Finally got a chance to check out Tron LightCycle Run today. We rode it twice, one via a Lightning Lane (purchase) and one via a Virtual Queue. When this ride was first announced for Shanghai Disney, we seriously considered traveling over to ride it. The last time we were at Disney World, cast members and construction teams were getting preview rides. I tried everything shy of applying for a job to work at the part to get on during that preview event.
So, I was pretty excited for this.
Impressions
The theming of the queue area is incredibly well done. At night, especially you feel like you are standing in The Grid. The sail-like material covering the ride looks a little like a dead shrimp-analog from an alien world during the day and like a futuristic portal to another dimension at night. The queue instruction-tutorials are more repetitive than most rides. There are two-sided lockers enabling you to easily stow larger items before getting on the ride and that process is basically perfected.
The ride itself is really good. The design of the cycles do a great job of making you feel as if you are riding a futuristic crotch-rocket/sport bike.
There seem to be some design issues with the safety system that I can’t really pinpoint from what I observed. Coming off of a stressful series of events, I’m probably in the worst shape of my life. I had zero problems getting on and locking myself in. 1 or 2 riders per train did seem to have real problems getting locked into the bike seat. It seemed to be less about belly-fat and more about the ratio of chest size and calves. I didn’t try because I was comfortable (and wouldn’t want to be responsible for damaging or stretching a safety mechanism) but you can apparently bench-press your way out of the seating position like the funny guy in the above screen grab. The thinker. Nice. At least one train has a traditional coaster car for those who are unable to be seated on the bike seat.
The ride has great velocity and doesn’t jerk you around. The soundtrack and environmental effects around the entire ride are stellar. It is a short ride. Ultimately, I’m really glad I didn’t spring for tickets to China to ride this coaster. It is cool but not THAT cool. Tron Lightcycle Run is a top 5 ride for me but Guardians is a better coaster.