UPDATE: Disney has announced the attraction will open to guests in spring 2023
In 2017, at the D23 Expo, The Walt Disney Company announced that a second TRON Lightcycle/Run attraction would open in fall 2021 at the Walt Disney World Resort, as part of the park’s 50th Anniversary. Currently, Shanghai Disneyland is the only theme park with this attraction Little did they anticipate a global pandemic three years later would derail those plans and more.
It was unclear if the attraction would open on time or even sometime during the 50th celebration. Then in December 2021, D23 posted a story about every moment they were looking forward to in 2022. Given that the TRON attraction was left off that list, many Disney bloggers speculated that it would not be until 2023 when fans would be able to ride this highly anticipated attraction.
Construction on the attraction in the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland was slow, but the pace quickly picked up over the year. Bloggers have been constantly posting more and more construction updates and it seems the attraction is nearing completion. In fact, some sources are saying TRON Lightcycle/Run will open sometime during the first week of December. One outlet is even claiming the attraction will open on 1 December 2022. It is important to note, that Disney has yet to give any indication when the attraction will officially open. Although that may be one of the announcements made at the Parks & Resorts panel during this year’s previously postponed D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.
Last month, the Disney Parks Blog posted an update in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the “Tron” movie. “Imagineers are hard at work creating TRON Lightcycle / Run, which is beginning to light up the skyline in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park … We’re in the testing phase for what will be one of the fastest coasters in any Disney park … When this attraction is complete, you’ll climb aboard your very own Lightcycle and launch into the Grid for a race through a dark, computerized world.”
“Our story picks up following the events of “TRON: Legacy,” whose main character, Sam Flynn, is now opening new gateways into this digital realm at specific locations around the world,” writes Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty. “The first portal he created is at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run, and now Magic Kingdom guests will get their turn through this second gateway.
When you enter the attraction’s queue, you’ll feel as if you’re digitized and entering the Grid for a special Lightcycle race alongside your family and friends. You’ll all join Team Blue (hence the color of the wheels in the photo above) for a high-speed launch into a competition against Team Orange. As you swoop and swerve your way around the course, your goal is to be the first to race through eight Energy Gates and secure your victory.”
In March of this year, they reported that the attraction was entering the “push/pull” phase. This phase is “where sections of the seven-vehicle train are slowly moved through the entire ride track. Once the track is completely ready, trains will begin launch tests at incremental speeds, with the team eventually working their way up to full-speed launches.”
Tron Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World/BlogMickey
“While riding the Tomorrowland PeopleMover last night to get photos of the return of railroad track to the TRON Lightcycle Run construction site, we were also treated to wonderful views of the basic nighttime lighting package for the canopy that both serves as a visual indication of the attraction and protection from the elements,” wrote Mike on BlogMickey. “During the day, the canopy serves as a roof that will allow the roller coaster to operate during the typical afternoon thunderstorms, but at night it will come alive as the highlight of Tomorrowland.”
Construction at the Tomorrowland Light & Power Co./WDWNT
Over at Walt Disney World News Today (WDWNT), they are reporting that Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. is “closed for refurbishment to accommodate changes for the upcoming TRON Lightcycle / Run roller coaster.” They went on to say that the Walt Disney World Railroad is still closed as the “tunnel also remain under construction.”
The Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. will become a gift shop for Space Mountain and TRON Lightcycle/Run.
The blog has also reported that constuction of walkways, including one that connects Storybook Circus to the new attraction are also underway.
Image: WDWNT.com
“The foundation of a new walkway connecting Tomorrowland and Storybook Circus has been extended. It now cuts off just past a concrete wall,” reports WDWNT. They also report that crews have been working on a series of planters leading to the attraction. Some will hold plantings, while others may be used for signage.
