Welcome to The Grid! TRON Lightcycle / Run Reaches Major Milestone at Magic Kingdom Park

As I shared on Instagram yesterday, the Magic Kingdom Park skyline looks a bit different today now that our crew from Walt Disney Imagineering has reached a major milestone in the development of TRON Lightcycle / Run at Walt Disney World Resort. Here you can see this image of the first piece of canopy being installed in what will become an instant iconic attraction and portal to The Grid here in Tomorrowland.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I’m excited to share these images of the very first canopy piece being installed at TRON Lightcycle / Run in Magic Kingdom this morning! This is one of nearly 40 pieces that will create a dramatic “curved wave” canopy, known as the Upload Conduit, which will flow organically over Guests as they race underneath on their Lightcycles. I’m proud of all the work our Imagineers have put into this @WaltDisneyWorld attraction so far, and the exciting work ahead to bring the Grid to life in Tomorrowland! Continue to follow us here for more progress. #Imagineering #MagicKingdom

A post shared by Zach Riddley (@thezachriddley) on Sep 15, 2020 at 10:40am PDT

What we set in place yesterday is the first of nearly 40 pieces that will create a dramatic “curved wave” canopy, known as the Upload Conduit. Each section is strategically assembled before installation, including alignment of the steel, welding, grinding, some painting and electrical work. It’s an intricate process and something we’ll get to see rise before our eyes over the coming weeks and months. You can take a closer look at our work yesterday in this new video:

This canopy will be a massive, awe-inspiring structure flowing organically over you when you race beneath it aboard your Lightcycle, serving as a digital bridge for your transition into The Grid. As the Lightcycles whiz by, dynamic stripes of lights will follow along the canopy, creating a powerful visual for riders and bystanders alike. Just wait until you see this at night … it will be spectacular.

I’ve had the chance to ride our sister attraction in Shanghai Disneyland and I can tell you we are in for an amazing new addition to the Walt Disney World coaster family. I’m proud of all the work our Imagineers have put into this attraction so far, and am looking forward to seeing this beautiful piece of the digital frontier take shape on the horizon of Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom!

Follow me @thezachriddley for more on our design work taking shape across the Walt Disney World Resort.