EPCOT Test Track to be reimagined

[Andrew C]

But why would they need to make new ride vehicles when there’s nothing wrong with the old ones? Seems like a waste of everyone’s time to build entirely new ride vehicles when there was no issues with the existing ones. I’d much rather them focus on the attraction experience than waste money on updating an element that didn’t need updating.

This just seems like complaining for the sake of complaining.

The worry is...the ride vehicles (this is what they are promoting) could be an indication for what is to come with the attraction itself. Minimal budget and effort in general.

 

[Bocabear]

I am glad they are now black so they can fit more with their new environment....so the new environment will be black....Seems like something more vibrant would have been nice... rather than an R&D Black, but I guess we will see when it all comes together... I am guessing the reuse of any of their original show scenes or the "Fun To Be Free" song will not be used in this new version.....

 

[Agent H]

The worry is...the ride vehicles (this is what they are promoting) could be an indication for what is to come with the attraction itself. Minimal budget and effort in general.

GM is footing the bill and not Disney so I imagine the overall budget they were given is quite high.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

The worry is...the ride vehicles (this is what they are promoting) could be an indication for what is to come with the attraction itself. Minimal budget and effort in general.

I think that that’s perhaps a little bit of an overreaction to what is just a short little promotional reel that is just meant to be a reminder of “hey this is opening soon.” I don’t know why everyone is asking for them to dive into deep detail about what they did when they rarely ever do that.

The most extensively they covered ride development was TBA and even that was primarily story and music focused.

It just seems like people grasping at essentially nothing so they have some reason to whine about something. If anything this site should be glad the cars aren’t new. Everyone talks about how they don’t think Disney should do new just for the sake of new, and that’s what new ride vehicles would be. There is zero compelling reason why they would need to do anything else other than change the wraps. There is no issue with the ride vehicles and never has been.

 

[Andrew C]

I think that that’s perhaps a little bit of an overreaction to what is just a short little promotional reel that is just meant to be a reminder of “hey this is opening soon.” I don’t know why everyone is asking for them to dive into deep detail about what they did when they rarely ever do that.

The most extensively they covered ride development was TBA and even that was primarily story and music focused.

It just seems like people grasping at essentially nothing so they have some reason to whine about something. If anything this site should be glad the cars aren’t new. Everyone talks about how they don’t think Disney should do new just for the sake of new, and that’s what new ride vehicles would be. There is zero compelling reason why they would need to do anything else other than change the wraps. There is no issue with the ride vehicles and never has been.

Given Disney's recent track record at Epcot, seems like this should be labelled as a "potential concern" rather than a "bit of an overreaction"...

 

[Ayla]

I think that that’s perhaps a little bit of an overreaction to what is just a short little promotional reel that is just meant to be a reminder of “hey this is opening soon.” I don’t know why everyone is asking for them to dive into deep detail about what they did when they rarely ever do that.

The most extensively they covered ride development was TBA and even that was primarily story and music focused.

It just seems like people grasping at essentially nothing so they have some reason to whine about something. If anything this site should be glad the cars aren’t new. Everyone talks about how they don’t think Disney should do new just for the sake of new, and that’s what new ride vehicles would be. There is zero compelling reason why they would need to do anything else other than change the wraps. There is no issue with the ride vehicles and never has been.

Have the ride vehicles ever been updated? Not replaced, as I'd expect them to be switched out as they wore out...but new, updated software to make the ride smoother and more efficient?

 

[monothingie]

But why would they need to make new ride vehicles when there’s nothing wrong with the old ones? Seems like a waste of everyone’s time to build entirely new ride vehicles when there was no issues with the existing ones. I’d much rather them focus on the attraction experience than waste money on updating an element that didn’t need updating.

This just seems like complaining for the sake of complaining.

Doing things on the cheap and bare minimum is how you wound up with Tianna's and The New and Improved Epcot.

Here's some stickers and a new color, isn't the innovation amazing?

 

[monothingie]

GM is footing the bill and not Disney so I imagine the overall budget they were given is quite high.

 

[Agent H]

Do you have evidence to the contrary?

 

[monothingie]

Do you have evidence to the contrary?

Do you have evidence in support?

Corporate sponsorship isn't necessarily the windfall most people expect. Just look at the case study in sponsorship failure for the Glass Pyramids. I don't think GM blasted open the funding spigot on this one.

I have a lurking feeling that TT Version 3 is going to over rely on nostalgia for WOM, just done on the CHEAP, with all of the interesting things in TT 1.0 and 2.0 stripped out. In other words we're headed for "Journey Into Your Imagination" Territory.

 

[Andrew C]

GM is footing the bill and not Disney so I imagine the overall budget they were given is quite high.

Why would you imagine this? Have we heard of those details?

 

[jmuboy]

I'm excited for this ride. I appreciate the small updates. This is actually something that's on-brand for EPCOT. No complaints here. All of my loathing about these new attractions at WDW is focused squarely on the ROA changes.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

I have a lurking feeling that TT Version 3 is going to over rely on nostalgia for WOM, just done on the CHEAP, with all of the interesting things in TT 1.0 and 2.0 stripped out. In other words we're headed for "Journey Into Your Imagination" Territory.

Test Track has pretty famously been going through empty warehouse space fast for the last 26 years. I don't think you can do anything to make it look cheaper, or "strip out" anything cool when the last version had like three sets

 

[monothingie]

The worry is...the ride vehicles (this is what they are promoting) could be an indication for what is to come with the attraction itself. Minimal budget and effort in general.

If there were something phenomenal that was going to be in TT 3.0, they would have teased it. So far nothing. I have a feeling you're going to see a lot of static set pieces and screens.

 

[Andrew C]

I'm excited for this ride. I appreciate the small updates. This is actually something that's on-brand for EPCOT. No complaints here. All of my loathing about these new attractions at WDW is focused squarely on the ROA changes.

I am happy that this ride is receiving an update, in a general sense. I just have no confidence in Disney's ability to deliver.

 

[monothingie]

Test Track has pretty famously been going through empty warehouse space fast for the last 26 years. I don't think you can do anything to make it look cheaper, or "strip out" anything cool when the last version had like three sets

Yeah but that was the basic storyline as an R&D and Testing setting. It's going to be different if you want to relive the WOM, which was chock full of AA and intricate sets.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

Yeah but that was the basic storyline as an R&D and Testing setting. It's going to be different if you want to relive the WOM, which was chock full of AA and intricate sets.

I don't think we were ever truly looking at another version of WoM being built here. They have been very hush hush about how far the WoM influence goes, and especially considering they ripped it out because the active sponsor didn't like how much show area was dedicated to things other than the car, I doubt it's very far.

 

[Dranth]

GM is footing the bill and not Disney so I imagine the overall budget they were given is quite high.

Maybe, but if the Chair/CEO of GM wasn't on the Disney board, they likely would have already dropped sponsorship so I don't know how much they could/would be willing to invest. Most corporations just don't like dumping money into low ROI endeavors, nor can they get away with it without push back from stockholders. It is why EPCOT lost most of its sponsors in the first place.

Hopefully I am wrong, but I would be surprised if GM went overboard on this. Doesn't mean it will be a bad update, I just think people should temper their expectations a bit.

 

[monothingie]

I don't think we were ever truly looking at another version of WoM being built here. They have been very hush hush about how far the WoM influence goes, and especially considering they ripped it out because the active sponsor didn't like how much show area was dedicated to things other than the car, I doubt it's very far.

To that point, I think a plot or purpose of V3 is going to be difficult. As was alluded to earlier, passing by show scenes at 20 MPH makes it kind of hard to appreciate what's going on. With TT 1.0 and 2.0, you really only have one section of the fide that proceeded at a slow speed. If they've gone away from the R&D plot line, then what do you actually have?


Again it's kind of telling that the media teases from this have been so utterly dismal and uninteresting compared to other E-Ticket refurbs or builds.

 

[Moth]

I don't think we were ever truly looking at another version of WoM being built here. They have been very hush hush about how far the WoM influence goes, and especially considering they ripped it out because the active sponsor didn't like how much show area was dedicated to things other than the car, I doubt it's very far.

You're getting the song somewhere and some call backs to props from the original at best.

If we all hold hands, we can get a Water Engine Freak™ pin.