TRON Lightcycle Run REVIEW, Tips for Riding
Photo Credit
TRON Lightcycle Run is now open Tomorrowland in Walt Disney World! This new rollercoaster is a futuristic ride where guests get to hop on their own motorcycle straight out of the TRON film. This coaster also exists in Shanghai Disneyland and has been a hit since its opening and is a welcome addition to Tomorrowland.
Keep reading for our TRON review plus tips on riding! Plus, our commentary on reports that some plus-size guests may not fit comfortably into the TRON Lightcycle ride vehicles.
We had the chance to experience the new attraction and have our initial thoughts on the attraction and two different seating options.
Free Disney World Vacation Quote
Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller, Get Away Today, can get you a no obligation Disney World vacation quote for free! In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.
Request a FREE Walt Disney World Quote here >
And at no additional charge, you get FREE concierge Walt Disney World services! These services include having Get Away Today's Walt Disney World expert Brooklyn take care of all your reservations and price monitoring for your trip. This really takes all the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Rather than waking up at odd hours of the night to book all your reservations, why not let their travel agents take care of it for you- for free!
TRON Lightcycle Run Review – Good for families?
We just got back from a preview of the new TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom. I was able to ride the attraction six times this afternoon and made note of the attraction from each location. I'll break down the seat locations and what I enjoyed most about the attraction in a review.
The TRON train consists of rows of motorcycle-style seating where you are leaning forward with a back restraint on you. There are also metal bars that come in behind your calves to hold you in.
When you sit down you'll reach forward and pull the metal handles towards you which locks in the restraint. The restraint can be relatively loose. I am quite tall and was concerned how I would fit. On my first ride I pulled the restraint in all the way and I was then craning my neck up to look around.
Afterward I watched a couple of other cars going by and saw that people were actually sitting back quite a bit. If you are able to lock in the restraint and have a click you are actually able to sit up quite a bit. I tried this the second time and the TRON backplate was actually a couple of inches off my back – this is good to know that you can really create space for yourself so you aren't squished up the entire time. The calve restraints were still locked in normally though so it wasn't an issue.
There is also a handicapped seat on some of the trains that is actually an upright seat for guests. I rode here and still had a ton of fun. This really makes the experience feel like the Rockin' Rollercoaster launch and experience at Hollywood Studios. The takeaway from this summary of the seats is that the seating will feel comfortable for many and for those that do not want to contort in the ride vehicle the upright seats are also a great option to still enjoy the attraction.
I rode in the very front, middle, and back. The train follows normal roller coaster logic. The front is the least jerky as it is lowered down the drop hills the most and is controlled at the front of the train while the back feels the fastest. However, the front feels very exposed with the wind directly in your face throughout the experience. Riding at the back of the train provided a nice effect with visibility of the full train in front of you reflecting off different show elements. The ride cars all light up.
Skip over the below TRON roller coaster review if you are concerned about spoilers. This isn't really an attraction that can be “spoiled” from a story perspective but there are very cool reveals and visual effects.
Before riding TRON I had heard general thoughts that the attraction was shorter than expected. This set my expectations lower going into the ride, but those thoughts about the attraction length felt completely off base to me. The attraction felt like a very good length that combined indoor and outdoor scenes.
The attraction starts inside at the launch station and then shoots you out onto the track just below the canopy. After swooping under the canopy I didn't know what to expect because I have been holding off looking at anything to avoid spoilers (it has been a long time avoiding spoilers since the attraction first opened in Shanghai Disney in 2016).
The next indoor room feels a bit like the scenes from Rockin' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios. The train of vehicles swoops and dives through backlit illuminated sets where you are on the “Grid” from the TRON movie. Mirrors, screens, and physical structures are used to great effect. After diving through five large portals the ride comes to an end.
As someone who hasn't seen TRON Legacy in years and never saw the original TRON, I will also say that you don't need to have seen the movie TRON to enjoy the attraction. This is really just a next-generation Space Mountain that will be heightened for some that are super fans of the film and for others will just be a great new attraction.
The high-speed launch combined with the fun dark show-building element makes this a super fun addition to Walt Disney World. The attraction is great for guests of all ages.
Is TRON Accessible for Plus Size Guests?
Some have raised concerns that TRON is not “pooh-sized friendly” for all guests. Disney theme parks are some of the most plus size inclusive parks in the business in comparison to the Universal theme parks where ride vehicles are often not built to accommodate pooh size guests. Though Disney places a focus on the being plus-size friendly, the TRON Lightcycle vehicles were first designed with a Chinese audience in mind. The TRON Coaster is a copy of the attraction that first opened at Shanghai Disneyland.
The bikes, known as lightcycles, use a restraint system similar to that of the Pandora Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom where your legs are locked into place and you are secured from behind. As you can see in the photo above, you get on the ride just like a bicycle and the metal restraint comes into place flat on your back
Some plus size guests have reported that they struggled with the restraint system and that it didn't allow for a proper ‘lock' in place to allow them to ride.
To be allowed to ride, you need to be properly restrained in the ride vehicle which the cast member will have to confirm for guest safety. The piece that locks guests into place is a metal bar that comes behind your calf.
Despite these reports, I have seen that the lightcycles are more accommodating than previously shared. Disney has a long history of inclusivity for guests and strives to ensure most of their guests can experience their attractions. The vehicles are a bit awkward to get into for any size of guest and there are a couple of different ways to fit into the vehicle. If you are concerned about fitting you can play around with a sample vehicle in front of the ride.
The leg rests on the TRON lightcycles do move as you slide your legs in and this bit of a leeway could be an advantage to ensuring a plus size guest could fit on TRON. Take advantage of any wiggleroom the ride vehicle gives you! It's also helpful to remember that everyone carries their weight differently even if they are of the same height and weight. Every body is unique so don't panic if you read reports of someone of a similar size struggling on a ride- it could very well be a different experience for you! One consideration seems to be calf size since the leg restraints lock around your calves so that's where that ‘everyone will have a unique experience' bit comes into play. I would also be wary against believing reports you might see on a Twitter that anyone of a certain weight, dress size, etc. won't fit. Like I said, every person carries weight differently. When you are testing out the seat try leaning forward more or sitting back more. The leg rest that the front of your calve sits on also moves back and forth to either be parallel or more slanted. There are a lot of variables here for the seat.
The good news is that reviews have shared that there is an option to ride in a regular ride vehicle and not on a lightcycle which would allow for pooh sized guests to ride. I tested this seat and the ride was still a lot of fun. It feels more like a regular roller coaster but still a great ride.
And for those that do not feel comfortable riding on a bike style roller coaster! Just ask the cast member about this option as you get to the loading platform, there should be a concrete policy in place to navigate how guests will wait for these ride cars by the time TRON officially opens at Walt Disney World.
All guests are also welcome to test whether they are able to fit into the standard vehicle before getting into the queue at lightcycle bike stationed in front of the attraction.
TRON Disney World NOW OPEN
TRON opened on April 4th 2023 at Walt Disney World!
When guests enter the queue they will be immersed in the TRON experience and feel as if they've become digitized and transported to the Grid for a special Lightcycle race. Guests will be Team Blue racing against the Grid’s menacing Programs, Team Orange. The goal is to be the first to race through eight Energy Gates and win!
TRON Lightcycle is the FASTEST coaster at any Disney theme park in the world! We cannot wait to experience this unique attraction and share details with you.
Before the official opening, cast members will be the first to enter the Grid followed by Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members.
TRON Virtual Queue
TRON Lightcycle / Run uses a virtual queue like we have seen for new Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind ride virtual queue in EPCOT and Rise of the Resistance when it first opened. A standby queue is not available.
Read all about the Walt Disney World TRON Lightcycle Run virtual queue here.
Guests also have the option to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for the attraction. Ultimately, if you manage to get a virtual queue and you want to ride again you could purchase Lightning Lane to ride twice in the same day.
TRON Lightcycle / Run Locker System
Guests are required to store their belongings in a new double-sided and digitized locker system before they ride the attraction. Inside the attraction queue, these complimentary lockers pair directly with your MagicBand, MagicBand+, or ticket so you can easily lock and reopen your locker with a quick tap. The locker system at TRON Lightcyle Run does not work with the Magic Mobile version of tickets if you have your ticket in your Apple Wallet. If you have your ticket in your Apple Wallet they'll give you a card to access a locker.
Guests without a MagicBand or other ticket media (such as a card) are provided with a card to assign their locker. All items must be placed either in a locker before you board your Lightcycle, or in a small compartment located on the attraction vehicle that can hold items such as cellphones, glasses or wallets.
TRON Lightcycle/Run Story
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the TRON storyline!
TRON Storyline
The story for the attraction begins by following the events of “TRON: Legacy” with Sam Flynn (the film's main character) opening new gateways into this digital realm around the world. The first portal was created at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON attraction and now the second gateaway at Magic Kingdom.
When you enter the attraction's queue, you'll feel as if you've been digitized and entering the Grid for a special Lightcycle race. Guests will join Team Blue for a high speed launch competition against Team Orange. The goal is to be the first to race through eight Energy Gates and win.
Disney World TRON Merchandise
As always with any new attraction, you can expect an abundance of BRAND NEW Disney merchandise! You can find the largest selection of this merchandise in the Tomorrowland Launch Depot. Here is what we have seen available so far:
Guests can find plenty of TRON themed clothing.
Kids (and adults!) can enjoy the variety of TRON action figures, toys, and other collectibles.
Plus also find some cool household items like water bottles, coffee mugs, and a light up picture frame.
Fans of the movie and the attraction will find a great variety of merchandise to honor both. I like the subtle design for a lot of this merchandise.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will TRON open at Walt Disney World?
TRON is NOW open at Walt Disney World!
Will Genie+ be available TRON opens?
Disney is following the same process it is using for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. TRON is an Individual Lightning Lane purchase with Genie+ and uses a virtual queue instead of a standby line.
Will DAS be available for TRON Lightcycle Run?
Yes, DAS is available like it is for all rides at Walt Disney World.
Will there be a height requirement?
Yes, the height requirement is 48 inches.
Does TRON Lightcycle Run go upside down?
No, this attraction does not go upside but it turns to the side and has drops which may happen in the dark. If you have a fear of heights, this ride may be a bit uncomfortable for you!
Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation!
We hope you enjoyed our Beaches and Cream dining review! Be sure to subscribe to our deals newsletter for all of the latest information on deals and saving tips to help you save money and experience more! Sign up here. Check out our other Disney World articles:
Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.
If you have any problems motion sickness, avoid Tron altogether. It was a disaster for me though my friend really enjoyed it.
The fact that we got on the group list at 1 pm and rode after 10 pm. No more “virtual queues ” for these pass holders.