TRON Lightcycle / Run is finally welcoming its first Guests! If you’re wondering what this innovative thrill ride has in store for you, we’re covering every detail of the experience, from the queue to the ride itself.
Looming in the distance just beyond Space Mountain, the enormous canopied structure (complete with a high-speed roller coaster flying effortlessly below) is impossible to miss. Its sleek, futuristic white aesthetic matches the impressive technology that awaits inside. And while we’ve watched it come to life slowly in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, it’s finally time to experience all that Walt Disney World’s newest attraction has to offer. That’s right – we’re talking about TRON Lightcycle / Run.
This past week, I had the opportunity to enter The Grid and preview Tron Lightcycle/Run ahead of its official April 4th opening. After years of watching the attraction’s construction from afar, it was my turn to hop on a Lightcycle and see what awaited beneath that impressive canopy. Here’s your guide to what it’s like to step into the queue for this thrilling coaster, and what you can expect from the all-new locker process and ride experience.
The TRON Lightcycle / Run Queue
Photo by Maria Salerno
As you make your way through Tomorrowland, you can’t possibly miss TRON Lightcycle / Run. Located just to the left of Space Mountain, the massive new indoor/outdoor roller coaster attraction is impressive from near and far. The slick marquee sign is framed by the coaster canopy in the background, truly setting a visually striking scene that entices you to come closer. But, once you reach the building, you won’t gain access to the attraction that’s ahead without first securing a virtual line reservation.
Like all of Disney’s most recent attractions, TRON Lightcycle / Run will require a virtual queue reservation when it opens on April 4, 2023. There will be no standby line option. So, if you’re hoping to ride, you’ll need to use the My Disney Experience app to snag a spot in the virtual queue (and demand will be high!).
Once it’s your turn to ride and you make it past the entry scan point, there is a short switchback queue (that’s shaded from the hot Florida sun!) before you enter the building. When you enter the building, everything goes dark. It’s the first sign you’ve officially entered The Grid. Inside, you’re immediately placed in a short, very cool “pre-show.” Then, riders pass through several indoor queue rooms that feature references to past Lightcycle / Run champions who’ve raced in the past.
The Locker Process: How to Stash Your Stuff Before Riding TRON Lightcycle / Run
Photo by Maria Salerno
TRON Lightcycle / Run is the very first Walt Disney World attraction to require the use of lockers for personal items. All bags, hats, drink containers, and all other loose items must be stored in a free locker.
While you might think this slows down the queue and ride boarding process, accessing the lockers is actually very easy! Simply tap your MagicBand or ticket media to any locker with an illuminated blue light, and the door will swing open for you. Don’t forget to keep your MagicBand or ticket with you to regain access to your locker at the end of your ride.
Photo by Maria Salerno
Note: There is a small compartment on the front of each ride vehicle that can hold very small items like cell phones and small wallets, so you can keep those items with you if you prefer.
Once you’ve experienced TRON, the ride exit takes you back through the locker area. Don’t forget to retrieve all your items!
Boarding Your Lightcycle
Photo by Maria Salerno
TRON Lightcycle / Run features some pretty unique ride vehicles. Boarded like a motorcycle with both legs straddling a center seat, you won’t find a set of typical roller coaster restraints keeping you in your seat on this ride. Instead, back and leg restraints lock you into your Lightcycle and keep you secure while you ride.
As the rider, you can adjust how tight or loose your back and leg restraints are by pulling the handles of the Lightcycle towards you. I felt that they were secure without being uncomfortable, as I could not even feel the back or leg restraints touching my body at all, unless I moved up or back.
What the TRON Lightcycle / Run Attraction Experience is Like
Photo by Maria Salerno
Tron is a family-friendly, launch-style roller coaster. The initial launch sequence is extraordinarily exhilarating, and really moves a lot faster than it appears from outside! While still experiencing acceleration, you explode up and out of the ride building and experience riding under the massive, lit-up canopy!
Then, the attraction goes back indoors to complete the story element. Your team’s Lightcycles are racing against Team Orange, and the race plays out via the combination of physical elements and screens. The Lightcycles dip through checkpoints, twist around tight curves, and ultimately across the finish line.
The technology used in this attraction is very futuristic, the experience as a whole is family-friendly, and most importantly, is an easy and comfortable attraction to board and ride. TRON Lightcycle / Run is an overall phenomenal addition to Tomorrowland, and I can’t wait to experience it again when it opens on April 4, 2023. See you in The Grid!
To learn more about the newest attraction at Magic Kingdom, keep reading:
First Look at TRON Lightcycle / Run Team Green Post-Show in Disney World
