News Tron coaster coming to the Magic Kingdom

[RandySavage]

Tron gets high marks for its ride experience, but - from me - low marks for its integration and sightlines (in Shanghai. In MK, we will see, but I'm not optimistic). The "Box" (coaster shed) is the problem. It's a backstage building that is essentially placed "on-stage". In Shanghai, Tomorrowland is completely curvaceous, making the squared-off Box feel visually discordant and stand out even more. The design strategy attempts to distract from the Box by trying to draw the eye to the flashy Cover. But allowing the Box to still be visibly dominant from so many angles is far below best-practice and less than what I expect from Disney.

The best solution would have been to design the showbuilding to be an attractive, integrated part of the "on-show" land (i.e., curvy, in a futuristic way). That's expensive and won't be happening in MK, where at least it won't be viewed from elevated pathways (except while on the Peoplemover).

Hoping a tree-berm will help mitigate the Box from Circus & Fantasyland.

 

[I am Timmy]

giant neon glowing, music pulsing, bass thumping, kinetic, outdoor visable coaster distraction

Whoa! That's what this is like? I love the way you described it by the way.... I don't know whether to be excited or terrified. Made me laugh, though.

 

[rle4lunch]

Whoa! That's what this is like? I love the way you described it by the way.... I don't know whether to be excited or terrified. Made me laugh, though.

Well, maybe the joker had a say in it. Nevertheless, TL needs a lot of work.

 

[Bocabear]

In person it is sort of like a techno dance club and futuristic shopping mall...It is pretty (except for the visible box)...It is nice architecture...but it lacks something. Asian cities are full of futuristic amazing architecture...This looks much the same but lacks whimsy and fun... Just a little too serious looking. Thank God at night the colored kinetic lighting makes it festive. I am sure they will add a lighting package to Space Mountain to help it blend a little better.
What we really need is the Treasure Cove section somehow added to the park...That area is fully fleshed out, beautiful and whimsical...feels like a Disney Park, not a shopping center dance club.

 

[larryz]

Expanding the retention pond, which includes strengthening the berm so the train's earth doesn't sink into the lake.

There they go again, missing another opportunity to add some exciting elements to an existing attraction...

 

[Buried20KLeague]

In person it is sort of like a techno dance club and futuristic shopping mall...It is pretty (except for the visible box)...It is nice architecture...but it lacks something. Asian cities are full of futuristic amazing architecture...This looks much the same but lacks whimsy and fun... Just a little too serious looking. Thank God at night the colored kinetic lighting makes it festive. I am sure they will add a lighting package to Space Mountain to help it blend a little better.
What we really need is the Treasure Cove section somehow added to the park...That area is fully fleshed out, beautiful and whimsical...feels like a Disney Park, not a shopping center dance club.

I'll put money on it that they WON'T upgrade SM's lighting. Not within, say, 3 years.

I'd also love Treasure Cove. Especially if their Pirates comes with it.

I'd also take the crowds in the area the couple days we were there... We had a little room to stretch out..

 

[Bocabear]

I'll put money on it that they WON'T upgrade SM's lighting. Not within, say, 3 years.

I'd also love Treasure Cove. Especially if their Pirates comes with it.

I'd also take the crowds in the area the couple days we were there... We had a little room to stretch out..

That is exactly what it looked like when I was there... and the park is massive... There is a ton of dead space between attractions...

 

[trainplane3]

We've gone vertical!
http://blogmickey.com/2019/05/first...ins-for-tron-roller-coaster-at-magic-kingdom/

 

[aladdin2007]

Tron gets high marks for its ride experience, but - from me - low marks for its integration and sightlines (in Shanghai. In MK, we will see, but I'm not optimistic). The "Box" (coaster shed) is the problem. It's a backstage building that is essentially placed "on-stage". In Shanghai, Tomorrowland is completely curvaceous, making the squared-off Box feel visually discordant and stand out even more. The design strategy attempts to distract from the Box by trying to draw the eye to the flashy Cover. But allowing the Box to still be visibly dominant from so many angles is far below best-practice and less than what I expect from Disney.

The best solution would have been to design the showbuilding to be an attractive, integrated part of the "on-show" land (i.e., curvy, in a futuristic way). That's expensive and won't be happening in MK, where at least it won't be viewed from elevated pathways (except while on the Peoplemover).

Hoping a tree-berm will help mitigate the Box from Circus & Fantasyland.

I dont think Disney cares so much anymore sadly,,,looking at you guardians..

 

[wdwgreek]

Looked at this construction plot today from the people mover it is quite a big project. The train tracks are ripped up it appears!

 

[DVCOwner]

That is exactly what it looked like when I was there... and the park is massive... There is a ton of dead space between attractions...

If you been there on a very busy day, It is not dead space it is people space!

 

[Bocabear]

If you been there on a very busy day, It is not dead space it is people space!

No...dead space... Long wide walkways with nothing on either side except dense greenery... and the walkways are crazy wide...and there is a lot of unused space between the attractions and land... Lots...

 

[steve2wdw]

Tron goes vertical-first coaster supports in place!

 

[tparris]

Tron goes vertical-first coaster supports in place!View attachment 368928

I have a feeling we’re going to see the coaster go up pretty quickly now.

 

[dreamfinder]

No...dead space... Long wide walkways with nothing on either side except dense greenery... and the walkways are crazy wide...and there is a lot of unused space between the attractions and land... Lots...

The week before I went, the carousel had a wait time of 2 hours. For the carousel........ I didn't dare even look at the wait time for Pirates or Tron. Yes, the walkways are huge there, but goodness, I'd hate to see how many people actually show up to make the wait 2 hours.

 

[trainplane3]

Tron goes vertical-first coaster supports in place!View attachment 368928

*technically the first ones went in yesterday

 

[ChewbaccaYourMum]

I don't know why the length of this ride doesn't bother me at all.. I'm just so excited for this mainly because of the thrill factor!

 

[steve2wdw]

*technically the first ones went in yesterday

After I posted, I dug back a page or two and saw the previous pics!

 

[steve2wdw]

*technically the first ones went in yesterday

After I posted, I dug back a page or two and saw the previous pics!

 

[Brad Bishop]

I really don’t like how it’s going to be angled in relation to the park in the MK. In Shanghai, it faces directly at the park. It calls to you from the hub. From 300 yards away (or whatever it is) the light show is incredible and impressive.

Here, it’s almost turned sideways. Like it’s down an alley.

It won’t be the same kind of impressive show unless you’re behind SM facing it directly... and from there it can almost be too close to take it in.

I said something positive about it's placement and hoping the Imagineers do a good job early on in this thread.

The more I think about it the more I think:
- It's just poorly placed. It'd be like placing Splash Mountain right next to the Matterhorn or Space Mountain right next to the Matterhorn and then everyone being excited with, "Oh! New ride!," because they've all be ride-starved for 20+ years.
- As with you, the angle is wrong. This coaster should be something that is seen, not stuck back in a weird little corner at an odd angle.

It really feels like someone in a WDW meeting said, "We need something big and new for the 50th!," and someone else chimed in, "We could put in a Tron coaster - we've already built it once, just build it a gain - cost savings!," and then they just looked for a place to stick it in the MK. It really doesn't feel like it's had more thought than that.

The other thing that sucks is that I remember Space Mountain being lit up like a white jewel on the horizon when it was first built. You'd see the castle, and then glowing off to the right, Space Mountain, and it was exciting. You'd think that they could capture that again with the LEDs but they haven't. It's "lit" but dimly lit.