Park Paradise

Walt Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track Concept Art

Walt Disney World has revealed concept artwork for the planned Chevrolet makeover of Epcot’s Test Track ride, which is due to open in Fall 2012.

The resort has updated the official Test Track page on its website, adding an image of the Chevrolet-branded vehicles that will be in operation on the updated ride. The attraction closed to guests on April 16 to enable extensive changes to be made both to the ride itself and to its pre-show and exit areas.

The updated Test Track will feature Chevrolet vehicles and branding, in place of the previous vehicles that were themed around parent company General Motors. The ride’s “test workshop”-style queue and pre-show area will also be updated, becoming the “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot”. The ride’s new cars have already been tested on the attraction.

Walt Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track Closure

Walt Disney World has confirmed that the Test Track attraction at Epcot will close on April 16, 2012, in order to undergo a major refurbishment.

Despite Disney having previously announced the temporary closure of the ride, rumors had been circulating that Test Track’s overhaul would be postponed until later in the year. However, a Walt Disney World spokesperson has now confirmed the April 16 date to the Orlando Sentinel. The attraction is expected to reopen in the Fall.

The updated Test Track will feature Chevrolet vehicles and branding, in place of the previous vehicles that were themed around parent company General Motors. The ride’s “test workshop”-style queue and pre-show area will also be updated, becoming the “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot”. In common with other recent queue upgrades at Disney parks, a number of interactive elements will be added.

Walt Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track Rehab

over the weekend Disney finally announced an extensive refurbishment of the popular Test Track attraction that will re-enforce the message of original EPCOT. The new Test Track will be an “immersive experience in the design process of the vehicles they see on the road today and will see in the future.” The new Test Track attraction will allow guests to become car designers. Guest will create and design concept vehicles. The cars guest designed will then be put to the test as guest board a “SimCar” to test them out on a rigorous Track Circuit.

The new Test Track will also feature a new post-show experience where guests will be able to evaluate the car concept they designed. Guests will also be able to view all of the new and exciting concepts that Chevrolet is working on.

This means that Test Track will be closed from April 2012 until Fall 2012, when Chevrolet will be celebrating their 100th anniversary. When the new Test Track re-opens it will “….enable General Motors to tell its story in new and exciting ways to millions of Guests from around the world and continue as the official vehicle sponsor of Walt Disney World Resort.”

It is likely that the physical ride system and track layout will remain exactly the same. The Test Track ride system is very complex and would probably require a much longer amount of time to rebuild. However rumors indicated that the new ride may incorporate RFID technology that will allow the ride to provide different shows to each rider based on how they design their vehicle. Disney conducted an RFID experiment in early december 2011 on Test Track. A memo that was released to cast members read: “We often test new concepts and technologies in our parks as part of our ongoing innovation process to make the entire Guest experience even better. As part of that effort, we will be testing a new technology at Epcot at Test Track, December 6-7. The technology we are testing may or may not end up as part of our park offerings.”

With this new overlay it seems that Test Track will fit the message of EPCOT with guest being able to experience first hand a demonstration of new technological advances in the automotive field. This ride is also sponsored by a company that truly represents the American industry. I am really sad that I won’t get to ride this iconic Disney attraction in the summer when I visit, but I am sure this refurbishment will bring good things for the ride and meaning behind Epcot. 

Walt Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track Revamp

Above is a brand new leaked photo of the new Test Track logo, post rehab! It has been heavily rumoured that Disney and Chevrolet may be looking to add a Tron-style high-tech theme and look to Test Track when it is revamped later this year. As expected, Chevrolet will become the primary sponsor of the ride in place of the former all-encompassing GM branding. This has already been seen with the new Chevrolet branding on the few cars that have been wrapped in the new blue color scheme.

The rehab dates have been listed as being April 15 through September 21st, 2012, which is gutting because this is when I am visiting from the UK! 

Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track Change?

The latest buzz this week regarding the re-imagining of the Disney classic Test Track claims that Disney are planning a four to five month long closure of Test Track starting in April 2012. This will see the attraction close for the entire summer season of 2012, reopening sometime in September. According to the various rumors, this may tie into the new metallic blue car bodies that have been showing up on the attraction, as Disney and GM may have come to a new sponsorship agreement that will see the theme of the ride updated.

According to some rumors, the entire gritty “Test Lab” theme may be dumped in favor of a new more slick presentation showing off the ‘design’ and ‘innovation’ side of GM’s cars, with focus not only on the cars themselves, but the high-tech gadgets going inside.

I absolutely LOVE Test Track and the idea of removing the “Test Lab” element of the ride for basically a museum of car parts sounds TERRIBLE. Disney please do not do this!! 

Walt Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track 2012

The latest rumor floating around Disney World’s Epcot is that General Motors is ready to sign a new deal to sponsor their Epcot pavilion for a further 10 years until 2022. As part of the deal the Test Track attraction would essentially be gutted, leaving only the ride path and vehicles chassis in place.Other areas of the pavilion would also be completely redone as they were during the transition from World of Motion to Test Track.

The new ride-thru attraction that Disney is in talks with General Motors to fund would involve new vehicle bodies for the Test Track vehicles designed not by Imagineering but rather General Motor’s own design, research, and development unit. Upgraded interiors and new electronics and show elements (screens, etc..) would be the height of this collaboration. For the ride scenes the pavilion would become a sort of hybrid version of the original World of Motion and the current Test Track attraction, detailing vehicle design, production, fabrication, and testing with a nod toward its history and the future.