Everything in the future is super fast, for better or worse
Do you like neon lights? How about cyberpunk looking motorcycles? And Jeff Bridges? He was great in the movies, after all. Well, you won’t find Jeff Bridges in Tron Lightcycle Run, but you will surely find a lot of neon lights, stylish motorcycles and a high speed launch that ranks as one of the best ones in all of Disney World.
Tron Lightcycle Run is a recent addition which launched in Magic Kingdom in 2023. Let’s get one thing out of the way: it’s not as good as Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, but few things in life are, so that’s not a fair comparison. Is it a good addition to Magic Kingdom, though? For sure.
This is a fast roller coaster with a great launch system that even uses some elements from Space Mountain. The vehicles are basically cyberpunk motorbikes full of neon lights, which are the same designs used in the 1982 Tron movie. This means that guests need to ride slightly bent over, which gives you a completely new experience when riding a roller coaster like this.
It looks like launch systems in roller coasters are extremely popular nowadays with Islands of Adventure’s Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure and the VelociCoaster. Disney also loves it, and we’ve seen it already in Rock N’ Roller Coaster and Cosmic Rewind. It’s time to do it again, this time on a futuristic motorbike.
It appears that people in the future love going fast, as Tron Lightcycle Run now holds the record as the fastest roller coaster in all Disney Parks. The initial launch takes you to 59 mph, which is a little bit faster than Rock N’ Roller Coaster’s 57 mph. It’s still slightly slower than Test Track, which reaches a maximum speed of 64.9 mph. You know what’s cool, though? The vehicle in Tron is way more compact, and the rider position makes it feel like it’s way faster than something like Test Track. I’d say that the initial launch is, by far, the best thing about this roller coaster.
I’ve seen some guests online complaining about the ride vehicle, which might be uncomfortable for guests of bigger sizes. There is a vehicle located just outside the entrance, so it’s always a good idea to test drive it to see if you enjoy riding a roller coaster in a rather unusual position. If the motorbike setup isn't your preference, there are also traditional ride vehicles on certain trains that offer a more spacious seating. Just make sure you select what’s best for you and have a good time!
The ride could very well be divided into two different sections: a launch sequence which catapults guests forward in an outdoor area where they can spot guests waiting in queue, and an indoor sequence where everything is dark and all you can see are blinking lights and neon signs, which even resembles a videogame.
This is a fast roller coaster, but don’t expect huge drops of sharp twists. This would probably be uncomfortable for guests that are riding a bike, after all. You are here to enjoy the sense of speed, listen to a robotic voice which guides you through the ride and wonder if Disney will ever release a new Tron movie. After the initial launch, it’s smooth sailing until the end.
The entire world’s main complaint with Tron Lightcycle Run, though?
It’s an incredibly short ride. Disney’s official runtime for this roller coaster is 2 minutes but, in practice, it only lasts for about 75 seconds. That's because it takes around 25 seconds for your vehicle to leave the station until the initial launch, and another 30 seconds or so at the end when your vehicle slows down for you to finally exit. Rock N’ Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios is another short roller coaster, with an actual ride duration of about 85 secs.
Even if we count the full 2 minutes, the ride can be considered short. Cosmic Rewind, for example, runs for 3:20 minutes, and even Space Mountain runs for a little under 3 minutes. The short run time is enough to knock down a few points in our overall score.
You should still visit Tron, even if just once. It’s well made, the visuals are stylish and the initial launch is really, really fun. This could very well be a 9/10 or even a 10/10 ride if it was 50% longer and had a few more setpieces.
One last thing, Tron looks absolutely amazing at night! If you can, try to ride it late into the afternoon, even if you have to buy an individual Lightning Pass for it. The tracks and vehicles get extra neon and blinking lights, giving it a brand new feel. It looks amazing even if you just go there to take some pictures.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Funny enough, Tron Lightcycle Run has the highest height requirement in all Disney World next to Rock N’ Roller Coaster at 48 inches. In terms of how intense it is, I’d put it below Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which has a height requirement of only 42 inches. This might have something to do with the unique motorcycle used in Tron.
Tron isn't particularly scary either, even though parts of it are in the dark. Well, mostly dark, with neon signs and images everywhere. If your kids meet the height requirement, they should be fine here. Just remind them to hold on tight, especially during the launch, as it might catch them off guard and spook some children.
