News Tron coaster coming to the Magic Kingdom

[SilentWindODoom]

Guests waiting a very long time for a short shuttle ride.

Ahh... I was confused because the primary thing I think of with that attraction was the misconception of its role leading to guest anger at what they saw as a bait and switch.

Trains shove through grade crossings all the time. Including at WDW, with guests.

(There is a grade crossing in between Toontown and the roundhouse).

Question... who at the WDW RR is qualified to make a shove move? Conductors? engine crew? Maintenance? A mix of the above?

I’m not sure if the wdw rr conductors are “real” conductors and can perform shove moves, brake tests, etc.

Hmm... The only one I see is a pair of small pedestrian pathways by Space. The ones on the stretch never before used are the route used by the parade floats. That could be a recipe for disaster. Certainly you could make sure no trains moved during the parades' crossing, although it could be enough of a possible risk that the rule is just to never, ever do it.

But right now, with the cavalcade system, floats and vehicles are coming through there at a much more regular pace, so you'd have to intersperse vehicles and trains and it's likely just too much of a risk.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Hmm... The only one I see is a pair of small pedestrian pathways by Space. The ones on the stretch never before used are the route used by the parade floats. That could be a recipe for disaster. Certainly you could make sure no trains moved during the parades' crossing, although it could be enough of a possible risk that the rule is just to never, ever do it.

I was talking about the grade crossing outside of the park. “Between toontown and the roundhouse.”

 

[Captain Barbossa]

Modern day safety reasons and ops won't allow it.

There’s a safety consideration that prevents the train running backwards on the route section unaffected by TRON.

^^^^^^^
This is what I’ve been trying to get people to understand for nearly two years now.

Running backwards from Fantasyland to Frontierland? Fine, at least I think it is. But running backwards from Frontierland to Main Street is a completely different animal when compared to running backwards from Fantasyland to Frontierland, or from Main Street to Fantasyland like they did when Splash was being built.

I try, but it goes through one ear and out the other.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

^^^^^^^
This is what I’ve been trying to get people to understand for nearly two years now.

Running backwards from Fantasyland to Frontierland? Fine, at least I think it is. But running backwards from Frontierland to Main Street is a completely different animal when compared to running backwards from Fantasyland to Frontierland, or from Main Street to Fantasyland like they did when Splash was being built.

I try, but it goes through one ear and out the other.

Well... use your words. What’s so different?

The 2 grade crossings? The tunnels?

 

[Touchdown]

Well... use your words. What’s so different?

The 2 grade crossings? The tunnels?

How about the grade crossing that occurs just after a tunnel (the parade crossing) that visibility would probably be difficult.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

How about the grade crossing that occurs just after a tunnel (the parade crossing) that visibility would probably be difficult.

Yes... that could be a reason. Especially since stopping for the crossing could stop the locomotive in the tunnel which is very problematic.

(I’ve personally seen club 33 evacuated because a Disneyland train ran a signal and was e-stopped right outside of New Orleans Station... the locomotive tripped the sprinklers in the small tunnel and set off the fire alarm in club 33 above them.)

Of course where there’s a will there’s a way... you’d just have to have the crossing “flagged” before the train left Frontierland.

Again I’m not saying any of this would be worth it... just saying it’s possible.

 

[TTA94]

How about they just make the Tron area safe enough to pass the train by and get it opened by October? I’m sure they can put up a temporary tunnel of some sort.

 

[marni1971]

Again I’m not saying any of this would be worth it... just saying it’s possible.

“Can” and “could” are two different beasts.

 

[SilentWindODoom]

I was talking about the grade crossing outside of the park. “Between toontown and the roundhouse.”

Wow. My brain completely misread that. I saw "roundhouse" and was imagining the theming of the circus station and saw "town" and was imagining Main Street. My brain sometimes jumps too quickly and fills in gaps/extrapolates.

Then again, it took me a moment to realize "shove" meant "go backwards".

Looking at that crossing, though, holy crap! Three lanes of traffic (including a turning lane) with seemingly no indication? Do they have cast members or police go out and block the road when the train's going through, or just blow the whistle like crazy? That looks insane.

The float issue is the only thing I can think of that would be a reason Martin couldn't be specific about due to it being a backstage function. Although it could also have to do with the death of a cast member involved with a float that if I recall correctly was near the Frontierland crossing. But is @Captain Barbossa beholden to the same secrecy, because he seems to know for sure so it would be helpful to just spit it out.

EDIT: Op! Checked street view and there are arms and lights. They're just nigh invisible in the satellite view. Although I suppose a CM has to be out there to open that gate.

 

[JEANYLASER]

Will Tron be open next year for the 50th birthday of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2022?

 

[Jrb1979]

Will Tron be open next year for the 50th birthday of the Walt Disney World Resort?

No. It's being delayed to 2022

 

[gerarar]

BlogMickey finally got some photos of the sealed off entrance/exit to the ride building:

Source and more pictures here:

 

[SplashJacket]

BlogMickey finally got some photos of the sealed off entrance/exit to the ride building:
View attachment 521748

Source and more pictures here:

For reference, here's the before photo from BM.

This is fascinating. If there wasn't track going straight into the wall, you would never know the wall wasn't permanent.

 

[Surferboy567]

Well...I guess that is all the confirmation we need.

Not a fan of this decision. Not unexpected though

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The float issue is the only thing I can think of that would be a reason Martin couldn't be specific about due to it being a backstage function. Although it could also have to do with the death of a cast member involved with a float that if I recall correctly was near the Frontierland crossing. But is @Captain Barbossa beholden to the same secrecy, because he seems to know for sure so it would be helpful to just spit it out.

Yeah the two tunnels and grade crossings could be an issue.

There’s also the big thunder track crossing which is visible and signaled before departing Frontierland, but would potentially need signals for a reverse move.

I’m not sure what the big secret is either.

 

[Captain Barbossa]

Well... use your words. What’s so different?

The 2 grade crossings? The tunnels?

I have, on multiple occasions. But it all goes back to some people having hollow heads.

Yes, the main issue, at least to my eyes, is today’s safety and operations vs. 1990s’ safety and operations. But, there are also additional issues that play a factor to this situation, mainly being the grade crossings.

Now, I can’t confirm this because I’m not 100% sure, but I believe that there is a very, very good chance that there are not any sensors to trigger the crossings by trains coming from the counterclockwise direction. I think there is only one sensor for each crossing, being the sensor that is set off by trains coming from Main Street. If that’s the case, then the only way for the crossings to be triggered when there’s a train coming counterclockwise, is for someone to manually trigger them via the control box located at each crossing.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I have, on multiple occasions. But it all goes back to some people having hollow heads.

Yes, the main issue, at least to my eyes, is today’s safety and operations vs. 1990s’ safety and operations. But, there are also additional issues that play a factor to this situation, mainly being the grade crossings.

Now, I can’t confirm this because I’m not 100% sure, but I believe that there is a very, very good chance that there are not any sensors to trigger the crossings by trains coming from the counterclockwise direction. I think there is only one sensor for each crossing, being the sensor that is set off by trains coming from Main Street. If that’s the case, then the only way for the crossings to be triggered when there’s a train coming counterclockwise, is for someone to manually trigger them via the control box located at each crossing.

Yeah for regular operation you’d have to pay for additional signaling. You’d probably need signals at each tunnel to show the crossings ahead were activated and you’d possibly need a signal ahead of the big thunder crossing.

If you can dream it, you can do it!*

*unless it’s too expensive and / or doesn’t involve a Chapek favorites IP, void where prohibited by Iger.

 

[Jrb1979]

So what I gather is the train can't make a full loop so when it reaches Tomorrowland is has to go back the way it came and there is an issue running backwards?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

So what I gather is the train can't make a full loop so when it reaches Tomorrowland is has to go back the way it came and there is an issue running backwards?

The tracks have been gone because of the Tron Construction. The train has been closed for over 2 years now.

Operating the trains as a shuttle would be problematic. Could be done, but not simple and you’d end up with a single train shuttle. Maybe 900 an hour capacity? Probably not worth it.

Ideally they would have built a passing siding and operate 2 trains between fantasyland and frontierland only.

 

[Jrb1979]

The tracks have been gone because of the Tron Construction. The train has been closed for over 2 years now.

Operating the trains as a shuttle would be problematic. Could be done, but not simple and you’d end up with a single train shuttle. Maybe 900 an hour capacity? Probably not worth it.

Ideally they would have built a passing siding and operate 2 trains between fantasyland and frontierland only.

Why not just put new tracks down? Or is that an issue?