What The New Tron Ride At Magic Kingdom Will Be Like…

You might not be all too familiar with Tron or its 2010 sequel Tron: Legacy. While the original ground-breaking ‘80s sci-fi is a classic, it’s actually more of a cult classic and is yet to truly be thrust into the mainstream. But that’s set to change in 2021 when Magic Kingdom Park unveils the all-new Tron-themed attraction for Disney World’s 50^th anniversary celebrations. And here’s everything you can expect from this exciting new experience!

 

7. How It Will Compare To The Movie

In Tron, computer hacker Flynn is thrust into the digital world known as the Grid where he must battle the computer’s likeness of his real-life tech rival. The film pioneered state-of-the-art special effects, and now Disney is recreating the neon-lit digital landscape for you to enjoy. Beyond its special effects, the film’s main trademarks are the sequences involving the “Lightcycles” – motorcycle-like vehicles on which the film’s characters ride. So perhaps it was inevitable that a ride inspired by this fantastical method of transport would eventually grace Disney World.

6. It Will Be Based On Shanghai Disneyland Park’s Tron Ride

The new Disney World ride will be based on Shanghai Disneyland’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run, which has been wowing guests there since 2016. The partially-enclosed roller coaster hits speeds of 60 miles per hour – a record-breaker for Disney roller coasters. Disney World’s Tron ride will no doubt hit similar if not faster speeds, as it’s no mystery that the Shanghai attraction is the main source of inspiration and has been a huge hit with park-goers since its inception. Just how similar it will be remains to be seen, but you can probably expect the same sort of programming!

5. What Shanghai Disneyland’s Version Is Like

Tron Lightcycle Power Run wasn’t actually designed to be Tron-themed when it was originally conjured up by Walt Disney Imagineers. In fact, it was only because of the familiar appearance of the attraction’s vehicles during pre-production – on which guests lean forward and grip the handlebars in that iconic fashion – that the ride was given a Tron upgrade. Adding a theme to a ride using that of a film franchise is becoming increasingly popular, so there’s no surprise that Tron is the latest to go under Disney’s ever-expanding spotlight.

 

4. The Official Name Has Already Been Revealed

The new attraction will be officially called Tron Lightcycle Run. It seems strange that the word “power” has been omitted, but this attraction will be just as super-charged as its Shanghai counterpart. “Lightcycle” is the motorcycle-like vehicle that the characters in the films use to slice through the digital landscape of the Grid at astonishing speed and precision. And while of course you won’t be given such freedom on Disney World’s interpretation, it’ll be a reality-shattering adventure like no other nonetheless.

3. It Is Being Built In A New Section Of Tomorrowland

Just like its counterpart in Shanghai Disneyland Park, Tron Lightcycle Run is being built in Tomorrowland. However, the attraction will require a new area entirely and will be located near Space Mountain. Other than Epcot’s Future World, there’s simply no better place in Walt Disney World Resort for this futuristic experience. It’s also yet another fine example of just how “galactic” Disney World is becoming in theme, especially when you consider the likes of all things Star Wars, Toy Story and so on.

2. It Will Break New Ground Just Like The Movie

While the original film’s special effects have dated (though its charm hasn’t), it can’t be denied that they broke new ground back in 1982, long before the likes of 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day or 1993’s Jurassic Park. It also helped to inspire other arcade/computer world-based films like The Matrix, Ready Player One and even Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph. And now you can expect the ride to break some new ground too. After all, it’s a roller coaster ride without a roller coaster! Okay, technically it is a roller coaster, but you won’t know or feel it when you’re burning rubber in cyberspace (rubber of a digital nature, that is).

1. How The Ride Will Likely Play Out

So how will this new ride play out? While it’s easy to say it will probably the same as the one in Shanghai, at this point it’s hard to know exactly how these Lightcycles will, ahem, run. But what has been revealed is that guests will board a train of the dual-wheeled Lightcycles on which they’ll be thrust deep into the dark universe of the Grid, which will in reality span both an indoor and outdoor environment. You can also expect the queuing system to be just as hi-tech, teeming with visuals and equally-cinematic levels of sounds and lights, and all its detail outlined in dazzling neon.Tron Lightcycle Run will be launching in 2021 as part of Walt Disney World Resort’s 50^th anniversary celebrations. An exact date is yet to be announced, but in the meantime check out Shanghai Disneyland Resort’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run online and start practicing your Lightcycle position (mainly so that you don’t end up with a bad back).