Duìyú nàxiē xiāngxìn érzi de rén lái shuō, yīgè bǐ díshìní lèyuán gèng hǎo de tiāntáng wángguó: Yīnwèi zhè jiùshì shàngdì ài shìjiè de fāngshì: Tā gěile tā wéiyī de érzi (biānjí zhù-nà lā ruì sī de yēsū), suǒyǐ suǒyǒu xiāngxìn tā de rén dōu bù huì mièwáng, ér shì yǒngyǒu yǒngshēng. Yīn wéi shàngdì bìng méiyǒu pài tā de ér zǐ chūshì qiǎnzé zhège shìjiè, ér shì yào tōngguò tā zhěngjiù shìjiè."
Zhèxiē huà láizì yuēhàn fúyīn dì sān zhāng zhōng de shèngjīng.
The first to close and the first to reopen! Shanghai Disneyland reopened today, the first Disney park to resume operations since the Coronavirus shut down each resort one location at a time.
With restrictions in place, this may be the best time to visit as crowd levels are extremely low, making a ride on Tron Lightcycles Power Run, Soaring Over the Horizon, or Camp Discovery Challenge Trails much more easily accessible as lines are shorter. Of course, new twists on old classics like Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure will easily soak up the crowds.
The beautiful image above comes from the official Disney television show at the Grand Opening of the park. The massive edifice called Enchanted Storybook Castle even looks beautiful here. It's not the most elegant and charming of the parks' castles, but it is huge!
Let's just say it pays off to browse through the websites of Disney Imagineers... Of all the Disney castle parks, when you take a deep look at what's been designed for each land of the future, Shanghai Disneyland's version is every bit as stunning as the much loved 1967 incarnation at Disneyland. With the Jet Packs flying and Tron Lightcycles Power Run coursing its way through the area, the vibe given off screams excitement and adventure.
Imagineer Scot Drake's beautiful concept art comes in many forms. There's his take on what was eventually built as well as these pieces showcasing a future that apparently wasn't meant to be.
The parks always look great at night.
Some folks may view Tomorrowland as sterile and corporate. (Or EPCOT Center's Future World.) Not this guy! I remember when the future was a time to look forward to instead of one that instilled fear and uncertainty. This was especially true at the Disney Parks. The green manicured areas designed by Scot in the piece above are very serene and appealing, taking their cue from the majestic but tranquil gardens of Asia.
Strive as they may to update California's world on the move, so far, the suits and Imagineers have been largely unsuccessful due to minuscule budgets and lack of clear vision. It's time to scrape what is there in Anaheim and begin anew. Very few might be bold enough to accomplish this work. But I wonder if the park fans are ready for it.
Time for a bit of Disney in Shanghai. If you're like me, Tokyo Disney Resort is the first choice of locations to visit after the Western parks. I've always thought of Shanghai Disneyland as poorly designed and overbearing. Anyway, I could be wrong. Very wrong. What convinced me to reconsider?
Tangled makes its way to China.
A little bit of the Pirates themed land.
Read the detailed report on the Shanghai Disneyland Park here. Trip report and photos by Clyde Birdbrain on the WDWMagic Boards.
In an exciting season of change, some good and some not so good, the skyline of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is changing. And you don't have to be at the top of the Contemporary Resort to see it. Space Mountain will soon be joined by a version on Shanghai Disneyland's Tron Light Cycle Power Run. Here's an older, great photo showing both the futuristic resort and the iconic mountain from the side of Bay Lake. Enjoy the view!
This morning, I'd like to present some recent shots of the Disneyland Resort, including Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and the Marvel expansion in Disney California Adventure. These are from the always welcome Bioreconstruct on Twitter. I just can't address another shooting in our state today. I'm grieved. Pray for us and those whose lives will be forever affected.
Four shots, above, from the resort. You'll want to take a close look in a larger size as the area is in large for some very different projects that will change its look. Marvel is confirmed. So is Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. Tron is strongly rumored, as are Fantasyland expansion projects and a whole reImagineering of Tomorrowland- finally.
Next three shots above, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, changing Disneyland forever- an ensuring it will remain the most E Ticket studded Disney theme park in history for years to come. Maybe for good. Fans will debate its placement, but no doubt, it will be a hit.
Between parks and a look at the Marvel expansion for California Adventure. It'll take more than what's planned to do it justice- and more than superheroes to bring peace and an end to the shootings and terrorist attacks worldwide. Lord Jesus, save us from ourselves.
Thanks to the photography of "bioreconstruct" we have the latest look at the development of Tron Lightcycles attractions in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
I'm certainly a fan of this coming to Tomorrowland - but I can't help but wonder if the iconic views of Space Mountain will be a thing of the past.
Once it opens, the race will be on for guests: Will it be running off to one side of the park for these two E Tickets or will they head to Frontierland for the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad / Splash Mountain combination?
Yes, the sparkling waters of the Fantasyland lagoon hosted the iconic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Right across from it was the beloved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Clearly, worlds apart, but still a draw. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World continues to change and grow, but what a wonder to explore upon opening!
It wasn't until 1975 that I first got to see the place for myself, but I loved discovering all the changes that made Walt's second kingdom unique. Some, like the Crystal Palace and the Country Bear Jamboree, are still there today. Others, like the two rides mentioned above- along with If You Had Wings and The Mickey Mouse Musical Revue- have been long gone. Now only a memory in theme park history books and old photographs from long ago.
Much to the delight of many fans, the brand new Tron Light Cycles Power Run is coming from Shanghai Disneyland. It will forever change the vista of Tomorrowland as it's built next to Space Mountain. Smaller projects come and go. That land is slowly reverting to its 1971 look and leaving the 90's Sci-Fi future feel behind it. Stitch is thankfully disappearing and something new this ways comes. Glad to see it gone, but I do miss the creepy humor of the defunct Alien Encounter. I guess change is always a constant.
(Photograph found on Imagineer Tom Morris' twitter account.)
Much like what happened at the grand opening of Disneyland, when Florida's Magic Kingdom arrived, this Tomorrowland was also a bit incomplete. The iconic white Space Mountain wasn't on the horizon and the WEDWAY Peoplemover was not making its grand tour around the land of the future.
That's not to say there wasn't fun to be found! Guests could still blast off on Flight to the Moon, view the Circle-Vision 360 film, or take the much beloved (and now defunct) If You Had Wings (...had wings, had wings, had wings). Of course, getting behind the wheel of a race car was possible to the delight of kids of all ages.
Thanks to the Imagineers, new adventures in the world of the future were on the way. Soon enough, Space Mountain grew into the must-do attraction everyone had to experience. Now, the ride is harsh and jerky, but back then, it was smooth as could be. The screams came from flying in the darkness instead of from the pain inflicted on the body of the riders because of the attraction in its current state.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Courtesy Vintage Disneyland Tickets.)
Longing to see Shanghai Disneyland? So am I- in due time- after I finally get to Tokyo Disney Resort. One of the best and most interesting trip reports to be found is on the WDWMagic discussion boards. Written by traveler / poster "D Hindley", his travels around China and his detailed look at the latest Magic Kingdom make for fascinating reading. Great photos, too! Go here to begin on his Disneyland reporting. Move to earlier pages to read about China. It's an equally compelling read.
Can it really be one year? Yes- one year ago today, the first Disney park on the Chinese Mainland sprung up in Shanghai. Among much success (the park itself, and particularly the brand new shiny version of Pirates of the Caribbean), some big failures (crowds are clearly missing from Disneytown and the Lion King Theater), and what's to be seen (Toy Story Land), the resort as a whole looks to have succeeded in mostly being what the Walt Disney Company suits were planning.
The castle and its display of China's strength and power.
Shanghai Disneyland boasts a unique kingdom with its own roster of attractions never before seen- and never to be seen. Truly. Can you imagine the corporate lawyers allowing an attraction such as the ropes courses of Camp Discovery (seen above) to ever find the light of day in the States? Me, neither. Unfortunately.
The Pirates' Battle for the Sunken Treasure and Tron Light Cycles Power Run are the clear home runs, favorites with locals and many international visitors alike. Yet there's also the very strange Voyage to the Crystal Grotto. A Fantasyland newbie with its statuary based gardens and a less than stellar final scene, the attraction is unique to the kingdom, but it certainly won't be duplicated.
Tim Burton- your queen is calling.
Neither will the Tim Burton inspired Alice in Wonderland maze be placed in another kingdom park. That ship has sailed. Thankfully. It may be trendy and edgy, but it wasn't a smart move as the animated film is still the classic for generations to come. This misstep is balanced out by Tangledrestaurant (but no attraction- yet) and a pretty cool looking enhanced Peter Pan's Flight. For all the other changes that were made to the design of this park, Fantasyland is still the place where the animated films are celebrated / exploited.
Speaking of films, Mickey's Film Festival has quietly opened around the corner from the end of Mickey Avenue, a pleasant diversion to soak up a small slice of the crowd. Kudos to the Imagineers for providing smaller, charming attractions among the blockbusters. I hope that trend continues as the big ticket items are added. It's attractions such as this that give the original Disneyland and Disneyland Paris much charm.
Did you really think the Mainland would let Hong Kong
have the best Marvel themed area?
What does the future hold beyond Toy Story and it's quick and easy installation? Not to be outdone by the growing and beautiful little park that could, Hong Kong Disneyland, Marvel is certainly on the way. What that looks like, only few people know, and I'm not privy to that. But it's a sure thing. One thing the park definitely needs on the Tomorrowland side of the park is a very big reliable-to-operate people eater. Soaring Over the Horizon and Roaring Rapids might be popular, but Rapids breaks down regularly and Soaring has impossibly long lines all day long. Will the park get another new and unique attraction or will the suits and very involved Chinese government opt for a cheaper to build slightly redesigned clone from one of the other parks? Will they cannibalize from Hong Kong or even Japan? It's yet to be seen. Regardless of its current success or the choices that are coming, Shanghai Disneyland is a great case study on corporate vision and board room ego, government domination, and sheer Imagineering brilliance under very strange circumstances. Stay tuned. (Photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
Well, here's a great piece of concept art from 2013 transforming the long disjointed and confused Tomorrowland at Walt's Disneyland into The World of Tron. You can see the old Peoplemover / Rocket Rods track, the Carousel of Progress / Innoventions building sitting squarely on the grid. Cool, huh? (Even if its not from Imagineering. See below).
Could the Imagineers seriously consider revamping the Land of the Future when Star Wars Land opens in early 2019? Probably. Could the suits? I certainly hope so! Under Iger, they are usually the first ones to jump on the incorporation of film properties into the parks. For better or worse, the founding protocol of thematic structure of Walt's park has already been broken by bringing in Darth Vader and friends. And let's face it- since the piece by piece destruction of Tomorrowland 1967, the area's added some great attractions but at the cost of losing a very cohesive version of the future.
Since the announcement of the Tron Light Cycles Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland - and especially since its opening- Disney park fans have been clamoring for it to happen Stateside. (Check out this earlier post with lots more concept art.) Put it in California, Florida, somewhere. Even though this concept art is for Anaheim, my bet is there's even plans or concept art out there to bring it to Florida. There's been speculation that the upcoming reroute / closing of the Grand Prix Raceway at the Magic Kingdom would be the place Tron goes- and in time for the 50th anniversary of the park. Aside from a splashing new Marc Davis inspired Western River Expedition, I can't imagine a better addition. February 7 Update: I received a note from the artist, Chris Chien. Here it is:
"Hi Mark -
My name is Chris. I'm the artist of that painting. I'm so sorry to burst your bubble, but Disney isn't planning on doing that. I created that illustration while I was a student at Kazone Art Academy. It was done purely for educational and fan art purposes only. :) Here is some of my process.
http://chris-chien.blogspot.com/search?q=tron
I'm really glad you liked it though! :) I would love the opportunity to work at WDI one day. Back in 2013, I was working at Disneyland as a Cast member. When I would be waling home from Tomorrowland on those cold damp nights, I would wonder what it would look like if Tomorrowland looked "cooler" like a modern video game. (Many of my art teachers worked at Blizzard and designed games like StarCraft and WarCraft).
In fact, the illustration is mostly a derivative of an Eric Heschong Painting, except I changed the setting from day into night, and added a "Tron" Aesthetic to it. I had no idea they were building Disneyland Shanghai at the time. I just did this purely as an academic exercise. :) http://micechat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/tomorrowland1.jpg"
Have Disney park fans been Shanghai'd in Mainland China? I think so. Roaring Rapids is closed indefinitely, food is over priced for the market, and there are too few truly people-pleasing attractions aside from an award winning Pirates of the Caribbean and a much too short Tron Light Cycles Power Run. Park capacity continues to be an issue. There have not been any new attractions announced to help with that issue, but I would anticipate that the Chinese government is hot on Disney's wheels to make sure something happens soon. Perhaps the proposed and needed expansion of the Hong Kong Disneyland resort will up the ante. In reality, the investors may be the only real winners here. Disney has used the park to open the Mainland China market to other possibilities- and it says quite a lot that the government ruled in favor of Disney over a locally grown rip-off of the Cars franchise. But that does not help park fans who are victims of over-crowding, broken attractions, and overpriced food. At least this time, Disney doesn't have to contend with overbuilding hotels on the property which bled the Parisian resort to the very brink. ------- Like the concept art? It's a pretty rare piece- along with a couple others posted recently... (Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
Say the words "Shanghai Disneyland", and I'm sure you'll get a thousand different responses, everything from a head nod up and down to a puzzled look. Business analysts watch closely, Disney's competitors more so, and certainly governments are keeping a close eye on everything.
While Disney park fans drool over Tron Lightcycles and the new version of Pirates of the Caribbean, bloggers such as the always excellent Mint Crocodile from Magic Eye give viewers a close up and personal look at a park many will never visit.
So far, my opinion on the park has been mixed. I love Disney's "Castle parks", and on that alone, a visit might be on my list. When you add Tron Lightcycles to the mix, well, the urge to go gets even stronger. On the negative end, the castle seems to do little for me. Chunky, clunky, and a bit showy for its own sake, I'm just not impressed. However, these photos from Mint do take my breath away a bit. Why?
Mickey Avenue looks its very best as taken in photo one, and a zoomed in version of the same photo presents the castle in a much better light. I wonder how many more shots like this will change my opinion of the place.
I'm certainly looking forward to additional posts on Magic Eye about the trip to Shanghai. If you've missed part one, start here.
The Grand Opening of a newly built Disney Magic Kingdom is always something wonderful for theme park lovers, and the new Shanghai Disneyland is certainly no exception! There's much to look forward to: a state of the art, movie focused Pirates of the Caribbean found in a land all its own,with a thrilling Tron Lightcycles just across the way. These new attractions jump to the forefront of my mind, and they are strategically welcomed, one-of-a-kind designed centerpieces of the Chinese park.
The Walt Disney Company publicity machine is in full swing, and fans of Imagineering's latest creation are foaming at the mouth to visit. But is this a case of flash over substance? From what I can tell, the park will be a success, but it needs much more than holding the title of "biggest and largest (fill in the blank) to reign as the premier example of Magic Kingdom design.
Sorry, folks, but that title still belongs to Disneyland Paris.
Frontierland may be the best take on the Wild West
ever created by the Disney Imagineers.
As you consider the photos on this post, please take note this photographer is a 100% certified non-professional. Also take note these were taken in the dead of winter- and long before the park's much needed overhaul had begun. Regardless, this French Magic Kingdom is the most pleasing to the eye as its filled to the brim with many classic, iconic Disney attractions still missing in Shanghai.
Pirates- a smashing new version I'd love to see!
Shanghai Disneyland certainly has its exclusive, uniquely themed lands, Adventure Isle and Treasure Cove, but the elegant Parisian renditions of Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland, and Main Street, certainly more than hold their own in comparison. In fact, they surpass the newly themed Disney lands found in Mainland China. Easily.
Pirates in Paris was the first to have its own themed village
as well as its own pirate ship.
Looking at an incredible number of photos of the new park- and a dozen or more video tours- the contrast between these European and Asian parks may be summed up this way: What Disney created at the urging of the government relies on its large size to strongly communicate its message, "China has arrived!" And maybe to even subliminally say "We will not play well with others!" (There is no It's a Small World.)
Shanghai's Alice maze- charming or creepy?
Conversely, what Disney did in Paris was build the most magical, beautiful, kingdom ever- accomplished with broad strokes of charm, elegance, and restraint. Two very different approaches.
Photographer fail but Paris still the most beautiful castle ever.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the creation and execution of the Chinese park's castle. Chunky, brazen, and extremely bold but filled with attractions, shops, and dining. However, the palace's two attractions, Voyage to the Crystal Grotto and the "Once Upon a Time" Adventure fall far short.
More like a monument to Shanghai than a fantasy castle.
The poorly placed Fantasyland boat cruise uses very large amounts of garden acreage to familiarize Chinese guests with classic Disney animation but is executed using statuary and fountains in place of Audio-Animatronics. Even its finale is lackluster. The show inside the castle relies on film to tell its story, a definite notch or two below what was done 60 years ago at Walt's original theme park in California.
Besting Shanghai's Hunny Pots.
To be sure, there are unique attractions and experiences to be found in China which will be coveted by park fans on the other side of the world. Still, it's not Tokyo Disney Sea.
A Shanghai original area and an unqualified success.
France's gorgeous Discoveryland.
Camp Discovery trails and ropes course is a first for a Disney park as is Tomorrowland's Jet Packs. Problem is, the two headliner attractions aside, Pirates and Tron, means the park is filled with lower level attractions which cannot compare to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Phantom Manor, or any number of additional crowd pleasers that premiered on opening day in France.
Finally, Shanghai Disneyland also loses on one major point in which it can never compete: Disneyland Paris resides in the world's most beautiful city. Case closed.
All this Disney talk about Pirates of the Caribbean and Tron at Shanghai Disneyland, Frozen at Epcot, Guardians of the Galaxy taking over Tower of Terror, and Star Wars Land vs. Avatar / World of Pandora at the parks. All promising to make the parks places we have to go see. It's enough to make a theme park fan's head explode. I've gotta stop.
Right now, my head is filled with bigger things. As I have been reading my Bible - through the Psalms, actually- God has been reminding me of His promises. Both for all believers and for me through those private words where the Scriptures come alive and speak in a very personal way. There's dates next to those verses and brief descriptions about what was going on at the time I wrote it down. All very powerful reminders of how personal God is!
There's also that file in my cabinet. The manila folder filled with written messages people have given me over the decades. Words of encouragement from God while they were praying for me. How many have come to pass!
Lastly, there's one particular spoken word given to me during a time of worship from a man I'd never met. Almost 20 years ago, he spoke to me. My wife and I did not understand it at the time, but a decade later, we saw it come to pass. Just as he said. And it's changed our lives in a good way, even though its been hard to walk it out. Funny, it happened - and it wasn't until almost another 7 or 8 years until we remembered that spoken word.
God is faithful! If He has given you a promise, He will bring it to pass. Hold onto that!
Thanks to terrific sites like Disney and More, the web's been filled with photos and video leaked out of Shanghai Disneyland. And, to be totally honest, I've watched most of the video and looked in detail at the photos. What I've seen is a mixed bag offering.
Let's start with the clear winner: Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure. The new story drives the attraction, and the skeleton to Jack Sparrow in the flesh transition is phenomenal, but it is the combination of filmed segments, detailed sets, and stunning new Audio-Animatronics that pull the whole thing together. From what I can see, Treasure Cove looks fine but suffers from too bright a color palate.
On the other hand, the massive castle is a bust. The inside might make for a beautiful walk through and really looks lovely, but outside, it's clear the Chinese authorities had something to prove. Clunky, charmless, and without the wow factor of other Magic Kingdom icons. The same can be said for the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto. Prior to entering the basement of the castle, the boats cruise through a garden trough while looking at statues of Disney animated film characters. Boring. And a huge waste of space. The same charmless adjective can be applied to the Tim Burton inspired Alice in Wonderland maze, and unfortunately Peter Pan's Flight- which promised something groundbreaking and delivered little.
Tomorrowland. Ugh- I had such high hope for this area based on the concept art. Admittedly, Tron's Lightcycles look terrific if somewhat short, and the Jet Packs have potential for a spinner. The interesting piece was looking at the pavement treatment in the land. Seems like it was designed with materials that would be especially easy to replace or hose down should the untrained guests decide to use the walking area as a place to relieve themselves. Perhaps it was just built to deconstruct like so many buildings in the former Soviet Union countries.
There's not enough footage of Adventure Isle to get a great look, but Mickey Avenue, the alternative to Main Street U.S.A., looks great! The gardens around the castle hub are pleasing- even if it is a bit jarring to see Dumbo and the Carousel on the other side.
As more photos and video become available, I'll comment. So far, I'd rate Shanghai Disneyland at a "B". Not excellent but with much potential.
Without a doubt, the opening of Shanghai Disneyland, "China's Disney Park" as it's smartly been referred to, will be an incredible experience that draws Disney theme park fans to a different part of the world. Using the world of Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean, worlds of fantasy, and of dinosaurs and more, guests will be deeply immersed into another world.
Yet, just around the corner in a sense is another world. One where the majority of the earth's population live. It's a rustic, hard life, kind of world. One where folks survive on what they can scrape by with. One of minimal industry and business, mostly an agricultural world, where - shocker- people still kill the animals they raise as a food source. For these children, beef, pork, chicken and lamb, are not found at the local grocery store but instead in their back yard... if they are fortunate enough.
There's a world of poverty out there. Like you, I see it sometimes on the news, but I've also seen it in real life as well. It's totally heartbreaking, but it is also encouraging to realize groups of followers of Jesus like Compassion International are working to ease hunger among children. Won't you join them? Just click here.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photo copyright Mark Taft.)
All this talk about the new Tron Light Cycles Power Run going into Shanghai Disneyland got me thinking about what the Imagineers had planned long ago. What was built and what wasn't.
Disneyland in Anaheim was the first to give a small taste of Tron to its guests. Back then, if you found yourself riding the Peoplemover in Tomorrowland, the Superspeed Tunnel gave way to the "Amazing World of Tron". Was it amazing? No.
Basically, think of the speed tunnel used in EPCOT Center's World of Motion. A bit shorter in length and most definitely lacking in execution. It was filler designed to play up the Tron name and not much more.
Another advertisement of things that never
got built- only at EPCOT.
The next time the film was set to be placed in a theme park was in EPCOT- but it was not meant to be. The Imagineers' plans were to use the look and theme of the film and turn a slice of Communicore into the Game Grid. The concept art, seen at top in full color, looked enticing, but for reasons never given directly, the project was not brought to reality.
California Adventure's Tron "attraction".
Years later after the mind-line success of Tron:Legacy in 2010, the Walt Disney Company once again tossed about ideas in how to bring this franchise into the parks.
California Adventure was in the very beginning stages of a large transformation, and the park certainly needed something to draw in guests while Cars Land was in the wings. The night time dance party, elecTRONica was a minor success. Premiering a couple of months before the film's release, it did bring guests into a fairly ignored part of the park for booze filled evenings. In a pretty smart move, the suits brought in recreation of Flynn's Arcade and a whole host of vintage video games.
Disneyland itself was also under consideration for a major Tron addition: The Carousel Theater and the surrounding area was rumored to be the home of the first version of Shanghai's Light Cycles. Had this happened, Space Mountain would have had a serious contender for the early morning rush to "E Ticket" attractions. Unfortunately, that plug was also pulled, leaving the original Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland looking like the mess it currently is.
A similar rumor came across for Florida's Magic Kingdom as well. It, too, was passed over.
First shot at the Light Cycles in a brand new Shanghai Tomorrowland.
Thrilling concept! Will it mean a thrilling execution?
Along came Shanghai Disneyland. In an effort to woo the Chinese government and give them the premier theme park they required in order to do business, Disney suits and Imagineers gave Mainland China the Tron effect.
Another idea for the Land of the Future.
Final presentation of Tomorrowland
and the main Tron building.
Make no mistake, Tron Light Cycles Power Run will be the smash in a brand new park. Much like Mystic Manor is for Hong Kong Disneyland, and all of Tokyo Disney Sea for Japan, the incredible new coaster will have theme park fans all over the world green with envy.
In 2012, Disney married two properties that at first seemed to have no connection: Test Track at Epcot was remodeled to bring it into the future. What it really accomplished was bringing the look of Tron into the attraction without using the name of the film in its marketing. However, if you watch the video below, you'll see clearly what the intent was of the Imagineers and suits.
As close to Tron as we Americans can get for now.
The countdown clock for Shanghai Disneyland is running. June 16, 2016, this attraction will open to the world. If I were a betting man, I'd also say that the day begins the countdown to the end of an exclusivity contract- and one day, we will see Tron Light Cycles in an American park. That day cannot come soon enough!
