Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort has seen an influx of guests rushing to its newest attraction, TRON Lightcycle / Run, creating a ripple effect that has overwhelmed Tomorrowland. The crowd surge has redefined the park’s opening routines, leaving some classic attractions in the dust.
TRON Lightcycle / Run Descends on Magic Kingdom Park
TRON Lightcycle / Run opened in April 2023, bringing Shanghai Disneyland’s popular roller coaster to Walt Disney World Resort. The attraction operated with a Virtual Queue and Lightning Lane reservations for over a year. However, in September 2024, Walt Disney World Resort introduced a standby line for the Tomorrowland ride, and the effects have been dramatic.
Instead of heading to classic rope-drop favorites like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Space Mountain, thousands of Disney Parks guests sprint to TRON Lightcycle / Run when Magic Kingdom Park opens. The shift has transformed guest traffic patterns and created unprecedented crowding in Tomorrowland.
Crowds Flood Tomorrowland
The situation escalated during the busy 2024 holiday season. On December 30, TikTok user @outoftownmagic shared a video showing the TRON Lightcycle / Run line stretching far beyond the ride’s entrance.
At just 8:04 a.m., four minutes after Magic Kingdom Park opened, the line had already extended through Tomorrowland, past Tomorrowland Speedway, and into Fantasyland near Mad Tea Party.
@outoftownmagic Anyways, so we’re actually nowhere even near Tron. 🥲😅 #disneyworld #tron #magickingdom
“We’re actually nowhere even near TRON,” the Disney Park guest wrote.
The clip quickly gained attention, amassing tens of thousands of likes and comments from shocked Disney Parks fans.
“Anyone who hasn’t been to Magic Kingdom doesn’t understand how FAR they’re from even seeing the ride,” @pargra479 commented.
Is TRON Lightcycle / Run Worth the Wait?
While TRON Lightcycle / Run has impressed many guests with its immersive queue and high-speed thrills, not everyone thinks it’s worth the long wait.
“[Lightning Lane] is so worth it,” said @lv910. “I will never wait in a line like this again.”
“Mind you…. it’s a 90 second ride,” @fourpf pointed out.
For those looking to avoid lengthy waits, Disney Parks fans recommend joining the standby line right before the park closes. Disney cast members allow everyone in line before closing time to ride, and the absence of Lightning Lane reservations can help the line move faster.
What’s the longest you’re willing to wait for a ride at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
As a season pass holder, 75 minutes is longest I will wait for any ride. I just have to skip popular rides and try again next visit.
The lines will die down once everyone realizes this ride isn’t very good. It looks cool, but that’s about it. Very disappointing. Rode it once, don’t expect to again.
I’d be embarrassed to be in a line like that. Its a question of intelligence in my opinion. Do you not value your time? You’re going to waste hours of your day in that line, missing other attractions etc. Nothing is worth that kind of a wait.