EPCOT Test Track to be reimagined

[lentesta]

I rode it yesterday.

The first scene - the Business District - is done well. It's got detail and explains LIDAR technology that most people don't know about. Classic EPCOT vibe for 90% of it.

The other 10% is where Imagineers kept the accelerate-into-anti-lock-braking track segment that's been around since Test Track 1.0. Except now it doesn't make sense. Launch a car that fast in a two-lane pedestrian setting and you'd lose your license. My first thought was "Why are we driving this fast here?

The second scene is the Garage of the Future, with the idea that we'll all be able to customize our vehicles' body panels, seating, etc. Also done well. I'm sure Imagineering didn't know this when pitching the idea to General Motors, but there's a car company that's doing it now - Slate Auto - so it's a bit weird to see it in a GM ride. But overall also very solid and in keeping with the EPCOT spirit.

The third scene is the Drive-Through Forest. I don't understand why we're in a forest. If it's "you're now driving the car that was in your garage", then it's redundant with the next section. I want to go back and look at WDI's social media post for this scene and see if the Imagineers are spelling out "Help me" in Morse code with their eyelids, like it's some sort of hostage video. There is nothing of any merit whatsoever here. I don't know why anyone would post anything about it. It's an utter flop.

The fourth and last scene is the High-Speed Loop, aka General Motors Presents: Osceola Parkway. The mural here is great. The rest of it remains unchanged from the late 1990's. Like The American Adventure, it seems EPCOT has built something they can't afford to update meaningfully. I still like going fast. But we've been doing this for over 25 years and it's time for something new.

There's also a couple of long, dark, empty hallway segments. The second one is where you start to think "Shoudn't there be a show element here?"

I gave it 3.5 stars out of 5.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Disney determines the themes. And the minimal effort put into doing something interesting with that theme.

I dunno. I think the "theme" of Guardians is kind of stupid, but I don't think I would ever describe it as having minimal effort put into it. I can't speak to the others without riding them.

 

[flynnibus]

Hie post is what I was talking about. Todays average guest want theming but they don't want the deep story like Horizons and World of Motion had.

but without it, guests will not have the same attraction and ultimately will start looking at "why are we spending so much to goto WDW... this park over here is just as much fun and cheaper..."

The genius of Disney was he understood what would resonate with guests even if they didn't know that's what they needed. He believed quality and thought would succeed.. he would focus on that and the success would happen on its own.

If you ask most customers what they want -- by enlarge they will only be able to copy what they've already seen. They don't know what they don't know.

They also usually don't understand why they like something. This is why they are a horrible source to ask what to do. You instead need to understand WHY they like it or get engaged to improve your chances of long term success when doing something new or unique.

There is nothing wrong with people that don't want to understand or study the subject -- That's fine.. you can be a consumer alone and be happy for it.

But where they are wrong is when they try to shutdown or argue back these things don't matter... just my happiness. That's "cutting off your nose to spite your face"

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I rode it yesterday.

The first scene - the Business District - is done well. It's got detail and explains LIDAR technology that most people don't know about. Classic EPCOT vibe for 90% of it.

The other 10% is where Imagineers kept the accelerate-into-anti-lock-braking track segment that's been around since Test Track 1.0. Except now it doesn't make sense. Launch a car that fast in a two-lane pedestrian setting and you'd lose your license. My first thought was "Why are we driving this fast here?

The second scene is the Garage of the Future, with the idea that we'll all be able to customize our vehicles' body panels, seating, etc. Also done well. I'm sure Imagineering didn't know this when pitching the idea to General Motors, but there's a car company that's doing it now - Slate Auto - so it's a bit weird to see it in a GM ride. But overall also very solid and in keeping with the EPCOT spirit.

The third scene is the Drive-Through Forest. I don't understand why we're in a forest. If it's "you're now driving the car that was in your garage", then it's redundant with the next section. I want to go back and look at WDI's social media post for this scene and see if the Imagineers are spelling out "Help me" in Morse code with their eyelids, like it's some sort of hostage video. There is nothing of any merit whatsoever here. I don't know why anyone would post anything about it. It's an utter flop.

The fourth and last scene is the High-Speed Loop, aka General Motors Presents: Osceola Parkway. The mural here is great. The rest of it remains unchanged from the late 1990's. Like The American Adventure, it seems EPCOT has built something they can't afford to update meaningfully. I still like going fast. But we've been doing this for over 25 years and it's time for something new.

There's also a couple of long, dark, empty hallway segments. The second one is where you start to think "Shoudn't there be a show element here?"

I gave it 3.5 stars out of 5.

I think the forest scene is supposed to be, as they say at the start of it, "it's fun to be free" and that driving comes with freedom and the technology behind it is great and can keep us safer, but it is also just fun to drive and gives you a freedom that mass transit doesn't give you

Seems like they didn't tie it together well or keep a through line but I took it as not just the sciencey/tech part ofcars, but the fun side.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I rode it yesterday.

The first scene - the Business District - is done well. It's got detail and explains LIDAR technology that most people don't know about. Classic EPCOT vibe for 90% of it.

The other 10% is where Imagineers kept the accelerate-into-anti-lock-braking track segment that's been around since Test Track 1.0. Except now it doesn't make sense. Launch a car that fast in a two-lane pedestrian setting and you'd lose your license. My first thought was "Why are we driving this fast here?

The second scene is the Garage of the Future, with the idea that we'll all be able to customize our vehicles' body panels, seating, etc. Also done well. I'm sure Imagineering didn't know this when pitching the idea to General Motors, but there's a car company that's doing it now - Slate Auto - so it's a bit weird to see it in a GM ride. But overall also very solid and in keeping with the EPCOT spirit.

The third scene is the Drive-Through Forest. I don't understand why we're in a forest. If it's "you're now driving the car that was in your garage", then it's redundant with the next section. I want to go back and look at WDI's social media post for this scene and see if the Imagineers are spelling out "Help me" in Morse code with their eyelids, like it's some sort of hostage video. There is nothing of any merit whatsoever here. I don't know why anyone would post anything about it. It's an utter flop.

The fourth and last scene is the High-Speed Loop, aka General Motors Presents: Osceola Parkway. The mural here is great. The rest of it remains unchanged from the late 1990's. Like The American Adventure, it seems EPCOT has built something they can't afford to update meaningfully. I still like going fast. But we've been doing this for over 25 years and it's time for something new.

There's also a couple of long, dark, empty hallway segments. The second one is where you start to think "Shoudn't there be a show element here?"

I gave it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Appreciate your take

Seems like 3.5 is a “generous” rating based on your breakdown - however

 

[Captain Barbossa]

 

[eddie104]

I see this thread already has been hijacked as usual.

The general consensus seems to be that the ride seems to invoke classic Epcot vibes without compromising the original spirit of Test Track.

That’s a major accomplishment for Disney of people feel they did this ride some justice with the update.

Your distain is a badge of honor, your holier than though posts are comical. And while I find them irrelevant and silly, I take more pleasure in the fact that it seems, at least as you continue to post, that Disney thinks so also. Disney as a company’s as imagineers seem much more in line with my and others view of the parks than yours. So if we were to assume that some time in the past your view of Disney was correct, it’s not anymore. The company, parks, and society has moved on. And with that I can smile, have another drink, and picture myself enjoying rise of the resistance in two weeks without you

You’re wasting your time trying to argue with him.

Just ignore his posts.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I see this thread already has been hijacked as usual.

The general consensus seems to be that the ride seems to invoke classic Epcot vibes without compromising the original spirit of Test Track.

That’s a major accomplishment for Disney of people feel they did this ride some justice with the update.


You’re wasting your time trying to argue with him.

Just ignore his posts.

You’ve found a great new ally!

 

[Tha Realest]

Has anybody found a reliable streamer that is normal enough and enjoyable enough that is going to the preview today?

Based on my familiarity with Disney streamers, those emphasized words are incompatible with one another.

 

[DisneyCane]

I rode it yesterday.

The first scene - the Business District - is done well. It's got detail and explains LIDAR technology that most people don't know about. Classic EPCOT vibe for 90% of it.

The other 10% is where Imagineers kept the accelerate-into-anti-lock-braking track segment that's been around since Test Track 1.0. Except now it doesn't make sense. Launch a car that fast in a two-lane pedestrian setting and you'd lose your license. My first thought was "Why are we driving this fast here?

The second scene is the Garage of the Future, with the idea that we'll all be able to customize our vehicles' body panels, seating, etc. Also done well. I'm sure Imagineering didn't know this when pitching the idea to General Motors, but there's a car company that's doing it now - Slate Auto - so it's a bit weird to see it in a GM ride. But overall also very solid and in keeping with the EPCOT spirit.

The third scene is the Drive-Through Forest. I don't understand why we're in a forest. If it's "you're now driving the car that was in your garage", then it's redundant with the next section. I want to go back and look at WDI's social media post for this scene and see if the Imagineers are spelling out "Help me" in Morse code with their eyelids, like it's some sort of hostage video. There is nothing of any merit whatsoever here. I don't know why anyone would post anything about it. It's an utter flop.

The fourth and last scene is the High-Speed Loop, aka General Motors Presents: Osceola Parkway. The mural here is great. The rest of it remains unchanged from the late 1990's. Like The American Adventure, it seems EPCOT has built something they can't afford to update meaningfully. I still like going fast. But we've been doing this for over 25 years and it's time for something new.

There's also a couple of long, dark, empty hallway segments. The second one is where you start to think "Shoudn't there be a show element here?"

I gave it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Thanks for the review. I expect I will agree when I ride it. I didn't think the anti-lock break segment made any sense in 2.0 and it certainly sounds like it makes no sense here. They should have made the "skidding" part into self driving avoiding obstacles or something.

Is it THAT expensive to modify the track in that area to make the ride fit the new theming. They could have gentle curves to make it so that it takes the same amount of time to cross the area so it doesn't mess up the ride capacity.

 

[osian]

Thanks for the review. I expect I will agree when I ride it. I didn't think the anti-lock break segment made any sense in 2.0 and it certainly sounds like it makes no sense here. They should have made the "skidding" part into self driving avoiding obstacles or something.

Is it THAT expensive to modify the track in that area to make the ride fit the new theming. They could have gentle curves to make it so that it takes the same amount of time to cross the area so it doesn't mess up the ride capacity.

1. The first part of the original brake test section, the skid bit, is indeed about using lidar to spot obstacles and to help avoid them in a self-driving situation. The second part isn't about braking any more, it's a representaion of providing power to an EV via smart roads and inductive charging.

2. I think ripping up part of the current track and remanufacturing it to a different shape to fit into the same space and same timeframe would indeed be quite an unnecessary expense, as well as reprogramming the control systems and compeletely re-testing the new programming. It would also have noticeabley lengthened the refurbishment time.

You're right that changing a theme to fit an existing ride system that was designed for a different theme doesn't always work, but I think in this case it's worked well.

 

[Tha Realest]

Confession time: I’m a ride wimp. I adore the original WOM, and have never experience TT in the many times I’ve visited EPCOT in recent years (mostly due to ride shutdowns and reconstruction, but once or twice because I wimped out.

How is the intensity on this? I love RSR but tolerate the race portion for the theming that comes before that. I also understand it’s about 25-30 MPH faster than RSR.

 

[TalkingHead]

Confession time: I’m a ride wimp. I adore the original WOM, and have never experience TT in the many times I’ve visited EPCOT in recent years (mostly due to ride shutdowns and reconstruction, but once or twice because I wimped out.

How is the intensity on this? I love RSR but tolerate the race portion for the theming that comes before that. I also understand it’s about 25-30 MPH faster than RSR.

2/10 on intensity

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Confession time: I’m a ride wimp. I adore the original WOM, and have never experience TT in the many times I’ve visited EPCOT in recent years (mostly due to ride shutdowns and reconstruction, but once or twice because I wimped out.

How is the intensity on this? I love RSR but tolerate the race portion for the theming that comes before that. I also understand it’s about 25-30 MPH faster than RSR.

It’s very mild, i don’t love thrills and find it one of the easier ones

 

[osian]

Confession time: I’m a ride wimp. I adore the original WOM, and have never experience TT in the many times I’ve visited EPCOT in recent years (mostly due to ride shutdowns and reconstruction, but once or twice because I wimped out.

How is the intensity on this? I love RSR but tolerate the race portion for the theming that comes before that. I also understand it’s about 25-30 MPH faster than RSR.

Well, it's pretty similar to RSR really. It has three acceleration points, some flat turns where you experience some laterals, and obviously a high speed finale with banked corners. Yes, it's faster, and you'll feel more wind in your face but you probable go faster than that on your journey to the park. It has two "skid" sections (just abrupt wiggles really) that RSR doesn't have, but it doesn't have the airtime humps of RSR. I wouldn't describe it as intense at all really, just a lot of fun, but obviously different people have different tolerances. What do you find too intense about the ending of RSR? The speed, bumpiness, banked corners, wind in your face etc?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Confession time: I’m a ride wimp. I adore the original WOM, and have never experience TT in the many times I’ve visited EPCOT in recent years (mostly due to ride shutdowns and reconstruction, but once or twice because I wimped out.

How is the intensity on this? I love RSR but tolerate the race portion for the theming that comes before that. I also understand it’s about 25-30 MPH faster than RSR.

Prior to opening, Disney hyped it as the "longest, fastest ride in Disney history" which was technically true, but it's really not that physically intense, certainly not anymore so than RSR. It goes fast and has some sharp turns, but it's not strenuous.

 

[Tha Realest]

Well, it's pretty similar to RSR really. It has three acceleration points, some flat turns where you experience some laterals, and obviously a high speed finale with banked corners. Yes, it's faster, and you'll feel more wind in your face but you probable go faster than that on your journey to the park. It has two "skid" sections (just abrupt wiggles really) that RSR doesn't have, but it doesn't have the airtime humps of RSR. I wouldn't describe it as intense at all really, just a lot of fun, but obviously different people have different tolerances. What do you find too intense about the ending of RSR? The speed, bumpiness, banked corners, wind in your face etc?

I think it was more the bumps and quick turns more than anything. As some have said, yeah, I drive faster than that every day. I also 1) am the one driving, and 2) do not do so in a convertible with the top down.

 

[Moth]

Looks perfect .

I wish the song in full made it in, but a ride full of references (THE CAR OF THE FUTURE IS THERE!!!)

Last two epcot e ticket attractions to open…

View attachment 867423

View attachment 867424

Meanwhile….
View attachment 867425

One is a $100m makeover of an existing ride queue.

The other is a (reported) one billion dollar, new build attraction.

Naked mole rats to oranges, no?

 

[Agent H]

I wish the song in full made it in, but a ride full of references (THE CAR OF THE FUTURE IS THERE!!!)

One is a $100m makeover of an existing ride queue.

The other is a (reported) one billion dollar, new build attraction.

Naked mole rats to oranges, no?

Naked mole rats to oranges is my new favorite phrase.

 

[flynnibus]

Naked mole rats to oranges, no?

So you’re saying disney doesn’t spend on it’s #2 park headliner? Maybe they shouldn’t have wasted so much blowing the park up for the last 6yrs with little to show for it.

What other recent eticket would you like to compare to? Monsters uncahined? Even a super mario ride?

When are you gonna stop making excuses. This is a premier ride at epcot… well… used to be