I recently had the pleasure of experiencing two of Walt Disney World’s newest rides. And let me tell you, they did not disappoint!
Virtual Queue & Lightening Lane
There are currently two ways to ride this ride, one is to join the Virtual Queue (which is free) and the other is to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.
Both of these options should be done right at 7 a.m. the day you want to ride. I first tried to get a Virtual Queue spot and was unsuccessful (they fill up in just a couple of seconds most days). So I bought the Individual Lightning Lane instead. The cost of the Individual Lightning Lane varies based on demand. On that day we paid $15 per person.
I then purchased the Individual Lightning Lane for Tron as well. I wanted to be able to choose the specific time I rode because I wanted to ride after dark. For this ride we paid $10 per person for the Individual Lightning Lane.
What’s the Difference?
If you are wondering what the differences are between the Virtual Queue and the Individual Lightning Lane, it’s not just that one is free and the other has a fee. The Virtual Queue gains you entrance into the standby line which can be a long wait. The Individual Lightning Lane puts you through the Lightning Lane which is usually less than a 15 minute wait.
Also, for the Individual Lightning Lane you are able to choose the 1 hour return window you want, while Virtual Queue is impossible to predict exactly when you will be called to ride. You are given a Boarding Group number and those are called throughout the day in order. Once it is called you then have 1 hour to get to the ride and enter the line.
Now that the complicated part is out of the way, let’s talk about the fun part! The actual rides!
There is a really cool photo opportunity outside of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind with a Nova Corps Star Blaster! If you’re lucky you might also get a Magic Shot with Groot.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot
The ride itself is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. You blast off in reverse into space and then fly through space while the Guardians of the Galaxy try to keep the Celestial Eson from destroying the universe.
Your ride vehicle spins slowly as you ride so you are experiencing dips and turns from all angles! And of course it wouldn’t be a Guardians of the Galaxy ride if there wasn’t fun music to listen to as you ride. It was really so amazing and if you enjoy a good roller coaster I highly recommend it! I would have ridden it again immediately if it had been possible!
TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park
The next ride was TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom park. I had decided to ride after dark because this ride has a really beautiful part outside with a light canopy. And it did not disappoint!
For this ride, you are seated leaning forward on a motorcycle type vehicle. There is a restraint that comes down over your calves and back. You are still able to sit up a bit while riding.
You lean forward to hold onto the handlebars. This ride takes you outside through the canopy (stunning!) and then you go back inside and race through Energy Gates to try and win the race.
It was a lot of fun! This ride is also unlike any other I’ve ridden.
The vehicle is restrictive, so be aware of that. If you are larger you will need to sit on the test vehicle located outside the line entrance to ensure that you will fit on the ride vehicle.
If you are interested in a trip to Walt Disney World to experience these and other attractions, please reach out to your Journey Planner today. We would love to help!
Thank you to our Operations Coordinator Joy Wolski for sharing the fun she had. Learn more about Joy here.