Tron – WDWNT Archive

RUMOR: Tron Lightcycle Power Run Coaster Coming to Disneyland Paris

WDWNT on November 20, 2017

According to Looopings, Disney has requested an offer on the construction of the Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster for Disneyland Paris from the Dutch attraction builder Vekoma. Vekoma has built the ride for Shanghai Disneyland and will do so for the upcoming Magic Kingdom version as well.

TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland on June 13, 2016 – three days before the scheduled grand opening. PHOTO BY JEFF GRITCHEN, ORANGE OOUNTY REGISTER

It is unclear where the attraction would be built if true, but one would expect Walt Disney Studios Paris would be a prime candidate considering the very different theme of Discoveryland compared to other Tomorrowland areas. It is also possible that the attraction has been ordered, but could be themed to another franchise (at one point considered for a Captain America motorcycle ride).

This would be the first major investment in the parks since the TWDC buyout earlier this year, besides the announced changes to Hotel New York.

RUMOR: TRON Lightcycle Power Run Roller Coaster Close to Green Light for Walt Disney World, Disneyland

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

A few months ago, we told you that it was rumored that the popular TRON Lightcycle Power Run attraction from Shanghai Disneyland would be making its way to Walt Disney World sometime in the next 5 years. Well, it seems the project is close to approval, but it may also be heading to California…

TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Shanghai Disney Resort

According to sources, budget and preliminary design teams for Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have been sent out to Shanghai to make the project into a reality here in the United States. The decision to move forward with a TRON reboot/sequel has likely heavily influenced the decision to go through with the attraction domestically.

Walt Disney World is planning to build the attraction in Tomorrowland ahead of October 1st, 2021, the start of the 50th anniversary celebration for the entire resort. This would ensure major new additions in each of the four parks leading up to what should be a milestone event lasting 18-24 months. The enhancements at Epcot should begin by that time, and Star Wars land, Toy Story Land, and Pandora: The World of AVATAR will all be open and operating, leaving Magic Kingdom needing something big and new. Currently, the attraction would sit on the site of the Tomorrowland Speedway, but the former Galaxy Palace Theater space (now cast member parking) is a possibility.

TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Shanghai Disney Resort

At Disneyland, rumors indicate that the former Innoventions building (now home to Star Wars Launch Bay) in Tomorrowland would be the site, allowing the outdoors portion of the coaster to soar beautifully over the Tomorrowland skyline. That being said, some believe the coaster will be repurposed for the MARVEL-themed land at Disney California Adventure, perhaps taking the place of the long-rumored Captain America launch roller coaster. Either way, expect this ride system to show up at the Disneyland Resort around the same time as Walt Disney World unveils theirs.

As always with rumors and attractions in the design phase, things can change, or even be cancelled entirely. Based on how much we are hearing about this already, I would be very surprised to not see this roller coaster “rez” in the U.S. sometime soon.

A “Tron” Reboot With Jared Leto Starring Is In The Works by Disney

WDWNT on March 6, 2017

“Tron 3” may be officially dead, but now news is coming out that a complete “Tron” reboot is in the works that would star Jared Leto (“Suicide Squad”).

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

After cancelling a third installment in the sci-fi franchise in 2015, Disney is exploring the idea of a movie that would act as a Leto vehicle.

The studio is in the very early stages of development for a new Tron movie, with Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto circling to star, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.No writer has been hired at this exploratory stage, and no filmmaker is involved. Justin Springer, who co-produced Tron: Legacy and exec produced the Tom Cruise sci-fi movie Oblivion, will produce. Leto and and his producing partner Emma Ludbrook would also be involved in some producing capacity if the project moves forward.

Tron was the 1982 Disney movie set in the fantastic world inside a computer program, a cyberspace called the Grid. Starring Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner, the film wasn’t a hit at the time but was influential with its envelope-pushing special effects and drew a cult following in the years after due to its imaginative story.

In 2010, Disney revisited the world with Tron: Legacy, which starred Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde and brought back Bridges. Joseph Kosinski directed. The expensive movie made $400 million worldwide, good enough to warrant interesting in a sequel.

But it’s been a series of shutdowns and restarts for a sequel and just as it seemed it was heading towards pre-production, the studio pulled the plug for good in 2015.

Sources say this new project is not a direct sequel and is being built out of the source code of the deleted Tron 3 script. Leto would play a character named Ares, who has not appeared on screen before but was a key player in that script.

At this stage it’s too early to tell if Kosinski or actors from Tron: Legacy will return.

It’s too early to tell, but I dont like this idea. There are many fans of “Tron Legacy”, including myself, and we wanted the story to continue with a proper sequel. It doesn’t make sense to create a new character and base the story around him and not the characters and their stories that we have grown to appreciate. I know Jared Leto won an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal in “Dallas Buyers Club” but I saw him recently in “Suicide Squad” and in my book, he is the worst Joker we have ever seen. Hopefully Disney knows what they are doing. We’ll have to wait and see.

Source: THR

Grand Theft Auto Online Gets TRON Mode

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

Rockstar Games has announced and released a new Tron inspired mode for GTA Online called Deadline.

Hop on a Nagasaki Shotaro, a fictional motorcycle that bears striking resemblance to a Tron light cycle, and tear up the streets of Los Santos. Deadline is a new Adversary Mode that plays a lot like snake.

Strategically make your way around the arena and leave trails of neon light behind you in hopes that your foes will collide with your light trail. New abilities include Boost for speeding up, Zoned for slowing down to move more precisely, and Hop to evade enemy light trails.

https://https://youtu.be/Vs_0sTq7gpQ

The mode is available now, and for a limited time you’ll be eligible to receive a free Nagasaki logo shirt at any in-game clothing shop. More importantly, the Shotaro bike will be available at Legendary Motorsport for purchase, after playing at least one match of Deadline Adversary Mode.

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It’s not everyday Grand Theft Auto news is relevant to WDWNT…

VIDEO: Did BMW Build The Real-Life “TRON” Light Cycle We’ve Been Hoping For?

WDWNT on October 31, 2016

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BMW recently revealed what they see as the future of motorcycles and when I first saw it I thought immediately that this looks a lot like the Tron lightcycle that was seen in “Tron Legacy”. It’s sleek, futuristic and has those big old tires that just scream lightcycle.

The BMW Motorrad Vision NEXT 100 is even more than that.This cycle will not require a kickstand since it will be fully balanced. The helmet will be replaced with data glasses providing the rider with access to their route and alerting him to danger.

BMW put together an interesting breakdown on all of the innovative changes we can expect in the not-too-distant future:

“Tron Legacy” lightcycle battle scene, for reference:

Source: Brand.BMW-Motorrad.com

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Rumored New Disney World Attractions That Could Be Announced Soon – Tom’s Top 7

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Top 7, a continuing countdown of my favorite (and occasionally, least favorite) things at the Disney Parks around the globe. Why seven? STOP ASKING!

Rumored New Attractions That May Be Announced Soon for Walt Disney World

Anyway, the first two times we counted down, we visited the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. I decided this week it might be time to stop talking about food and get to the real bread and butter of Walt Disney World – attractions. We live in a time of great uncertainty about the future of Walt Disney World. We are 5 short years away from the golden anniversary of the Vacation Kingdom of the World and Disney is already teasing us that they have some major announcements to make before then (as alluded to during the 45th anniversary ceremony at the Magic Kingdom earlier this month. See for yourself:

There is plenty on the table that hasn’t been announced yet, but here are my Top 7 rumored additions to Walt Disney World that we could be hearing about soon.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot

The Guardians of then Galaxy could be exploding through the rubble of Epcot’s Universe of Energy…

I think you’ve probably heard enough about this one at this point, but if all goes according to plan, it seems that a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster will replace the Universe of Energy in Future World. I’m not going to waste much time on this one as I feel enough has already been said. You are going to notice a recurring theme and this list and that is that everything is tied to an intellectual property of the Disney Company. SURPRISE!

2. Wreck-It Ralph Racing Ride

Will Tomorrowland host a Sugar Rush racing ride straight out of Wreck-It Ralph?

Another one that seems almost definite at this point with Stitch’s Great Escape now operating seasonally, guests may be designing their own Sugar Rush race car and competing against each other in the first VR attraction in the parks since the Aladdin magic carpet ride experience jumped from Innoventions at Epcot to DisneyQuest in the 1990’s. Virtual reality has come a long way since then and is now becoming a theme park stable on rollercoasters, but has not been applied in an attraction quite like this yet.

3. Ratatouille in France at Epcot

Is “the little chef” coming to Epcot?

Since the Ratatouille ride opened at Walt Disney Studios Paris, guests have speculated that it could make its way to the France pavilion at Epcot. The latest rumblings say it will not, but that doesn’t mean something else themed to Ratatouille couldn’t replace Impressions De France, right? 😉

4. Star Tours Scene for Rogue One – A Star Wars Story

The Death Star under construction appears in Star Tours, so it would be a perfect fir for a Rogue One addition

This seemed like a forgone conclusion, but the rumblings on Rogue One being added to Star Tours have gone silent as of late. Walt Disney World running a holiday fireworks show rather than including Rogue One in Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular seems a bit odd, so maybe we won’t be seeing much Rogue One stuff in Florida. While Disneyland has replaced their Kylo Ren meet and greet with Darth Vader, we have still not announced any plans to even make that change.

5. TRON Lightcycle Power Run

TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland

One of Shanghai Disneyland’s top attractions, TRON Lightcycle Power Run still seems likely to land in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom or in Future World at Epcot. Who doesn’t want this one to happen? It may not fit perfectly in Epcot, but it’s a pretty nifty concept that should interest most guests.

6. The New Magic Kingdom Fireworks Show

The Magic Kingdom is due for a new fireworks extravaganza

“Tale as old as time.” Wishes has been the main fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom since October 2003. In 13 years, fireworks shows and nighttime spectaculars have come a long way. Despite constant updates of the projection mapping system for Celebrate the Magic, we still haven’t seen much evidence that a new nighttime show for the park is currently in production. Fun fact: The Magic Kingdom is the only classic style Castle park that still doesn’t have a projection-heavy new age fireworks display. We can only hope that 2017 is the year Disney World finally pulls the plug on Wishes for something modern and grandiose.

7. (Yeah, Seven) Inside Out at Epcot

Since Inside Out was released in theaters, guests have been Armchair Imagineering ideas for the human emotions in Epcot, feeling they are a perfect fit as the park once boasted a pavilion about human health and even a show about the inside of a young boy’s mind in Cranium Command.

But where would such an attraction go? Well, we originally though it might inhabit the old Wonders of Life pavilion, but current rumors say otherwise. Some believe that Figment will lose his Epcot attraction so that the Inside Out gang could take over the Imagination pavilion. It’s not too far fetched considering there is an Imagination in everyone’s mind… oh, and Figment makes a cameo in Riley’s imagination the film…

Can you spot Figment in Inside Out?

Improbable, Yes. Impossible, No. – The Timekeeper

Everything you see above may never come to fruition, much like anything not yet formally announced by the Walt Disney Company, but at this point, these are 7 additions or changes that are highly likely for Walt Disney World in the not-so-distant future.

What do you think? Which of these new attractions would you be excited for? Which ones would make you sad? Let me know in the comments below.

Tim Alcoser 6/5/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

DLNT Reporter Tim Alcoser visited the Disneyland Resort on June 5th and has some great photos to share with us as we countdown to the re-opening of California Adventure in just a few days:

There is a TRON themed trailer sitting in theÂ Downtown Disney Parking lot, featuring a preview of TRON: Uprising

Brave banners up near the AMC

The new Sunglass Icon store is open

Cast members are really into the new Brave meet and greet…

Work continues on Fantasy Faire

Merida and the 3 bear cubs

Long lines to see Merida by “it’s a small world”

The skyline has changed a bit at California Adventure

Happy painters…

A photograph of a simpler time

The look ready for the premiere

Red Car Trolley looks ready to roll with all of its signage up

This park sure has come a long way

I think you’re going to need some more chains this summer…

No dancing on the Trolley

The facade of “It’s Tough to be a Bug” being repaired for the park re-opening

Some new fish should be swimming along soon

Speaking of new, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop has opened

Free Ghirardelli caramel filled chocolate samples

Great look to the interior

An animated mural

Every small improvement goes a long way…

Rita’s was closed

The Cove Bar has reopened

Signs and pictures inside now fit the theme and backstory of the new Paradise Pier of the 1920’s

Some signs reflect the Pier attractions

More happy painting

Respectfully, I asked permission. I wonder if Anaheim P.D. officers fight to serve at the Disneyland Resort, or resist?

Thanks for reading!

My User Had Me Upload These TRON Photos

WDWNT on June 13, 2012

The other day, Austin and I were recording the latest episode of YesterEARS on location at Disney Quest. Half way through the show, I took a break to play some old arcade games when I stumbled upon some interesting photos that fell behind one of the cabinets. Take a look…

It appears that Kevin and Sam Flynn visited this place at one point too.

–

And what’s this? The entire gang playing some old school TRON? Also, next to the photos was this old poster all rolled up against the wall.

End of line.

Adam Roth’s 12/1/11 Hollywood Studios Photo Report

WDWNT on December 6, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Thursday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

First stop: The Backlot Tour…

Posters for War Horse, John Carter, and The Muppets up

Muppets ad inside the Backlot Tour tram

Block Party Bash cones still sitting around

You’ve probably already read our story about it, but here is another look at the Beauty and the Beast statue

There appears to be a damaged or unfinished Beast statue off to the side as well

Pan-Am poster

KUNGALOOSH!

Happy birthday Walt!

It may be time to take down the TRON Legacy billboards…

Phineas and Ferb are dressed for the holidays

Lines remain long

OOOOOO, my favorite part!

“No you don’t Ethan… Ethan, no you don’t!” BANG!

If you need me to tell you where we are, you’re visiting the wrong site…

If I have to tell you this one, you might have larger problems…

I suggest a room on the 13th floor, views are sublime

Current day citizens of Hollywood were out filming

Looks like they are having fun

Time to make another flip book!

AMAZING!

The Disney difference is in the details

Plenty of alcohol available for the season

Everyone awaiting the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Duffy is hidden in this year’s holiday cup…

The only show where a switch is the star

TA-DA!

The new canopy really is stunning

Prep and Landing on TV in one of the windows

Kind of scary…

Cupcakes complete with light-up ice cubes available

Cookies!

Yes Adam, we’ll include this photo!

The window screens have not ben working nightly, but were on at this time

A tribute to Jennings Osborne

The booth by the stage in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat has a very neon glow

The stage is up already and will be until 2012

Goodnight Studios

Spotlight On: Vinylmation Custom Artist Heather

WDWNT on August 10, 2011

Hope you are enjoying Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! At the last Walt Disney World trading event we meet Heather Kattelman from Fleming Island, Florida. She was displaying a couple very impressive custom 9″ Vinylmation she had created. One was Star Wars themed, the other a TRONorail. We caught up with her recently and asked her all about them.

Destination Vinylmation: How long have you been creating custom vinylmation?

Heather: I’ve only been creating custom Vinylmations on and off for about 9 months. My kids got me interested in it last year during the Vinylmation trading event of Trade City.

DV: Do you do other artwork, or just Vinylmation?

Heather: Really just vinylmation. I sort of play around here and there with other types of painting but only when I need to for an interior design project or something like that.

DV: Tell us about the inspiration behind the Star Wars figure.

Heather: My entire family are Star Wars fans and I was thinking about starting a new custom and mentioned to my husband that I was thinking about doing a Star Wars themed piece. We both thought it would cool to do something that I could take with us and have signed by the celebrities at Star Wars Weekends! From attending previous years, I knew there was always a main SW Logo for the event and felt that would be awesome to include on the vinyl somewhere and of course having the SW Logo was only fitting!

DV: It is perfect, and lots of room left around it for autographs. Tell us about the process of making the custom?

Heather: First, I draw out the concept on paper to gauge the scale and placement.

DV: Then do you pencil it onto the vinyl?

Heather: Usually when I paint the artwork on the vinyl, I just go right to painting. Occasionally for extremely detailed areas, like parts of Darth Vadar & Mickey I lightly pencil portions of the design on first.

DV: What is your favorite part about your Star Wars custom?

Heather: Wow, this is a tough one! I love the way the front came out with Vadar and Mickey but the back with the X-Wing I especially like! This was a last minute decision to add the fighters – I originally planned to paint another character on the back but changed my mind at the last minute. I’m really glad I did, it’s my favorite part!

DV: It is incredibly detailed and very different from anything we have seen. Let’s talk about the TRONorail figure. How long did it take to design and complete this one?

Heather: The Tron Monorail took me about 30 hours.

DV: The paint job and colors look perfect, how much trial and error was there in picking the perfect paints and getting it to look right on the vinylmation?

Heather: THANKS! I have a lot of pictures of the monorail and let’s just say that I think I have every color of blue, green, teal paint that is made! I also had to do a fair amount of mixing to find the perfect shade on at least 3 of the colors – none of the “off-the-shelf” ones matched the way I wanted.

DV: What was the hardest part about either of these?

Heather: The hardest part of both vinylmations was the lettering of the logos – I hate “writing” letters! I’m such a perfectionist that this is a very tedious process.

DV: The hard work certainly paid off. Now are these customs for sale or for you own personal collection?

Heather: Yes – Any of my customs can be purchased. Currently I have the “TRONorail” available on eBay. I also can be contacted directly at HKattelman@gmail.com or through Facebook at facebook.com/HKattelman

DV: Do you take custom orders?

Heather: I sure do! I’m happy to do custom work for people that’s either something I’ve already completed that they’ve seen and would like one of their own or a unique figure that I create based on their requests.

DV: Where can people see your work?

Heather: You can find photos of some of my figures here.

DV: What customs are next for you?

Heather: I have a couple that are in the works: “Transformers”, “Iron Man” and possibly “Captain America” – Do you see a theme here? LOL 🙂 But first I am currently doing a Darth Maul – Phantom Menace 9″ that I’m really excited about!

DV: We can’t wait to see those. But before we go… What is your favorite figure from Disney’s Star Wars set?

Heather: Oh, that’s such a hard choice – they’re all awesome! If I had to pick one it would have to be Vadar!

DV: And how about Disney’s TRON set?

Heather: I love the way ZUSE came out!

Tag: Tron