TRON Lightcycle Run is switching to standby, and the choice to hitch a daily line could have big ramifications on park technique and itineraries for Magic Kingdom. This publish covers when to do & keep away from the curler coaster, with suggestions for Early Entry, rope drop, noon, ExEH, Finish of Line, and extra.
In case you missed it, Walt Disney World introduced that beginning September 9, 2024, a standby queue might be out there at TRON Lightcycle Run. A digital queue might be in place for TRON Lightcycle Run from now by September 8, 2024.
That is the primary time since Remy’s Ratatouille Journey {that a} main new trip dropped its digital queue. Clearly, this implies main modifications for learn how to strategy TRON Lightcycle Run in addition to different headliners in Magic Kingdom. The aim of this publish is offering tentative technique, zig once they zag recommendation, and so on.
For starters, we wish to warn you. TRON Lightcycle Run is dropping its digital queue within the coronary heart of Walt Disney World’s low season. Earlier this week, our newest wait instances report coated the Lowest Crowd Degree Month & Week at Walt Disney World Since 2021! Though it needs to be evident from the title alone, the parks are actually gradual proper now.
That’s not going to vary by September 9. However on the identical time, there’s an ever-growing variety of locals who wish to be the primary to expertise something, and that’ll embody TRON’s standby line, for no matter purpose. In order that creates this bizarre dynamic the place reporting on this swap will largely occur throughout the low season, but in addition as high-knowledge locals rush to expertise it for the primary time.
What I’m saying is that day 1 of TRON Lightcycle Run’s standby line might be nothing like day 8, which might be nothing like week 8. Due to this, I’ve zero intentions of testing any technique or publishing discipline stories for TRON Lightcycle Run’s standby line till the mud settles. The outcomes from September merely received’t be dependable for the vacation season or 2025. As an alternative, I’ll be ready till mid-October and November, at which level I’d anticipate extra consultant outcomes.
The excellent news, I assume, is that I spend method an excessive amount of time doing and occupied with these things and have already got a reasonably good thought of how TRON Lightcycle Run’s standby line will play out. Right here’s a rundown…
Tiana’s Bayou Journey – The obvious and fast affect of TRON Lightcycle Run dropping its digital queue is that the already aggressive Tiana’s Bayou Journey VQ turns into much more difficult.
We extremely, extremely advocate being up at 7 am for the primary drop. Sure, there are occasions when the afternoon entry time is way simpler and stays open for minutes or hours. However there are additionally instances when TBA doesn’t open in any respect for the day till afternoon, and like 17 individuals whole are in a position to be part of the 1 pm VQ. Gamble on this at your personal threat.
Early Entry – Earlier than Magic Kingdom formally opens for the day, there’s Early Entry, which is gives 30-minute entry to company staying in on-site resorts at Walt Disney World. (See our Information to Early Entry at Walt Disney World for more information & technique.)
Magic Kingdom normally opens at 9 am, which places Early Entry at 8:30 am. Magic Kingdom is the most well-liked park at Walt Disney World, and this 8:30 begin time doesn’t current a ‘barrier to entry’ for most individuals. This implies MK has the largest crowds for Early Entry, rendering the perk virtually ineffective for the most well-liked trip–up till now, Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice.
Compounding this drawback is the truth that, throughout Early Entry at Magic Kingdom, solely Tomorrowland and Fantasyland are open, slightly than your complete park. This consolidates the (bigger) crowd to 2 lands of your complete park. It ought to go with out saying, however extra individuals and fewer rides is a recipe for bigger crowds and longer traces.
To that time, there are two “beginning factors” at Magic Kingdom the place crowds are held till Early Entry formally begins–the bridges to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. Sometimes, there are exponentially extra company ready on the Fantasyland Bridge–I’d say about 90% to 10% of your complete crowd (it’s actually that imbalanced). And roughly 90% of that 90% are planning on doing Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice.
For now, it seems that TRON Lightcycle Run won’t be open for Early Entry regardless of being positioned in Tomorrowland. My guess/hope/wishful pondering is that this can change, and shortly. That Walt Disney World scrambled to make the digital queue change (advised by the lower than per week between announcement and implementation) attributable to visitor complaints about Tiana’s Bayou Journey and TRON Lightcycle Run each utilizing digital queues. That they merely don’t have the Solid Members scheduled to open TRON throughout Early Entry, however that can change.
No matter whether or not that’s true, TRON Lightcycle Run will completely change the dynamic throughout Early Entry. It will occur even when it’s not working! That’s as a result of TRON Lightcycle Run would be the #1 precedence for a lot of company, and there’s the belief that half-hour isn’t sufficient time to do each Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice and be on the entrance of the pack for TRON. So proper off the bat, that 90% quantity is dropping to 75%, maybe much less.
The most important affect within the near-term is a barely bigger crowd for Area Mountain. On regular day, it’s doable to be out and in of Area Mountain in underneath half-hour throughout Early Entry (our common is about quarter-hour–it takes a bit to stroll the queue), so we’d anticipate that to inch up with extra individuals heading this fashion. However in all chance, a whole lot of company aren’t going to do something throughout Early Entry. Paradoxically, they’re going to race to Tomorrowland to do nothing however rope drop TRON. (“Hurry up and wait” as my military-man father likes to say.)
We all know this as a result of we’ve witnessed exactly this habits with Radiator Springs Racers in Automobiles Land at DCA throughout its Early Entry. A variety of company make no effort to do something–and even arrive at or earlier than the beginning of Early Entry. They merely stroll up round quarter-hour into the perk, head to Automobiles Land, and wait. It’d seem to be a waste, nevertheless it’s truthfully sound technique–and it’ll undoubtedly be replicated at TRON Lightcycle Run if the trip isn’t open for Early Entry in the long run.
If or when TRON Lightcycle Run does function throughout Early Entry, we’d anticipate nearer to a 50/50 combine. Regardless of TRON being the newer attraction, there’s a ground underneath Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice by advantage of its extra family-friendly nature and the goal demographic of Magic Kingdom. Which means that many company merely can’t or won’t do TRON, in order that they’ll persist with SDMT. Nonetheless, everybody wins in such a state of affairs. Spreading out the group ought to make the dreaded SDMT Shuffle rather less insufferable–guess I’ll need to give you a brand new “intelligent” identify for it.
Rope Drop – In any other case referred to as official park opening time, when a rope is dropped permitting common company to entry all of the lands of Magic Kingdom, rope drop (clearly) happens after Early Entry. Because of this on-site company will already be in Tomorrowland, and nearer to TRON Lightcycle Run.
It doesn’t matter what the curler coaster’s eventual Early Entry standing, rope drop might be an objectively poor time for off-site company to do TRON Lightcycle Run. The straightforward reality is that they’ll be behind resort company someway. We now have numerous examples of how this works in apply, with wait instances peaking for headliner points of interest inside the first hour of the day–notably at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Slinky Canine Sprint is an imperfect, however nonetheless fairly good proxy for TRON Lightcycle Run.)
Needless to say there’s additionally the chance price of rope dropping TRON Lightcycle Run. Which is to say that even should you can hit it at rope drop with a 90 minute posted wait time versus a 120 minute wait later within the day, you’re sacrificing Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Large Thunder Railroad as walk-ons and can as a substitute be doing these later within the day when their posted wait instances are a lot larger. Suffice to say, off-site company ought to proceed concentrating on Adventureland and Frontierland slightly than being tempted by the siren’s track of TRON. It received’t be price it.
Noon Magic – There might be a lull sooner or later for TRON Lightcycle Run throughout the center of the day. There all the time is for these headliners. The “when” of that is truly essentially the most tough–truly, not possible–prediction to make of something on this checklist. It varies for different prime tier points of interest, and we’d anticipate the identical right here.
For essentially the most half, the lull happens someday between mid-morning and lunch. It happens as a little bit of an accordion impact, as individuals begin seeing the posted wait time imbalance and avoiding the attraction in query. After which all of the sudden, it drops dramatically. (For instance, Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice could have a 90 minute wait at 9:30 am whereas virtually each different attraction is at half-hour or much less. The logical visitor thus avoids SDMT and does one thing else. That occurs en masse, producing the aforementioned dynamic.)
My guess is that candy spot with TRON Lightcycle Run will happen between 10:30 am and 11 am most days. However that is only a guess, and I’m far much less assured on this than anything. One factor I’m sure about is that the daytime parade received’t have a lot, if any, bearing on TRON Lightcycle Run wait instances. Once more, the demographics are totally different.
All-Day Wait Instances at Different Rides – One of many nice underrated issues about digital queues ending is that wait instances ought to lower throughout Magic Kingdom’s different points of interest. It’ll be very slight, however it is going to occur.
It’s because each digital queue system (or comparable–like FastPass/Lightning Lanes/DAS/and so on.) permits company to be in two locations without delay. With standby traces, if you’re in line, you’re all the time bodily standing in line–occupying just one spot within the park.
When company use digital queues, they aren’t merely skipping the road. The extra correct clarification is {that a} “phantom model” of the visitor is ready in a digital line for his or her flip to trip. The actual model of the visitor is doing one thing else. TRON dropping the VQ means these company are not ready nearly for it.
It in all probability received’t seem to be wait instances have decreased for different Magic Kingdom points of interest as soon as mid-October rolls round and fall break is in full swing. Simply remember that you aren’t experiencing the counterfactual, and that issues can all the time be worse. (In some methods, that’s been the mantra of Walt Disney World for the previous couple of years.)
Submit-Fireworks – The plaza round TRON Lightcycle Run is a enjoyable and immersive location for fireworks viewing. That is not so good as the center of Fantasyland, nevertheless it’s new and distinctive, with TRON’s lightcycles whizz by overhead and the dancing lights of the Add Conduit cover. Whereas we don’t advocate it on your first or solely viewing, it’s certainly one of our favourite “secret” or “low-stress” areas for fireworks viewing in Magic Kingdom.
In the direction of the top of the fireworks, we advocate shifting in the direction of the close by TRON Lightcycle Run entrance. Disregard the posted wait time–it’s reactive and only a few persons are getting in line for the curler coaster throughout the fireworks. Once more, we all know this due to the precedent set by Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice. It’s usually the case there that the posted wait time might be 60+ minutes, and the precise wait round then might be 15-20 minutes–generally much less!
Finish of Line – Equally, there’s the tried and true strategy for any headliner attraction: 1 minute earlier than park closing. That is just like the reverse rope drop, or ‘rope rise’ choice. (We like to consider it because the “buzzer beater” strategy.)
Walt Disney World doesn’t cease traces for points of interest till park closing, which suggests you possibly can queue up proper till the clock strikes midnight (or normally in Magic Kingdom’s case, 10 pm or 11 pm). This successfully extends your day and is when the precise wait time is lowest for TRON Lightcycle Run.
Once more, you’ll want to ignore the posted wait time. Not solely is it reactionary, but in addition as a result of Disney intentionally inflates wait instances on the finish of the evening to discourage company from getting in a single final trip. The extra individuals who bounce in line for the thrill beater strategy, the longer it takes to clear the park, which suggests extra $$$ for Disney in staffing.
We now have performed the ‘buzzer-beater’ strategy to Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice dozens and dozens of instances. Nearly each single evening we do Magic Kingdom, in reality. There have been a handful of instances that we’ve waited 20 minutes or extra, however the overwhelming majority of the time, our precise wait time has been between 10 and quarter-hour. There have been instances when it’s a walk-on!
DO NOT EXPECT THIS WITH TRON LIGHTCYCLE RUN. Sorry for screaming that, however we concern followers could have unrealistic expectations. The thrill beater strategy is an open secret amongst Walt Disney World diehards. It’s not some daring technique that solely readers of this weblog learn about.
The rationale it really works is basically due to visitor demographics. As soon as once more, Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice is family-friendly, and skews a lot youthful than TRON Lightcycle Run. Kids are inclined to have earlier bedtimes, so even the very best laid plans for beating the buzzer on SDMT usually ends in failure.
That won’t be almost as true with TRON Lightcycle Run. It skews considerably older. Teenagers and different younger adults who skip Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice as a result of it’s “a child coaster” will completely be attempting to beat the buzzer on TRON Lightcycle Run. Once more, a greater comparability right here is Slinky Canine Sprint, however even that’s extremely imperfect as a result of crowds filter at DHS in the previous couple of hours of the evening. That doesn’t occur at Magic Kingdom.
There’s additionally the fact that TRON Lightcycle Run is widely known as being higher at evening. Even the common visitor is aware of this. The result’s {that a} good variety of individuals received’t even try and trip TRON earlier within the day, and as a substitute will wait till night. And as soon as they see triple digit posted instances at 7 pm, many might be incentivized to attend even longer, till after fireworks.
Accordingly, our expectation is that TRON Lightcycle Run will see 45+ minute precise wait instances with the buzzer beater strategy on common days. It’ll be longer throughout the peak season, and will eclipse an hour. Walt Disney World actually received’t need this, so anticipate to see a technique of massively inflating the wait time and stacking the queue exterior the attraction entrance as much more of a deterrent.
Although it stays to be seen how the ‘Finish of Line’ technique will play out with TRON Lightcycle Run, we’re inclined to advocate queueing up ~quarter-hour earlier than park closing. The frenzy on the final minute may make that the optimum strategy. (That is knowledgeable by a number of years in the past at Avatar Flight of Passage–lengthy earlier than the COVID closure.)
Prolonged Night Hours – There’s actually not a lot distinction with Prolonged Night Hours and common park closing. Based mostly on what we’ve seen elsewhere, my expectation is that this can have an identical dynamic with actually lengthy traces on the very finish of Prolonged Night Hours. It is a perk for evening owls, and so they received’t be discouraged by the later hour.
However, you must completely bounce into line for TRON Lightcycle Run on the very finish of Prolonged Night Hours. Even when the road is shorter earlier within the occasion (and it in all probability might be!), alternative price is as soon as once more the secret. Doing TRON within the first hour of ExEH will eat a ton of time–time that might be spent strolling onto different points of interest. As an alternative, bounce in line on the bitter finish, successfully extending Prolonged Night Hours and pushing your wait–no matter that is perhaps–past the top of the providing.
What Would Tom Do? – Glad you requested, means quite a bit to me. As you would possibly know, I’m an aggressive gambler in terms of park touring technique. So though I could not advocate this in our “official” itineraries, I’ll allow you to in on my meant strategy with a typical “don’t do this at dwelling in Magic Kingdom with gradual or threat averse individuals” caveat.
Magic Kingdom is at present open till 10 pm on regular nights with Fortunately Ever After at 8:30 pm. Because of this, by 8:50 pm, you can be in line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice. It’s greater than cheap to anticipate you can be performed with that by 9:15 pm. From there, you possibly have time for Peter Pan’s Flight, however even when not (in all probability not–it sees an enormous rush post-fireworks and also you’d be behind that crowd), there’s positively time for Area Mountain. After doing that, I assess the scenario, doubtlessly doing a lap or two on the TTA PeopleMover. Solely after that do I get in line for TRON Lightcycle Run, ideally with not more than 10 minutes left earlier than park closing.
I’m virtually constructive this isn’t the optimum strategy for TRON Lightcycle Run. That getting in line instantly after the fireworks could be sooner. However I’m not viewing this in a vacuum–I’m optimizing for the park as an entire and the final ~2 hours of the night at Magic Kingdom are far and away essentially the most beneficial of the day. If I spend most of that point in line for TRON, it’s a waste. So as a substitute, I push TRON till the Finish of Line, say “who cares in regards to the wait time” because it’s primarily after park closing, and backfill every little thing else I can match previous to then. I don’t care a couple of barely longer line if I’m in it after park closing, as that point is lower-value. I would really feel in a different way if Magic Kingdom closed at 2 am, however I don’t wish to go to mattress this early.
I then exit the attraction to an empty Tomorrowland, benefit from the colourful neon and brisk air earlier than heading onto Important Avenue to see the nice and cozy glow of the popcorn lights and nostalgic music filling the air. I’m reminded of why I fell in love with Walt Disney World within the first place, and really feel that magic as soon as extra. Now that is how I do TRON Lightcycle Run, and whereas the specifics are nonetheless shaky, I’m 100% assured within the fundamental contours of that strategy.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What’s your optimum strategy and time of day to trip TRON Lightcycle Run? What would you advocate to Walt Disney World first-timers? Will you stick with standby at one of many perfect instances or purchase a Lightning Lane Single Cross for TRON? Do you agree or disagree with any of our technique? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
