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TRON Lightcycle Run

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So, had my preview tonight. During CM Previews when I was invited to go, I rode 4 times and virtually walked on every time (maybe had a 5-10 minute wait maximum). Enjoyed it enough.

Certainly wasn’t expecting to walk on during AP Previews, but also wasn’t expecting the line to stretch all the way to the speedway. From entering line at roughly 7:15 to the time I got on the ride, it took about 85 minutes.

If you’ve never been on it I can *maybe* say you might find it to be worth it, but once you’ve been on it 5 times now like I have, I can say with absolute certainty I wouldn’t wait more than 35 minutes or so. It’s just not worth it. It’s a very similar mindset I have with RNRC, a ride I’ve always used Single Rider on. If Tron had single rider, it would be very welcomed.
 
I really don't know how they screwed up the preview rollout of this ride so badly. So few people I know were actually able to secure a spot.

Also, rarely waited much for it in Shanghai but I think we're going to see the stark difference of having this ride at a park with double the attendance.
 
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Disney is being a real Jerky McJerkface with these previews. Joe Nobody on youtube can marathon this while guests in the park that day have to wait even though they have a virtual queue system already in place that would let people sign up for a return time they could be alerted to at any time. Usually parks run a ride in previews that mean there is no guarantee something will be open but Disney uses them to gatekeep and is likely delaying opening dates to do so.
 
Disney is being a real Jerky McJerkface with these previews. Joe Nobody on youtube can marathon this while guests in the park that day have to wait even though they have a virtual queue system already in place that would let people sign up for a return time they could be alerted to at any time. Usually parks run a ride in previews that mean there is no guarantee something will be open but Disney uses them to gatekeep and is likely delaying opening dates to do so.
You mean after taking years longer than reasonable to open a ride they are delaying it to time the opening date to ...... something?
 
I was thinking they weren’t planning to open to general public until the work over at the Tomorrowland Electric Co Space Mountain exit gift shop is done, cause it is a mess there, and they need that space for foot traffic.

For now, timed previews to keep the area with limited traffic makes sense. While CM previews were going on the exit post show area was a visible mess as well, but that’s supposed to be ready this week for AP previews at least.

Im sure there are plenty of folks at the company that want this open asap. I’m sure many assumed they’d be able to sneak it into the 18-month 50th anniversary celebration window. The fact that they missing it by like 5 days tells me it’s not just to stretch out the opening date, it’s because they think they’ll be done with construction by then, otherwise it could open in March and still count as part of the 50th.
 
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^ That and to kick off the 100th celebration in April. Since it missed the 50th, they're holding it for the 100th. They seem to be trying to do a bunch of stuff to kick it off with a media event the beginning of April.
 
This should be open to the public for my late April WDW trip. I'm sure I'll skip it. It doesn't seem worth a long, or even medium, wait. Hopefully, it's long lines will suck up some of the crowd, helping to alleviate the capacity hit of losing Splash Mountain.
 
I was thinking they weren’t planning to open to general public until the work over at the Tomorrowland Electric Co Space Mountain exit gift shop is done, cause it is a mess there, and they need that space for foot traffic.

For now, timed previews to keep the area with limited traffic makes sense. While CM previews were going on the exit post show area was a visible mess as well, but that’s supposed to be ready this week for AP previews at least.

Im sure there are plenty of folks at the company that want this open asap. I’m sure many assumed they’d be able to sneak it into the 18-month 50th anniversary celebration window. The fact that they missing it by like 5 days tells me it’s not just to stretch out the opening date, it’s because they think they’ll be done with construction by then, otherwise it could open in March and still count as part of the 50th.
There hasn’t been anything that Disney has Disney that has gotten a public soft since TSL in 2018 and that was literally only for a few hours on the day before grand opening.
 
Finally rode last night... and it was ok.

The aesthetic/music is incredible, but the ride experience is just ok. Definitely should have opened before Guardians. I would phrase it as, if you ride GOTG, you don't need to ride Tron. The indoor coaster portion is about the same experience but GOTG is a lot more fun.

Pros:
  • It looks cool
  • Probably the nicest looking coaster vehicle?
  • Launch is fun
  • Locker system is a lot easier to use than Universal's (and larger)
Cons:
  • The queue is incredibly small, like Guardians, and completely outdoors and uncovered. Once again the Imagineers from California forgot about the Florida climate
  • Very short attraction duration. I know there's much debate about it, but for a Disney attraction it is incredibly short for what will end up being a minimum 90+ wait on most days.
  • Loading procedure will make this WDW's new "Flight of Passage" with 90+ minute waits everyday
  • The mid course brake runs actually activate - I thought they were there just for capacity reasons, but they actually slowed down the train a bit twice during the "spaghetti" section

I think it's great, but after Hagrid and Guardians, the ride experience just doesn't really stand out.
 
I've ridden a couple of times now and come away with the same thoughts/impression each time.
  • I liked it, but didn't love it
  • Mostly well themed (except the weird plain black door at the end of a themed hallway)
  • Too short
  • Huge missed opportunity to have increased capacity and thrill with two tracks actually racing each other
  • The aesthetic of the canopy is cool, but the going from dark to light to dark is not great. Would have been better all indoors.
  • Tron should have been in Epcot, and Guardians in MK or DHS. I get why they chose what they did (Tron too much like Test Track/Guardians too much like Space Mountain) but they both would have fit better reversed.
 
Ironically, since Tron has a sponsored post show it is more Epcot-y than Guardians that tries to be an Epcot pavilion!
My first ever article on my new site after my blog was about what I’d do if I was in charge of the EPCOT overhaul, and I had Tron coaster replacing UoE. (I had a Guardians overlay for Mission Space.)

This thing just feels EPCOT-y.
 
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It’s funny the feedback about Tron’s length mirror the feedback about Mario Kart’s speed. The general consensus for Mario was “more speed=more track=prohibitively costly.” Meanwhile, Tron got the speed and everyone just forgot about construction logistics.

I also was under the impression Tron and GotG should’ve been swapped but I think after riding Guardians I “get” why it’s at Epcot. The retro pavilion conceit works better as a Xandar exhibit than a Grid display, and the music played seems to be directly tied to guest feedback for more “old Epcot” aesthetics (why the soundtrack skews more 80’s than 70’s like the movies do, IMO).

I haven’t been on Tron yet and think it looks a little underwhelming, but I do think the launch and unique seating style will make it worthwhile. Obviously too, I’d be willing to wait in a longer line for it than some of y’all that have already gotten to go multiple times already.
 
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It’s funny the feedback about Tron’s length mirror the feedback about Mario Kart’s speed. The general consensus for Mario was “more speed=more track=prohibitively costly.” Meanwhile, Tron got the speed and everyone just forgot about construction logistics.

I also was under the impression Tron and GotG should’ve been swapped but I think after riding Guardians I “get” why it’s at Epcot. The retro pavilion conceit works better as a Xandar exhibit than a Grid display, and the music played seems to be directly tied to guest feedback for more “old Epcot” aesthetics (why the soundtrack skews more 80’s than 70’s like the movies do, IMO).

I haven’t been on Tron yet and think it looks a little underwhelming, but I do think the launch and unique seating style will make it worthwhile. Obviously too, I’d be willing to wait in a longer line for it than some of y’all that have already gotten to go multiple times already.
Launch is the best part. After that it slows down considerably and the track layout in the gravity building is pretty uninspired.
 
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It’s funny the feedback about Tron’s length mirror the feedback about Mario Kart’s speed. The general consensus for Mario was “more speed=more track=prohibitively costly.” Meanwhile, Tron got the speed and everyone just forgot about construction logistics.

I don't know how construction logistics fits into the discussion when its literally a simple launch and 4 helixes with 3 mid course brake runs that slow you down.

It was surprisingly very bright inside, easy to see the supports/ride building itself.
 
It’s funny the feedback about Tron’s length mirror the feedback about Mario Kart’s speed. The general consensus for Mario was “more speed=more track=prohibitively costly.” Meanwhile, Tron got the speed and everyone just forgot about construction logistics.

I also was under the impression Tron and GotG should’ve been swapped but I think after riding Guardians I “get” why it’s at Epcot. The retro pavilion conceit works better as a Xandar exhibit than a Grid display, and the music played seems to be directly tied to guest feedback for more “old Epcot” aesthetics (why the soundtrack skews more 80’s than 70’s like the movies do, IMO).

I haven’t been on Tron yet and think it looks a little underwhelming, but I do think the launch and unique seating style will make it worthwhile. Obviously too, I’d be willing to wait in a longer line for it than some of y’all that have already gotten to go multiple times already.
I also understand why Tron didn't get put into Epcot *looks at Test Track*

Personally I think the Xandar thing would slot very well into MK's Tomorrowland

I also think Tron could have been retooled to be a pretty cool Star Wars coaster

But whatevs
 
My first ever article on my new site after my blog was about what I’d do if I was in charge of the EPCOT overhaul, and I had Tron coaster replacing UoE. (I had a Guardians overlay for Mission Space.)

This thing just feels EPCOT-y.
After riding the other day we went home and watched the original Tron which my husband had never seen and I hadn't watched in 30 years. It was amazing to watch and see all the parallels to the work that was going on with EPCOT at the same time the movie was made. The sense of wonder at technology, the use of entertainment to show the possibility of the future. The movie was one of my favorites when I was a kid, and it didn't hold up very well, but I still found it entertaining and was amazed at how EPCOT it was in retrospect.
 
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After riding the other day we went home and watched the original Tron which my husband had never seen and I hadn't watched in 30 years. It was amazing to watch and see all the parallels to the work that was going on with EPCOT at the same time the movie was made. The sense of wonder at technology, the use of entertainment to show the possibility of the future. The movie was one of my favorites when I was a kid, and it didn't hold up very well, but I still found it entertaining and was amazed at how EPCOT it was in retrospect.
It came out the same year EPCOT opened, too.
 
It's still very funny to me that something like Tron gets a ride but there is a slew of Pixar and Disney animated films that have been slept on

Someone help it make sense
 
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