MickeyBlog News for September 16th, 2024
This week, one simple switch at Tron Lightcycle / Run changed everything at Magic Kingdom.
We’ll discuss that story, plus some exciting updates at Disneyland Resort. This is a true Disney fan’s week for MickeyBlog News.
Tron Switches to Standby
Photo:Rappler
I’m typing this on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., which is oddly important.
Right now, I’m looking at Walt Disney World’s posted wait times for a Saturday morning.
Photo:visitorlando.com
All the parks have opened for the day and are past the Rope Drop portion of the day.
So, while wait times are generally a few minutes lower than they will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., they’re in range of expectations.
Photo: Disney
The fascinating part of this discussion is an attraction that didn’t have a standby queue this week.
Tron Lightcycle / Run switched to a standby queue this week, and let’s just say that I’ve been riveted by all the new data.
Photo:seoclerk.com
As the person who covers Disney wait times at MickeyBlog, I always cast an eye toward new information.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that the introduction of a standby attraction queue for Tron changes everything.
Credit: Disney
For a decade now, guests have prioritized Seven Dwarfs Mine Train over everything else.
That statement will even apply to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when it changes to standby, as it isn’t new information.
Photo: Disney
Substituting Tiana for Splash Mountain isn’t going to change anything dramatic in terms of crowd behavior.
Tron is different. The newest roller coaster at Walt Disney World basically causes this effect:
Image: Imgflp.com
Still, Tron hasn’t behaved quite as I’d expected thus far this week.
While we’re still early in the process, this morning’s crowd behavior underscores what I mean.
Tron’s Magic Kingdom Impact
(DISNEY)
At 10 a.m., Tron does NOT require the longest wait at Magic Kingdom. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight do.
In fact, Tron isn’t among the top ten wait times at Disney World as I type this.
My Disney Experience lists Tron as a 45-minute wait right now, which places it behind Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Soarin’.
Obviously, there are others, but I wanted to mention those since they tell a story.
Photo: Disney
You wouldn’t expect either of them to post a longer wait than Tron on the first Saturday of its standby queue, right? Well, here we are.
However, this behavior won’t last all day…or even for long. I wrote an article the other day anticipating crowd behavior.
Photo: Disney
The jury is still out on my accuracy, and it’ll remain that way for a while.
Still, Tron has demonstrated an opening week trend I find fascinating.
TRON
On its second day as a standby attraction, Tron’s wait time started at an hour but dropped to 20 minutes at 9:45 a.m.
That behavior hasn’t been universal. Two days later, Tron started at 50 minutes and was at 75 minutes by 9:45 a.m.
Overall, there does appear to be a drop-off for Tron’s wait time soon after Rope Drop.
Then, the ride gradually ticks up with larger crowds. I filled in this data later because I was so confident in the behavior.
TRON Lightcycle / Run
At 11 a.m., Tron had already risen to 85 minutes. By that point, its wait time had flipped with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at 40 minutes.
The New Alpha
Photo: Disney
So, Tron is becoming the alpha at Magic Kingdom, yet there is a weird gap that may benefit you toward the start of the day.
Overall, I’ve tracked Tron’s average wait time at 72 minutes thus far.
Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom
That number may go up or down when you read wait times, as it’ll include one more day of data.
Importantly, other rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had lower wait times than normal.
Photo: Disney
We can already track the ripple effects that Tron is having on other Magic Kingdom attractions.
I realize I’m throwing a lot of data at you in a news article, but I want you to understand what’s happening.
Photo: Christy Weinberg
This one simple change at Magic Kingdom has impacted park behavior at the top of the food chain.
If you’re planning to ride Tron, you should do it early before the crowds arrive.
Photo: Disney
However, you may do just as well or even better to visit these other attractions, whose wait times have dropped due to Tron.
How long with that effect last? We’re all just guessing here, but I suspect this is the new normal until Tiana adds a standby queue.
The Disneyland Updates
Halloween Time at Disneyland
We’ve got news to cover at Disneyland Resort this week, including some tantalizing updates and some unwelcome excitement.
The excitement stemmed from an earthquake on Thursday morning.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
A quake registered at 4.7 on the Richter scale disrupted Southern California and possibly Disneyland theme park operations.
As our own Cassie Agundes notes, the earthquake occurred at 7:28 a.m., a time before Disneyland had opened to the public.
So, we’re unclear about whether the event impacted Disney operations.
We do know that a handful of attractions didn’t open with the rest of the park, but that happens often at Disney.
“it’s a small world”
The quake may have caused those delays, or it may have been entirely coincidental.
Still, I think we’re all glad that the park wasn’t open when the earthquake happened for the safety of all the guests.
The other news this week will warm the hearts of Encanto fans. Isabela Madrigal is now greeting guests!
Meanwhile, at Downtown Disney, Villainous A Capella is performing at the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage. You do NOT want to miss that!
Disney Miscellany
Disney Springs Halloween PhotoPass
I’ve been banging this drum for a while now, but the situation has grown desperate.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has nearly sold out! We’re down to the last five dates, even though Halloween is still six weeks away.
If you plan to go, it’s legitimately now or never! Speak to a MickeyTravels agent ASAP! Otherwise, you’ve waited too long.
Speaking of after-hours events, Walt Disney World’s Disney After Hours tickets are now on sale for 2025.
Having attended several of these parties, I swear by them. It’s the best way to experience everything at the parks without fighting crowds.
In other park news, EPCOT will be the place to be on September 21st, as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will do the obvious.
Photo: Disney
The roller coaster with the classic soundtrack will switch to September by Earth, Wind and Fire.
Yes, it’ll be like It’s a Small World for a day in that the same song will play continuously. I really hope Demi Adejuyigbe will be there.
Oh, and if you take the bus to EPCOT, you can track the arrival times via…Google Maps?! I have no idea what’s happening, but I love it.
Those of you taking a Disney cruise anytime soon should be aware of one modest price change.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the passing of James Earl Jones. I’m a Field of Dreams superfan, so this one hurts.
Photo: RTE
As a human being, Jones exuded greatness. His was a life well lived, and Disney fans are eternally grateful for him.
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