Are you ready to enter the Grid? TRON Lightcycle / Run officially opens at Walt Disney World on April 4, 2023.
First announced at the 2017 D23 Expo, TRON Lightcycle / Run has been one of the most long-awaited Disney rides in recent memory. The first version of the ride, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, opened at Shanghai Disneyland in 2016.
Will the coaster hold up to fan expectations after six or seven years of anticipation?
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The Grid
TRON Lightcycle / Run is based on the TRON franchise, which takes place in the digital universe of the Grid. The coaster sits in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, wrapped in a curving white canopy that glows with neon blue light. The track is partially outdoors, under the canopy, and indoors.
Riders, known in-universe as “users,” are assigned to Team Blue and tasked with defeating Team Orange in a lightcycle race. Think you’ve got what it takes to beat a team full of computer programs?
Before you hop on your lightcycle, you need to store anything larger than a cellphone in the provided lockers. You can access your locker with your MagicBand or park ticket and retrieve your valuables after the ride.
Though the ride is open all day long, it might be worth it to see if you can ride at night – the Grid comes alive when it’s completely in the dark.
There’s also a viewing area beneath the coaster, where you can watch for your friends and family or just enjoy the atmosphere.
The Lightcycles
TRON Lightcycle / Run is a rollercoaster with motorcycle-style vehicles. That means riders have to straddle their seats as though they’re riding a bike (or, in this case, a lightcycle). The seat is reminiscent of the seats on Avatar Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom. The safety harness forces the rider to lean forward while riding, and their legs are pinned into place on either side of the lightcycle with additional safety devices.
As a result of this unique design, some taller or larger riders have not been able to safely fit on the lightcycle seats. Fortunately, there are accessible seating options on some of the ride vehicles, so riders who can’t use the lightcycles can still experience the coaster. If you’re able to ride Avatar Flight of Passage, you might be able to ride TRON, but the seats are not exactly the same.
If you’re concerned about fitting on the lightcycle, you can try one of the test seats in front of the ride (and get a cool photo-op while you’re at it).
The Queue
The Grid isn’t the only thing that’s virtual – there’s no traditional standby queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run at this time. That means if you want to “wait,” you’ll have to do it virtually. To join the virtual queue, you have to use the My Disney Experience app to reserve a spot. Most new Disney attractions have been utilizing this feature to cut down on time spent waiting in lines, but reservations are known to get snatched up in seconds.
Queue reservations are released in batches at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. every day. You’ll need a reservation for Magic Kingdom to get a place in the queue, and you need to be in the park if you’re trying for the 1 p.m. group.
Want to skip the queue entirely? TRON Lightcycle / Run is also offering an a la carte Lightning Lane option. Pricing and availability will vary, but since it’s a new ride, it will probably sell out fast. A Disney hotel reservation can help you get early access to Lightning Lane options.
Disney100 at Walt Disney World
Disney is marking the company’s 100th anniversary in 2023, which means that all the parks are celebrating. Walt Disney World is just finishing up an important milestone of its own, as it wrapped up its 50th anniversary celebration on March 31. And, as always, there are some changes coming to the parks.
Fan-favorite nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After is returning to the Magic Kingdom on April 3, the night before TRON opens. Epcot will also see the return of the nighttime spectacular Epcot Forever on the same night.
That’s not all for Epcot, though. This year, Epcot will be the home of the Disney100 celebration in Walt Disney World, which means it’s going to be getting an all-new nighttime spectacular sometime later in 2023. Guests will also be able to meet Mickey and Minnie at Epcot, dressed in platinum outfits for the anniversary.
Announcements for more Disney100 celebrations at Walt Disney World are sure to come soon.
Are you planning a trip to ride TRON Lightcycle / Run? Think it can measure up to your favorite roller coaster? Let us know in the comments below.
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Featured image: Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort
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