|
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Power station in 2007 |
|||
|
As you explore the Yester Magic Kingdom’s retro-futuristic 1994 New Tomorrowland, it soon becomes obvious that all the buildings are from the Tomorrowland of the 1970s. There are just new signs and a lot of new decorations — with one exception. |
|||
 |
|||
|
Welcome to the Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. It’s the only brand-new building here. In fact, it’s so new that it didn’t open until 1995. |
|||
Photo by Chris Bales, 2000 Power station in 2000 |
|||
|
The main sign just reads “Video Arcade,” but if you look carefully below the large arched window, you’ll see Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. “chiseled” into the surface. There are two ways to enter. You can walk in through one of the outside doors. Or you can ride Space Mountain and find yourself inside the arcade after your ride. |
|||
Photo by Chris Bales, 2005 “Generating a Bright New Tomorrow” |
|||
|
If this is some sort of generating station, what’s it for? Perhaps to power Space Mountain next door? Probably not. The styles of the two structures are so different that it’s hard to see any connection between the two. |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Architecture of indeterminate style and period |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Another arched window at the other end |
|||
|
Based on how the barrel-vaulted structure looks from the outside, you might expect a high ceiling above the video games. But that’s not the case. The ceiling consists of a series of parallel vaults leading to round windows that face the railroad track. The tall ceiling is above retail space, not above the games. |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Video game room |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Air hockey |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 All the latest games |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Air Trix |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Disney’s Star Wars? No, Paramount’s Star Trek! |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 “The claw chooses who will go and who will stay.” |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Plenty of games with steering wheels |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 More driving games |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Daytona USA |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Panic Park |
|||
|
Would you rather shop than play? There’s merchandise in the space with the vaulted ceiling. If you want a quick sugar boost while playing, drop by the candy counter. |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Retail space |
|||
Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Candy Counter |
|||
|
Park guests spend a small fortune for admission to the park. The rides and shows are included in the admission. But there are always guests who choose to spend their time and money on arcade games. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park had a video arcade — Starcade — since May 4, 1977. But what about its Florida counterpart? It would take Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World almost 18 years to catch up. The Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. Video Arcade and shop opened February 1, 1995. It was a late arrival for the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland makeover of 1994, which included a new look for the entire land. Timekeeper opened as the first CircleVision 360 attraction with a plot and animatronics. The Video Arcade was the only major new construction for that project. |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 How it looked in its final years |
|||
|
The Video Arcade operated slightly more than 20 years — until February 9, 2015. Then Disney walled off the games and removed the sign. Space Mountain continued to route its exiting riders into the Tomorrowland Light & Power Co., but only into the retail space. |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Tomorrowland Light & Power Gift Shop, no longer a video arcade |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015 Merchandise, but no games |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015 Phone covers and Disney MagicBands at Tomorrowland Light & Power Gift Shop |
|||
© 2017 Disney - Artist Concept Only Concept art for the Florida version of the TRON-themed attraction |
|||
|
During the 2017 D23 Expo in Anaheim, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announced that Shanghai Disneyland’s most popular attraction — the TRON-themed thrill ride TRON Lightcycle Power Run — was coming to Magic Kingdom Park. The concept art showed a walkway going past the former Video Arcade and under the PeopleMover track. TRON Lightcycle / Run officially opened at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4, 2023. (Yes, it took from 2017 to 2023.) |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 Located between two major thrill rides |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2025 Former front entrance to the Video Arcade |
|||
|
When the ride opened, Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. became Tomorrowland Launch Depot. The giant gears from the 1990s were gone. The “chiseled” letters spelling out the old name were covered. A modest sign at the old front doors has the new name. The former little-used back door has a larger sign because it’s now the front door for all the guests exiting from the TRON ride — who might eager to buy some TRON merchandise. |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 TRON merchandise |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 TRON Identity Program booths |
|||
|
Just as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has Build Your Own Lightsaber at Savi&rsqi;s Workshop and Pandora - The World of Avatar has ACE Avatar Maker at Windtraders, Tomorrowland Launch Depot has its own unique keepsake program: TRON Identity Program. Guests can customize your own TRON-inspired action figure. |
|||
Photo by Werner Weiss, 2025 Grogu from The Mandolairian, part of the Star Wars universe, at Tomorrowland Launch Depot |
|||
|
There’s plenty of TRON merchandise at Tomorrowland Launch Depot, but the folks at Walt Disney World Retail Operations like to bring in items from other movie franchises, even if those items are out-of-place. The 1982 movie TRON was about the experiences of Kevin Flynn, a brilliant video game developer. The movie spawned a popular Bally Midway arcade game and a second movie. The ride is set in the digital realm of the Grid. Despite all that, what you won’t find at Tomorrowland Launch Depot is a video arcade, not even vintage TRON arcade games. |
|||
|
|
Click here to post comments at MiceChat about this article.
© 2025 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated August 29, 2025 |
||
