EPCOT Test Track to be reimagined

[Animaniac93-98]

It was not a thing of beauty, but it was such a great experience. It felt exactly like what it wanted to be. A big warehouse testing facility for cars. I love the different tests and even rewatching it again right now, I started to laugh so hard when we approach the barrier test. It comes right after the truck scare and it is perfection. From Truck scare to finish, I don't see how anyone could say 1.00 wasn't the best progression.

And it even starts a little before that. When they send you into the extreme temperature testing, it sounds like there's a tinge of maliciousness. Then we get to the corrosion test where they accidentally left the spray on. Whoops. Then we have a fork in the road and we are sent uphill. We are not in control. They are. We climb. We turn. We climb higher and faster. We turn. We climb higher and faster. We turn. We enter a dark tunnel. Bam! Jump scare! Crashed car directly ahead of us. Will that be us? Barrier test surrounded by crashed cars and strewn dummies. We stare at that wall. They aren't really going to--? We speed towards it, it opens at the last second and we are flying free, escaping death and feeling that wind in our hair!

They've removed the suspense. The conflict. The emotional complexity.

I didn't care much for the aesthetic of the original version, and the whole thing in hindsight looks more like a ride system demo than a proper Disney attraction like RSR or Journey to the Center of the Earth...

But, it did do a better job of justifying the track and prop layout, and as you say, have a clear sense of progression to the climax of the final speed run.

The WDI of the 90s could sometimes do a lot with a little.

 

[Professortango1]

Nope

TT 1.0 was boring, industrial, felt like a parking garage, used garage insulation as theming. It was just a mess.

It knew what it was and built to a great finale. Each section felt intentional. These latest versions feel like they are embarrassed of the indoor section. Its killing time. Hill Simulation became an introduction scene. Rough Terrain section became an introduction scene. Weird, guess we couldn't just have one scene. Instead of teaching us about the differences in breaking mechanics, we get a kinect view of self-driving cars and a vacant hallway claiming to be a smart road. Cool. Instead of hot/cold/corrosion with great visuals and leaning into the dark humor that is to come, we have three rooms devoted to one idea and gimmick; what if cars could magically change their body shapes like we change our hair styles? And let's represent that with a screen. This really feels like they didn't want to demo the existing structures and tech, so they just tried to do a 1:1 transition without a reason to do so.

The majestic drive up is cool, but feels very much like a discount RSR moment. And the reason that moment works so well in RSR (aside from the scale), its the start of the ride. Its getting us into the vibe. This....doesn't do that. It's a weird break punctuated with the truck scare that leads into an inspirational view of the future. Huh? What narrative is that creating? What used to be a rising tension and aura of foreboding as we approach the finale is now a tune and out vibe section with a jump scare and imagine tomorrow! Then you launch into the sun and see a landscape which doesn't fit the idea of zooming towards tomorrow. What's funny, is that the launch used to fit. It fit 1.0, since this wasn't some simulation of fictional world, but a testing facility.

1.0 was ugly, but it told the story in the best way. It was fun and immersive and not a moment was wasted or rushed through.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The new future city animations remind me more of Dreamflight than WoM.

 

[Jrb1979]

No one is mocking what they enjoy.. but you can be critical of their attempts at objective justification.

Reality is in this fandom there are plenty of people that are swooned to lala land by their addiction to the company's past aurora.

Many also realize that often the company these days isn't the same, no matter how much they try to cite their past.

To add to you post. It's one thing I find odd with how Disney does things as a whole. You look at Universal with their tribute store and a lot of regional parks embrace their history and former attractions all the time.

Then you have Disney who doesn't like to talk or mention history much at all. Even the Test Track update has a small nod to World of Motion.

 

[JackCH]

No one is mocking what they enjoy.. but you can be critical of their attempts at objective justification.

Reality is in this fandom there are plenty of people that are swooned to lala land by their addiction to the company's past aurora.

Many also realize that often the company these days isn't the same, no matter how much they try to cite their past.

Sure. And many of your criticisms have been compelling. It’s the tone and, for some posters, the almost incessant need to make sure everyone knows something is actually terrible and that if you think it is good you must be a pixie duster (or, in “lala land”).

But alas, I broke my general rule of not commenting on tone and disputes. I really shouldn’t be the tone police lol.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Sure. And many of your criticisms have been compelling. It’s the tone and, for some posters, the almost incessant need to make sure everyone knows something is actually terrible and that if you think it is good you must be a pixie duster (or, in “lala land”).

But alas, I broke my general rule of not commenting on tone and disputes. I really shouldn’t be the tone police lol.

or "too young to understand", anything but other people just having a different opinion and liking something you don't or hating something you like.

 

[Jrb1979]

or "too young to understand", anything but other people just having a different opinion and liking something you don't or hating something you like.

IMO it goes both ways and is why you see these posts. You have things and attractions the legacy fans are nostalgic for and the younger fans hate on.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

It knew what it was and built to a great finale. Each section felt intentional. These latest versions feel like they are embarrassed of the indoor section. Its killing time. Hill Simulation became an introduction scene. Rough Terrain section became an introduction scene. Weird, guess we couldn't just have one scene. Instead of teaching us about the differences in breaking mechanics, we get a kinect view of self-driving cars and a vacant hallway claiming to be a smart road. Cool. Instead of hot/cold/corrosion with great visuals and leaning into the dark humor that is to come, we have three rooms devoted to one idea and gimmick; what if cars could magically change their body shapes like we change our hair styles? And let's represent that with a screen. This really feels like they didn't want to demo the existing structures and tech, so they just tried to do a 1:1 transition without a reason to do so.

The majestic drive up is cool, but feels very much like a discount RSR moment. And the reason that moment works so well in RSR (aside from the scale), its the start of the ride. Its getting us into the vibe. This....doesn't do that. It's a weird break punctuated with the truck scare that leads into an inspirational view of the future. Huh? What narrative is that creating? What used to be a rising tension and aura of foreboding as we approach the finale is now a tune and out vibe section with a jump scare and imagine tomorrow! Then you launch into the sun and see a landscape which doesn't fit the idea of zooming towards tomorrow. What's funny, is that the launch used to fit. It fit 1.0, since this wasn't some simulation of fictional world, but a testing facility.

1.0 was ugly, but it told the story in the best way. It was fun and immersive and not a moment was wasted or rushed through.

Nope it was a mess and tacky. The current version works far better

 

[Prince-1]

Damn, 3.0 looks really really good. That last scene is great.

 

[Jrb1979]

Damn, 3.0 looks really really good. That last scene is great.

I wish more of that last scene based on World of Motion was more throughout the indoor section

 

[flynnibus]

or "too young to understand", anything but other people just having a different opinion and liking something you don't or hating something you like.

Yes, because there is a big difference between LIVING THROUGH THE ERA.. and just reading about it on the internet.

You also probably don't understand why anyone would savor plastic red cups and dark pizza huts.. or animatronic Chuck E Cheese characters.. because they weren't actually part of your life. You just see photos of them on the internet.

 

[flynnibus]

Then you have Disney who doesn't like to talk or mention history much at all. Even the Test Track update has a small nod to World of Motion.

I don't agree on that at all. It's Disney's favorite crutch.. to stand on the shoulders of their past works and name drop Walt and others. The problem is they don't operate the same as that old company, yet always tout they are the continuation of it.

The only thing they don't cite is topics they have blackballed... then the corporate overlords ban all referencing them and the minions stay inline about that.. until they leave the company and are free.

 

[jeanericuser001]

Im thinking the main reason it doesn't quite scratch that wom itch is due to what I had feared all along. They cut back on the time and money to do this project. When they announced how short the time was I knew immediately they were cutting things heavily. Those pictures we saw of potential rendering were nothing like what we would actually get. What we got was in many ways a step back. We traded in a themed system that gave guests an extra reason to reride because they could build their own car in exchange for a very long line system with cheap displays. It does remind me of the original WOM though. That inside que was pretty long and now so is this one. Just that alone kind of seems like a step back. Even 1.0 had something entertaining as you saw all the tests in action. Not impressed at all by the que.

As for the ride, I get the suspicion this was designed by someone who didn't actually ride WOM but they do remember innoventions in its latter years. It reminds me more of innoventions than it does WOM. Even that supposed musical spiel feels like a poor cop out compared to the original. Its like you are expecting elvis but instead you are getting an elvis impersonator with bad english and worse singing skills. The biggest disappointment is shutting off the lights and just relying on neon lights and cheap light displays when they at first tease us with what looked on that first turn as if you were gonna get a normal city street. Its like they blew the budget on that cheap rendering of the future and so they decided to cop out on the rest. Not exactly pleased on the narrator either. Did they use an AI for the voice work? I really wanna know because it certainly sounds like SIRI and CHATGPT had twins.

I did notice there is no mention of that exit area. If my guesses are correct its just more cars on display and a gift shop with items that will likely be at the character workshop within a month or two if not sooner. There is at least one good thing to come from this. People will be attracted to this like flies to manure so while everyone floods into this it will bring down waits for other rides.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Bring back a Test Track from Future World highlighting how combustion gas engines are the future!

Bring back the 'build your own car design' which had no effect on the ride!!!

Bring back the heat and acid tests that assured us our cars' paint job was going to last!!!!

Bring back the post-ride video games which nobody cared to engage with for more than two minutes!!!!!!

 

[co10064]

I have always enjoyed Test Track, but I don’t think it has ever cracked my top 10 attractions at WDW.

It doesn’t have the same level of thrill as roller coasters like Space, Thunder, or Rockin’, nor does it live up to the theming of Tower, Pirates, or Mansion… and it certainly can’t compete with the current gen E-tickets (Flight of Passage, Rise, Guardians).

This new version improves on the visuals and theming of the ride over 1.0 and 2.0 which is probably about as good as we could have expected for a refurb that we knew wasn’t going change the attraction’s ride system, speed, track, etc… so for me, that’s a win.

Definitely getting Spaceship Earth and Peoplemover vibes in a good way.

Going to miss 2.0’s music.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think the city finale is meant to be their big WoM connection.. as well as the dialog cues.

But they never said their would be references or direct connections to WoM so to be disappointed in lack of that is to be disappointed in something you projected to happen.

They said it would draw inspiration from WoM and bring back a sense of optimism. Maybe you feel they failed at that but to criticize them for not having scenes/characters from WoM or full music score or anything isn't them failing to deliver on something promised.

From the announcement: "reaching back into history for inspiration from the original World of Motion, and are bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of Test Track."

 

[Splashin' Ryan]

I'm just going to say it... If they actually spent the $ and added some more theming outside, I think it would easily become many people's favorite ride at EPCOT. Not sure where I remember seeing it posted or talked about, but adding a huge model of Progress City that lights up at night or something of the sort in the loop outside (or just enclosing the outdoor portion altogether with more effects) would do wonders for making this ride feel truly plussed and fresh. It seems we got a refresh that'll get us through the next decade, but nothing really inspirational or groundbreaking.

 

[monothingie]

Going to miss 2.0’s music.

Yes!

There was energy with 2.0 that’s not there in 3.0

The design station loss is a big minus. It was a fun interactive element that many enjoyed.

There doesn’t seem like there’s any heart to this version. It’s just too corporate and sanitary, just like the rest of new Epcot.

 

[flynnibus]

But they never said their would be references or direct connections to WoM so to be disappointed in lack of that is to be disappointed in something you projected to happen.

They said it would draw inspiration from WoM and bring back a sense of optimism. Maybe you feel they failed at that but to criticize them for not having scenes/characters from WoM or full music score or anything isn't them failing to deliver on something promised.

From the announcement: "reaching back into history for inspiration from the original World of Motion, and are bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of Test Track."

So your assertion is.. they were just name dropping and never intended to have any literal connection to the attraction they went out of their way to specifically name drop?

You could be right.. but then you should in the same vein call out their horrible marketing.. citing past attractions to clearly invoke hopes of tiebacks if they had no actual intention of that. Note, they didn't say "focusing on the spirit of optimism that was the inspiration of many disney experiences.." -- no they specifically call back WoM because they were trying to get throwback points from their fans.

And let's say you're right.. and the focus is on 'spirit of optimism'. Please tell us what from the 3.0 attraction experience that you think reflects that tenant they bothered to elevate to market with the attraction.

"Its fun to be free" dialog?
The glee of customizing your car?
The 20 seconds of dialog about lidar and inductive roads?
Or maybe the animation of a future city with zero context or connectivity to anything else?
Driving through a forest?

Where is this inspiration and tenant of bringing back the spirit of optimism? Can you even summarize the message and spirit of the attraction from what we've seen so far?

 

[Jrb1979]

But they never said their would be references or direct connections to WoM so to be disappointed in lack of that is to be disappointed in something you projected to happen.

They said it would draw inspiration from WoM and bring back a sense of optimism. Maybe you feel they failed at that but to criticize them for not having scenes/characters from WoM or full music score or anything isn't them failing to deliver on something promised.

From the announcement: "reaching back into history for inspiration from the original World of Motion, and are bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of Test Track."

Your post is what I was talking about earlier in how they don't embrace the history of the parks. While they do talk about Walt and former Imagineers, they rarely mention or do nods to the history. It's almost like they don't want people to remember former attractions.

This IMO was the chance to embrace that. The whole indoor section should have one big nod to World of Motion with scenes and music. If they weren't going to use IP for this why not go big on history?