March 14, 2023 - On the Go in MCO

Three people walking by TRON Lightcycle / Run wearing 1980s-inspired TRON apparel

TRON Lightcycle / Run will open on April 4, 2023, at the Magic Kingdom, but ahead of the attraction’s opening, I wanted to share a look at the merchandise that will be available!

“There are generations of guests now visiting Walt Disney World who grew up playing the TRON video games and imagining their bicycles were Lightcycles,” explained Taryn Johnson, Senior Manager for Brand Merchandising with Global Product Creation. “These collections have a dash of 1980s nostalgia mixed with incredibly fun items that continue the thrills of this new Tomorrowland attraction at home.”

There are three distinct TRON Lightcycle / RUN merchandise collections inspired by the attraction experience, the film “TRON: Legacy” or the original “TRON.”

TRON Lightcycle / Run Merchandise

The “Back to the Arcade” line will take you back to the nostalgia of 1980’s Arcade of the original TRON film.

Elements from Flynn’s Arcade video game cabinets were turned into backpacks and illuminated wall signs.

The tumbler even includes vintage Lightcycles that race around a domed top.

Left: Two people wearing TRON Lightcycle / Run racing-themed apparel while a Lightcycle vehicle passes by. Right: Two adult and two child mannequins dressed in TRON Lightcycle / Run racing-themed apparel

The “Thrill of the Race” collection captures the spirit of racing on the two-wheeled vehicles in the Grid in TRON: Legacy.

There are race-inspired apparel pieces for the entire family…including the smallest Team Blue fans.

Left image: Mannequin dressed in Grid-themed apparel including a helmet and holding
an Identity Disc. Right: Person wearing Grid-themed apparel and holding an Identity Disc in a
hallway that resembles a circuit board.

The Walt Disney World merchandise team even created a light-up replica of Sam Flynn’s helmet as seen in the film using the original costume piece as a reference.

For those that want to continue racing Lightcycles after visiting the Grid, check out the TRON Lightcycle Handlebars.

This interactive toy contains lights and sound effects from TRON and can turn into an interactive game for up to four players.

Life on the Grid is replicated with a third merchandise collection inspired by the clean design language of this digital world. Adults will find light-up jackets and other accessories like a backpack with a new interactive Identity Disc that doubles as an audio speaker (now I can listen to the incredible “TRON: Legacy” soundtrack everywhere I go!).

One of the most impressive parts of this collection is the TRON Identity Program, an all-new retail experience. It offers guests a customizable “Program” action figure and identity chip that can be used to “re-program” other merchandise, such as the interactive Identity Discs and Remote Control Lightcycles.

Reservations for this interactive experience can be made beginning March 21 by visiting disneyworld.disney.go.com/shops/magic-kingdom/tron-identity-program/.

For those with a reservation for the TRON Identity Program, please visit Tomorrowland Launch Depot for the experience. It’s the merchandise shop located between the entrances to TRON Lightcycle / Run and Space Mountain.

When TRON Lightcycle / Run opens on April 4, guests will find these products and more in a specially designed pop-up shop area directly across from the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor entrance in Tomorrowland.

Make sure to set up your My Disney Experience app, as shoppers can also use the Merchandise Mobile Checkout when purchasing items at select locations!

Mister Rogers’ Week of Kindness, a week-long series of educational and public events inspired by the nationally renowned children’s television host and American icon, is set to commence March 20, 2023, throughout the greater Orlando area on what would have been Fred Rogers’ 95^th birthday.

“He was probably the kindest person I ever knew,” shared David Newell, a close friend to Fred, and more famously known as the actor who portrayed Mr. McFeely on the children’s television program. “He was kind; he was thoughtful. He practiced that every day. He was that way with everyone.”

Newell, as well as longtime Rogers employee Hedda Sharapan (now a senior fellow at the Fred Rogers Institute and child development consultant to Fred Rogers Productions) and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood producer Margy Whitmer, are among those cast and crew veterans coming to Orlando to participate in the activities.

The free public events March 23-25 for the inaugural year of Mister Rogers’ Week of Kindness include:

Remember the Rogers Afternoon Tea

Join friends and colleagues of part-year Winter Park residents Fred and Joanne Rogers as we share warm stories and favorite memories of our former Winter Park Neighbors. There are very limited seats for this event.

Thursday, March 23, at the Woman’s Club of Winter Park, 419 South Interlachen Avenue (Winter Park), from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Free street parking in the area is generally available.

Mister Rogers’ Prayer Breakfast of Thanksgiving and Celebration

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood cast member and close personal friend of Fred Rogers, David Newell, headlines a discussion with Pastor Seth Kane of The Foundry (and author of the sermon series “The Gospel According to Fred” as they share their observations, near and from a distance, as to how Mister Rogers lived out his faith as we celebrate an extraordinary life of faithfulness. This event is held due to the generosity of the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Breakfast is included courtesy of Panera Bread.

Friday, March 24, at First Baptist Orlando, 3000 South John Young Parkway (Orlando), from 8:00 am – 9:30 am. Free parking is available in the church parking lot.

Our Winter Park Neighbor Lunch & Learn with David Newell (Mr. McFeely)

Mr. McFeely (David Newell) leads a lunch discussion as he invites you into the world of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. You‘ll learn about both the making the show and more about Winter Park’s “Good Neighbor”, Fred Rogers, and his time in the area. Lunch is included courtesy of Chick-fil-A.

Friday, March 24, at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, 151 West Lyman Avenue (Winter Park), from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm. Free parking is available in a lot across from the Chamber of Commerce and along the street.

Inside Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Screening and Q&A

Take a peek behind the scenes of some landmark episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood with show producer Margy Whitmer, Mr. McFeely cast member David Newell, and Hedda Sharapan, Senior Fellow (The Fred Rogers Institute) and Child Development Consultant (Fred Rogers Productions).

Friday, March 24, at the Winter Park Library, 1052 West Morse Boulevard (Winter Park), from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Free parking is available in the garage across the street from the library.

Mr. McFeely Meet & Greet

Come visit our favorite Speedy Delivery man, Mr. McFeely (David Newell), at Taste of Oviedo. Get a selfie or pick up an autographed photo from the man at Mister Rogers’ side from the first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Saturday, March 25, at the Original Orlando Tours booth at Taste of Oviedo in the Oviedo Mall parking lot, 1700 Oviedo Mall Boulevard (Oviedo), from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Free parking is available in the Oviedo Mall parking lot.

“Fred McFeely Rogers devoted his entire life to reminding us of some of the most important ideas of what it means to be human among humans: love, respect and kindness,” explained Rich Bradley, President & CEO of Buena Vista Events & Management, which is in-part underwriting and producing Mister Rogers’ Week of Kindness. “Many of us find that nearly 20 years after Fred’s passing, it is important to focus on his teachings once again, perhaps now more than ever. This is a week to re-engage with his massive body of work with some folks, and to introduce his teachings to others.”

Unbeknownst to some locals, Central Florida was a major part of Fred Rogers’ life. He took to the area immediately in 1948 when he transferred from Dartmouth College to Rollins College in Winter Park.

He met the love of his life and future spouse, Sara Joanne Byrd, on the tarmac of what is now the Orlando Executive Airport. His sister (Elaine) and one of his sons (John) attended Rollins, as did his nephew Dan Crozier, who has served on the school’s music faculty for many years.

Most importantly, at a point in his career, Fred and Joanne returned to Winter Park annually, where he used his time in Central Florida to write many of the 895 scripts and over 200 pieces of original music for the TV program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

The Orlando region is truly Mister Rogers’ real neighborhood.

For more information on the events, please visit the official website.