Tron: Lightcycle / Run at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Taken Over By “Master Control” in Celebration of Tron: Ares

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The latest installment in Disney’s “Tron” saga, titled “Tron: Ares,” arrives in theaters across the country on October 10, 2025. To mark the film’s release, the popular Tron: Lightcycle / Run attraction at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida, has been updated with a “Tron: Ares” theme.

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Walt Disney World announced on Instagram that TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom will now include lighting and music inspired by the upcoming movie, *Tron: Ares*, featuring sounds from Nine Inch Nails. *Tron: Ares* will be released in theaters on October 10th.

This same overlay is coming to Shanghai Disney’s Tron attraction.

What Is Tron: Ares? What Is This Ride Overlay?

Tron: Ares is the latest film in the Tron series. The movies follow a story where people enter a digital world inside computers, called “The Grid.”

The newest installment features Jared Leto playing “Ares,” a character created using artificial intelligence who transitions from a digital world into our own. While details about the story are still limited, fans are particularly enthusiastic about the inclusion of music by Nine Inch Nails.

Unlike previous *Tron* films known for their blue and yellow neon, the new movie *Tron: Ares* will have a distinctly red visual style. This red color scheme will be reflected in the Tron Lightcycle Run attraction at the park, which will also feature music from Nine Inch Nails and a story where the villainous Master Control has seized power.

This is a fairly straightforward update to the lighting, sound, and visuals that Disney could accomplish without spending a lot of money.

Tron: A Long Running Franchise Lacking Content

The movie *Tron*, which launched the career of a young Jeff Bridges, premiered on July 9, 1982. It was praised for its groundbreaking use of computer-generated imagery – CGI – throughout most of the film, making it a pioneer in visual effects.

However, it’s first sequel would take decades to come out.

Though it had been almost 30 years since the original *Tron*, its sequel, *Tron: Legacy*, finally arrived in theaters on December 17, 2010. However, the film wasn’t a big hit with audiences.

I remember when *Tron* came out, everyone was so excited about the special effects, but honestly, the attempt to make Jeff Bridges look young again didn’t *quite* work. It was a little… unsettling, almost like it wasn’t quite real. Still, I loved the movie, and it actually inspired some really cool video games, especially that iconic ‘Light Cycles’ sequence – that was just brilliant!

I was so thrilled when Disney took the energy from the Tron movie and turned it into an incredible roller coaster! They built the Tron Light Cycle Power Run for their Shanghai park, and it actually opened with the park itself on June 16th, 2016. It was a huge moment for fans like me!

Disney’s Coaster Competition – A Losing Battle

The movie *Tron* features thrilling races between lightcycles, but Orlando, Florida, is known for a different kind of competition – a constant battle between theme parks to build the biggest and best roller coasters.

To be fair, it’s not much of a competition anymore. SeaWorld Orlando now features eight roller coasters, including the stand-up coaster “Pipeline,” and popular rides like “Mako” and “Manta.”

Universal’s Islands of Adventure offers exciting rides like The Incredible Hulk coaster, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, and the incredibly thrilling Velocicoaster.

Disney’s roller coasters haven’t been as impressive as those at other theme parks, and simply adding a new theme on top of an existing ride isn’t a real solution.

A Decent Overlay – Or Just Another Example of “Minimum Effort” by Disney?

The Tron Lightcycle / Run roller coaster at Magic Kingdom is essentially the same as the one that opened in Shanghai. Disney announced plans for it at their D23 Expo in 2017, only a year after the original Tron coaster debuted in Shanghai.

Work started in February 2018 and was finished in time for the Magic Kingdom’s 50th anniversary celebration in October 2021.

That didn’t happen.

I was so excited for this ride, but even though they saved money by basically copying the design from the Shanghai park, it still faced a lot of delays. We finally got to experience it in April 2023, two years later than expected, and it’s located in Tomorrowland – totally worth the wait!

The ride’s exterior looks a bit futuristic, but at just over a minute long, it doesn’t offer much excitement, particularly for serious roller coaster fans. Although the current themed design might be useful for marketing, it’s really just a low-cost way to avoid making substantial improvements to the ride itself.

As a Disney fan, I’ve noticed they often update rides with new lighting and music. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes, and the best part is it doesn’t seem to cost them much, but they get to announce a whole ‘new experience’ anyway! It’s a smart way to keep things feeling fresh.

It feels like a “this will do for now” solution to a problem that’s not easily going away.

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2025-09-28 19:58