RUMOR: Tron and Guardians Rides Postponed
Will it be two more years before we see the inside of TRON Lightcycle Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? Maybe.
I post this only because I trust the folks over at The DisInsider. They clearly said it was a rumor and we’ll take it as such. However, they also said that the source is reliable, so take that for what it is worth.
Anyway, it sounds like TRON and Cosmic Rewind may not open until 2022.
Sean Nyberg with TheDisInsider.com posted:
We are hearing rumors about the opening dates for two of Walt Disney World’s big E-Ticket (largest and most thrilling) rides. It looks as if both the TRON Lightcycle Run in the Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT, will have their openings pushed into 2022. The time frame for these rides is significant since Walt Disney World will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary during 2021 and the original plan was to have these up and running before the anticipated surge in guests. But, like everything, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed these plans.
Two facets of the rumor:
- TRON Lightcycle Run will be weatherized and shuttered until 2021, which work will restart.
- A similar situation is happening for Cosmic Rewind (although it is much harder to see what exactly is done and is being done).
But why?
Tron & Cosmic Rewind Delay: Why?
Sean explained:
As Disney continues to feel the financial hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in their parks and experiences department, they are cutting many projects to keep their costs down until the parks can fully reopen and the crowds return. Another approach Disney has taken has been to keep projects but extend their development time. This takes the cost of the project and spreads it out over a number of quarters or years, making the financial hit much more manageable.
Sean did a nice job of explaining all of this more comprehensively over at TheDisInsider.com, so be sure to get the full scoop there.
Take A Deep Breath
So, what do I think about all this?
Well, they are both roller coasters, so my life at Disney (should I get there) won’t change either way. However, I do think this makes a certain amount of sense.
First, the company says it’s going to go full bore into streaming. Then we start hearing about budget shortfalls and delays.
All of it passes my own smell test, as the world and the world economy has changed dramatically.
However, let’s just hope that we (and the parks) make it through the coming year intact and that ride delays are the worst thing we’re dealing with…