Test Track 2012 Update

[cindymouse6]

Yep, I miss that too. I didn't know it was closed and the whole family went to shop and we were shocked and bummed..... we always spent $$$ there!

[Mo Noyz]

There were also many times where we were driving home from City Walk and stopped in there so I could shop for Jazz cds at midnight!

It always had a really cool atmosphere that time of night.

[Jetjaguar]

Just saw this on WDWNT:

"As part of the re-imagining, the Future World attraction will feature a sleek new “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” immersing Guests in the fascinating world of automotive design. Amid upbeat music, engaging media, dramatic lighting and a collection of Chevrolet concept cars and model vehicles, guests themselves will become automotive designers – and peer into the future of personal transportation in the process.

At interactive design and styling workstations, Guests will be able to create their own custom concept vehicles. The adventure will then shift into high gear as Guests buckle into their 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle and put their design through its paces on the exhilarating hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit.

Their performance testing complete, Guests will move into a post-show area filled with special effects and be scored on how well their custom concept vehicle did. And of course, Guests will be able see the very latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new state-of-the-art showroom."


This seems to make it clear that the design stage will be part of an interactive queue, and that the test stage will still be the good ol' track we're all used to.

Sounds like the new Test Track is borrowing some of the technology that was used (albeit updated) in DisneyQuest, when you could make your own rollercoaster, etc. At least if they go that route, it's a good bet that they won't have to shut the ride down 4 times a day due to the ride cars breaking down...

[doconeill]

Sounds like the new Test Track is borrowing some of the technology that was used (albeit updated) in DisneyQuest, when you could make your own rollercoaster, etc. At least if they go that route, it's a good bet that they won't have to shut the ride down 4 times a day due to the ride cars breaking down...

Only if letting the guests design the car somehow makes them not break down - the ride itself is still the same at the basic level - they are just calling the vehicles "simcars" now. But they aren't replacing them with simulator boxes.

What would probably be a bit different is during the early "testing" phases, like where they at least used to simulate ABS, etc. it will be a pit different, with variations based on the guest's designs.

How they plan to incorporate potentially 6 different designs into one ride experience, I have no idea. And there could be some level of "smoke and mirrors" as well.

I AM hoping that they do fix up the ride mechanism itself though to be more reliable.

[Mo Noyz]

You and me both, doc. That thing has been a breakdown festival since the day it finally opened...a year later than scheduled (little did we know how much this omen was telling us).

[Zipadeedooda]

I don't think I have ever gone on a signle Disney trip where I haven't seen Test Track closed for at least one hour on my trip due to mechanical problems

[JNota0005DakMC]

Here's oping that this operating time goes up now that they are refurbbing it... Maybe if they add elements to the original and update it... Along with fixing some effects that have long since been broken down... This could be a solid attraction again...

[Mo Noyz]

I think it's still a solid attraction. What we want is the good-to-great attraction it started out as.

[JNota0005DakMC]

Yeh that's exactly it... We want what it was when it opened... Just cleaned up and without all the breakdowns... Is that too much to ask...?

[Jetjaguar]

Doc, now I've VERY curious as to what they have planned... for guests to 'make' their own car, and not have it be virtual, could be incredible... maybe guests can 'mod' the cars by doing tweaks that will have the car behave certain ways, like how you can change some of the performance factors in your car, (like Audi's), via a computer...

Dreaming aside, I agree with everyone... regardless of what they do, it's going to be awesome, it just has to WORK consistently!

[HauntedGabe]

Hey, has anyone been following this or read anything further about the "when."

It was talked about a lot around the first of the year as April. Then April 15th. And then silence.

[prickle]

Its that dreaded test #7 that they talk about in the intro video! lol

[doconeill]

There is a rumor swirling that it has been postponed/canceled...don't have more than that right now.

[JNota0005DakMC]

I think they are waiting to see how radiator springs racers does before they make a decision whether to go for it or not... Don't want the delays they had for opening...

[Mo Noyz]

Man, I hope not. They at least need to do something with that queue even if they don't touch the ride.