First on-ride video of Disney's Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster

May 8, 2016, 10:06 AM · We've got our first visitor-supplied POV video of the new Tron Lightcycle Power Run roller coaster at Shanghai Disneyland:

Trying to put this new coaster in perspective, my first thought is that this looks like what Jaguar at Knott's Berry Farm would be like if it had great visual effects. It's a launch coaster apparently without any steep hills or drops, relying on speed for its thrills — with just enough change in elevation to keep things interesting. As for the physical ride experience, I'll go with another Knott's ride for comparison — the Pony Express coaster, where you ride leaning forward with a support placed on your back to hold you in place.

But it's the visuals that set Tron apart. I'm not sold on the exterior portion of the ride — it seems to break the lightcycle theme of the ride, which should exist in virtual space alone. But the exterior portion creates a strong visual for people waiting outside the ride, providing a fun tease while you wait. Inside, though, it's a visual treat — with computer-generated imagery that seems to demand multiple rides to appreciate fully.

All together, it's a little under two minutes from station to station, making it a bit shorter than Disney's Space Mountain — the Tomorrowland coaster that Tron effectively replaces at Shanghai Disneyland.

Shanghai Disneyland opens officially to the public on June 16. The park is in invitation-only previews now.

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Replies (29)

May 8, 2016 at 10:58 AM · The ride is indeed just a bit on the short side. An extra 15 seconds would have been better. The outside portion is like Test Track that also pretends to be inside a computer untill you go outside. It sure isn't the best way of story telling. And when we are at that topic, the lightcycle in the movie is mostly used in races. A double coaster would have made better use of the are and would have some great close passes that is now cheaply done by mirrors.
In the end it shows that a very mediocre movie could made into a nice little ride.
May 8, 2016 at 11:04 AM · AWESOME! Shanghai Disneyland is truly awesome! The ride should be even better at night. I like the Tron Legacy soundtrack used throughout the ride.
May 8, 2016 at 11:12 AM · It looks like a roller coaster that most people can enjoy, no loops or twists just a plan old fun coaster, perhaps the Disney parks in the USA could take a look at the concept and perhaps install this into the parks, perhaps a Tron coaster at Epcot.?
May 8, 2016 at 11:29 AM · That looks really awesome. I agree with JK. That ride looks like everyone can enjoy and it should be here too.
May 8, 2016 at 12:22 PM · I feel like the outside portion would look better at night.
May 8, 2016 at 1:17 PM · There are many aspects of this ride that look absolutely amazing, though there are also things about it that I find a bit underwhelming. That said, this looks like it may be Disney's best family coaster and I would love to see it recreated at other parks. Unfortunately, there really isn't a good place to do that yet (I'm not convinced it would work if placed next to Space Mountain), but perhaps the next park(s) to be built will contain an area themed to the Grid where this will be right at home. Or, if they want to bring IP to Epcot this wouldn't be a bad first coaster for that park.

People say Shanghai Disneyland is going to be an epic disaster, but then I see stuff like this or the new Pirates ride that makes me wonder where that idea is coming from. It would have been really easy for Disney to put down another clone of Space Mountain, but instead they went and created Tron Lightcycle instead, and I've got a hunch this will appeal far more to the average Chinese visitor than Space Mountain would. Yes, the park is an absolute wildcard in several ways, but I think it's far too early to dismiss it as Disney's latest mistake.

May 8, 2016 at 1:29 PM · I agree with not needing to go outside. It could have glass that allows the outside to see in, but not the riders being able to see out.
Not much of a story, but lots of graphics. Not easy going that fast and that short of a time, but it does capture the feeling well.
Looks fun. Much better than Pony Express, which is all outside.
May 8, 2016 at 2:02 PM · "Not much of a story, but lots of graphics" - pretty much the TL;DW of Tron, isn't it? ;^)
May 8, 2016 at 4:02 PM · I have mixed feelings about this one. The outside portion of the ride completely ruins the experience for me whether it be day or night. Also, the theming is very minimal with just a few light displays here and there. What I do like is that it is family friendly and can most likely be enjoyed by everyone in the family. I also like how about 80% of the coaster is indoor. With that being said I give is a 4/10 on the E-ticket scale. Feels more like a Six Flags coaster than a Disney coaster.
May 8, 2016 at 5:16 PM · Wonders of life pavilion at Epcot?
May 8, 2016 at 7:12 PM · Looks great. Should be phenomenal night time when the outdoor portion lights up. This is what Epcot should've gotten instead of the Test Trak overlay.
May 8, 2016 at 7:32 PM · I agree with many people here who noticed the same thing I did.. The biggest part that stands out in a bad way is the "real world" section. Not sure why they did that. It breaks the experience as light cycles technically only exist in the virtual world.

It looks pretty, but I'm actually ok with it not being State Side. I still think that Expedition Everest is the best coaster at any Disney Park.

May 8, 2016 at 8:04 PM · It looks amazing, and the outside part will be spectacular at night. As Roberts mentioned, it's also for the guests outside to see the ride before they get in the queue. A lot of Chinese grandparents will not want to ride this after seeing it. It's an understandable move on Disney's part, and the outside area adds some kinetic action to Tomorrowland. I agree with the others that it needs another 15 seconds of indoor ride time. I don't feel the ride had yet reached peak "euphoria" before abruptly ending. But it still looks awesome.

Here's the first look at a Peter Pan POV:

https://youtu.be/2ES7iVOYRwI

May 8, 2016 at 9:21 PM · I think it looks pretty cool. If they put this in Florida (in say Epcot) I would not complain.
May 8, 2016 at 9:25 PM · OMG! Peter Pan is FANTASTIC! Thanks for the video, Tony.
More videos! More videos! More videos!
May 9, 2016 at 6:40 AM · I saw this on facebook before I saw it here, and I want to express the same thoughts here. I loved tron and tron legacy and initially thought it was awesome when I saw Disneys post about this. but after watching the video I was just bored of it.

1. I agree, the outside portion just takes you out of the immersion of being inside the tron world.

2. They could've added some little features to at least make you feel like you were interacting within the light cycle arena. FOR EXAMPLE: if you have seen the movie and at the light bike scene in the movie. CLU and another rider drive up a winding part of the track towards eachother. They hit arrows as they go up which light up and make a noise indicating some sort of a speed boost or just interaction with that part of the track.----- They definitely could've added this to the ride given that it would make sense for a roller coaster.

3. I do love the way it looks inside the coaster though.

4. And of course happy that they decided to stick with Daft Punks soundtrack instead of making some standalone soundtrack to accompany the ride.

May 9, 2016 at 7:33 AM · Recall that the Tron storyline always takes place outside so I don't get why it's a mistake for the vehicles to go outside and then back inside again.

Test Track is not Tron. It looks like Tron. There's a difference.

We are overthinking this. It isn't necessary to rationalize a ride.

May 9, 2016 at 7:45 AM · Tron doesn't always take place outside. In Tron Legacy, about 15-20 minutes takes place outside in the real world. Then the rest of the movie is inside the grid.
May 9, 2016 at 7:56 AM · "In Tron Legacy, about 15-20 minutes takes place outside in the real world. Then the rest of the movie is inside the grid."

Yes, that's what I meant to say.

The main characters originate outside and then get sucked into the computer.

May 9, 2016 at 8:11 AM · I see what you are saying, I think they could've done it better then. They could've probably started you on the outside and transported you inside to the tron universe.

not that it even matters, I don't think I am capable of going to shanghai anytime soon haha.

May 9, 2016 at 11:37 AM · I think you can always say a ride could be a little more polished, perhaps starting outside and going inside happens in the que line, we do not know this yet and when you arrive at the coaster you have gone from the outside world to the grid, I agree the outside part is a little strange but I guess it add to the rides look and feel if your on the ride or just walking past, think it must look awesome at night with the lights. I agree some sound effects in the right place may also have added to the enjoyment and perhaps some crowd and crowd noise.

The fact Disney has gone with a ride of a film that rumours say will be made into a third film then they say will not is an interesting choice, does this mean if the ride is successful we may see the grid return to the big screen?

May 9, 2016 at 12:29 PM · Anyone have a link to the Shanghai Pirates?
May 9, 2016 at 6:51 PM · Blake, I've seen the entire ride experience of Peter Pan, Pooh, and Tron videos so far. A Pirates video of approximately 2:00 of very bad quality has been posted as well. In the video, I made out the classic warning from the talking skull and crossbones from above the boats, Barbosa's Bounty a la The Blue Bayou, and the initial appearance of Capt Jack Sparrow, but then the video ends abruptly. None of the guts of the new ride experience is posted, not yet at least.
May 10, 2016 at 1:34 PM · Blake, Keith, and anyone else who's interested, this is the most complete footage of Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure that I've found so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BWxseviKbQ. The quality of the video is somewhat poor and it doesn't include the whole ride (based on duration, I'm guessing it's 2/3-3/4 of it), but it is enough to show that this is likely the most impressive attraction at Shanghai Disneyland. I really want to see a good quality video of this attraction as I have a strong suspicion it will be a good indicator of what the First Order ride will be like in Star Wars Land (not the ride system, of course, but the scenes in the attraction).

EDIT: Via Park Journey's Facebook page, I just discovered the ultimate Shanghai Disneyland video (at least from what is posted so far): http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTU2NDM3MTA5Mg==.html This video includes nearly complete footage of many attractions that haven't been seen elsewhere, including Soarin', Frozen, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jet Packs, Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, Once Upon a Time Adventure, and Alice in Wonderland Maze. Fair warning...the video is over 90 minutes long.

EDIT 2: One more that I just saw...a very good Pirates POV. Gotta be honest...this may be the best attraction Disney has created in the past 15 years. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TIklXtMDGk

May 10, 2016 at 10:29 AM · That Pirates ride looks insane! I'm really curious to see how well the screens connect to the physical sets. I also think the Tron coaster looks amazing in terms of the experience. It may not totally fit the story, but in this case I'm good with it.
May 10, 2016 at 1:24 PM · The full amazing Pirates, Pan, Pooh, Alice Maze and Journey to Crystal grotto on this 90 min video http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTU2NDM3MTA5Mg==.html
May 10, 2016 at 4:52 PM · Shanghai Disneyland is the park to knock off DisneySea as best theme park in the world! Its EPIC!
Any videos on the Rapids ride?
May 11, 2016 at 6:36 AM · Awesome Effects to the end. Reminds me a little on Crush in Paris. I think it is very good, that Disney have at least some different Attractions at every Park!
May 11, 2016 at 7:05 AM · Wow, looks terrific. Another example of Disney doing what it does best: taking a fun family ride and turning it into a fully immersive "experience". Brilliant.

When is this coaster coming to the States?

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