The Magic Kingdom is finally upgrading its Tomorrowland as the TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster has now officially come to Walt Disney World! Please tell me this isn’t a dream! In fact, the immensely popular TRON roller coaster from Shanghai Disneyland has arrived stateside and we can’t wait for you to ride it!
In this article, we are going to share everything we know about the TRON Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster so far including the location, ride vehicle, height requirements, the opening date, and any news and updates about this attraction.
We’ll also talk about a touring strategy for TRON Lightcycle Run including Lightning Lane information, estimated wait times, crowds, the best time to visit, and a walkthrough of the attraction so you know what awaits you when you ride.
We’ve already had a chance to ride it, so we’ll do our best to answer any questions you have about the ride itself, how scary it is, and how big you can be and still get to ride.
Riders will board trains of two-wheeled Light Cycle bikes for a thrilling race through the digital frontier, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in Walt Disney World before. Read more detailed info below!
If you want to skip over the basic ride info, you can jump down to our Full Walkthrough Tour of TRON Lightcycle Run and see what we thought of it when we actually got a chance to ride it in person.
Also, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest TRON Lightcycle Run updates as well as other Disney vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!
Table of Contents
TRON Lightcycle Run Overview
- Location: Tomorrowland in Disney’s Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World)
- Status: NOW OPEN
- Opening Date: April 4, 2023
- Ride Type: Roller Coaster
- Thrill Level: High
- Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane Single Pass selection
- Ride Length: 2 Minutes
- Height Requirement: 48 inches
- Capacity: 1,680 riders per hour
To start off, we just want to say how excited we are for the TRON roller coaster to now be in Walt Disney World. Some Disney fans have been pretty negative about some of the upcoming attraction choices in the parks, but we on the other hand couldn’t be more excited, and we think TRON might just be the best of the bunch.
Even though it had been rumored for some time before, when the TRON coaster was announced back at the 2017 D23 Expo we lost it. Knowing what a popular and thrilling ride it already is overseas, we couldn’t wait to get it in a U.S. Disney park. And now that it’s here, we think it’s going to be a HUGE game-breaker for the Magic Kingdom especially.
This is the fastest and one of the most thrilling roller coasters ever to come to Walt Disney World. It might even be the most thrilling ride in any Disney park worldwide.
TRON Lightcycle Run Riding Options
Naturally, when any new ride comes to Disney parks, they usually become the most popular attraction in that park for a good amount of time. Usually, you can just walk up to the entrance and get in line. But it’s not that simple here.
UPDATE: Thankfully in September 2024, Disney announced that TRON: Lightcycle Run will be going to a standby queue finally! We were beyond overjoyed when we heard this, meaning that all guests can now get in a standard standby queue!
We’ll go into more detail later in this article, but right now there are only 2 ways to ride TRON Lightcycle Run:
- Standby Queue – Thankfully guests that do NOT want to have to pay additional money can get in a standard standby queue to ride TRON: Lightcycle Run.
- Lightning Lane Single Pass – This is a paid replacement for FastPass and lets each guest purchase a one-time pass that lets them skip the standby queue and get on the ride without much waiting.
Previously, the ONLY FREE way to ride TRON Lightcycle Run is by using the Virtual Queue. Thankfully that is no longer the case anymore as the Virtual Queue is currently gone for TRON Lightcycle Run.
Since transitioning over to the standby queue, wait times have actually been more reasonable than expected. In fact, we’ve been surprised that we’ve waited less time in the standby queue than we often did when we had a Virtual Queue reservation!
But if you don’t feel like waiting in line for considerable amounts of time there is still the Lightning Lane Single Pass that is also available for TRON Lightcycle Run and it is a separate purchase from Lightning Lane Multi Pass that grants each guest one ride each.
Right now, prices for the Lightning Lane Single Pass cost $20 per person. However, dynamic pricing will determine the price each day so it could be more or less depending on the season. For example, Cosmic Rewind costs between $14 and $17 per person to ride. We’ll update you on the latest prices in the coming weeks.
With the standby queue now in full effect, there are no limits to how many times guests can ride TRON: Lightcycle Run each day! That means you can technically get in line over and over again!
TRON is one of the most popular rides in Disney World and demand will be extremely high for a long time. If you want to purchase the Lightning Lane Single Pass, we highly advise doing it as soon as possible! Especially for those that want to maximize there time fully in Magic Kingdom, which has by far the most amount of attractions out of any in a WDW Theme Park.
It’s possible that TRON Lightcycle Run could go back to a virtual queue as it was in the past. If that happens, make sure to read our guide to Riding TRON Lightcycle Run with the Virtual Queue. There you will find step-by-step instructions and all the tips to give you the best possible chance to ride!
What is TRON Lightcycle Run?
Get excited people, because the TRON roller coaster, TRON Lightcycle Run, TRON ride, or whatever you want to call it, is coming to Walt Disney World! What exactly is it, and why does it have such a long name??
The proper name for the attraction is TRON Lightcycle Run. It’s a futuristic roller coaster based on the TRON franchise and has guests climb aboard the iconic two-wheeled “Light Cycles” as they race and speed through this mind-bending roller coaster track in “The Grid.”
That’s right, generic future themes are played out. The digital frontier is where you are going on TRON.
It is an indoor-outdoor coaster, which is covered by a huge hanging canopy marked by its changing colors. Now that it’s built, it’s a dominant fixture on the Magic Kingdom skyline and it will attract guests from all around the park.
Location
What Parks is the TRON roller coaster coming to? While initially there were rumors that the ride might make it to multiple U.S. Disney theme parks, the TRON Lightcycle Run is only coming to Tomorrowland in Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park.
The TRON ride is located right next to Space Mountain and behind the Tomorrowland Speedway. In fact, since the attraction is beyond the original park berm, a significant amount of land clearing had to be done before construction began.
It was thought that it might also come to another park like Disney California Adventure or Disneyland Park, but The Walt Disney World location will be the only one for the time being.
Why Did Disney Build TRON in Magic Kingdom?
Let’s face it, even though Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park is the best park in Disney World for “rides,” they’ve been in sore need of more attractions due to the high number of guests all the time in the park for years now.
When the majority of the best attractions in the park (Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc) are all 25+ years old or more, you know you need some new additions.
This is a perfect storm for the Magic Kingdom because the TRON roller coaster is the centerpiece of the many improvements Disney is trying to make to the park, including the potential expansion behind Frontierland.
I’m also happy that Tomorrowland is finally getting a little love, as over the years it has looked like anything but a vision of the future. The TRON franchise, while maybe not the traditional princess franchise that is so often found in the Magic Kingdom, actually fits in really well in Tomorrowland. It might have worked in Hollywood Studios or EPCOT too, but in my opinion, this was the best home for it.
TRON is an imposing, dominating, and very attractive figure on the Shanghai Disneyland skyline, and it has definitely had the same effect here in the Magic Kingdom too. Its bright lights and friendly screams will attract guests from all over the park and serve as the new Tomorrowland icon.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom is also the best fit for the TRON coaster because the park needs more thrill rides. The Magic Kingdom has been falling out of favor with teens in recent years due to the Animal Kingdom (Flight of Passage) and Hollywood Studios (Galaxy’s Edge) both stepping up in the thrill ride department.
Even EPCOT has also added a revolutionary new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster which has also been a big hit. Since it doesn’t look like we’re getting that Fire Mountain roller coaster anytime soon, TRON is a crucial piece of the Magic Kingdom’s evolution into the next decade and beyond.
Is this the Same Ride as in Shanghai Disneyland?
The TRON coaster is a copy of the version already in Shanghai Disneyland which opened in 2016. It quickly became one of the most popular rides in the park according to guests and a park icon.
The track layout for the TRON coaster, the ride vehicles, and the canopy structure are all the same in the Magic Kingdom as they are in Shanghai Disneyland.
While we can’t say right now that every single piece of steel is 100% the same, it sure looks like that is how Disney built it.
The only slight difference we know about is the attraction name. In the Shanghai version, it’s called: “Tron Lightcycle Power Run” whereas in Disney World it’s called: “Tron Lightcycle Run,” dropping the word “power” from the title.
What is the Ride About? Story?
While immersing guests in intricate storytelling is usually the Disney way, TRON Lightcycle Run is more straightforward and it’s set up more like a traditional roller coaster. There is a story, but it’s not like in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind where you experience a long story before the ride.
If you’ve seen the classic 1982 Disney film “TRON” then you’ll quickly be familiar with The Grid and the people involved in the story. If you haven’t seen the film, it’s about Kevin Flynn, a brilliant video game maker who hacks the mainframe of his former employer and ends up getting beamed into a digital world by the Master Control Program (MCP).
Flynn eventually defeats the MCP with the help of a program named Yori, and Flynn is sent back to the real world.
The sequel, “TRON: Legacy” is set many cycles after the original, and instead of Kevin, the story follows his son Sam Flynn who is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father. He follows a signal from Flynn’s Arcade, is pulled into the digital world, and embarks on a life-or-death journey with his father who eventually defeats the ruthless villain named CLU.
The basic idea behind TRON Lightcycle Run is that it picks up right where TRON: Legacy leaves off where Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, has opened a second gateway into the Grid at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. The first gateway is found at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run attraction.
You are digitized and transported into The Grid for a special Lightcycle race. You are part of Team Blue, and you are up against Teams Red, Yellow, and Orange, who are all vying to be the first to race through the eight Energy Gates. The first team to pass through all eight is declared the winner.
In theory, it sounds pretty cool, but honestly, if you haven’t seen the film then the story is lacking and not very engaging. There are some relics from the films in the ride queue such as a giant replica of this laser – the ENCOM SHV 20905, but again, there is no explanation for anything.
It’s nothing like Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT where there are detailed pre-shows with videos explaining what you are supposed to do. Here is much more about the actual ride experience, unfortunately.
Ride Length
Even though TRON Lightcycle Run is already a smash-hit attraction, the one complaint guests have is that it’s actually a pretty short roller coaster. The official ride length is only 2 minutes long.
That is pretty short even for Disney coaster standards. For example, Space Mountain is 2 min 30 seconds, Expedition Everest is 2 min 50 seconds and Big Thunder is 3 min 25 seconds. It is however still longer than Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster which clocks in at a measly 1 min 22 seconds.
Honestly, it’s probably close to the shortest roller coaster we’ve ever been on, and it’s over in what feels like the blink of an eye.
While it would be awesome if the TRON coaster was longer, it’s still such a fun ride, and even though it’s short, the thrills you get are incredible. Keep in mind this is an intense ride, so not something you’d be able to handle for 5 minutes straight anyhow.
Ride System
So what is the ride system like? TRON Lightcycle Run is a semi-enclosed launched steel motorbike roller coaster. We say semi-enclosed because it’s not totally an indoor roller coaster like Space Mountain, but more like an outdoor coaster that’s covered by a canopy.
The version in Shanghai was developed by the famous roller coaster manufacturer Vekoma, who also (not coincidentally), designed the Guardians roller coaster in EPCOT.
What makes this roller coaster system special is the canopy and the many digital lighting and sound effects throughout the ride. It feels like you are really entering the grid from the TRON films.
Ride Vehicle
The layout of the actual roller coaster track and the ride system itself is awesome, but it’s the unique light cycle bike ride vehicles that really make the TRON coaster special. The ride vehicles are a clone of the light cycle bikes from the TRON films and were specially created by Disney Imagineering to further enhance the riding experience.
Each roller coaster train holds 7 cars of 2 riders each (1 row of 2) for a total of 14 riders per train.
The way you sit in the ride vehicle is more like a motorcycle than a normal roller coaster car. You lean forward and hold the grips like motorcycle handles, and are secured with a support locking you in from the back.
The coaster trains stand out from far away as they light up and have several different light sequences they go through during the ride, changing colors and coming to life. Each bike is equipped with a killer onboard sound system further enhancing the ride experience.
The vehicles are very comfortable and even have a convenient storage bin for your phone and glasses if you did not already put them in the lockers outside the loading area already.
In reality, there are actually two types of ride vehicles for TRON:
- The Light Cycle Bikes – The main Light Cycle Bikes that make up 95% of the seats.
- Traditional Sit-Down Cars – A more standard roller coaster car that you can sit down in. They are located in the back row, but not on every coaster train. They each can hold 2 guests.
The traditional sit-down roller coaster cars were made for guests who don’t want to or who can’t ride the Light Cycle bikes. This can be perhaps because of disability or accessibility reasons, or if the guests are too large to fit on the bikes (more on that in a minute).
The main vehicles are even put on display in Disney’s Magic Kingdom outside the entrance for guests to see, test out, and take photos with.
In my opinion, the TRON light cycle bikes are quite possibly the coolest ride vehicles of any Disney attraction, ever, and an absolute dream to ride in person!
What Type of Passenger Restraint Does the Ride Vehicle Have?
There are two types of restraints to keep you in your seat depending on which of the two ride vehicles you choose.
Light Cycle Bikes – These ride vehicles are essentially a motorcycle bike that you lean over and grab the handlebars in front. As you pull the handles toward you, the back support lowers onto your back and the leg restraints lock your legs into place.
In fact, you pull down the restraints yourself when you lean forward and grab the handlebars in front. This makes it easier to get the correct fit on the bike.
Think of this as Flight of Passage on a roller coaster track. We find the bikes very comfortable to ride on and we love the feeling of flying through The Grid on them!
Sit-Down Cars – These seats have an individual lap bar that pulls down over your waist and locks you into place. There is also a handlebar in front of you that you can hang onto.
There are no shoulder restraints in either ride vehicle as it’s not intense enough to warrant them (for example, no inversions).
Seating Guide
In this section, we’ll talk about the best places to sit on TRON Lightcycle Run and what to do if you are a larger guest.
Is TRON Lightcycle Run Accommodating for Larger Guests?
With such a unique and thrilling ride vehicle, there comes a price. Unfortunately, one of the most controversial aspects of the TRON Lightycle Run is that it is not very accommodating to all guest sizes, in particular on the Light Cycle bikes.
Even outside the attraction, Disney has posted on a sign: “The seating and restraints on this attraction may prohibit guests of certain body shapes or sizes from riding.”
It’s not so much an issue for taller guests, but “Pooh-sized” guests will have a hard time fitting on the bikes. There is plenty of room even for guests with extra long legs and the seats are nice and wide. The problem isn’t so much in the stomach area but around your legs and calves.
When you sit on the bike you are leaning forward grabbing the handlebars in front of you, and a back restraint pushes down on your back to hold you in place. Most of the larger guests we saw didn’t have a problem with that part.
The problem is that there are also restraints that come on your legs, much like in Avatar: Flight of Passage. In this case, however, the restraints feel tighter and squeeze your legs more than on Flight of Passage. Since there is no shoulder restraint, the bikes are designed in other ways to keep you secure, hence the tight fit on your legs.
Even if your legs are not very big, the restraints can be very tight and uncomfortable depending on the way you are positioned.
- TIP: If you are having trouble fitting in the test vehicle, try adjusting the positioning of your legs and feet. When I slid my feet all the way back, it made more space for my calves and it was more comfortable on my shins too.
As a general rule, we would say that if you can ride Avatar: Flight of Passage, you shouldn’t have a problem riding TRON Lightcycle Run either. It’s not 100%, but if you can’t fit on Flight of Passage, it’s unlikely you will fit on the Light Cycle bikes either.
A good way to test if you will be able to fit on the ride vehicle is to test out the ones in front of the attraction entrance. There you can get on the bike and try closing the restraints for yourself to see if you fit.
One thing to consider is that the test vehicles they have out in front of the attraction are not 100% the same as the ones used on the actual ride. So even if you don’t fit there, you still may fit on the actual ride. This is the case especially if you don’t fit by a small margin.
Keep in mind that even if you can’t fit on the bikes, that doesn’t mean you can’t ride TRON Lightcycle Run. There are sit-down cars in the back row of some of the trains which fit more like a traditional roller coaster and have more space. If you can fit in other coasters like Cosmic Rewind, at the very least you should be able to fit in here too.
Guests with Back and Hip Issues
Obviously, Disney makes it clear before you ride that guests with any kind of neck or back issues should use caution and possibly avoid riding TRON Lightcycle Run. This, of course, is up to each guest to decide for themselves and everyone’s condition is different.
What you should keep in mind is that if you are on the bike, you will be leaning forward the entire time which may irritate your back or neck.
Also, guests with hip issues or who have received a hip replacement may have trouble riding on the bikes. For example, my dad has had two hip replacements and has a hard time getting on Flight of Passage. The Light Cycle bikes are even lower than that and guests in this condition may have a hard time getting on and off.
Again, you can try the bikes outside the attraction and see if you are able to fit comfortably or not. No matter what your condition, the back car may be a better alternative.
Again, we recommend everyone always follow Disney’s safety guidelines posted outside the attraction before deciding whether to ride the TRON coaster or not.
Is It Better to Sit in the Front or Back?
Any seat on TRON Lightcycle Run is going to give you a cool ride experience, however, the front row of the train is best and is going to give you the best view of the action.
Since you are leaning forward into the track, when there is nothing in front of you blocking your view, it’s a much better experience. The times that we have ridden, it’s been night and day when you are in the front row compared to the middle or back.
If you want to ride in the front row, all you have to do is ask a cast member and they will have to wait there until there is a row ready. It usually only extends your wait time by about 5 minutes, so to us, it’s totally worth it for the superior experience.
Height Requirement
The official height requirement for TRON Lightcycle Run is 48 inches or 122 centimeters. This makes it one of the attractions with the highest height requirements in all of Walt Disney World.
How does it compare when looking at other similar attractions around Disney World? Currently, there is only 1 other attraction in Walt Disney World that has a 48” height requirement and that is the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Primeval Whirl was also 48”, but that is now permanently closed.
TRON is an indoor roller coaster, the fastest that Disney has ever built. However, 48” is more than Expedition Everest, Cosmic Rewind, Tower of Terror, and Dinosaur. I personally wouldn’t say that it’s more intense than Expedition Everest, and I’d have it in that 44” group instead, but maybe it has to do with the safety restraints on the bikes.
You can compare TRON Lightcycle Run with all the other attractions in our list of Disney World Attraction Height Requirements.
How Scary is the TRON Coaster?
I’m usually a person that encourages everyone to try every attraction, at least once, but there is no doubt that the Tron roller coaster is definitely going to be scary for some guests.
Tron Lightcycle Power Run has immediately become one of the most intense rides in Disney World the minute it opens due to the high speeds at which the trains travel, and steep turns and drops. It also reaches heights of up to 70 ft off the ground, so definitely not for the faint of heart.
How Fast is the TRON Roller Coaster?
To quote Top Gun: “I feel the need, the need for speed.” If high speeds are what you want, then this is the ride for you. Just how fast is the Tron roller coaster ride?
Both the Magic Kingdom and Shanghai versions of Tron Lightcycle Run reach speeds of just under 60 mph (95 kph), making it the fastest Disney roller coaster in the world. TRON wastes no time either and right at the beginning of the ride there is a launch bringing you up to top speed.
All this has instantly made the TRON coaster, the fastest roller coaster in Walt Disney World, faster than both Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest.
Does TRON Lightcycle Run Go Upside Down?
If you are afraid of loops, there is no need to worry, the Tron roller coaster doesn’t have any inversions or go upside down. That being said, it’s still one of the most thrilling Disney roller coasters and could hold its own in any theme park around the world.
Is the Ride in Total Darkness?
TRON Lightcycle Run is dark, very dark. I wouldn’t say that it’s pitch black like Space Mountain, you can see a little better than that and there are more lighting effects here. It’s about on par with Cosmic Rewind as far as darkness goes in my opinion.
How Tall are the Drops on TRON Lightcycle Run?
There aren’t any huge drops on TRON Lightcycle Run, nothing that gives you a free fall sensation or any real airtime. Don’t think this is like some of the Universal roller coasters or anything.
The drops on TRON Lightcycle Run are slightly taller than in Space Mountain but not really any steeper. There is a drop under the canopy and a couple inside the show building, but they are more gradual drops and not really steep. If you ride roller coasters, it’s nothing to get overly worried about.
What is the Initial Launch Like?
Our favorite part of the entire ride is when you are launched onto The Grid and this takes place right at the beginning of the ride. Once you leave the loading area you enter a waiting room where the launch takes place.
This is the same room that is revealed to you during the pre-show and that you walk above in the ride queue. In fact, you can see the launch here before ever riding it. Once you enter the room there is a countdown and guests are blasted off. You get a good view of this from the outside of the building under the canopy.
The launch is super fun and similar in intensity to the one on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, only there are no loops awaiting you at the end of it. While it doesn’t bother us and it’s actually quite smooth, some guests might find it disorienting if they aren’t used to that launch feeling, so keep that in mind.
Here is a video showing the initial launch:
Who Will Like the TRON Coaster?
Everyone from kids to adults should really enjoy TRON Lightcycle Run, as long as they are not afraid of roller coasters. It is really a hit among teenagers and those who like thrill rides due to the high speed.
Safety Information
Guest safety is always a top concern for Disney and that’s why it’s important to read the safety information before riding TRON. Disney has a sign posted outside the ride entrance that reads:
“For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.”
Can I Opt-Out of Riding Once in the Queue?
If for some reason you get in the attraction queue and change your mind about riding TRON Lightcycle Run, you can opt-out and tell a Cast Member at any point that you prefer not to ride.
If you decide to back out of the ride once you get to the loading area, at least it will give you an opportunity to see the pre-shows, the launch room, and the Hall of Champions.
Will TRON Lightcycle Run Make Me Sick?
While flying through The Grid sounds amazing, we know that one of the biggest questions on people’s minds is: “Will the TRON coaster make me sick?”
Whether or not TRON Lightcycle Run will make you sick is dependent on your personal tolerance level to thrill rides, but in general, it’s NOT one of the more nauseating rides in Disney World.
We know that many people have had a bad experience on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind over in EPCOT for example, but TRON is nothing like that. TRON doesn’t have any spinning or twisting during the ride and you won’t be looking in all kinds of directions.
There are also no inversions to worry about which oftentimes can make you nauseous. In my opinion, the majority of guests shouldn’t have a problem, especially if they are used to roller coasters. However, if you are prone to motion sickness or get nauseous very easily, there is always the potential you could be affected here too.
Is It Better to Sit in the Front or Back for Less Motion Sickness?
Just like any roller coaster, where you choose to sit on the TRON coaster train will change the experience and potentially cause more or less motion sickness.
From our experience, we found that sitting in the front row of the vehicle caused less motion sickness than in the middle or back rows. The fact that you can see everything as it’s happening allowed us to process it better and be prepared for any curves or drops. If you need to be able to see where you are going, then the front is the place to be.
The back row offers a more intense ride, ironically, this is the row where guests with accessibility issues also go. You can’t see as much, so be prepared for the unexpected. There are also slightly higher G-forces in the back.
If you can get in the front row, this will provide you the best opportunity to avoid motion sickness on TRON, but the difference isn’t nearly as big as on other coasters like Cosmic Rewind, so I wouldn’t be very worried.
Tips to Prevent Motion Sickness on TRON
We don’t think motion sickness is a huge problem on TRON Lightcycle Run, but If you are prone to it there are a couple of things you may be able to do to prevent it from happening.
One thing that helps us is to have a light snack before riding. We prefer having something small to tide us over which helps settle our stomach and prevent motion sickness. Don’t go crazy and have a whole meal or anything, but something like a pretzel, some chips, or popcorn may do the trick.
Of course, this is a personal preference and you may prefer not to have anything, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Also, as we mentioned before, sitting in the front row allows you to see where you are going which can also be a factor in not getting nauseous.
Boarding Groups & Virtual Queue
Another popular question is if the TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster uses boarding groups and the Virtual Queue. Thankfully NO it doesn’t.
(UPDATE: Thankfully TRON Lightcycle Run has gone to a full standby queue making the boarding groups and virtual queue no longer useful. It’s possible that it COULD go back to it in the future, but for now don’t worry about this!)
As has been the case with most new attractions that Disney has made in the last few years, TRON Lightcycle Run when it first opened used the virtual queue and boarding groups. Nowadays, it’s almost a guarantee that when a new E-Ticket attraction opens at Walt Disney World it will use the Virtual Queue.
They first introduced boarding groups for Rise of the Resistance in 2019, then Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure used the virtual queue when it first opened, and even after two years the Virtual Queue is still being used on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. So it’s pretty much what we’ve come to expect for all new attractions at this point.
Right now, TRON Lightcycle Run is NOT using the Virtual Queue. When it did use the Virtual Queue, the distribution times were:
- 7:00 am
- 1:00 pm
- 6:00 pm (on select days for Deluxe Disney World Resort guests only)
Check out our guide to boarding groups and the Virtual Queue for TRON Lightcycle Run to see a step-by-step guide to how it works and all the tips you need to successfully book it.
You can also read our post on the Disney Virtual Queue which explains how to use it and the benefits of boarding groups. We’ll update you when any more changes are made to TRON Lightcycle Run.
Does TRON Lightcycle Run Have Lightning Lane?
If you are unfamiliar with Disney World’s Lightning Lane system, this is the old FastPass+ replacement which allows you to skip the standby queues of your favorite attractions. Since arriving in 2021, it is now fully integrated into the majority of the attractions in each of the 4 theme parks.
As of this writing, TRON Lightcycle Run is an Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction and it is not included in the regular lineup of Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
The reason the TRON coaster is using the Lightning Lane Single Pass instead of being included among the Multi Pass lineup of attractions is its great popularity.
There was no doubt that TRON would instantly become the Magic Kingdom’s most popular ride upon opening, and that’s why they decided to make it a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction. This is how Disney has handled the best attraction in every park.
The only difference here is that TRON Lightcycle Run is not the only Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction at the Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train also uses it. In fact, at this time, the Magic Kingdom is the only WDW theme park to have 2 attractions using the Lightning Lane Single Pass.
If you don’t get a boarding pass or if you choose to pay to ride, the TRON coaster should be your #1 priority. Even paid reservations for this ride will sell out in minutes each day and you should do everything you can to get a reservation.
Read our post on How to Purchase Lightning Lane Attractions for an easy step-by-step guide.
How Much Does Lightning Lane Cost for TRON Lightcycle Run?
Here is the latest pricing for TRON Lightcycle Run when using the Lightning Lane:
- $20 per person (this depends on the season and crowd level)
Remember, you are limited to one Lightning Lane reservation per day for TRON Lightcycle Run, so you can’t book it more than once. The only way you can ride multiple times is by getting in the standby queue.
Do I HAVE to Pay to Ride TRON?
No, you aren’t obligated to pay anymore. Thankfully with TRON Lightcycle Run transitioning to a standby queue, you can just get in the normal standby line.
If you don’t feel like waiting for long periods of time in line, as TRON will likely have long lines for years into the future, you CAN purchase the Lightning Lane Single Pass for it.
Many guests feels that time is money and they would personally rather prioritize paying $20 for a LL reservation than standing in line for 60-90 minutes.
Single Rider Line
At this time TRON Lightcycle Run does not have a Single Rider line. Usually, Disney includes Single Rider with all E-Ticket attractions, especially roller coasters, but for now, there is not one available here.
Usually, the Single Rider line is nice because if you are traveling solo or if you are the only one in your group riding a specific attraction, it allows the guest to enter through the Lightning Lane queue instead of having to wait through the whole length in the regular attraction queue.
Again it’s not available at the moment, and even solo guests must go through the standard queue or purchase a Lightning Lane. However, it’s possible they will make the Single Rider option available for TRON Lightcycle Run at some point in the future, though nothing is guaranteed and many of the recent E-Ticket attractions still don’t have one.
Does TRON Have Rider Switch?
For parents visiting TRON Lightcycle Run with small children, Disney offers the Rider Switch program (also called “Child Swap”) to allow both adults to ride.
Rider Switch is a great program for parents with small kids who both want to experience a thrill attraction that their kids aren’t big enough to ride. The parents/adults take turns as one person goes on the attraction through the queue as usual, while the other stays behind with the children.
Then once the first person is done riding they can return to the children while the second person can now enter the attraction through the Lightning Lane queue and not have to wait the entire time in line.
When you arrive, see a Cast Member for more assistance and tell them you want to use the Rider Switch program. One person will still need to wait in the standby queue as usual, but the other person will go through the Lightning Lane queue for a much quicker entrance.
How Long is the Attraction Queue?
Right now, the wait time for TRON Lightcycle Run when using the Standby Queue is about 70-90 minutes. That is approximately the time it takes to get on the attraction from the time you get in the queue.
Even though that may seem like a long time, there are some cool features from the TRON universe in the queue to keep you entertained while waiting.
First of all, if you are stuck waiting outside, you will be under the canopy and be able to watch the roller coaster trains pass overhead which is awesome to watch! Then as you get closer to the entrance there are some Light Cycle bikes parked outside that you can sit on for a perfect photo op.
Next, as you step inside you will see the Upload Conduit from the TRON films that sends you into the digitized world for your adventure. After that, there is a brief pre-show where the launch area is then revealed from above. You can walk above the roller coaster trains and watch as they are blasted off onto The Grid and check out past winners in the Hall of Champions.
At this point, you will spend most of the time waiting inside, but even if you are outside, the canopy offers plenty of shade, and there are umbrellas stationed in the areas it doesn’t.
The Lightning Lane is much quicker and cuts out some of the interesting features of the queue. It will probably only take you about 15 minutes or less if you go through that one.
TRON Storage Lockers
A unique feature of the TRON Lightcycle Run attraction that guests will need to get used to is the new storage locker system before going into the vehicle loading area. These complimentary double-sided lockers are used to store loose items like bags, glasses, phones, and more, while you race your light cycle.
ALL items must be removed from your pockets and placed in either a locker or in the small compartment located on the attraction vehicle. This is to prevent loose items from falling down and hitting people, which is easy to do since the vehicles are flying overhead the guests waiting in line.
You also can’t keep a bag at your feet as you might do on other attractions. With these unique ride vehicles and the way your feet are positioned, you wouldn’t be able to anyway.
Avatar: Flight of Passage has storage compartments in the room with your vehicle, but here you drop off your things earlier. If you’ve been to Universal Studios you may have already seen similar lockers before getting on the Velocicoaster.
Each locker is numbered and can be opened with either your MagicBand+, MagicBand, or your park ticket. (At this time you can NOT open the lockers with your smartphone device.) If you don’t have any of these items, a Cast Member will provide you with an access card to use instead.
Since the lockers are double-sided and numbered, you place your items in the locker before riding TRON, then once you are finished and are in the exit corridor, you will see another locker room with the backsides of all the lockers. There you can again use your MagicBand+, MagicBand, or ticket to open the lock and retrieve your belongings.
- IMPORTANT: Remember your locker number or it will be hard to find your belongings when you are done with the ride. My suggestion is to take a photo of your locker number with your phone before putting it in. Then send that photo to someone in your group that is not riding TRON. If you forget the number, they will be able to tell you which locker your stuff is in.
ALL the lockers are exactly the same size, there are no small, medium, or large sizes. This is a problem for guests with larger bags (more on this in a minute).
Here is a Step-by-Step guide to using the TRON Lightcycle Run Lockers:
- Enter the locker room and find a locker of your choice.
- Open the locker door using your MagicBand+, MagicBand, or park ticket.
- Memorize the locker number, take a photo with your phone, and send it to someone in your group not riding TRON.
- Insert all items in the locker, close it shut, and continue down the hallway to the attraction.
- When you are done riding, follow the exit hallways until you arrive in the locker room. Use your MagicBand or park ticket to open the lock and retrieve your belongings.
We’ve noticed that at times it’s hard to get the lockers to open back up. The sensors that you touch your MagicBand to are very fickle and they don’t always open right away.
If you are having a hard time with your locker, tap your MagicBand a few times and try it in slightly different positions. After a few tries you should be able to get it. If not, a Cast Member will be more than happy to assist.
Am I Obligated to Put My Things in a Locker?
Yes, and no. You absolutely cannot have any loose items on your person while on TRON Lightcycle Run. That means emptying your pockets completely and removing any items attached to your person such as backpacks, crossbody bags, bags, or purses. You CAN however keep a fanny pack as long as it is securely fastened around your waist.
However, you don’t necessarily need to put them in a locker. If the item is small enough you can put it inside the compartment on the ride vehicle itself.
There are 2 things to consider here, however:
- The compartments on the ride vehicles are very small and will only hold a phone, and not much more. It easily fits a standard-size phone, but the larger iPhone sizes may be pushing it. So if you have multiple things, it’s best to use a locker.
- It’s easy to forget your phone or other items in the compartment. So if you decide to use them, DON’T FORGET to retrieve your items once you exit the vehicle.
I’ve left hats and other things on other Disney attractions in the past, and despite visiting the Lost & Found over and over again, I’ve never seen those items again.
So in my opinion, to be safe, it’s best to just use the lockers. Your things will be safe and even if you forget them, they will be waiting for you in the locker right where you left them.
What about Large Bags or Backpacks?
If you have a larger backpack, you may run into a problem using the lockers for TRON. In my experience, some bags are just a little too big to fit inside the lockers.
For example, I always have my camera and lenses with me in the parks, and my backpack, though not huge, is a pretty good size. Plus since it’s filled with things, it doesn’t easily squish down. That bag will not fit inside the lockers and I had to talk with a cast member to help me find a solution.
In the end, I had to use 2 lockers. I emptied all my stuff out of my bag and put it in the first locker, and then I was able to scrunch my bag down and fit it in the second one.
But to get 2 lockers you will need help from a Cast Member, so do not hesitate to ask. They will probably have you use your MagicBand or ticket for one locker and give you a key card for the second.
Of course, if you are traveling with other people not riding TRON, we suggest you leave anything large outside with them. The first time I rode TRON Lightcycle Run, however, I was traveling solo, and leaving my camera with strangers of course was not an option.
Don’t Lock Your MagicBand or Park Ticket in the Locker
We know this seems like a logical thing not to do, but you’d be surprised at how many people we’ve seen this happen to already. If you accidentally lock your MagicBand or ticket in the locker, you will need to get help from a Cast Member to open it.
They will have you describe what is in the locker before giving you its contents to make sure people don’t just lie and steal other guests’ stuff.
However, to do this, you will still need to remember the locker number, so don’t forget it!
Guest Accessibility
Every Disney attraction has some kind of guest accessibility option available and this is also true with the TRON Lightcycle Run coaster.
TRON Lightcycle Run is accessible for guests with ECVs, Wheelchairs, and any other accessibility device. Guests can use ECVs (scooters, essentially) and wheelchairs up until boarding the ride vehicle and then must transfer to the actual ride vehicle.
The last row of the roller coaster train (Row 7) is used for accessibility and the seats are what you would find on a traditional roller coaster instead of the bikes. This makes it easier for guests with accessibility challenges to enter and exit, as well as having more space.
The Light Cycle bikes are difficult to enter for many guests, let alone ones with mobility issues, so the bench seats are a nice alternative.
We also noticed that the attraction queue is very spacious and allows for easy access to guests with scooters, ECVs, and similar devices.
During the ride queue and pre-shows, guests can comfortably stay in their wheelchairs, scooters, or other accessibility devices up until the ride vehicle portion of the attraction.
- Just ask for assistance from a Cast Member and they will then direct you to the loading area.
If you’re unable to transfer from your ECV you can still enjoy the in-queue interactivity and pre-shows, this is your last chance to exit before boarding the actual ride.
Does TRON Lightcycle Run Accommodate Disability Access Service (DAS)?
Disability Access Service is designed to accommodate guests who aren’t able to wait in a conventional queue environment due to a developmental disability (including non-apparent disabilities).
DAS is accepted on TRON Lightcycle Run, but like with all Disney attractions, there are a limited number of riders it will take each day, so you are not guaranteed a spot.
There are a few changes to the DAS system recently that you need to be aware of:
- Guests now have to pre-register either BEFORE their trip or once they arrive to Walt Disney World and schedule a video chat with a Disney Cast Member. This can NOT be done at a Guest Relations desk or tent anymore.
- Booking ride reservations from My Disney Experience instead of in person at the attraction entrance.
- Up to 2 bonus ride reservations for each day of your trip made ahead of time.
Guests using DAS can make a reservation at any time throughout the day, as long as there are still reservations available. Rides on TRON Lightcycle Run with DAS tend to book up very quickly, however, so make your top rides a priority.
Keep in mind that every member of your group must be present in the Magic Kingdom before you can make a reservation, so you can’t send one person to the park to book ahead for the rest of the group. We suggest that everyone wanting to ride TRON shows up when the park opens so you can be sure to get a reservation.
Once your return time is called, go to the Lightning Lane queue and you will be able to enter the attraction queue.
Cast Member Costumes
Here are the cast member costumes for Tron Lightcycle Power Run that were on display at the D23 Expo. They are in sync with the ride’s colors highlighting the black and teal blue colors:
They definitely look sharp and are one of the more attractive costumes you’ll find in a Disney park imo.
TRON Lightcycle Run Layout & Walkthrough
Just like any good Disney attraction, there is a ton to see in the queue before even getting on TRON Lightcycle Run, including one of the most attractive and intriguing areas to wait we’ve seen before.
Now we’re going to give you a walkthrough of the entire TRON Lightcycle Run attraction and share details and photos of all the queue and pre-show areas.
- WARNING: Below is a very detailed description of the ride queue and the attraction that contains spoilers. If you don’t want to know the story or see what happens, now is the time to back out. You can skip this part by clicking here to bring you to the general touring strategies without spoilers.
Ready to go? Get ready for an exciting ride onto The Grid!
Outside/Entrance
The glistening white canopy (Upload Conduit) for TRON Lightcycle Run is visible from a few different places in the Magic Kingdom, but it really stands out when you enter Tomorrowland. Head toward the back of the land and to the left of Space Mountain and you will find the walkway that leads you there.
If for some reason you can’t see it, just follow the mass of crowds that will no doubt be heading in that direction.
The basic story around TRON Lightcycle Run is that you are going to be digitally transported into The Grid for a special Lightcycle race. You are a part of Team Blue and will be competing against 3 other teams to pass through all 8 energy gates and be declared “Champions.”
Once you get near the walkway leading to the ride, you’ll see a Cast Member holding up a sign showing you where the line starts. Expect it to be well before you start up the walkway on most days.
Before you head up, take a minute to look at the TRON sign at the entrance. This is a good place for a photo op, especially if you can get one when the train is going by in the background (something we were not smart enough to do).
Right when you start walking up the walkway and get a closer look at the Upload Conduit, you’ll notice the size of the structure is quite impressive. It’s also much more attractive than we thought it would be, and the style fits in well in Tomorrowland.
Upload Conduit
Are you serious? We are going up there?
We have to admit, looking at the trains passing overhead is both exhilarating, and it can be terrifying for those who were on the fence about riding in the first place as it looks high!
The entire Upload Conduit is done brilliantly! Disney always uses forced perspective brilliantly, and since you are looking at the trains flying by overhead while walking from a lower position, it makes the height seem even more impressive.
Disney did tremendous work on the system and programming in the conduit with more than 1,200 fixtures across the surface. Even if you aren’t going to ride, this is an awesome place to wait for the other members of your party so pick a spot and enjoy the view!
We also like that even during daylight hours, the underside of the canopy lights up. Even though it’s not the same as riding at night, you still get some of the effects.
Once you make it to the top of the walkway you can get a good view of down below. The bottom pathway going underneath the other one brings you out to Fantasyland.
Expect the line to look like this for quite some time.
Depending on where you are in the queue, you will either be completely covered, away from the elements or completely exposed. If you are under the main canopy the rain and sun will not hit you, but as you walk forward, guests are completely uncovered.
Here’s hoping Disney puts in a few more umbrellas because that sun will be brutal in the Summer.
Even though we are stuck in the line, I could just stand here and watch the trains go by overhead for hours (minutes)!
There are two lines here, one for the Standby guests, and the other for Lightning Lane returns. It’s easy to see which is the longer of the two.
As you get closer to the indoor entrance, there is a TRON Lightcycle Run photo op where you can actually get on the ride vehicles and give them a try, then get your photo taken.
The sign shows you what the loading procedure is like when you are actually boarding the ride. One guest will walk across the platform to the far bike while the other gets in the near one.
As we went over before, the Lightcycle Bikes are not friendly to all body types and some guests will have a hard time fitting in them. The biggest culprit is not if you keep your weight in your midsection, but it’s the leg restraints that give people the most problems.
Once you sit down and put your shins into the rests, you pull the handlebars down and the metal restraints come out over your legs. If you have big legs though this can be a very tight squeeze and may not work.
If this is the case, you’ll need to ask for one of the traditional roller coaster seats in the back of the train. In any case, you can try out the bikes for yourself here before going into the building. That way you already have an idea of what to expect.
If you are in an ECV device or scooter, you will have to transfer out in order to ride TRON. Here outside the main entrance, you can transfer into a wheelchair for the rest of your time in the queue until you get on.
Attraction Queue
Ok, we’re at the main entrance now, and from here on out, the queue is indoors. Again, you see the Standby guests on the right and the Lightning Lane or DAS guests on the left.
Make sure to check the safety warnings on the sign outside to make sure you don’t have any medical conditions that would prevent you from riding. It is an intense ride so not something you want to take lightly.
The display above the entrance shows the estimated wait time and any other information.
Ok, let’s go in!
At the entrance, you will need to scan your MagicBand if you are using a Lightning Lane.
The height requirement is 48″, one of only two attractions in Disney World that are that high (Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the other).
Here is the first area of the inside part of the queue. It’s very tent-like.
As you know, you are a member of Team Blue and you’ll be competing for the championship against members of Teams Yellow, Orange, and Red.
This part of the queue is just “ok.” Honestly, it just looks like a big tent and I think they could have come up with something a bit more creative. Let’s hope the rest of it is better.
However, the one cool part about this room is the huge SHV 20905 laser from the TRON films. This is what will be used to send you into the digital world so you can participate in the race.
In fact, this is the part where you get beamed in, and from here on out you are digitized!
When you are looking at it, the laser doesn’t actually have any special effects and it was a lost opportunity on Disney’s part here. It would have been an excellent addition and made the queue much more interesting.
They could have done something like the exception special effects on the engine in the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run queue.
We have now entered the world of TRON. The hallways are very tight so I hope no one has claustrophobia!
The details on the wall are supposed to be circuits and digital connections. Again, it would have been cooler to have some more special effects here, even if they were blinking in strange patterns or something.
Once you turn the corner you head into a small chamber where the pre-show is located. It’s not really what you are thinking in terms of a traditional pre-show, but there is a screen on the wall with some cool digital effects until the big reveal.
BAM! You have a view of the launch chamber where the TRON Lightcycles take off onto The Grid.
Turn the corner and you are actually inside that room.
There is a walkway around the entire room and you can get a birdseye view of riders coming into the room and then getting blasted out at speeds of nearly 60mph!
This was absolutely the COOLEST part of the TRON queue and we stayed here for a good 10 minutes just watching people come and go.
We like the way the lighting and all the effects are done here. Very TRON and very futuristic. Now this feels like what Tomorrowland should be!
The walkway wraps around and you can get a view from the back.
One thing we did notice here was that there are quite a few times when the train pulls up into position, the countdown is initiated, and then the train doesn’t get launched.
This actually happened to us on our first ride and it was very anti-climactic to arrive in position, hear the countdown, and then you have to wait 30 seconds or so. It didn’t happen all the time, but I’d say about 1 in every 3 or 4 trains it did happen.
I don’t know if this is a problem that will continue, or if it’s just some bugs the crew needs to work out since the ride is still new.
Once you are done watching everyone else have fun, turn the corner and you will find yourself in the Hall of Champions.
Here you will find all previous champions and your current competition for the upcoming race.
This room is ok, but again, nothing special and not nearly as cool as the room we just left. It’s kind of plain-looking, and it could have been much cooler. They could have put stuff that was more interactive on the walls, some information or videos of the racers you are going up against for example.
Cosmic Rewind does a brilliant job of this in the Xandar Gallery where there are videos of all the Guardians characters, their ships, etc. It also has those amazing pre-shows before going on.
I mean Team Orange looks pretty menacing, but they could have done something to get me a bit more scared here.
To me, that is the biggest flaw with the attraction (besides its short ride length). At no point during the queue did I really know what we were doing there. Yes, I knew we were going to race, but that’s it. There was almost zero story to get me excited or build any kind of emotion toward it.
In the same room, there is a short video explaining how to get on and off the Lightcycle bikes and how to store your things.
Speaking of which, we have now arrived in the locker room.
Since the TRON ride vehicles are bikes, there is no place to store your personal belongings such as bags, phones, hats, etc. That’s where the lockers come in.
Here guests can choose any locker that’s not taken and can put whatever personal items they have inside. It’s not optional but required. You can’t ride with anything in your hands or pockets, so that includes phones, wallets, etc.
They are double-sided so you’ll put your things inside in this room, then when you leave the attraction you’ll retrieve them from the other side.
All the lockers are grouped according to number, making them easy to find. Select your locker, memorize your number, and use your MagicBand or park ticket to open it. Just tap on the sensor and it should open right up.
If you don’t have a MagicBand or park ticket on you, see a Cast Member and they will hand you a card that can be used to open your locker.
Once you are done with the lockers, head down the ramp and into the last section of the queue, the loading area.
Loading Station
This looks almost identical to the Cosmic Rewind loading room, only with different colors and decorations on the wall.
On the far wall is a small video screen explaining the mechanics of your Lightcycle Bike.
Keep walking down the ramp, it doesn’t matter if you take the right or left, all roads lead to The Grid.
Again, this area keeps the same theming as the rest of the queue with lots of blue and black.
From above you can easily see the guests in the loading area getting ready to board the ride.
There are 7 rows to each coaster train, each fitting 2 guests for a total of 14 guests per train.
Once you are assigned a row number head to that row and wait until it’s your turn to ride.
For what I consider the best experience, ask a Cast Member to be seated in the front row. There may be a couple of extra people in front of you, but it’s a far cooler experience imo.
There is also a row reserved for guests with accessibility needs. That’s where you can ride in the more traditional roller coaster car instead of on the bikes. One thing to keep in mind though is that the line here is always much longer than for the bikes. This is because Disney didn’t include these accessibility-friendly cars on every roller coaster train, so there are not enough of them to meet demand.
Let’s hope Disney realizes this and adds more in the future because the line here can get out of control.
Our turn is here and our Lightcycle Bikes have arrived!
Here is another view of what it looks like when you are getting in the ride vehicle and how your legs are positioned. Once you are in you can pull the handlebars back the leg restraints lock into place.
If you have small personal items on you that you did not leave in a locker, there is a small compartment on the top of the bike. Just pull it open and place your item. Keep in mind, this compartment is very small and it doesn’t hold much more than a phone or wallet.
We are locked in and ready to go!
Once your ride is over, head up the exit ramp and stop at the lockers to retrieve your personal items. If you put your phone in the bike compartment, DON’T FORGET IT! The train will take off before you even realize it and who knows how long it will take or if you’ll get it back.
Upon exiting the building you’ll see the Team Green Post-Show room.
Though you’ve defeated Teams Red, Yellow, and Orange, there is a bold new challenger waiting for you in the post-show, and that’s Team Green.
Let’s be honest, this is a way for the sponsor (Enterprise) to get its name out there a bit more before guests leave.
In the center of the room is an all-new, one-of-a-kind Lightcycle, the most advanced version to ever join the competition.
Its engine revs with green pulsating lights and it serves as a nice photo-op as you are leaving.
Lastly, as you are walking down the exit ramp, you’ll get an even closer look at the TRON coaster passing by. Take some time and admire the extremely well-done Imagineering at work.
We have to admit, Disney did the entire canopy perfectly. We just stood there for a good 15 minutes and watched riders pass by, screaming with delight! The colors are incredible and they are constantly changing.
The kinetics and energy under the Upload Conduit cannot be matched, it just feels electric.
Once you are ready to leave, head back down the ramp and into Tomorrowland or Fantasyland.
VIDEO: Full Ride POV
If you don’t mind spoilers and want to see this attraction in action, then watch this TRON Lightcycle Run Full Ride POV Video. In the video, you can see each show scene and everything that happens when you ride.
TRON Gift Shop
Just like almost every Disney attraction, there is a nice gift shop waiting for you when you finish riding TRON Lightcycle Run, and that is what you will find at the Tomorrowland Launch Depot. In fact, there are 3 separate merchandise collections that you will find here:
- Attraction specific merchandise
- The original “TRON” merch
- “TRON: Legacy” merch
That means whether you have been a TRON fan for decades, or this is your first exposure to the franchise, there is something for everyone here.
The collections include:
- “Back to the Arcade” – This captures the nostalgia from the early 1980s arcade scene with callbacks to the original film
- “The Thrill of the Race” – This collection includes racing-inspired apparel for adults and kids alike.
Available merchandise includes tumblers, t-shirts, racing jackets, helmet bags, toys, games, backpacks (with Identity Disc speaker), illuminated wall signs, and new customizable action figures from the TRON Identity Program.
TRON Identity Program
This is an all-new-retail experience that offers guests a customizable “Program” action figure and identity chip that can be used to “re-program” other merchandise such as the interactive Identity Discs and Remote Control Lightcycles.
Basically, you can create your own personalized action figure that looks and sounds like you.
To create your figure, an Image Capture will scan your facial features. Then you select your helmet and body configuration, along with your team color. Will your Program be an Enforcer or a Combatant? A Scout or a Heavy Sentry? The choice is yours.
Lastly, you will visit Command Input inside the store where you will record 6 lines of dialogue using your own voice.
Guests should allow 20 minutes to register their selections. Once you are finished, your action figure will be ready approximately 60 minutes later.
Each action figure costs $89.99 plus tax.
Reservations: Just like when building a droid at the Droid Depot or the lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop, reservations for the TRON Identity Program are highly recommended.
- A valid credit card number is required at the time of booking. Payment is due upon arrival at the location.
- A limited number of reservations may be available up to 2 hours in advance, so keep checking if you were not previously able to book the experience.
- Walk-ins are accepted based on that day’s availability
To Make a Reservation – Use the My Disney Experience app or you can book it on Disney’s website.
When you Arrive – Check in at the Tomorrowland Launch Depot located between the entrances to TRON Lightcycle Run and Space Mountain. Show up no earlier than 10 minutes before your reservation. Each member of your party taking part in the experience must be present upon check-in and admission, and late arrivals will not be accommodated.
Guests can also use the Merchandise Mobile Checkout via the My Disney Experience app when purchasing items at select locations which saves time as you scan items as you shop and pay from your phone.
When is TRON Lightcycle Run Opening?
The question on everyone’s mind is: When will Tron Lightcycle Run open in Disney World?
After waiting 5 long years, TRON Lightcycle Run finally opened on April 4, 2023, at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
That means there is no more waiting and you will be able to ride the TRON coaster on your next trip.
We know that the TRON roller coaster was originally supposed to be ready in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021, but it took Disney forever to announce an actual date. Disney takes its time to announce opening dates for its rides because problems and setbacks can come up.
There were long delays and things got more complicated in 2020 with the parks shutting down for months and construction completely stopped on all projects. In fact, the opening dates for many of the new rides coming to Disney World in the next few years were delayed.
While construction on TRON Lightcycle Run did restart with the Disney World reopening, Disney cut the budget on all projects, slowing things down considerably.
Also, if Disney wanted, TRON could have opened much sooner than it did, but it made sense to open TRON Lightcycle Run in April 2023. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened in the Summer of 2022 and they wanted to space the openings out seeing as they don’t have many more attractions coming in the near future.
With attendance needing a boost, the TRON coaster should keep guests satisfied and coming back to the Magic Kingdom over the next few years.
Soft Openings
Disney from time to time has opened new rides early either to Annual Passholders, Cast Members, DVC Members, and to the media, to preview attractions before they open to the general public. That was also the case with TRON Lightcycle Run.
TRON Lightcycle Run had the following Preview Dates in 2023:
- Cast Members: February 6 – March 3
- Annual Passholders: March 4-6, and 8-12
- DVC Members: March 4-6
- Public Soft Openings: March 20 – April 2
This is exactly what happened when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened in 2022. First, there were Cast Member previews about a month before the official opening. Then about 2 weeks before the opening, there were DVC and Annual Passholder previews.
That’s what has happened here too. Cast Members already got to ride TRON before the opening because some live testing of the ride is required, and it’s a way to reward Cast Members by letting them be the first to ride.
If you ever get to experience one of the preview events for a new attraction, it’s a great time to experience this new ride as the wait times will be minimal and you can soak up the atmosphere without being run over by mobs of people.
Wait Times and Crowds
There is no doubt that TRON Lightcycle Run has become one of the most popular attractions in Walt Disney World. So how long are the wait times and what is the best touring strategy to use when riding it?
First of all, if you are a roller coaster fan, you are going to want to make this a priority on your visit to the Magic Kingdom and it’s a definite must-do ride! It should be on the same level of popularity as Cosmic Rewind for a while, although the latter has less competition being in EPCOT.
Even since it opened, TRON has been attracting huge crowds and it was very hard to get into the Virtual Queue, or even Lightning Lane for that matter for some time. These things work in cycles and we expect the Magic Kingdom to continue get a bump in attendance for some time because of this.
The Magic Kingdom was already the most popular theme park in the world before, and now it’s getting even more visitors.
If you’re going to the Magic Kingdom in the next few months and want to ride TRON Lightcycle Run, you basically have 2 options:
- Get in the standard queue
- Use a Lightning Lane Single Park Purchase to Skip the Line
Right now, there is finally a standby queue and we don’t see it going back to the virtual queue anytime soon. Since the standby queue opened the average wait time for TRON Lightcycle Run is around 100 minutes.
100 minutes is a pretty long wait time, but honestly, it’s not as high as we originally thought, and it has gotten even better in recent weeks and months.
Park attendance at Walt Disney World in general has dropped in the last year compared to 2-3 years prior, and unless the economy takes a major turn up in the next few months, we don’t expect to see that changing too much this year.
That said, TRON Lightcycle Run is still the most popular ride in the park and the wait time is 40 minutes more on average compared to the next closest attraction, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. There is no doubt that this will continue to be one of the best attractions at the Magic Kingdom for at least the next couple of decades.
All these changes will have a strong effect on the touring strategy you choose to use for TRON, and things are changing almost daily. That’s why we came up with this list of strategies and tips to help make riding it as easy as possible.
- Our #1 Tip is to make TRON Lightcycle Run your top priority of the day at the Magic Kingdom. There are other popular attractions, but none is more difficult to ride than this one.
If you don’t feel like waiting in the standby queue, your only alternative is to pay to ride.
(In case it goes back to the virtual queue in the future, make sure to read our guide on How to Ride TRON Lightcycle Run with the virtual queue That will give you your best chance at a boarding group.)
Also, we are working on a Magic Kingdom Touring Plans Guide where you can see specific 1 and 2-Day Itineraries for visiting the park. Stay tuned for that soon.
Using the Lightning Lane
As you know, Lightning Lane Single Pass selections are the pay-per-ride option for the most popular rides in each WDW theme park, and it’s the only way to ride at the moment if you don’t want to wait in the standby queue.
TRON Lightcycle Run is not included among the Multi Pass selection of attractions at the Magic Kingdom, but it is instead a Lightning Lane Single Pass selection. Paying for any ride is not ideal and we rarely do it, but if you are an infrequent visitor and it’s your only way to ride, it’s worth it here instead of skipping it altogether.
- Lightning Lane reservations can sell out within minutes, or sometimes seconds of opening up each day, so make it a priority if you decide to use it.
Strangely, TRON Lightcycle Run is one of 2 Lightning Lane Single Pass rides at the Magic Kingdom (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the other) while all the other parks only have 1 LLSP attraction at the moment. If you plan on booking TRON as an LLSP selection, make it your first choice, and book any other attractions second.
Time & Price
Lightning Lane purchases for TRON Lightcycle Run at 7:00 am, 7 days prior to the start of your WDW Vacation, but only for guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel or partner hotels. Guests staying off-site can start making reservations only 3 days prior to their visit at 7:00 am.
Lightning Lane selections for TRON Lightcycle Run sell out early on most mornings, and reservations can be made based on availability. If you are going during a busy time of the year, it will be even harder to get one. This is especially true for on-site guests who are at a severe disadvantage since they can’t book the Lightning Lane until 3 days prior.
To ride TRON Lightcycle Run with a Lightning Lane costs $20 per person. That means if you are a family of 4 it will cost you $80 to ride.
Even though we don’t always recommend spending the extra money on Lightning Lanes, the Magic Kingdom is the best park to buy it.
Remember, if you don’t want to wait in line to get on TRON Lightcycle Run on the day you visit, a Lightning Lane Single Pass selection is your ONLY other choice. If you won’t be coming back to the Magic Kingdom in the near future and have yet to ride TRON, you definitely don’t want to miss it.
- TIP: Even if you get a Lightning Lane for TRON Lightcycle Run, you should still rope drop one of the other popular attractions in the park. The Magic Kingdom has the most attractions of any WDW park, and you’ll need to get an early start if you want to do the majority of them.
Step-by-Step Booking Individual Lightning Lane for TRON Coaster
Here is what you need to do to give yourself the best chance to score a Lightning Lane for TRON Lightcycle Run:
- Log in to My Disney Experience 5 minutes before 7:00 am on the day you can begin making Lightning Lane selections. (7 Days prior to the start of your trip for WDW Resort Guests, 3 days before for non-Disney Resort guests)
- Once you enter the app, navigate to the Menu button at the bottom of the screen and click “Tip Board”.
- Make sure Magic Kingdom is the selected park for that day. If it is not, click the “Change Park” button and select Magic Kingdom.
- Find TRON Lightcycle Run in the list of attractions. At 7:00 am, click the box for “Lightning Lane Single Pass.” There it shows the next available return window and purchase price.
- On the next screen, select your preferred return time and select all members of your party who will be riding TRON. If they are not there, click the “Edit” button to add them.
- Once your party is confirmed click “Continue” at the bottom of the screen.
- On the final screen, check the “Terms and Conditions” box and then click the “Purchase” button to finalize the acquisition.
- You will then see your Lightning Lane reservation for TRON Lightcycle Run in the “Tip Board” or under “My Day.”
- Once your return window arrives, you have a one-hour window to ride the attraction. If your return time says 3:00 pm, that means you have from 3:00-4:00 pm to return.
All of these tips should give you the best opportunity to ride TRON Lightcycle Run and you’ll also get much more done at the Magic Kingdom that day.
Trust me, I’m the last person that wants to wake up before 7:00 am to make reservations, especially when I’m on vacation. But it’s absolutely necessary for TRON at the moment and gives you the best chance to ride. The silver lining is that you don’t even need to leave your hotel room to book it, you can do it right from your bed if you like.
Our Guide to Lighting Lanes at Magic Kingdom can help you better plan your day using these line-skipping services as well as our most important tips for riding the other attractions.
If You Can’t Get a Reservation at All
The good news now is that the harsh reality of not getting on TRON Lightcycle Run at all is likely gone with the introduction of the standby queue! This means that EVEN if you can’t get a Lightning Lane Single Pass, if you want one, you can always go into the standard line.
Yes, you’ll have to wait and probably a long time, it beats not getting on the ride at all! The only caveat of course is if the ride breaks down for the day.
Tips & Touring Strategies
Obviously, if you have never ridden TRON Lightcycle Run before, it will probably be the #1 attraction on your list for the entire trip, and you and your family will probably be pretty upset if you travel all that way, spend all that money, and you still are not able to rid it.
If that is the case, you need to do everything in your power to make sure you actually get on. Here are some of our best tips to make that happen…
Plan Multiple Days at Magic Kingdom
We touched on this already, but honestly, the best way to ensure you ride TRON Lightcycle Run is to plan multiple days at the Magic Kingdom. Rides can always break down, and TRON has had it’s fair share of closings.
Also, Lightning Lanes sell out very quickly each day. All it takes is to press the wrong button or a slight hesitation or delay and you won’t get in. With TRON Lightcycle Run no longer using the virtual queue, you don’t need to worry about all hope being lost if you couldn’t get a Lightning Lane, but the wait in the standby queue may be super long on the day you go.
Even if you otherwise wouldn’t normally go to the Magic Kingdom twice in one trip, it’s worth it here to make sure you get to ride TRON, or don’t have to waste a big part of your only day in line for one attraction.
In our experience, 2 days at the Magic Kingdom is a good plan anyway since there are so many attractions there and it’s hard to do them all in one day.
If you have small children, it’s even more beneficial since it’s the park they will likely want to spend the most time in any way.
If you don’t have the budget to add an extra day to your trip to make room for the Magic Kingdom twice, it might be worth looking into getting tickets with the park hopper add-on. For example, you can start your day at the Magic Kingdom and then hop over to another park like EPCOT later in the day after you ride TRON.
Ride at Night!
Of course, TRON Lightcycle Run is fun no matter what time of day you ride it, but trust me it’s 10x better at night. Seeing the canopy and hearing the screams from the riders flying underneath it will draw you closer to the ride, and you will probably stand there for a few minutes in awe as they whizz by.
That’s cool to look at during the day, but at night, the whole inside of the canopy lights up and changes colors as the seconds pass by. And when you experience this from inside one of the ride vehicles, it’s a spectacle to see and my favorite part of the attraction.
I’d recommend getting in line for TRON as late as possible to ensure you can ride this attraction at night. You can even wait until just before the park closes and make it the last ride of the night. If you do that, the actual wait time will likely be half of what is listed when you get in line.
However, if you are riding with the Lightning Lane Single Pass, you can also choose a return time after dark. But these time slots actually go pretty quick!
Of course, if there aren’t a bunch of return times available when you go to book it, take whatever one is left. Beggars can’t be choosers after all.
Either way, riding at night is a no-brainer and a must-do for us.
Another reason to ride at night instead of first thing in the morning is that you will be wasting valuable rope drop time that you could instead use to ride one of the other attractions you don’t have a reservation for. Remember, the first 2 hours are when crowd levels are lowest so it’s a perfect time to do other rides.
If you can’t get an evening return time, the only risk is that for some reason TRON breaks down and you don’t get another chance to ride. So far it seems like a very stable attraction without a ton of problems, but if you don’t want to risk that, book an early time slot.
Stay at a Disney World Resort
Even though the benefits of staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel have become fewer and fewer in recent years, there are still some that make a difference, even when riding TRON Lightcycle Run.
For example, if you are booking a Lightning Lane selection for this attraction you will be able to make your reservations at 7:00 am 7 days prior to the start of your WDW Vacation. Since non-Disney World Resort hotel guests must wait until 3 days prior, this is a huge advantage for you.
In fact, TRON Lightcycle Run is extremely popular and there is a good chance that when the park actually opens, all the Lightning Lane reservations will already be gone for the day. Again, this can be avoided if you stay in a Disney World hotel.
Another big plus is that Disney World Resort hotel guests get to participate in Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on select nights. This means they can still ride the TRON coaster after most guests have gone home. *(This perk though is only available for guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort.)
With TRON moving over to a standby queue now, guests can now get into the Magic Kingdom 30 minutes earlier than off-site guests by using Early Theme Park Entry. This means fewer people in the park, and a perfect to use when combined with a rope drop strategy.
Our advice is to book a stay in one of your favorite Disney World Resorts and take advantage of these benefits while they are still there.
Use Two Phones If You Want a Lightning Lane Single Pass
For guests that do NOT want to wait in the standby queue and are willing to pay the additional costs of Lightning Lane Single Passes, it’s absolutely adviseable to use two phones.
If you are trying to book it alone, there are too many things that can go wrong and prevent you from getting a reservation. Your phone can freeze, you can lose connection, you can press the wrong button, etc.
If you decide to also use Lightning Lane Multi Pass during your visit to the Magic Kingdom, you can assign one person to book TRON, and the other person to book one of the high-priority Multi Pass selections like Peter Pan’s Flight or Jungle Cruise so you get an earlier time.
Make TRON the Last Ride of the Night
One of our touring secrets that always helps to get lower wait times on a popular attraction is to wait until just before park closing to get in the queue. This makes it your last attraction of the night. Besides the aforementioned aesthetic benefits of riding at night, there is also a time-saving element to take advantage of.
If you are a night owl like me and don’t like to wake up early, this is perfect for you! It’s also great if you are trying to maximize your day and do as many rides as humanly possible.
The reason why it works so well is that the majority of guests have gone home or are working their way down Main Street U.S.A. and to the park exit by this time. Even if you see an attraction still has a long wait time, it’s usually not 100% and Disney inflates the number to discourage guests from getting in line and instead leaving the park.
This has happened to us in every park on dozens of attractions. For example, you’ll get there and it says 45 minutes, but when you actually get in line, you discover that the wait time is actually half of the number you read outside. It’s not always half, but it’s usually much less.
A rope-drop strategy is still our #1 go-to, but when a new attraction opens like TRON, you can be sure that thousands of other guests have the same idea as you and everyone rope-dropping the Magic Kingdom will be making TRON their first ride of the day. That may mean a 60+ minute wait, even early in the morning.
So as an alternative, instead of running to TRON like everyone else, rope drop Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Peter Pan’s Flight instead. These will be much less in demand and you’ll probably be able to do both without much resistance.
Then what you do is go over to TRON at the end of the night, either during the Magic Kingdom fireworks or 5-10 minutes before the park closes. Sure you may not get to see Happily Ever After, but if you’ve already seen it a bunch of times, you may choose to give TRON priority for once.
Rope-Dropping TRON Lightcycle Run and How Early You Need to Be There
Rope-dropping TRON Lightcycle Run is now a valid strategy with the introduction of the standby queue for TRON.
In this section, we are going to give you a general rope-dropping strategy for TRON Lightcycle Run including your ideal arrival time.
If you aren’t familiar with the term, “rope dropping” is basically showing up to a theme park before the park actually opens. You are there when the “rope drops.”
Rope dropping is still the best strategy for getting the highest number of attractions done in a day when visiting the Magic Kingdom, or any Disney theme park for that matter.
It allows you to ride some of the most popular attractions first thing in the morning before the majority of visitors arrive, and it will save you some major time.
You can rope drop Magic Kingdom in 2 ways:
- Normal Rope Drop
- Early Theme Park Entry
Whether or not you are able to make a reservation for TRON Lightcycle Run, and no matter which queuing system it’s using, we still recommend rope-dropping Magic Kingdom. Even though there is no hurry to get to TRON, you will knock out some of the park’s other most popular attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, or the Jungle Cruise.
With A Standby Queue
With a standby queue, normal crowd levels, and using the Lightning Lane system, TRON Lightcycle Run has had long lines, but not as long as we thought they would. Usually it’s around 100 minutes give or take, but you may see this going over 3+ hours during holidays and the busier times of the year.
This is what happens on attractions like Flight of Passage or Rise of the Resistance, and it’s similar here. Seeing as it’s new and the most popular ride in the Magic Kingdom, expect those long wait times to last the entire day without much slowdown.
To rope drop TRON Lightcycle Run, you are going to enter the Magic Kingdom on Main Street U.S.A., and continue all the way down until you reach The Hub. There you are going to turn right into Tomorrowland, go straight and to the left at The Lunching Pad, and walk straight to the TRON entrance. I shouldn’t be hard to find since almost everyone else will be doing the same thing.
The queue will probably extend down to the beginning of the entrance near the big TRON sign in the middle of the walkway.
There are a variety of transportation methods you can take to rope drop the Magic Kingdom (bus, monorail, ferry boat), and even if you drive, you’ll have to take one of them from the TTC. However, the best way to get to the entrance before the crowds is to stay at one of the Monorail hotels and walk to the entrance. That way there are no delays.
Normal Rope Drop
A normal rope drop is showing up in time to be one of the first few hundred guests before the official opening of the park that day and then riding a bunch of attractions in the first hour of opening. This was always the best option, but it’s not as effective since Disney introduced Early Theme Park Entry.
If you aren’t staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can’t use Early Theme Park Entry, and any advantage you had by rope-dropping the park has essentially vanished.
Even if you show up 30-60 minutes before the official opening time, if you are not a Disney World Resort hotel guest, you will have hundreds or even thousands of other park-goers who will be able to enter the park ahead of you, and you can be sure they will be running straight for the TRON coaster.
We will update our strategy for riding this once it actually opens which will give us more insight into exact crowd levels, wait times, and the best rope-dropping strategy.
Early Theme Park Entry
Back in September 2021, Disney introduced the Early Theme Park Entry program. This replaced Extra Magic Hours and offers a big advantage to Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests who are willing to show up early at the parks.
Instead of letting guests into each theme park 1 hour early once per week, this change lets guests into all 4 theme parks 30 minutes early, every day of the week.
For TRON Lightcycle Run, that means you can show up at the Magic Kingdom before the official park opening, run straight for the ride and get there before the majority of other guests (when it’s using the standby queue).
This is a big reason why we recommend staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, even if many of the other advantages have disappeared in recent years.
What Time Should You Get in Line?
Rope dropping is ALWAYS a smart idea at Magic Kingdom if you want to maximize the amount of attractions you can do in one day, especially with TRON going to a standard standby line.
Early Theme Park Entry at Disney’s Magic Kingdom opens 30 minutes before the officially listed opening time, so if the park opens at 9:00 am, Early Entry starts at 8:30 am. However, they really start letting guests in the gate much earlier than that. From our experience, they start letting people on Main Street about 60 minutes before the listed time.
Whenever we are suggesting a rope drop strategy for the Disney parks, we recommend getting there 90 minutes before park opening, and that is what we are recommending especially with TRON Lightcycle Run now opening with the rest of the Magic Kingdom rides at rope drop.
I know that sounds pretty rough, but the Magic Kingdom gets pretty chaotic in the late morning and early afternoon, and the earlier you get there, the more you will get done in those critical first 2 hours. Being one of the first people in the park will help you get TRON done right away, and you can then focus on other attractions.
If you delay even a little or show up at 9:00 am when the park opens, you will already have to wait in a massive line, and by the time you are done riding, other places like Fantasyland will already be overrun with guests and the lines for everything else will be long.
Trust me, being among the first 100-200 people in the park makes a huge difference, even if you have to wake up 30 minutes earlier.
We’ll keep an eye on this and continue to update our updated rope-dropping strategy for TRON Lightcycle Run in the weeks and months to come.
What Should You Do If TRON Breaks Down?
Unfortunately, from time to time attractions break down and this is also the case with TRON Lightcycle Run. This can be especially irritating if you have a reservation to ride it and it is closed for a good part of the day.
So what should you do if it breaks down during your trip? The answer depends on if you are in the Standby Queue or if you have a Lightning Lane pass.
If you were in the standard standby queue, you can return once the ride goes back online and get in line.
If you are in line with a Lightning Lane pass when it breaks down, you will be automatically given another pass to ride at any time during that same day. Once the ride opens back up, you can return at any time and get in the Lightning Lane once again. The pass gets linked to your account in My Disney Experience.
If you have some free time and you are hungry, there are a ton of great snacks in the Magic Kingdom you can enjoy. Take a short walk to the new Energy Bytes for savory snacks or sweet treats or head over to nearby Fantasyland and stop by Storybook Treats for ice cream or The Friar’s Nook for some tots.
If for some reason TRON Lightcycle Run never reopens that day, you will be given a full refund for your Lightning Lane purchase. If it reopens and you don’t come back and ride, you will not be refunded your money. This is the case even if you miss coming back for a dining reservation or any other booked experience.
While we have seen TRON Lightcycle Run experience downtime while we have been in the park, it’s really nothing to worry too much about. For example, it doesn’t have nearly as many problems as Rise of the Resistance, and it’s pretty stable. You don’t need to worry about it being down multiple times per day for hours at a time.
We’ll keep our eye on this and see how well the ride runs over the coming weeks and months.
Review
Is this really happening? Am I really writing a review of an attraction that I’ve been following for more than 5 years? It’s hard to believe, but yes, TRON Lightcycle Run has finally opened to the public, and in this section, I’ll be discussing our thoughts about how it came out.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
The anticipation for TRON has been building ever since it was announced to be coming to the Magic Kingdom at the D23 Expo in 2017! I don’t know if TRON quite met expectations, and it is in no way a perfect ride.
Overall, it’s very fun, but it also comes with its fair share of flaws, most of which could have been easily avoided with some better planning or care.
Here is what we liked and didn’t like about TRON Lightcycle Run…
What We Love about TRON Lightcycle Run
Here are the positives for TRON Lightcycle Run…
The Atmosphere & Theming – The atmosphere surrounding TRON is incredible, and definitely one of the highlights for us. The canopy is visible from multiple places in the park and the white canopy matched with the roller coaster trains you can see from a distance makes it the ultimate Disney “Wennie” technique to draw guests.
Then once you get inside the canopy, you will find yourself staring up at the trains flying overhead as the guests go screaming by. This works even better at night with all the lighting effects and colors. It’s truly mesmerizing and a wonderful place for photos.
The visuals inside the show building are also stunning, and they do a nice job on the special effects such as the energy gates and the neon lightning you see all around.
Ride Vehicle/System – Though the ride vehicle also has some negatives (I’ll get to those in a minute), the overall design makes for one heck of a ride. The fact that you are leaning forward just like on a motorcycle and the way you bend through the turns and drops makes for one of the best coaster experiences we’ve had in a long time.
The vehicles are also probably the best-looking vehicles of any attraction in Disney World. The identity discs on the side of the bikes that glow blue are a sharp touch and add to the theming.
Fun Factor – There is no denying that riding TRON Lightcycle Run is a blast. The moment we hopped onto our Light Cycle bike and pulled back the handlebars to lock ourselves in, we knew we were in for a good time!
The launch is extremely exhilarating and your heart pounds as you approach the launch room that you saw from above earlier in the queue. It’s similar to the feeling you get right before the backward launch on Cosmic Rewind.
Then when you are launched up and under the canopy, looking down on guests while you soar above, you can’t help but have a smile on your face. The Daft Punk music playing through the on-ride speakers is also great and adds to the fun.
There is also nice re-rideability with TRON. We actually enjoyed it more as we went on it a second and third time.
Riding at Night – This is for us the most fun part. Even if you’ve been on TRON, you haven’t truly experienced it until you ride at night. It takes the whole experience to another level, and nothing matches the kinetic lighting effects riding under the Upload Conduit when it’s dark.
Don’t get me wrong, we still love it during the day, but it really shines at night when the neon light surround you, and makes the experience extra special!
What Could Have Been Better
I actually have more negatives than positives listed here, but that is not to say we don’t like the TRON coaster, we really do. However, here are some of the things that could have been done better.
Ride Length – Our #1 problem with TRON and the thing we would change the most if we could is the attraction’s extremely short ride length. The entire ride is great, but it only lasts under 2 minutes. That’s extremely short for a ride we’ve waited over 5 years to ride and it feels disappointing.
On top of that, the beginning launch sequence takes some time, so the actual part where the roller coaster is moving only lasts just around 1 minute. I will repeat that…1 minute!
When you compare that to most of the other roller coasters in Walt Disney World that last between 3 and 4 minutes, 1 minute is extremely short. It’s also short when you’ve paid money to ride it through the ILL or when you’ve waited in line for hours.
Ease of Seats – Disney really dropped the ball on getting the right size for the Lightcycle bike ride vehicles. First of all, they are hard to fit for guests of a certain size. It seems like they just cut and copied the same vehicles from the Shanghai Disneyland version of the ride instead of taking into consideration guests that visit Disney World.
Just that there will be a significant number of guests who can’t ride due to the ride’s restraint system is a negative for us. There is a more traditional roller coaster car that guests with disabilities or larger guests can use, but there are not nearly enough of these on the trains to meet demand.
The times we’ve been on the ride, the line waiting for these accessibility-friendly cars was astronomically long, showing that Disney vastly underestimated how many people would want/need to use it.
Storyline – Being huge Disney fans, we are used to the storyline being at the very heart of any good attraction. That is simply not the case with TRON Lightcycle Run. The backstory is about joining Team Blue on The Grid and going head-to-head against the imposing Team Orange.
However, the build-up to this is handled terribly. There are no interesting characters introduced and you don’t really know why you are doing this race. The whole thing is reduced to a short and uninteresting video in the Hall of Champions and the story really feels like an afterthought here.
Some of the aspects of the theme are done brilliantly, but in many ways, the storytelling feels almost like a generic roller coaster in other non-Disney theme parks, and it leaves much to be desired.
No Audio-Animatronics Again – While we were mesmerized by all the lights, colors, and special effects both on the outside of the building and on the ride itself, we are again sorry not to see any audio-animatronic figures incorporated into the attraction.
Call us old-school, but we don’t like our attractions with just lights and screens, the impressive audio-animatronic figures Disney has worked into its attractions throughout the years have always been some of the most impressive parts and that is a big part of why we love them.
They could have worked something into the attraction queue at least, but as has been the case recently, this is more of a budget concern rather than a lack of creativity from Disney Imagineering. Hopefully, this trend stops and the next generation of attractions will get back to using them more.
Difficult to Ride – Let’s face it, as with most of the new E-Ticket attractions Disney has put out over the last few years, there are a ton of hoops to jump through just to be able to ride it. We’ve never been big fans of the Virtual Queue system, and are glad it’s now no longer used at TRON.
The days of just showing up and riding an attraction now feel few and far between, and if you aren’t adept with technology, this can present a challenge. I guess, the more Disney continues to use these methods for its attractions the more people will get used to it, but there is no denying that it makes things much more complicated than it needs to be.
Overall
Seeing as TRON Lightcycle Run is an exact clone of the original in Shanghai Disneyland, we are not surprised with how it came out and it’s pretty much what we expected over these past 5+ years waiting for it.
There is no doubt the Magic Kingdom will benefit from its addition, especially Tomorrowland which hasn’t had a new attraction in decades. TRON fits right in and is a shining light in a land that was in desperate need of life.
TRON Lightcycle Run is an excellent attraction, and one of the best coasters in Walt Disney World, we’d even say it’s among the top overall attractions in any of the 4 parks. That said, it’s not without its flaws. It lacks some of the small touches and Disney characters we are used to seeing in the best attractions, and for being an E-Ticket, it’s far too short.
In that respect, it kind of reminds us of the Na’vi River Journey. We were expecting more and were shocked by the short ride length.
That said, guests are going to love riding the TRON coaster and we know it’s going to be extremely popular for years to come. The unique ride vehicles give us the sheer joy you are looking for in any Disney attraction. Sure, there are some things we’d change, but overall, we are happy with it and will enjoy riding it on each visit to the Magic Kingdom.
Is It Worth It?
So after spending an extremely long time reading this article and seeing all that’s required just to ride the thing, you are probably asking yourself: “Is it really worth all the effort it takes?”
Our answer is yes, it’s worth it. In the last decade, Disney has opened some incredible attractions (Rise of the Resistance, Flight of Passage, Cosmic Rewind), and even though I wouldn’t put TRON above those other three attractions, it is still amazing. If you have to jump through a few hoops, it’s worth it.
For example, the effort it takes to get the whole family up early can be difficult, but overall, you’ll save more time and everyone will be happier instead of wasting a ton of your day in line.
Then there is the complaint that it’s very short. Again, I can’t defend this and I wish it was an extra 30-60 seconds just like you, but what is there is really an awesome experience.
Will I Like TRON LIghtcycle Run If I Don’t Like the Film?
Trust me, if you like roller coasters and thrill rides, you will love TRON Lightcycle Run even if you have never seen any of the TRON films before. There is nothing you need to know about the story ahead of time to make the attraction enjoyable.
To be quite honest, the only time I tried watching the second TRON film I fell asleep, but I still love the TRON coaster!
TRON Lightcycle Run vs Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Comparing TRON Lightcycle Run to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is going to be a debate raging amongst Disney fans for decades to come because there are just too many similarities.
Both of these coasters were announced and built at the same time, and are indoors, so it’s natural to compare them. They also both have launch sequences at the beginning of the ride only TRON launches you forward while Cosmic Rewind has a backward launch.
Cosmic Rewind uses an “omni-coaster” system with unique vehicles that rotate as much as 360 degrees during the ride. TRON on the other hand uses a more traditional coaster system, but the vehicles are more like motorbikes with guests leaning forward and gripping the handlebars while riding.
Cosmic Rewind is more story-driven with the characters you know and love, relying heavily on the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. TRON on the other hand feels a bit more generic and the TRON characters are not actively featured on the attraction.
There is also a difference in size and ride length between the two rides. TRON is a much shorter ride coming in at under 2 minutes, while Cosmic Rewind is well over 3 minutes long. The show building for TRON is much smaller compared to the massive building in EPCOT.
We also think Cosmic Rewind has a much better queue leading up to the attraction. It starts out in the Galaxarium and then leads you into the Xandar Gallery where you see funny interactions between the characters. The pre-show is also much better including the incredible Phase Chamber and the demonstration of the Cosmic Generator.
TRON Lightcycle Run does have a hallway where you walk above the launch room, but that’s about the only really memorable thing from the queue.
Overall, we love both of these attractions, and they represent the next generation of attractions for both EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom, but when compared side-to-side, we think the winner is hands-down Cosmic Rewind. The combination of ride length, a better queue, and better storytelling, make this the clear winner for us.
TRON Lightcycle Run vs Space Mountain
Another natural comparison is between TRON Lightcycle Run and its next-door neighbor Space Mountain. Space Mountain has been an icon on the Magic Kingdom Skyline since 1975, and besides the castle, it’s arguably the symbol of the entire park.
While Space Mountain has anchored Tomorrowland for the last almost 50 years, TRON Lightcycle Run was built as the keystone of this land’s renovation project, and it has quickly become the park’s most popular coaster.
Comparing the two strictly on a ride quality basis is really no comparison. As you would imagine, Imagineers have come a long way since the 1970s and the technology and ride system used in TRON is obviously a huge upgrade over its predecessor. The ride is much smoother compared to the herky-jerky action from Space Mountain and a much more pleasant experience.
TRON also wins on the “wow” factor with its awesome launch into The Grid and the way the canopy lights up for all guests outside to see.
Still, Space Mountain is a classic Disney attraction and the nostalgia factor is undeniable. Sure there are some days we don’t want to ride it, but growing up riding it, you still have to love it. We also have to admit that we prefer the almost total darkness it has and we would prefer TRON to be more like this on the inside of the building.
There is no doubting TRON Lightcycle Run is the superior attraction, but Space Mountain will always hold a special place in our hearts and will continue to be a must-do ride. Now if we can only get Disney to update the one at the Magic Kingdom like they are doing in Tokyo…
TRON Lightcycle Run vs Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Lastly, we will compare TRON to the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster over in Hollywood Studios. This is one of the closest comparisons for TRON, except for the inversion.
The fact that they are both indoor roller coasters and take place in the dark is obvious. Also, they both launch guests right at the beginning of the ride, and they both reach speeds of just around 60 mph, making them the two fastest coasters in Disney World.
Even though they both share a 48” height requirement, Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster to us, is a more intense ride. The fact that it has loops and corkscrew inversions on top of the speed and launch makes it the more thrilling ride.
Even having the same height requirement, TRON is the more “family-friendly” of the two rides. I know guests like my mom won’t even think about riding Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster whereas TRON is a bit more doable.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is also the jerkier of the two attractions, and being built in 1998, it’s not as smooth of a ride as TRON is. In fact, we sometimes get a headache when riding RNRC, and have yet to experience this on TRON.
Both are fun rides, but TRON Lightcycle Run is the overall better attraction unless you are only interested in straight thrills.
Should I Visit Disney World for TRON in 2025?
So how soon should you start making plans to visit the Magic Kingdom? Should you come in 2025 to ride TRON? The answer for us here is a resounding yes! This is a true E-Ticket attraction and the sooner you ride TRON Lightcycle Run, the better, and I’ll tell you why.
A good time to visit would be May 2025 or in the Late Summer/Early Fall in August or September. May is nice because the weather is good and Spring Break crowds have gone home. August are September are worse for the weather, but have even lower crowds so you’ll have an easier time getting on TRON.
You could always wait until 2026 or later to visit, but as always, we recommend seeing the new E-Ticket attractions when they first open instead of waiting, and it’s no different here.
The reason we say that is because when an attraction first opens, it’s usually in perfect condition, with all its special effects and bells and whistles working at 100%. After that things start breaking, and Disney isn’t always the quickest when it comes to attraction maintenance. That’s why we say it’s smart to visit sooner rather than later.
It’s also a great time because if you haven’t been to Walt Disney World in a few years, there are a ton of other new rides worth checking out. Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, are just some of the attractions you will enjoy, not to mention all the Pandora and Toy Story stuff.
On top of that, the longer you wait to visit Disney World, the more expensive it becomes. We calculated all the potential expenses in our article “How Much Does it Cost to Go to Disney World?” and it won’t get any cheaper in 2026.
Obviously, you don’t want to go into debt to visit, but if your budget allows for it, all of these reasons are why we recommend visiting in 2025 and not putting it off. If you need help planning your trip, we highly recommend Show You the World Travel, who will help you plan everything at NO extra cost to you!
FAQs
Yes, the TRON ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is now open to guests. It officially opened on April 4, 2023.
The TRON coaster is located in Tomorrowland, next to Space Mountain and behind the Tomorrowland Speedway.
Yes, it is. The new TRON attraction is a roller coaster, but with a unique ride vehicle that is similar to riding a motorcycle. It’s just like the Light Cycle bikes from the TRON films.
Thankfully it no longer does! While it used to, it ended it’s usage of the Virtual Queue in September 2024, meaning guests can now get in the standard standby queue.
TRON Lightcycle Run is not included in the list of Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions when you purchase the service at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. However, it does use Lightning Lane Single Pass as a pay-to-ride option. This allows you to skip the line as long as you are willing to pay the extra money.
The TRON coaster may be scary for some guests depending on what type of rides you like. It’s roughly on the same level of intensity as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster or the Tower of Terror. It’s the fastest roller coaster Disney has ever made, so if speed, dark spaces, or the idea of riding on a motorbike suspended in the air scares you, it may be wise to avoid riding.
That depends on how big your kid is and how much they like thrill rides. First of all, they need to meet the 48-inch height requirement. If they are tall enough and they enjoy thrill rides like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, they will also like TRON Lightcycle Run. If they are afraid of going fast and don’t like roller coasters, they will not like this ride at all.
Whether or not you get sick on TRON Lightcycle Run depends on your sensitivity to rides and roller coasters in general. If I’m comparing TRON to other roller coasters in general, I’d say it’s not very nauseating, and most guests who like coasters should be totally fine.
There are no loops so you don’t need to worry about going upside down. There are also no crazy drops or turns and the whole ride is really smooth.
It’s definitely much less nauseating than Disney’s other newest coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and it won’t get you anywhere near as sick as that will. If you had a bad experience on Cosmic Rewind, don’t come here thinking it’s anything like that.
No, it is not. The TRON coaster at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is actually a copy of the original ride in Shanghai Disneyland, though the name is slightly different there (TRON Lightcycle Power Run).
Unfortunately, at this time there is not a Single Rider option for guests on TRON Lightcycle Run. This may change in the future, but for now, it is not available.
No, it is not a 3D attraction. While there are plenty of special effects on the TRON coaster including screens and lights, no 3D glasses are needed.
There are no audio-animatronics in any part of the TRON Lightcycle Run attraction or pre-show. Unfortunately, this seems to be the trend lately for new Disney rides, and it would have been cool to at least include an audio-animatronic in the pre-show or something.
Yes, it does. If you want to take home a memory with you from your time in the Grid, there are on-ride PhotoPass pictures available on TRON Lightcycle Run. The PhotoPass picture is taken during the launch sequence as you are launched from the indoor area and onto the Grid outside.
Your photos are automatically linked to your My Disney Experience account as long as you wear a MagicBand or MagicBand+ device linked to your account, or if you have a Bluetooth-enabled device linked to your device.
Though a large part of TRON Lightcycle Run takes place inside, there is also a long stretch of track that is located outside the attraction show building. Technically, the track is covered by a canopy so riders don’t get wet when it rains, however, if there is lightning and thunder in the area, it can close down until the storm passes.
We are super excited now that TRON Lightcycle Run is finally up and running in the Magic Kingdom. The park really needed a new E-Ticket attraction, and something to create a buzz, especially in Tomorrowland.
We expect TRON Lightcycle Run to be a smash hit for years to come and a focal point of the next phase in the Magic Kingdom’s evolution. I think it’s a bit early but many even include it as one of the best attractions in Disney World. Make sure you give it a ride on your next trip!
Make sure to read about all the new Disney World rides coming in the next few years, it’s gonna be insane!
Your Thoughts:
I want to know what you think about the Tron Lightcycle Run roller coaster coming to Walt Disney World…
- Are you looking forward to this new ride?
- Which new attraction coming to Walt Disney World are you looking forward to most?
Let us know in the comments section below!
If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media. I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂
My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.
George Mells
Sunday 5th of February 2023
After watching the Shanghai video I have to winder if the Tron Lightcycle Run will have a maximum size limit. The way the passenger rides with the side supports and top cover I have a feeling quite a few of the corpulent type visitors will not fit. Also, is there any spec on what the maximum G force is in the turns?
Michael Nelson
Saturday 21st of January 2023
Always nice when a new ride opens up, however, it seems WDW is turning into a roller coaster park. We have lots of grandkids under ten, and would like to see more family friendly rides. Why they took Stich away we will never know. As well, 3 hour wait times on most of the popular rides is not worth it. Fast pass so fair to all and now it is gone. The enjoyment is gone when you are in line so long.
Ralph
Saturday 17th of September 2022
My question is regarding the railroad which was shuttered due to construction. Will Disney have construction completed on Tron and allow the railroad to run? Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of coming back in 2023 since we are heading to Disney world this December but I'm hoping at least to ride the iconic railroad. Thanks.
Randy W
Friday 22nd of April 2022
Tron will likely open August 2022, full speed tests going on, concrete paths nearly done, by end of June only landscaping and final touches will remain. July should start previews, and mid-August it should be open to ride. Disney wants to kick August off as the official "back to normal", so they can say it's fully functioning with all construction done with two months left in the official 50th anniversary. Look at all the programs coming back for August. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Disney dining plan come back in August too.
jeannette Sanchez
Tuesday 20th of October 2020
awesome! I can't wait to ride on Tron! This will be great ride!