The Grid: World of TRON

Located on the right side of The Backlot Expansion is The Grid: World of TRON. Based on the cult classic 1982 film, this pavilion will transport guests from Disney Studios into the Grid. Featuring 2 attractions, full arcade, playground, bar, and 2 gift shops, this expansion is perfectly timed to take advantage of excitement for the new film to come out in 2010.

The exterior of the pavilion is a pale gray with multicolor accents. In the concrete leading up to the pavilion, LED lights are encrusted and twinkle, getting more and more common as the guest approaches the pavilion.

When the guest enters, the entire pavilion is laid out for them to explore at their own pace. There is a slight incline the guest walks down to enter the area.

Atmospheric music throughout pavilion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF0VdALfT0o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWEU5apbY0E

The ground is black tile but painted to look like a Grid!

A large fountain serves as the main focal point for the entrance of the pavilion. However, this fountain isn’t a fountain of water- it’s a fountain of light! Like icicle LED Christmas lights, the light strips “cascade” down 2 layers of glass and “flow” onto the floor, causing the embedded LEDs in the ground to pulse and “trickle” as the light flows.

Flynn’s Arcade

The exterior of the pavilion is a replica of the familiar Flynn’s Arcade from the film. The brick architecture fades and There’s even a cutout of Kevin Flynn himself in the lobby! There are also restrooms near the back of the arcade.

Flynn’s Arcade Gift Shop

Full of exclusive Flynn’s Arcade & ENCOM merchandise including t-shirts, hats, belt buckles, pins, prints of cabinet art, and more!

Cast Costumes

The costumes on the Flynn’s Arcade area of the pavilion are the same as the employees in the film- a simple teal t-shirt with the Flynn’s logo on the back, along with jeans.

TRON: Trials of the Grid

TRON: Trials of the Grid is the main attraction of the pavilion. Utilizing simulator technology, this attraction enlists guests as new “programs” dedicated to fighting any threats on the newly liberated Grid. Kevin Flynn has designed this trial himself, full of events he faced when freeing the Grid of the Master Control Program. While not following the events of the film exactly, the attraction is designed to put guests in the center of the perilous action from the 1982 classic.

This attraction has an interactive element where each row is assigned a different color and shape. That symbol is manifested in a button on each armrest. The “success” of the simulation depends on each row pressing their button at the designated time. Failure for a majority to press the button or someone pressing the wrong button at the wrong time will cause various effects in the cabin, such as flashing red lights, sirens, and even smoke effects. Not to mention a rebuke from Lora on the screen and over the intercom! Eventually the “bad” effects will fade- they are designed to provide a sense of stakes but not to disrupt the entire experience.

To prevent guests from abusing the button system, each button is only allotted one “disruption” per ride. Additionally, in the event of a less than full cabin, the computer system running the attraction will not “count” seats where the seatbelt is not fastened or there is no weight. The system will also randomize which row needs to press a button, but it will not select the same row consecutively.

There is a screen inside the cabin that shows the button(s) that needs to be pressed.

Queue

Music playing in queue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FknQs70LotE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II7pQns97iU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8xRkCu7sLM

As guests enter the queue, they encounter this sign telling them to move forward:

As guests walk through the queue, they wind around various hallways inspired by the film. There are interactive elements throughout, like a Simon Says light pattern game and various panels with buttons that light up other elements and cause them to fritz (prompting a “Hey! Watch that!” reaction over the speaker).

Data “files” containing details about Kevin Flynn, Tron, Lora, Yori, and the MCP also appear throughout the queue, giving guests who might not be familiar with the film some backstory.

Preshow

The preshow is on a continuous loop on screens near the boarding for the simulators.

Kevin Flynn: Greetings, programs! How’s it going, recruits? Enjoying the digital paradise so far? Well, now it’s time for you to hold up your side of the deal. Don’t worry, it’s gonna be radical- just a little simulation I cooked up in the backend. I just need to prove you guys are up for the challenge of protecting this little slice of cyberspace. Nothing too astronomical, just outrunning Recognizers, taking on an armada, and restoring order to the Grid. But for the technical and safety side of things, I’m going to pass it off to my second in command, Lora.

Lora: The success of the simulation depends on all of you working together. Each row is assigned a different color and shape. Each seat has a button of that color and shape. When prompted, press the button, but make sure it is the one assigned to your row. Don’t worry, it’ll light up when it needs to be pressed. Pressing the wrong button at the wrong time will cause issues in your simulation.

Lora: When you enter the simulation cabin, please move all the way down, filling in every available seat. Secure your loose items under your seat. For your safety while onboard the simulation, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened. No flash photography- you wouldn’t want to cause a system crash, would you? And please watch your children, or the gridbugs will.

Attraction

The cabin consists of 5 rows, each with a different symbol. 4 rows of 8 guests and 1 row of 7, for a total of 39 guests per ride. The symbols:

Each ride is 4 minutes, with an additional 2 minutes for load and unload. There are 10 simulators in all, and if all are operational and running at full capacity, this attraction has a theoretical capacity of 3900 guests per hour.

Once guests are in the cabin, a Cast Member will come into the cabin to ensure all seatbelts are fastened. They will reiterate the message about the buttons and wish them good luck.

The attraction opens with a “fade” into the simulation, like Kevin Flynn’s own transport into the Grid

.

Kevin Flynn: Okay guys, start slow and steady. Take out some of those other pesky Recognizers, will ya?

After shooting a few other Recognizers down (3 row interactions), the other Recognizers begin to shoot at the cabin.

Lora: Time for some evasive maneuvers.

(3 row interactions) When the other rows press their buttons at the right time, the cabin will perform an evasive maneuver and dip down or to the sides. If not, the cabin will be “hit”, and smoke effects will briefly engage.

Kevin Flynn: (If all buttons were pressed correctly most of the time) Beautiful job, team.

Kevin Flynn (If buttons were not correctly pressed most of the time): There’s…room for improvement.

The Recognizer escapes from the danger, but soon a fleet of ground tanks come into vie

(3 row interactions) Instead of shooting the tanks directly (there are simply too many to take out one at a time) the group must shoot “data” pillars (columns of 1s and 0s) above the tanks and promptly evade the falling rubble.

Lora (when evading): Watch those data pillars!

Kevin Flynn (If all buttons were pressed correctly most of the time): Whoo! Stick it to the data, man!

Kevin Flynn (If buttons were not correctly pressed most of the time): Well…perfection’s unknowable, I guess?

The Recognizer turns a corner, and a light beam with a station comes into view

Kevin Flynn: Okay, here’s the deal. You gotta take that light beam and bring the fight to the man at the end of it, okay, dudes?

(1 row interaction) If correctly pressed, the Recognizer merges onto the beam smoothly. If not, the cabin shakes but still merges

Lora (if, so far, the buttons have mostly been pressed correctly): Target practice, though I don’t think you need it!

Lora (if, so far, the buttons have not mostly been pressed correctly): Here’s some much-needed target practice.

(5 row interactions. Some are shooting the ship; others are speeding up or slowing down to evade.)

After the ship has fallen, a bright orb of light comes hurtling towards the Recognizer on the beam.

Lora: We need to change beams! Two rows! Press the button on my mark! …Now!

If most seats press correctly, the Recognizer merges upward with no trouble. If the majority do not, the Recognizer still merges upward, but at a rocky, wobbly pace with interior effects going off

Kevin Flynn: Two rows! Together, accelerate!

(2 rows must simultaneously press. Both symbols are shown on the screen.)

Again, if the rows mostly press correctly, the acceleration is smooth. If the rows do not mostly press correctly, the acceleration is choppy.

Kevin Flynn: You’re almost there, man…keep it up!

The Master Control Program’s fortress approaches

Kevin Flynn: Okay, so you’re gonna need to fly out of that piece of junk you’ve been flying and get into that giant cone of light to take out the MCP from the inside!

Lora: This is it, recruits! Everyone press together…Now!

Everyone must press their button; it is not restricted to one row. All symbols are shown on the screen.

If done correctly, the cabin flies “out” of the Recognizer and onto the platform, face to face with the MCP.

MCP: You shouldn’t have come, friends of Flynn

Kevin Flynn: We need more power! Everyone, together, again!

(Everyone presses together)

Kevin Flynn: Again!

(Everyone presses together)

Kevin Flynn: Again!

(Everyone presses together)

With each press, the cabin gets closer and closer to the cone, and with the last one, they enter the beam.

Kevin Flynn: Alright, everyone, one last time for the history books! Whoo!

Everyone presses one last time, and the cabin is enveloped in light. Words on the screen read MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Lora: Good job, recruits!

Kevin Flynn (If most buttons were pressed correctly): Welcome to the cause, programs! Catch you on the flip side!

Kevin Flynn (If most buttons were not pressed correctly): You know, we do have openings in…the lower parts of the Grid? See you around!

Lora: Please remain seated until the exit doors are unlocked. Then, unfasten your seatbelt and ensure you have gathered all your personal belongings. End of line.

Depending on how the guests did, the cabin will either glow brightly, or fritz out with a few smoke effects.

Post Show

Guests exit the cabin into a walkway that leads to the rest of the pavilion.

The End of Line Club

A cheeky reference to the upcoming film, the End of Line Club serves libations inspired by the TRON universe, nonalcoholic beverages for the little programs, along with some light snacks.

Grid Gifts

Full of merchandise from the “Grid” side of the film. Includes identity discs, toy lightcycles and Recognizers, miniature Tron arcade cabinets, and action figures. Also used to promote the upcoming film.

Studios Transportation System

This is the entry point for the Studios Transportation System, which will take guests out of the Grid and showcase the incredible attractions as well as views throughout the park!

Walkaround Characters

Occasionally you can find Kevin Flynn, Tron, and Yori wandering the Grid, along with some other colorful Grid inhabitants.

Cast Costumes

For the Grid section of the pavilion, Cast will wear simple outfits reminiscent of costumes from the film. The t-shirts are white with blue circuity patterns, as are the pants, but the outfits are looser than the original counterparts in the film! These photos are simply to visualize what the circuitry would look like.

Shortly upon entering The Grid, those with families have the option of stopping off at The Junior Grid, a one of a kind play experience for the younger programs, 10 and under. Upon arrival, each program will be given their own wristlet identity disc to utilize during their play time. Providing a nice glowing and fun keepsake for the kids, it also assists in ensuring safety and enables parents to easily track that their programs haven’t escaped.

The playground itself offers much of the same theming as the rest of The Grid with all manner of neon lighting and 3d shaped structures. Things are lit up a little more from above to ensure plenty of visibility and avoid potential for injuries in an overly dark experience. Numerous slides and hiding spots are tucked in and around this pint sized grid giving plenty of chances to immerse themselves in the Tron environs and let parents rest up after a long day at Hollywood Studios.

In addition to the many interactive program screens around, one of the highlights of The Junior Grid, is a mini maze that winds its way throughout the playground and ends in a mocked up lightcycle garage making for a great photo opportunity to complete their training.​

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Grid: The World of TRON is a heartful homage to the 1982 film. Instead of more permanent fixtures, the space was designed to be easily updated for the then-in-development 2010 sequel. It also will work in generating excitement for the new film!

Additionally, when the public has grown tired of the area in 10-20 years, it is easily rethemable to a new concept. However, the area is still remarkably TRON, and provides escape into the digital frontier that so many of us long for.