TRON LightCycle Run Standby Queue Opens THIS MONTH!

Juggling those Virtual Queue options is about to get much easier at Disney World this Fall. More than a year after it initially opened to guests, TRON Lightcycle Run will finally say so long to the Virtual Queue.

Daytime view of the TRON Lightcycle/Run attraction's canopy and ride train at Magic Kingdom. The white, geometric canopy provides shade as a train of lightcycles speeds along the track, with guests observing from below. The ride's design blends seamlessly with the Tomorrowland area.

TRON Lightcycle History

TRON Lightcycle run is a thrilling rollercoaster based off of the semi-popular TRON film series. The third film, TRON: Ares, is set to release next year! The highly anticipated coaster first debuted in Shanghai Disney in 2016.

Guests board a bike-like ride vehicle where they are secured by both back and shin plates, before being launched into a race around the track. It was announced in 2019 that the attraction would be duplicated at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, but construction was heavily impacted by the 2020 pandemic and opening was delayed.

Dusk view of the TRON Lightcycle/Run attraction at Magic Kingdom, with the canopy illuminated in orange lights, contrasting against the blue sky. The iconic Space Mountain structure can be seen in the background, creating a striking visual connection between the two attractions.

Last Spring, Disney released a number of teaser trailers with hidden easter eggs secretly announcing the opening date. And then, on April 4 2023 she finally opened to the public. And we’ve all been setting our vacation alarms for 6:55am ever since.

Popularity at the Parks

TRON Lightcycle Run is one of the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom, if not all of Disney World resort. The unique ride vehicle, captivating light canopy, and limited queue options have made it an elusive and elite pick at the parks.

For the last year, and the next few days, guests looking to experience this attraction needed to snag a Virtual Queue or shell out for a Lightning Lane. Beginning at 7am, and again at 1pm, Disney opens the Virtual Queue for guests to join and obtain a boarding group. Those groups are called throughout the day, and once your boarding group is up it’s time to return for your ride.

Entrance to TRON Lightcycle/Run attraction at Magic Kingdom, featuring a sleek, futuristic sign with the ride's name in bold blue letters. The background shows the distinctive white, curved canopy structure of the ride, with guests walking toward the entrance on a sunny day.

But those boarding group numbers have become more and more difficult to come by. Often selling out within seconds of the drop time. However, when the standby line has been available (during special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and After Hours), the wait times have been under an hour.

At the very first MNSSHP this year, the posted wait was around 30 minutes all night!

TRON Lightcycle Strategy

The biggest question (besides when Cosmic Rewind will finally open standby) is how this will impact your next trip! The truth is, we won’t now for sure until the data is in – but this is our best guess.

Lines will get long! Because it’s located in Tomorrowland and has a gorgeous view of the nighttime fireworks, it’s a safe bet that lines will continue through the night.

On-ride photo of two guests riding TRON Lightcycle/Run at Magic Kingdom, leaning forward on their lightcycles as they zoom through the dark, neon-lit grid. The guests are focused and immersed in the experience, with glowing blue wheels and futuristic digital effects surrounding them. — *Yes. My face always looks like that on TRON.*

Rope Dropping is an option but will be pretty crazy for the next few months. During Early Entry (one of the major on-property perks) only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open. Usually the bulk of these crowds are rushing to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but the TRON standby queue should shake things up.

Lightning Lane has been selling out days in advance every since the new Multi-pass and Single Pass system rolled out. Likely because it was the only way to secure a spot and ensure guests get the opportunity to experience, since Virtual Queue has been so hard to get. These new changes could change that trend and make it easier to grab that single pass – if you’re willing to pay the price.

I for one can’t wait to see Virtual Queue disappear completely. There are still two rides at Disney World with no Standby Line. And if you don’t know about them, it’s sure to lead to a lot of disappointment!

How long would you wait in Standby for TRON Lightcyle?