EPCOT Test Track to be reimagined

[zemmyz]

now this is the kinda EPCOT transformation I ordered

 

[TTA94]

Opening around the opening of Starlight? You don't say.

That lit room is a it reminiscent of Osborne Lights for me.

Starlight and TT coming to save WDWs Summer! . Except it might be a hit or miss to experience these as both are not FL rainy season friendly lol.

 

[Coaster Lover]

For those keeping score (for future post-pandemic attraction openings)

Timeline from conversion of work walls to temporary walls (movable shrubs) to Grand Opening:

• Moana: Aug 28 to Oct 16: 49 Days
• Test Track: June 9 to July 22: 43 Days

Following recent timelines, we might expect passholder previews around the week of June 30 or July 7th and soft openings around the week of July 7th or 14th

 

[Ayla]

Are the previews just something you show up for or do you typically have to register?

In the past, you've had to (try to) register.

 

[Yellow Strap]

I'm there next week...Here is hoping for something...

 

[vikescaper]

Nice! It reopens the day before my birthday and I will be at EPCOT on the 24th!

 

[waltography]

LIDAR! Autonomous vehicles! Stepping into a GM commercial! Corporate-sponsored edutainment is back baby!

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

The question is, will they be having any SOFT OPENINGS during the week of July 8-15? None of those preview credentials apply to me! I'd really like to get on this on my trip.

Buy a house at Golden Oak

 

[HauntedPirate]

The list of requirements to get a soft opening spot:

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Any tips for how to get in for a soft opening? Anyone ever managed that? I don't mean a passholder preview or anything like that...I just mean soft opening.

 

[Casper Gutman]

[Rocket to the Moon would be the other example IMO, but like Circarama, the precursor to Circle-Vision, both are offshoots of the widescreen/novelty exhibition trend that dominated movie theaters in the 1950s, but given that Disney touch of storytelling.]

This is a fantastic insight and I’m a bit embarrassed I never made the connection. Is it pulled from a source that elaborates on it? (Not to imply for a second that you aren’t capable of formulating it yourself - you’re a great poster).

 

[DisneyCane]

I'm very encouraged by those scenes they posted. It's nice that it returned to a more realistic theme like 1.0 vs. the "Tron-like" you are inside a computer simulation them of 2.0.

I definitely approve of the realistic-looking artificial trees vs. painted plywood of the prior versions. It will be interesting to see how the Lidar section ages. Will GM (sorry, gm) still be using Lidar for driver assist/self driving in 8 years or will they move to a visual-based approach. The adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist on my 2020 GMC Terrain uses a windshield mounted camera and no Lidar or Radar.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Any tips for how to get in for a soft opening? Anyone ever managed that? I don't mean a passholder preview or anything like that...I just mean soft opening.

You walk by when it is open. People tend to share that info online. Some rides that are running well will in effect just be open.

 

[Squishy]

Opening around the opening of Starlight? You don't say.

That lit room is a it reminiscent of Osborne Lights for me.

They mustve got a bulk deal for mini leds, opening scene has the same mini leds as seen in starlight.

 

[Horizons '83]

I wouldn’t sound the victory alarm just yet. We have seen very little and as we learned with Tiana, the story has to be strong not just visually strong.

 

[ToTBellHop]

LOL! However I don't know if Opening with Starlight was the Plan all along. Steve didn't think so a couple Months ago... it was always late Summer.

First thing I thought of when I saw that Clip was: there's some Starlight in TT 3.0! LOL!!!!!!

I alluded to a planetary alignment on this a couple weeks back. Basically, Starlight fell a bit behind while testing on TT went well and it could move up a bit. So, they’ll be ready around the same time. The only question was whether marketing would give up on having two separate marketing windows and they clearly have. They want more visitors ASAP.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I wouldn’t sound the victory alarm just yet. We have seen very little and as we learned with Tiana, the story has to be strong not just visually strong.

Never much story here.

 

[WDWBryan]

I wouldn’t sound the victory alarm just yet. We have seen very little and as we learned with Tiana, the story has to be strong not just visually strong.

It is interesting this is the only scene they've chosen to show. it's the same one from the concept art.

 

[waltography]

I wouldn’t sound the victory alarm just yet. We have seen very little and as we learned with Tiana, the story has to be strong not just visually strong.

To be fair, Test Track never had much of a story, just a premise. Previous iterations were focused on design and R&D; this one seems like it's focused on more of the same but with emerging technologies. Pretty strong premise, but it still needs to follow through with the execution (the jump from LIDAR to scenic PNW drives feels a little big so I'm curious how they'll justify it + the speed run at the end).

 

[mattpeto]

I'm excited to have TT reopen.

Hopefully Spaceship Earth/Figment is next on the refurb schedule.