Step-by-Step: How to Ride TRON Lightcycle Run at Disney World
TRON Lightcycle / Run doesn’t have a standby line. If you’re going to Disney World and you want to ride, you’ll need either a Virtual Queue Boarding Group or a paid Individual Lightning Lane Reservation. Below, we’ll walk you through the process no matter which option you choose. Last updated/republished January 9, 2024.
The Virtual Queue is active at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. every day. There is a third opening at 6 p.m. that’s limited to visitors who are eligible for Extended Evening Hours or attending a Magic Kingdom Halloween or Christmas party. Have you never used the Virtual Queue? Keep reading and we’ll tell you how! If you’ve never heard the term “Individual Lightning Lane Reservation”, you may want to start with How to Use Genie+ and Lightning Lane at Disney World and then read this article.
Click on any of the links below to skip directly to that section, and know that you can click on any image to enlarge it.
What You Need to Get Started:
Whether you’re looking for an ILL or a Boarding Group, you’ll need the following before you can begin.
- The My Disney Experience App
- Updated Family & Friends List on the MDE App—everyone you want to book for will need to be on it.
You and everyone who wants to ride with you will also need:
- Valid Park Admission
- Park reservation, if necessary
If your admission media requires a park reservation, then you’ll need a Park Pass for Magic Kingdom on that day, or a Park Pass for a different park and a Park Hopper ticket or Annual Pass. If your ticket does not require a reservation, then you’re good to go without one.
How to Get an Individual Lightning Lane Reservation for TRON
The good news is that making an Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) reservation for Lightcycle Run is exactly like booking any other ILL. If you’ve ever done it before, you already know how to do it. The screenshots below show a different attraction, but the workflow is the same.
Guests at eligible Disney Resort hotels can begin booking at 7 a.m. All other guests can make Individual Lightning Lane reservations for TRON when Magic Kingdom opens for the day. You do not need to be inside the park to make an ILL reservation. TRON ILLs are usually available until sometime after park opening; during peak times they may sell out earlier.
Getting Genie Ready
You’ll want to set up Genie in advance of your eligibility time if you’re planning to get an Individual Lightning Lane for TRON. You can begin from either of two places: the MDE Home Screen, or through the Hamburger Menu.
In the next few screens you’ll select your park and the date, and indicate who you’ll be touring with.
Most of these screens are self-explanatory (and you can go back and change your choices later), but one that isn’t so obvious is the Top Picks screen. Make sure to select TRON Lightcycle Run. If you need a park pass and it isn’t for Magic Kingdom then you’ll need to set up park hopping in Genie to enable this, but it will put the listing for TRON right at the top when you’re using the Tip Board later. Those few seconds of scrolling you’ll save may count for a lot when trying to make your ILL.
You can set up Genie for days in the future, and if you are trying to get an ILL for TRON we recommend setting it up before you are eligible to reserve so that you’ll be all ready to go.
Booking Your ILL
On the day of your visit, just before you’re eligible, make sure that your Tip Board is showing Magic Kingdom. As soon as your booking window opens pull down hard on the top of the screen to refresh the Tip Board, then click the panel for TRON.
For an ILL reservation you can select the time, but if reservations have been booking up quickly you may not want to take too long browsing for the perfect slot. As usual, you can select to include all or only some of your group.
On the Review Details page, make sure to check the time of the reservation; it’s not uncommon for it to be different from what you selected. The time you see here will be held for several minutes so that you can complete the reservation, and will not change again. If the time is wildly inappropriate for you, you can go back and search for a different time — but if reservations have been booking up in only a few minutes, know that going back might cost you your chance to get one at all.
After clicking purchase you’ll see a confirmation screen. Clicking through will bring you back to Genie where you’ll see your reservation in the “My Day” section.
How to Get A Boarding Group for TRON
If you’ve used the Virtual Queue for other rides, you’ll find TRON is very similar. If you haven’t, here’s how to do it. If you’ve never heard of Virtual Queues, you may want to read some of Answering All Your Questions About Virtual Queues before getting started.
Boarding Group Rules
Rule #1: Boarding Groups are only available to book TWICE per day for riding during regular park hours.
- The first chance for booking is at 7:00 a.m., and you can book from anywhere.
- The second chance is at 1:00 p.m., but you must be inside of Magic Kingdom to be eligible.
For the 7 a.m. queue, you don’t need to have entered a park to book. But you do need admission that is valid on that day. And if your ticket type needs a park reservation, you need to have a reservation for Magic Kingdom Park.
For the 1 p.m. queue, the requirement to be inside Magic Kingdom is according to Disney’s information. But in practice we’ve found that you only have to have entered the park earlier in the day to be eligible. If you left to get lunch and haven’t returned yet, you’re still good to go.
Rule #2: You can only enter using a Boarding Group once per day during regular park hours. If you got a group at 7 a.m., and rode, you can’t get another at 1 p.m. (If your Boarding Group from the 7 a.m. drop expired before you returned to ride, you can try again to get a Boarding Group at 1 p.m.).
Rule #3: If you are eligible for Magic Kingdom’s Extended Evening Hours, or you are attending a hard-ticket event that offers a TRON Virtual Queue, there is a third chance to book a boarding group. This group opens at 6 p.m. on these days, and you can book at 6 p.m. even if you’ve already scored a boarding group earlier in the day. For these 6 p.m. groups, everyone in your party who will ride needs to be eligible.
For Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you’ll need to have a party ticket for that day linked to your My Disney Experience account. For EETPH, you’ll need to be staying at a qualifying Disney World Resort and be able to enter the park during the Extended Hours period.
Getting a Group
You can begin as early as one hour in advance of the drop that you’re trying to join. Even if the queue isn’t available yet, you’ll be able to confirm your party. This is your opportunity to fix any Friends & Family issues and make sure everyone you want to ride with is appearing in your group. If you’re confident that you’ll see everyone you’re supposed to see in your party, then 4-5 minutes in advance is plenty and an hour is massive overkill.
From the My Disney Experience app, click the hamburger on the bottom right, then select Virtual Queues. On the next screen, select “Join Virtual Queue”. If you aren’t automatically directed to the queue for TRON Lightcycle Run, select it from the available options. Then “Confirm Your Party”.
After tapping the button, select the people that you want to ride with. Friends & Family should display automatically if they have admission and a park reservation. Ineligible Friends & Family will appear in the section below.
One minute before time, begin repeatedly tapping the Refresh button and tap it as soon as it changes to “Join Virtual Queue”. Some people prefer to use a separate clock for more precise timing and only press Refresh one time; I find that the refresh is pretty quick and I do better without my brain engaged. A little practice, if you have the opportunity, can tell you which method works effectively for you.
With luck, you will be rewarded with a screen that looks like the one on the left below. Unlike some other Virtual Queues, TRON doesn’t show your estimated callback time; only which groups are currently boarding. TRON Cast Members are enforcing the callback times (you have an hour after your group is called), so make sure you’re watching so that you’re prepared when your group is called.
There are varying opinions about whether it’s better to use the park WiFi or cell service, but one super-important tip is that you can have multiple people trying for a group at the same time. If you’re touring with 4 people, having all four try for a boarding group increases the probability that someone will get one so that everyone can ride.
Don’t forget!! Assuming you do get a boarding group, check the status periodically throughout the day. TRON Cast Members are being strict about callback times, so make sure you don’t miss your group. If you have an unavoidable conflict such as a dining reservation, bring your dining receipt with you to the ride.
Using DAS With A Boarding Group
If someone in your party is eligible to use the Disability Access System (DAS), you will still have to join the Virtual Queue and get a Boarding Group using the regular procedure. For other Virtual Queues, the return time has been treated like a DAS start time and you could return any time. For TRON, Cast Members have confirmed that you will need to return within the 1-hour window when your Boarding Group is called. However, you’ll enter through the Lightning Lane to ensure that your wait is minimized.
At the Ride
TRON Lightcycle / Run has a few things to know about once you arrive at the attraction and before you get on board.
TRON’s Lockers
The ride vehicles do have enough space for your cell phone, but unlike most Disney World rides, you can’t bring your backpack onto TRON. In the queue you’ll find lockers for storing your loose items before you board. Lockers can be opened using either a MagicBand or a ticket card (MagicMobile will not work), and are about a cubic foot. That’s big enough for a school backpack and perhaps a few other items.
The lockers are double-sided — think elevators with doors that open at the front or the back depending on your floor. When you exit the ride, you’ll access your locker from the other side to retrieve your stuff. Forgot your number in the excitement? No problem, touch your MagicBand to a terminal at the end of the locker row to retrieve it.
TRON Seating
TRON has trains like all roller coasters, but most of the vehicles in the trains are bikes. The bikes require you to sit in a specific position and may not fit all guests. Test seats are available at the entrance to the attraction and can be used to check your fit before getting to the loading platform.
In the above picture, Len is trying out the test seat and you can see where the leg restraint lands. Fit on these vehicles is not about your clothing size – it’s about this restraint. Cast Members have told us that the people who most commonly don’t fit are either tall (less room to adjust leg position to find a good spot for the restraint) or have large calves, or both. If you think you’re going to have a problem, try the test seat. Even if you fit, if it’s close it will help you understand how you need to get positioned during loading for the ride.
If you don’t fit, or if you’re just uncomfortable with the position on the bikes, TRON offers a regular car-style coaster seat at the end of some trains. Tell the cast member you’ll need the accessible seat (they call it the Light Rover) and you should be all set.
If you’re looking for stroller or ECV parking, they are often nearby to each other – but not at TRON. Stroller parking is on the ramp leading up to the attraction. ECV parking is at the top of the ramp (so you don’t have to climb it after you get out of your ECV!) to the right of the restrooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a Boarding Group and an Individual Lightning Lane for TRON Lightcycle Run on the same day?
Yes, you can get a Boarding Group and an ILL on the same day. You can also get a Boarding Group during regular park hours and one during Extended Evening Hours (if eligible). If you combine a regular Boarding Group, an EEH Boarding Group, and an ILL, you can get three rides on TRON in one day.
Can you get a Boarding Group for TRON and Cosmic Rewind in the same day?
Possibly. See How to Get a Boarding Group for Tron and Cosmic Rewind in the Same Day for more details.
Can you practice getting a Boarding Group before your trip?
Yes, as long as your admission is valid on the day you’re trying to get a group for. If you have date-based admission that might mean your window to try in is pretty short; other ticket types will usually require you to make a park reservation in order to try. But as long as you do not actually enter the park, it won’t use up your admission.
As a matter of courtesy, leave the queue if you do get a spot. If you’ll need park reservations during your visit, you’ll want to do this far enough in advance that you aren’t using your reservations for practice when you need to make them for the day you will actually be there.
I got a Boarding Group, but I need to add or remove someone.
See the Guest Services team at the blue umbrellas and explain your situation. They will usually be able to help out.
Does everyone need to be in the park at 1 p.m. to be eligible for the Virtual Queue?
According to Disney, you need to be in the park at 1 p.m. to be eligible and yes, everyone who wants to ride needs to be there. However, our test team has found in other Virtual Queues that you only need to have entered the park before you try to join. If you were in Magic Kingdom earlier and left for lunch, you shouldn’t need to get back by 1 p.m.
How long will TRON Lightcycle Run use a Virtual Queue?
We’re not psychic, and we can’t give a definitive answer. Rise of the Resistance used a Virtual Queue for over two years, but it was … an interesting two years. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure used a Virtual Queue for only a little over two months, and Web Slingers at Disneyland used its Virtual Queue for a little over five months. We guessed that Cosmic Rewind’s Virtual Queue would last for 4-6 weeks, and we were way wrong on that one – it’s still in place.
Do I need to buy Genie+ to make an ILL reservation?
No.
What time can I begin making Individual Lightning Lane reservations for TRON Lightcycle Run?
Onsite guests of Disney hotels can begin making Individual Lightning Lane reservations at 7 a.m. At park opening, everyone will be able to make ILL reservations.
Can I get a Boarding Group for Extended Theme Park Evening Hours even if I got one earlier in the day?
Yes. Guests who get a Boarding Group for TRON during regular hours are still eligible to enter the Virtual Queue at 6 p.m. on days when Extended Evening Hours are offered. If you get an Individual Lightning Lane too, this could give you three rides on TRON in a single day!
Guests who are attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are also eligible to get a second boarding group for the party if they got one during regular hours. You’re only eligible to enter the Party Virtual Queue once.
Can you use Rider Switch with TRON Lightcycle Run?
Yes, you can. TRON’s minimum height will be 48″, and all Disney World rides that have a height restriction offer Rider Switch. You’ll be able to use it no matter whether you’re riding with the Virtual Queue or Individual Lightning Lane. For more details, see Rider Switch at Disney World: Guide and FAQ.
Can kids or teens purchase Individual Lightning Lanes?
Yes, minors who are old enough to have their own MDE accounts can buy ILLs, but they’ll need to enter a payment method at checkout instead of using stored payment information. More details: How Can Kids and Teens Pay for Things at Disney World?
Can you use MagicMobile to open the lockers at TRON?
This may change in the future, but when we tested it the answer was no. Only MagicBands, ticket cards, and Key to the World cards can be used to open TRON’s lockers.
How much can you fit in the lockers at TRON?
We found the lockers to be slightly over a cubic foot. That’s big enough for a school backpack and a few other items. There is a small compartment on the bike that can fit a cell phone and a pair of sunglasses.
What if you forget your locker number at TRON?
There are terminals at the end of the rows that can be used to get your locker number. Tap your MagicBand or ticket card and it will display on the screen.
What if I don’t fit on the test seat at TRON?
TRON has a regular-style coaster car at the end of each train. Tell the Cast Member in the loading area that you’ll need the accessible seat to be directed to the car instead of the bikes.
Is it easier to get a Boarding Group or an Individual Lightning Lane for TRON?
Boarding Groups are free and ILLs cost money. So far, that typically means that Boarding Groups for TRON fill up before ILL reservations run out. That said, if you’re not staying at a Disney Resort hotel you should definitely expect that it will be easier to get a Boarding Group during peak periods because the Individual Lightning Lane reservations may sell out before the park opens.
Does TRON have an extra Virtual Queue during After Hours?
No, TRON typically uses a standby queue during Magic Kingdom After Hours events.
Are you excited to ride TRON Lightcycle Run? Which team are you on, Virtual Queue or ILL? What’s your bet on how long the Virtual Queue will be in place? Let us know in the comments!
Originally published January 27, 2023.
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Is there a ride chicken review on Tron Lightcycle? I’d be very interested in seeing what you think.
Hi Jolene, the ride-chicken review has been in draft for a couple of months; I’ll be at WDW in a couple of weeks and wanted to have another chance to ride it before publishing. Part of the reason for that is because the ride is very short (just 60 seconds or so), and so the quick take is actually that. It’s short. It’s reasonably smooth, it’s nothing like the rotational g’s on Guardians that give some people vertigo, and it’s over fast enough that even if you have a problem with it you’re unlikely to have time to become truly, horribly regretful. I did end up nauseous when I rode it, but interestingly that was almost entirely induced in the last 2 seconds of the ride by the sudden halt as it pulled back into the station.
Look for the actual review in mid-August.
Hi, I got boarding group 10 this morning and didn’t make it before my 10 am cut off time. They said for the soft opening, they’re not allowing anyone late access (maybe within 20 mins is fine). I even have the DAS pass and that didn’t matter. You may want to update the DAS section for clarity. I thought this would be like Cosmic Rewind (where they’ve never denied me for being late) but it’s not. Anyone’s guess if that will change after the soft opening. But given the ride can accommodate only 1200 per hour, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a firm rule going forward. Plus some people might try to come late deliberately to experience the ride at dark. And Disney wants to be able to sell as much ILL as they can. I’ve gotten so good at virtual queues I don’t think I could make myself get a later time. I almost always get a low boarding group for Cosmic Rewind too. Everything disappears within a second so going to be an early day for me tomorrow.
Hi Matthew, thanks for letting us know about your experience. We’ll keep an eye on this and update the article if this continues to be the case after the soft open period is over. (Operations during a soft open period are often not typical of regular operations.)
Hi Matthew, Cast Members have confirmed to us that they’ll be enforcing return times for DAS on the TRON Virtual Queue. (It’s not yet clear whether this will change at Guardians too.) I’ve updated the article, and thanks again for alerting us to this.
Thanks, Jennifer. I’ve been asking all this week and a cast member told me that the VQ system will allow 1 hour late without needing cast member intervention, giving a total of 2 hours from boarding group call time. After that, it’s up to the discretion of the CM. I also asked if the estimated call back time is much later than the real call back time, and he said again it’s up to the CM. Having a screenshot might help your case, but be prepared for denial. I’ve still had no issues this week being late for Cosmic Rewind. In fact, Thursday I rode at 8:39 pm and hardly anyone was riding at all, I had the car all to myself.
I found this article totally confusing! Still have no idea how to get on Tron. Bring back the simplified Fast Pass! This is too complicated and time consuming!
Will Seven Dwarfs Mine Train become a Genie Plus attraction or remain an individual lightning lane attraction? If it will change, will the change take place on March 20 or April 4?
Hi Dave, I haven’t seen a notice from Disney but reliable sources are reporting that it will remain an ILL attraction once TRON opens.
Man, that regular ride seat does not look very pleasant. I would hate to end up stuck in that thing if the ride were to go inoperative for any reason. I’ll probably just go for the ‘accessible’ ride car instead.
If anyone hears about if it’s available during after hours events, please comment! Going on March 27th just for the event.
Piggybacking on this request. I’ll also be there on March 27 After Hours.
Wait, can I get an ILL for the soft opening or not? If I remember correctly, I read (somewhere else….Im sorry. I date other people!) that ILL’s were available for the soft opening.
You can! The original info that I saw said only VQ, but I’ve since confirmed that ILL will be available. I’ll update the article ASAP. Sorry for the confusion!
Wonder if they will do anything during after hours event on 20th. It’s only time I’ll be there during those dates.
That would be really cool if they did getting to ride in the dark. Cosmic Rewind is showing a 6 pm virtual queue for Epcot extended hours but nothing showing up for Tron. My guess is if you don’t see it in the MDE app then the ride won’t be open. They may not have enough scheduled staff to keep it open then. But never hurts to ask when you get to the park.
Anyone have experience with soft openings for popular rides like this? Wondering what the odds are that this would be open March 31 and if so, how have they handled it in the recent past? Would it just magically appear for virtual queues and/or ILL some morning without notice? Of course nothing is guaranteed, but just wondering what to keep an eye out for.
WDW doesn’t really “do” soft openings any more. Based on how they handled major ride openings in recent years, expect that the ride will operate for weeks before its official opening date, but only thru scheduled previews for cast, DVC, APs, D23, invited media, etc. No reason to expect the Vide will be available to “regular” guests prior to 4/4.Qr
Thanks, Andy. That’s good to know. I do have both a gold D23 and DVC membership so I may have to keep a very careful eye on communications from them. Crossing my fingers but mentally trying to prepare myself for the likelihood I just miss it.
Hi, Jeff. Tron will still have a soft open on 3/31 (until 4/2) You will have to do the virtual queue or ILL. Have fun!