News Tron coaster coming to the Magic Kingdom

[James Alucobond]

Even if they did remove the Speedway, I can't imagine they'd just leave it as empty space. They'd build another attraction (or shops/restaurants) in that footprint, which would actually block views of TRON even more.

I generally agree, but had it been replaced by the TRON racers as I think was originally planned, they could have just continued the look of TRON down onto the track itself with some mini-lighted canopies and whatnot.

 

[ChrisFL]

They seriously need to upgrade Speedway or remove it...leaving it as-is is just bad IMO

 

[UNCgolf]

I generally agree, but had it been replaced by the TRON racers as I think was originally planned, they could have just continued the look of TRON down onto the track itself with some mini-lighted canopies and whatnot.

Agreed, but it seems like that's dead. I think even if they do eventually retheme the Speedway (as opposed to demolishing it) they'll go in a different direction now.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Even if they did remove the Speedway, I can't imagine they'd just leave it as empty space. They'd build another attraction (or shops/restaurants) in that footprint, which would actually block views of TRON even more.

This is another reason the placement of Tron is so aggressively stupid. It makes it much more difficult, if not impossible, to develop a huge chunk of land that seems like it was probably the most available expansion plot in MK. I would imagine that the space now occupied by Autopia, Toontown, and Tron could have been used for a land-sized expansion. But with Tron now stuck at an awkward angle in the middle of it, it really limits how that space can be used.

 

[JoeCamel]

Agreed, but it seems like that's dead. I think even if they do eventually retheme the Speedway (as opposed to demolishing it) they'll go in a different direction now.

They want to get into gambling right?
Two words......



Stroller racing

 

[solidyne]

[...] the space now occupied by Autopia, Toontown, and Tron could have been used for a land-sized expansion [...]

Don't worry. They can still find a way to replace three attractions [Dumbo, Goofy, Speedway] with one attraction and one quick service, calling it a "land."

 

[doctornick]

This is another reason the placement of Tron is so aggressively stupid. It makes it much more difficult, if not impossible, to develop a huge chunk of land that seems like it was probably the most available expansion plot in MK. I would imagine that the space now occupied by Autopia, Toontown, and Tron could have been used for a land-sized expansion. But with Tron now stuck at an awkward angle in the middle of it, it really limits how that space can be used.

There’s plenty of land that could be used to make additions to MK if there’s a will. I don’t think that really limits anything. The railroad/berm also cuts across the area you describe which could limit making a cohesive land - it’s one think to put a ride/showbuilding outside the berm like Tron (or Space) but another to have park of the “walking around” area of a land there.

Anyhow, if they were going to add a whole new land to the park, I’d put it north either above the RoA (a la SWGE in DL) outside the berm or above Fantasyland inside the berm. The latter would need to have the go over the big access road or reroute that road but it is doable if desired.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

This is another reason the placement of Tron is so aggressively stupid. It makes it much more difficult, if not impossible, to develop a huge chunk of land that seems like it was probably the most available expansion plot in MK. I would imagine that the space now occupied by Autopia, Toontown, and Tron could have been used for a land-sized expansion. But with Tron now stuck at an awkward angle in the middle of it, it really limits how that space can be used.

Well said!

MK is in desperate need of a land-sized expansion (or two), both for capacity/crowd-flow and because MK is the park that will for the foreseeable future be typecast by the public as Disney's flagship (and thus should be top-notch/cutting-edge to hold its own against Epic Universe).

Tron makes the Storybook Circus / Speedway area more difficult to develop, but not impossible. They can get creative with rock work, etc. The Fantasy Springs area at TDS offers some illustrations of what can be creatively accomplished in a weirdly-shaped space with various sightline issues... and hey, the theme fits, too...

Some areas west of Adventureland, and across the top of Rivers of America à la Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, are also serious contenders for being almost-as-good expansion plots.

So, there's a lot of opportunity still, but, to your point, Disney sure does shoot itself in the foot by sacrificing the long-term in favor of easy short-term development...

 

[doctornick]

Well said!

MK is in desperate need of a land-sized expansion (or two), both for capacity/crowd-flow and because MK is the park that will for the foreseeable future be typecast by the public as Disney's flagship (and thus should be top-notch/cutting-edge to hold its own against Epic Universe).

The best place to build something from a crowd flow standpoint is north of RoA connecting the Spash/BTMRR area to HM from the other direction. That would be great during when parades fill the streets along the main Frontierland/Liberty Sq walkway.

 

[tommyhawkins]

This is another reason the placement of Tron is so aggressively stupid. It makes it much more difficult, if not impossible, to develop a huge chunk of land that seems like it was probably the most available expansion plot in MK. I would imagine that the space now occupied by Autopia, Toontown, and Tron could have been used for a land-sized expansion. But with Tron now stuck at an awkward angle in the middle of it, it really limits how that space can be used.

they reclaimed all they could for that area, drainage pond would still have to be there no matter what to maintain the 10% storm capacity. there are pockets of land but they are not here.

whilst id love to see the smelly car thing go, and it seems they have future proofed tron to add more if it does leave....there is a huge space in front of the ride that people are going to be drawn towards, it pains me to say it about disney but maybe wait and see what they come up with over the next 4-5 months?

 

[celluloid]

They could start with at least having shut down venues open.

 

[doctornick]

They could start with at least having shut down venues open.

Yep. Let’s actually put something in the Stitch building first then we can worry about mythical entirely new lands.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

That's arguably true, but Space Mountain also doesn't have a bunch of lighting effects etc. intended to attract attention and I don't believe it was ever intended to be Tomorrowland's centerpiece.

TRON, on the other hand, was designed as the focal centerpiece in Shanghai, which is why cloning it and then just sticking it in a corner feels like such a bizarre decision.

Space Mountain has a beautiful lighting package and couldn’t be any more noticeable.

 

[celluloid]

Space Mountain has a beautiful lighting package and couldn’t be any more noticeable.

For sure. And to add to this it is the only iconography of the castle and some of Main Street USA that is really visible from outside the berm of the park intentionally as you ride the Transporation towards The Magic Kingdom.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

For sure. And to add to this it is the only iconography outside of the castle that is really visible from outside the berm of the park intentionally as you ride the monorail and transportation towards The Magic Kingdom.

Absolutely. If it wasn’t intended as TL’s centerpiece, then I don’t know what was.

 

[celluloid]

Absolutely. If it wasn’t intended as TL’s centerpiece, then I don’t know what was.

For perspective (I know I am preaching to the choir for the most part) Before it, Tomorrowland had already become pretty light on guest satisfaction and the main visits were for the Sponsored free flight attractions.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yep. Let’s actually put something in the Stitch building first then we can worry about mythical entirely new lands.

Bring back Extraterrestrial.

 

[UNCgolf]

Space Mountain has a beautiful lighting package and couldn’t be any more noticeable.

It does have a nice lighting package, but I believe it's all external lighting as opposed to something built into the structure. TRON's looks like the goal is to attract you to the building whereas Space Mountain's is just to look nice, or at least that's how they appear to me.

Absolutely. If it wasn’t intended as TL’s centerpiece, then I don’t know what was.

I meant it wasn't intended as Tomorrowland's centerpiece when the land was built/designed, because it didn't exist yet -- the rocket filled that purpose when the land opened. Shanghai's Tomorrowland was built around TRON and the design of TRON reflects that.

 

[nickys]

Well said!

MK is in desperate need of a land-sized expansion (or two), both for capacity/crowd-flow and because MK is the park that will for the foreseeable future be typecast by the public as Disney's flagship (and thus should be top-notch/cutting-edge to hold its own against Epic Universe).

Tron makes the Storybook Circus / Speedway area more difficult to develop, but not impossible. They can get creative with rock work, etc. The Fantasy Springs area at TDS offers some illustrations of what can be creatively accomplished in a weirdly-shaped space with various sightline issues... and hey, the theme fits, too...

Some areas west of Adventureland, and across the top of Rivers of America à la Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, are also serious contenders for being almost-as-good expansion plots.

So, there's a lot of opportunity still, but, to your point, Disney sure does shoot itself in the foot by sacrificing the long-term in favor of easy short-term development...

There was a discussion about the potential expansion areas in MK at some point. I remember @marni1971 posting drawings of where things could go and what would fit. Not sure if it was earlier in this thread or somewhere else though.

 

[MisterPenguin]

There was a discussion about the potential expansion areas in MK at some point. I remember @marni1971 posting drawings of where things could go and what would fit. Not sure if it was earlier in this thread or somewhere else though.

North and South of TRON, which both currently have a detention pond, which would have to be moved, if allowed by the South Florida Water Management District. And, of course, where the Main Street theater was going to go.

And the big expanse of land wasted on gas powered go-karts.

But as always... The best way to address overcrowding at MK is by expanding the footprint of the rides of the other three parks and give them all excellent nighttime shows.