We have EVERYTHING you need to know about riding TRON Lightcycle Run at Disney World

Are you about to ride TRON Lightcycle Run for the first time? Wondering about height requirements, lockers, the virtual queue, and more? Literally EVERYTHING you need to know about TRON is in this helpful guide!

What is TRON Lightcycle Run?

Lean forward into the ultimate race of survival! Leave the real world behind and join Team Blue in a quest across the Grid—the dark, computerized world with no horizons from TRON. Here, there’s no limit to the excitement.

Climb aboard your very own Lightcycle and take off on a high-speed adventure, racing against the Grid’s most menacing Programs. Surge past your fierce opponents as you attempt to pass through 8 Energy Gates and secure your team’s victory—so you can survive to race another day.

This fun, but intense, roller coaster is one of the fastest (59 mph) attractions that Disney has ever created. It is located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.

Disney will officially open Tron Lightcycle Run on April 4, 2023. However, from March 20th through April 2nd, guests may have the early opportunity to experience TRON Lightcycle/Run during a limited soft open virtual queue or purchase of Individual Lightning Lane entry.

It is important to note that TRON will be unavailable on April 3rd and will officially open on April 4th.

Two ways to ride TRON: Virtual Queue

A virtual queue will be utilized with TRON Lightcycle / Run. Guests will need to use the My Disney Experience app to reserve a space for the attraction. A standby queue will not be available. Each Guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day during regular park hours.

Boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. Not all boarding groups may be called to return, based on availability of the experience.

Here is when you can join:

• 7:00 AM (Guests do not need to be in the park when they join but must have a theme park reservation for Magic Kingdom park)
• 1:00 PM (Guests must be in Magic Kingdom park to join the virtual queue)

An additional opportunity to request to join the virtual queue will be available at 6:00 PM on select dates during extended evening theme park hours––a benefit for registered Guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels. Guests with this benefit do not need to be in Magic Kingdom park to request to join at that time.

KtP Note: If you have not tapped into Magic Kingdom, you will need to have a Magic Kingdom park reservation!

Two ways to ride TRON: Individual Lightning Lane

In addition to the virtual queue, Individual Lightning Lane Selections are available for TRON. This is an a la carte purchase you can make by itself or with Genie+. If you are staying onsite, you can book this at 7:00 am on the day you wish to ride. If you are staying offsite, you can purchase it when you enter Magic Kingdom, but it’s highly unlikely that there will still be availability. As with the virtual queue, this is subject to availability. If you really want to ride TRON using the paid option, I suggest staying onsite!

In the MDE Tip Board, you can select TRON and make your purchase by following the prompts. To learn all about Individual Lightning Lanes, see our guide HERE.

With all of these options, you could potentially ride TRON 3 times in one day: join the virtual queue at 7:00 am, purchase an Individual Lightning Lane, and join the queue again if you are taking advantage of Extended Evening Hours.

Queue and Boarding

There are two queue lines for TRON: the “standby” queue for those with a boarding group and the Lightning Lane/DAS queue. Those with a boarding group will stay to the right and Lightning Lane users will stay to the left. In reality, there is no exciting standby queue or storyline you are missing by bypassing the standby queue.

If you are interested in seeing the “pre-show”, check out this video from KtP’s YouTube channel below. This little 15 second pre-show introduces you to the ride and the vehicles. You can also more about the story line in Susan’s post HERE. We also recommend watching TRON: Legacy before your visit, so you have a greater understanding of the attraction.

Loading into the ride vehicles is also a bit different from other attractions. On other rides you enter the vehicle one way and exit on the other side. For TRON, one person has to actually walk around the ride vehicle to load on the other side. This is due to the nature and style of the ride vehicle. You can view the diagram in the photo above.

Riding in the front row will provide an optimal experience, but if you are the only person in your party who wants to ride in the front row and the others do not, do note that there is no guarantee that you will all ride together. It’s best if you all decide as a party to wait for a the front row or not.

Lockers

TRON is the only attraction at Disney World that requires guests to use lockers for personal belongings. Things that will not be allowed include hats, mouse ears, purses, backpacks and other hand held items. This is not like Kali River Rapids where lockers are optional. If you have personal items that are larger than the small compartment on the ride vehicle, you must use a locker!

Inside the attraction queue, these complimentary lockers pair directly with your MagicBand, MagicBand+ or ticket media so you can easily lock and reopen your locker with a quick tap.

Guests without a MagicBand or other ticket media (such as a card) will be 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. If you forget your locker number, you can retrieve the number at one of the handy check point stations located at each locker bank.

Pirate tip: Take a photo of your locker number so you can remember it easily when it is time to gather your belongings!

Ride Vehicle Concerns

Guests of varying sizes and weights may find it difficult or impossible to ride TRON. Because this version of TRON is directly designed after Shanghai’s version, the dimensions of the ride vehicle are smaller than what we are used to here in the United States.

Additionally, the style of the ride vehicle (think Flight of Passage but laying more on your stomach) may make it more difficult for those who suffer from chronic pain to ride comfortably. Much of your weight is supported on your lower leg and knees and on your stomach and chest area. You’ll grasp the handle bars and pull them toward you. They are quite abrasive.

There is a ride vehicle near the attraction, so if you do have concerns about riding you can double check before boarding. There are also a few traditional coaster-style ride vehicles for TRON. Be sure to let a Cast Member know if you prefer to ride in these modified vehicles.

The back car provides traditional seating with a lap bar. Approximately 50% of the trains have these modified vehicles in the back, so you may have to wait several loads in order to get on one.

Height requirements and riding with children

This ride has a strictly enforced height requirement of 48″, which will prevent many younger children from being able to ride. Do note that ride swap is available for TRON! If someone in your travel party is not tall enough to ride do not waste the money on purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane!

Rider Switch is available for Tron. Just ask a Cast Member before entering the queue.

Some families have children who may be tall for their age and will wonder whether they should let them try it out. There are a few things to consider like “does my child enjoy thrill rides?” and “how does my child feel about loud sounds, fast coasters, and the different ride vehicle?”

If this is your first ever trip to Disney World, you may consider riding a few of the less intense coasters like Space Mountain and Cosmic Rewind before riding TRON. You can gauge their level of excitement (or fear) and go from there. Additionally, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster also has a 48″ height requirement, so this may help you determine if they are ready for the thrills of TRON.

KtP Note: Tron offers an intense launch that shoots you out from zero to 59 miles per hour and you’ll be outdoors briefly. The ride slows a bit when you return indoors. The total ride length is just over 1 minute. I highly recommend watching Tron: Legacy before coming to Walt Disney World. You won’t understand what this ride is about without watching the movie.

You may also consider letting them watch a POV video beforehand so they can get a feel for what the ride is like. Kate detailed her experience with her children in this post.

Identify Program Experience and Merchandise

Users who venture into the Grid will find three merchandise collections, related to the attraction experience, the film “TRON: Legacy” or the nostalgia around this digital world first introduced in 1982 with the release of the original “TRON.”

You can see a first look at the merchandise coming to the newly imagined Tomorrowland Launch Depot HERE. There will also be a pop-up store in the previous Stitch attraction location.

As for the Identify Program Experience, you will be able to create an action figure, or Program, that looks and sounds just like you. This can also be found in the Tomorrowland Launch Depot. Image Capture will scan your facial features. Then, you’ll select your helmet and body configuration. Will your Program be an Enforcer or a Combatant? A Scout or a Heavy Sentry? The choice is yours.

Also, don’t forget to select a team color. Finally, you’ll visit Command Input, where you will record 6 lines of dialogue in your own voice. This action figure will link to other TRON merchandise, too! Pricing is $89.99 and reservations are strongly encouraged. Read more important details in Susan’s post.

Food Options

Disney World opened a new dining location with the opening of TRON, called Energy Bytes. This location offers some breakfast bites, savory snacks, sweet treats, or refreshing beverages. tThis new spot will soon become a go-to pitstop as you venture into the world of Tomorrowland.

Food options include donuts, various types of dumplings, and strawberry IceOform. Grab a Joffrey’s coffee or watermelon refresher to wash it all down. See more photos of Energy Bytes menu items in this post.

PhotoPass Opportunities

Many attractions in the parks offer some kind of photo or video opportunity, and maybe even both! For example, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has a slow motion video as well as a couple photo spots throughout the ride. Unfortunately, others do not have any (looking at you, Big Thunder Mountain).

These photos and videos are a fun way to remember your time in the parks. So, what does TRON offer?

TRON does offer BOTH a ride photo and ride video! You can find them in your Photos on My Disney Experience. If you purchase Genie+ for the day, your ride photos are automatically included (without the watermark!). You can also purchase Memory Maker for one day or your entire trip if you do not plan to utilize Genie+.

What questions do you have about TRON? Be sure to ask them below so we can answer them! Also be sure to share this post with a friend or family member who wants to learn about TRON, too!