Disney World Launches Tron: Ares Overlay for TRON Lightcycle / Run

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Monday September 15, 2025 9:30am ET · "Tron Lightcycle Run rollercoaster"
Disney World Launches Tron: Ares Overlay for TRON Lightcycle / Run

The Tron: Ares overlay for TRON Lightcycle / Run officially begins today at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. This limited-time update celebrates the upcoming Tron: Ares film with new visuals and soundtrack onboard the ride.

What's New

  • The attraction's signature blue Grid has been replaced by red and orange tones inspired by Tron: Ares.
  • A new onboard soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails now plays as riders launch and race through the Grid.
  • The outdoor canopy area continues to feature the regular TRON Lightcycle / Run music loop.

The Film Connection

Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is set for release on September 19, 2025, with the score composed by Nine Inch Nails.

The film itself, Tron: Ares, is scheduled to release on October 10, 2025.

Duration of Overlay

Disney has not announced how long the Tron: Ares overlay will remain in place. For now, it offers a fresh take on one of Magic Kingdom's newest attractions.

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DCBakerMar 27, 2026

Bill Kroyer (right), who animated the lightcycle sequences in the original Tron film, recently visited Magic Kingdom and brought with two of his original lightcycle sketches (via Steven Miller): Greeting, Programs! This past week, Bill Kroyer visited TRON: Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom. He worked at Walt Disney Animation Studios when the original “Tron” was being made and animated the Lightcycle sequences. He’s credited as a Production Storyboard artist and he brought along two of his original sketches. There is an iconic photo of Bill working on the CHROMATICS 9000 computer published in “CINEFEX” magazine. Seven year old me would have never thought I’d ride a Lightcycle with the guy who animated the Lightcycles I watched countless times on VHS. Thank you to Chris from Synergy for such a unique opportunity. Bill was truly blown away by his visit to The Grid. End of line.

MisterPenguinDec 22, 2025

As of last week... yes.

TrainsOfDisneyDec 21, 2025

Speaking of underutilized!!!! (Does Iger mail me 10 cents in a check? Or does he PayPal - I’m new!)

MothDec 21, 2025

Is that Ares overlay still going?

Surferboy567Sep 16, 2025

The MCP in story is likely Ares, this is set 14 years after TRON Legacy. Where the programs of the red Dillinger grid are invading the blue ENCOM grid.

truecoatSep 16, 2025

They should install a screen above one of the gates with the old school MCP spinning, then stopping and looking at the cycles menacingly as you go under.

mattpetoSep 15, 2025

I am in interested to see if the overlay runs during the parties. I’m assuming yes, but will know by tomorrow night.

TheMaxReboSep 15, 2025

They used to do a parade for every new movie for a while, I believe that cost was funded by the budget for the movie though - not sure that would work nowadays

PurduevianSep 15, 2025

I'm all for Disney trying to get their movies into the parks super early... It used to be a big thing that would keep the parks constantly fresh... off the top of my head I think: -Space Ranger Spin opened before TS2 (before Zurg was a big thing) -BatB live opened the same day as the movie -Aladdin had a parade that opened the same day as the movie It would stop us from building an Encanto ride, set to open 6 years after the movie premiered

ToTBellHopSep 15, 2025

Listen. It’s not just lights. It’s also music. They charged us an extra $40 to turn the lights OFF at Space Mtn. New, expensive red lights and NIN music are worth at least $75 ($69.99 for APs in August and September). Wait til you visit the Grid at Christmas. You’ll be asking “Ho ho how many more of these movies will Bob approve before he accepts no one watches these movies?”

HauntedPirateSep 15, 2025

Surely changing the light color at Tron is worth at least a $10 if not $20/ticket bump. Plus they can claim “something new!!!”.

Disney AnalystSep 15, 2025

Needs more popups that won’t stop popping up no matter how many times you click “x”. Now that would be truly horrifying.

ToTBellHopSep 15, 2025

Should definitely consider this as a MNSSHP-exclusive next year.

jah4955Sep 15, 2025

classic Disney synergy...build hype for the movie by updating the ride first...hope it's worth the hype!