TRON Lightcycle Run finally has an opening window at the Magic Kingdom. The new coaster is scheduled to open in Spring 2023 as announced by Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro at the D23 Expo 2022.
The Spring 2023 announcement caught some by surprise considering the coaster is already testing with actual riders. D’Amaro even shared a video of him riding on TRON Lightcycle Run during his presentation.
There’s some landscaping work remaining, but all signs point to TRON Lightcycle Run being capable of opening well before Spring 2023 – if Disney desired.
When TRON Lightcycle Run finally opens, it will end a lengthy construction timeline even by Disney’s standards. The coaster, which is a clone of an attraction in Shanghai Disneyland, was originally announced at the D23 Expo 2017. That means the timeline will hit almost six years by the time TRON Lightcycle Run opens to the general public.
Granted, there were considerable issues (park closures, supply chain problems) facing Disney while building TRON Lightcycle Run. Still, competing theme parks were able to build and complete other noteworthy projects (Universal’s VelociCoaster) while facing the same obstacles.
It’s important to remember that Disney works by their own timeline. That’s evident with TRON Lightcycle Run where costs were spread out across multiple quarters and the opening window is being driven by marketing objectives. That’s worth keeping in mind when Disney discusses Blue Sky ideas, such as those for Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Animal Kingdom, that sit many years in the future.
