attraction does not go upside down, but it does have sharp turns and sudden drops while reaching about 4Gs.
How fast does TRON Lightcycle / Run go?
The new TRON addition to Magic Kingdom Park is actually set to be the fastest roller coaster at Disney World alongside Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT, so it may not be for the faint of heart. TRON Lightcycle / Run reaches speeds of 60 MPH, putting it ahead of other Disney roller coasters like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (57 MPH) and Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (50 MPH).
For a tamer experience in Tomorrowland, Guests may want to look right next store to Space Mountain, which surprisingly only runs at 27 MPH at its fastest. And for a relaxing ride instead, at least near the TRON site, Guests could always board the Walt Disney World Railroad nearby in Fantasyland and take in views of the coaster as they make their way around this Disney Park.
@disneyparks >◎//: Welcome programs. TRON preview testing has begun. 404 error detected in footage. Enter the Grid on 04/04/23 🥏 #Disney #DisneyWorld #TRON #POV #RollerCoaster #Ride #Coaster #Orlando #FirstLook #MagicKingdom #Lightcycle
Is there a height requirement for TRON Lightcycle / Run?
Like most thrill rides, there is a height requirement for TRON Lightcycle / Run to ensure Guest safety. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride. (For Guests who are just slightly below the requirement for TRON, Space Mountain’s height requirement is 44 inches.)
In addition to the height requirement, and in accordance with most thrill rides, Guests should also be free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or next problems, and motion sickness. Expectant mothers should also skip this attraction.
Can plus-size people fit in the TRON Lightcycle / Run vehicles?
Disney World attractions (thrill rides and others) are typically very plus-size friendly, especially when compared to the competition. Still, Guests have already reported issues fitting into the Lightcycle seats on Disney’s new TRON coaster during early preview events for Cast Members, Annual Passholders, D23 Members, and Disney Vacation Club Members.
The Lightcycle seats are similar in their restraint system to Avatar – Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the problem for TRON, however, is that the leg restraints are much more restrictive. As a result, Guests who carry weight in their calves may struggle to fit into these ride vehicles. The good news is that if you carry your weight elsewhere, you should still be able to ride on the Lightcycle vehicles, with Guests of many shapes and sizes reporting no issues with the chest and back restraints on the attraction. If your calves are over approximately 17-18 inches, however, you may have a challenging time with the leg restraints.
There is a test seat located outside of the attraction in Tomorrowland for Guests to test out before they enter the line, and thankfully alternative seating options are available if the Lightcycle ride vehicle does not work out. When TRON Lightcycle / Run opened for previews, two of the trains included ADA-style seats (a standard bench) on the last rows. When Guests during previews reported an additional wait for these seats as many people needed to use them, Disney began adding the seats to more of the trains. As a result, if you do need to use them, you should not be met with much of an additional wait if any during your trip to the Magic Kingdom.
Credit: Disney
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How to Ride TRON Lightcycle / Run
Does TRON Lightcycle / Run require a virtual queue?
Like many new attractions at Walt Disney World, TRON Lightcycle / Run will initially run without a standby line, meaning Guests will need to either join a virtual queue or purchase access to the roller coaster via an Individual Lightning Lane. TRON will use the same virtual queue system as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, with the latter attraction continuing to use a virtual queue when TRON opens. Guests who Park Hop between EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom will also have the opportunity to join the queue for both roller coasters, based on availability.
Access to the virtual queue will be found in the My Disney Experience app, and Guests will have two times to attempt to join the queue; 7:00 a.m. (while inside OR outside the Magic Kingdom, but with a theme park reservation made to enter the Disney Park), or at 1:00 p.m. (Guests must be inside the Park at this time to join.) Additionally, Guests staying at Deluxe Resorts who visit the Park during Extended Evening Hours will have an extra opportunity to join the queue beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Disney has also stated that late arrivals will not be accommodated in the virtual queue, so be sure to make your way to Tomorrowland when your boarding group is called to avoid missing out.
Is TRON Lightcycle / Run included in Disney Genie+?
TRON Lightcycle / Run is included in Disney Genie+, but it will be available as an Individual Lightning Lane purchase. Since there is no standby line, and no announcement from Disney as to when the ride will receive one, if you are unable to enter the virtual queue, Lightning Lane will be your only other chance to ride.
@disneyparks >◎//: Initiating Locker Protocol #DisneyParks #MagicKingdom #Tron #TronlightCycleRun #Rollercoaster #Lockers #Magicband #WaltDisneyWorld #Ride #DisneyRide
What else should I know before I ride?
The highly anticipated new attraction comes with on-ride photos and videos, along with a post-show by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the attraction’s sponsor, introducing “Team Green.”
The ride is also the first at Walt Disney World to require Guests to store larger loose articles (like bags and backpacks) in lockers prior to boarding their ride vehicles. Smaller items can be stored in a sealed compartment on each ride vehicle, but larger pieces will need to be put in a locker before reaching the load station.
TRON Lightcycle / Run is now open with no standby line and is operating on a virtual queue or individual Lightning Lane purchase only. In a departure from other attractions that use virtual queues, Disney has noted that late arrivals may not be accommodated for TRON Lightcycle / Run.
We hope this guide helps you plan your first ride on the latest addition to Tomorrowland. Enjoy your ride into “the Grid!”
