Test Track refurbishment in April 2012

[Tom Morrow]

Epcot Test Track's "Chevy" remodel

Vacation Alert: GM To Revamp Disney World Test Track Ride The Car Connection Disney is shutting down the 13-year-old GM Test Track thrill ride at Epcot Center. The ride will reopen later this year (probably fall/winter) as the Chevrolet Design Center. According to Disney Parks Blog, the Chevrolet Design Center will allow visitors to design their own vehicles. Then, they'll be able to take five of their closest friends on a test drive in their new "SimCars". GM has long been a sponsor of Disney World, and the current Test Track ride — which basically gives visitors an overview of the production process, then turns them into crash test dummies — has been a popular attraction for over a decade. GM says it's not wavering in its sponsorship of the resort; the revamped ride is simply a part of GM's initiative to refocus the world's attention away from parent company General Motors and onto its four individual brands — in this case, Chevy. This could be a lot of fun for families in the future. Though the company has released few specifics about the new offering, the Chevrolet Design Center could and should give the public a much better idea of what goes into the design and manufacture of a new car. Who knows? It might even inspire a few younger visitors to become industrial designers themselves. by Richard Read complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Wedbliss]

Test Track certainly needs work. There are effects on the ride that have been broken for years. In fact, the only way I even knew they were there is that I read about them. Aside from the planned "design" enhancement, the basic ride probably won't change much as it's extremely popular at Epcot.

[wol4eva]

I know it's discussed to death, but it's beginning to heat up on the news. http://www.epcyclopedia.com/2011/09/...rhaul-retheme/ What are your thoughts?

[JEANYLASER]

thanks for the info! I can't wait to Ride it on October 2012!

[Aurorasmiles]

I remember riding back in 2003. It was a really great ride. It was fun going through all the "testing" for the vehicle, then on to the track! After reading Wedbliss' post that he didn't know that certain effects were there till reading about them is sad. It's a shame that Disney let it get to such a state. I look forward to a visit to WDW this summer and meet up with Wedbliss!

[Tom Morrow]

Test Track All Stars a capella vocal group

Test Track All Stars perform for guests while attraction is under refurbishment Orlando Attractions Magazine Epcot’s Test Track attraction is now closed for refurbishment until this fall 2012. To help fill the void of the popular attraction, Disney has added an A cappella group that is performing multiple times daily outside the construction walls. The Test Track All Stars set times were listed as 9:30, 10:30, noon, 1:30, 3, 4:15 and 5 p.m., although they are subject to change. VIDEOS by Matt Roseboom complete article

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Submitted by Ezra

[Tom Morrow]

Test Track to reopen at Epcot December 6

Test Track to reopen at Epcot December 6 Disney Parks Blog Test Track Presented by Chevrolet at Epcot will officially reopen to guests on December 6. When Test Track reopens, this reengineered attraction will allow guests to experience the fun world of automotive design firsthand. Guests will first enter a Design Studio and make a series of selections (as an individual or a group) to create their ideal virtual custom concept vehicle. They then board a six-passenger SimCar for a test drive to see how their own design compares to the attraction’s SimCar in Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness and Power. And it sounds like the post-show will be just as much fun. Here, guests can see how well their car performed, and race it over changing terrains and extreme conditions on a digital driving table. Guests can also produce and star in a TV commercial for their custom cars, explore a Chevrolet showroom that will feature the latest models, and more. In case you haven’t seen it, here’s a sneak peek at what the SimCar will look like when the attraction reopens: PHOTO by Jennifer Fickley-Baker complete article

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Submitted by Ezra

[bodhran105]

It has actually already reopened. To my knowledge. It also does have new scenes, effects, and a neat new pre-show that lets you customize your vehicle with cool colors, shapes, and other designs before you ride. Then at the end you get to compare how well your vehicle did to others.

[emfreyre]

It has actually already reopened. To my knowledge. It also does have new scenes, effects, and a neat new pre-show that lets you customize your vehicle with cool colors, shapes, and other designs before you ride. Then at the end you get to compare how well your vehicle did to others.

Interesting. Last time I rode Test Track was August 2012. May have to check this out

[bodhran105]

^Did you make a typo? As the refurbishment started in April 2012 and it didn't reopen until the 6th of December 2012.

Also, it's odd. That post was a reply to someone. Their post was deleted? Huh.