Debate Erupts Over Disgusting State of Popular Disney World Attraction
In 2017, The Walt Disney Company made a huge announcement at its popular D23 Expo. Disney Parks Chairman — and now-fired former CEO — Bob Chapek revealed that TRON Lightcycle Power Run would be coming to the Walt Disney World Resort.
The roller coaster first opened at the Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016 and quickly gained a huge following. The roller coaster would be the perfect addition to Tomorrowland, which was in desperate need of something big.
Related: You Should Sleep In at Disney Instead of Getting In Tron’s Virtual Queue
The original plan was to start construction on TRON Lightcycle/Run — the name given to the Disney World version — in 2018, and it would be ready to open when Disney World kicked off its 50th Anniversary celebration in October 2021.
Unfortunately, as many Disney fans remember, construction on TRON immediately fell behind. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction was shut down for months and TRON’s opening date had to be pushed back. Things got so backed up that fans began to wonder if the attraction would ever actually open.
Finally, after 5 years of construction, TRON Lightcycle/Run officially opened at the Magic Kingdom on April 4, 2223. However, just because the ride was open did not mean the problems went away. Sadly, guests were not as impressed with the ride as guests visiting Shanghai Disney were and had their fair share of complaints.
TRON is the most restrictive ride at Walt Disney World. Many guests are unable to fit into the traditional bike because it won’t lock over their legs. The attraction is also frequently criticized for being too short. Guests will frequently wait more than an hour, and the ride is only about 60 seconds long.
Related: Sorry, But the “Losing Weight” Suggestion Won’t Help Most People Fit on TRON
TRON Lightcycle/Run was open for less than a year before guests began to report that the ride had a massive mold problem. They were shocked that Disney would not be on top of it and keep it clean. And it appears that the problem is not getting any better.
X (formerly Twitter) user Ashley (@ashalo1955) shared an image of mold covering part of the attraction, saying it was “gross.” X user Wallin Ballin then shared a quote from Walt Disney, saying that Disney parks would be different from other theme parks because of how clean they would be kept.
“When I started on Disneyland, my wife used to say, ‘But why do you want to build an amusement park? They’re so dirty.’ I told her that was just the point… mine wouldn’t be” – Walt Disney
“When I started on Disneyland, my wife used to say, ‘But why do you want to build an amusement park? They’re so dirty.’ I told her that was just the point… mine wouldn’t be” – Walt Disney https://t.co/zr690KCSba
— Wallin Ballin (@wallin_ballin) August 19, 2024
Related: Guests Issues Alarming TRON Warning; “Somebody is Going to Get Hurt or Worse”
That tweet set off a firestorm of debate over how clean Disney could realistically keep its rides and attractions. Especially due to the fact that Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida, which is known for being incredibly hot and humid. That means that mold grows a lot faster than it does in other areas.
Some felt that Disney could only do so much, and they couldn’t constantly clean the attraction only to have the mold return a few days later.
While clean rides are important, let’s be realistic. They can’t just shut it down every month to clean it. It has a refurbish schedule that takes care of these issues so that people can enjoy it without frequent closures.
While clean rides are important, let’s be realistic. They can’t just shut it down every month to clean it. It has a refurbish schedule that takes care of these issues so that people can enjoy it without frequent closures.
— Cameron Larsen (@cclarsen72) August 19, 2024
Related: Duct Tape Now Holding Together Disney’s Newest Coaster
Other commenters pointed out that Disney is in a lose-lose situation. Guests want all rides and attractions to look spotless at all times. However, they would be upset if they took a Disney vacation and the ride was closed due to cleaning and maintenance.
So you are taking your yearly trip to DW, you’re looking forward to riding Tron, you walk up to the entrance only to find that it’s closed, and you see a crew cleaning that area. It’s unfortunate, but you are demanding a clean park when you visit 🙄
So you are taking your yearly trip to DW, you’re looking forward to riding Tron, you walk up to the entrance only to find that it’s closed, and you see a crew cleaning that area. It’s unfortunate, but you are demanding a clean park when you visit 🙄
— This one goes to 11! 🤘🏻 (@Jkotrba) August 19, 2024
One person pointed out that Disney should stop using white as the primary paint color on attractions. While white might look futuristic, it also makes it much easier to see how dirty and moldy the attractions are.
Disney does routine maintenance and cleaning on attractions, but it seems like the mold is growing faster than the attraction can be cleaned. It also takes a lot of work to keep the attraction clean. Cast members have to be lifted into certain areas. It can be very dangerous and not something that can be done too frequently.
Do you think Disney needs to work harder to keep its attractions clean? Let us know in the comments!
Sure, I would be disappointed – and have been in the past – with a closed attraction when visiting Disney World. But, Disney has the responsibility and obligation to keep Disney World as clean as possible at all times to protect the health of its employees and guests. Mold can be devastating to anyone who has that allergy. One possible solution to minimize the full closure of any attraction is to sectionalize the cleaning effort to certain areas at any given time. Another possibility is to do more of the maintenance work overnight like is done in many other “public use” sectors – a bit more difficult and expensive; but, it leaves open the opportunity for guests to visit the attraction during the hours the Park is open.
On trim could it be buildup of oil off off the wheels When it running?
And in Disney is not as clean as it used to be the bathrooms are a mess and you’re still walk around on trash all over the ground