Test Track running FP Return through full Design Studio Feb 23

[KevinYee]

I happened to visit today, the first day Test Track started experimenting with a new queue pattern. Standby was unchanged, and single-rider was unchanged. But FastPass was routed around to merge with Standby in the pre-load to the Design Studio (the "dots on the floor" room).

This was done by roping off the quickie design experience in the FP line; we just walked right by it (well, stood in line next to the kiosks). The former merge spot up ahead now became a sharp U-turn, to a passageway that led down a couple of stairs and then to a doorway right next to the front (but off to the side) of the pre-load for the Design Studio. The poor CMs were working hard, but they looked frazzled by the new system.

One of them volunteered to me that it was done because there were a LOT of complaints about not doing a full design when using a FP. He further said that they are being held to move the Design Studio very fast (can't remember if he said three minutes or five), but this is where part of the stress was coming for them.

In practical terms, the new pattern meant very little line after the Design Studio. I would guess the Standby line moves more slowly now in the front queue. It did add a bit of time to the overall experience on the FP side, but of course the experience also became richer as a result.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I was debating if we should use FP for Test Track because of not getting the full design experience. I hope this stays.

 

[ChrisFL]

Has the "Full Design" setup changed since it was open?

I think there are probably 2-3 steps they can streamline to make the builds faster, such as not choosing front AND back wheel designs...one design for front and back is plenty IMO

 

[Tom Morrow]

More importantly, does your car actually upload to the ride correctly yet? Because that is the whole point, and having it not even work is just lame.

 

[RedDad]

I've always wondered how they ever intended to upload your actual design when you are in a car with 5 other people who have also designed their own car...?

 

[StageFrenzy]

I've always wondered how they ever intended to upload your actual design when you are in a car with 5 other people who have also designed their own car...?

After every event there is a video screen showing 6 cars and their rankings for each event

 

[RedDad]

After every event there is a video screen showing 6 cars and their rankings for each event

I see. Well, I'm glad they're routing FP folks thru the full experience, though I feel bad for people who don't use FP, as the lines will have to get longer.

 

[djlaosc]

We were hoping to be able to use Fastpass to AVOID designing the cars (we all see it as pretty much pointless - especially as it doesn't seem to work properly yet).

Oh well...

 

[RonAnnArbor]

You can still go through the single rider entry, but you'll have to ride separately. That is still going through the fast-design section.
As to the "it doesn't seem to work properly yet" is just wrong. Stop reading the very limited hate-comments here in the forum, and go experience it yourself. It works VERY properly for 99.9% of the riders. If you do not complete the steps to activate your card on the way in properly (i.e. skipping steps in the design section) then it won't "work" when you go to activate it at ride loading. Occasionally, one of the cards might mis-fire (down the road, that will be your RDIF wristband anyway) but that is very rare. Are there glitches? Sure. Not like the furor created by one bad review in a forum.
Don't read into the few who don't like the refurb and are going out of their way to badmouth it.

 

[mm52200]

You can still go through the single rider entry, but you'll have to ride separately. That is still going through the fast-design section.
As to the "it doesn't seem to work properly yet" is just wrong. Stop reading the very limited hate-comments here in the forum, and go experience it yourself. It works VERY properly for 99.9% of the riders. If you do not complete the steps to activate your card on the way in properly (i.e. skipping steps in the design section) then it won't "work" when you go to activate it at ride loading. Occasionally, one of the cards might mis-fire (down the road, that will be your RDIF wristband anyway) but that is very rare. Are there glitches? Sure. Not like the furor created by one bad review in a forum.
Don't read into the few who don't like the refurb and are going out of their way to badmouth it.

I enjoy the refurb a lot, but I rode it several times in December and the designs rarely showed up during the ride or worked sporadically. They would pop up on one screen but not the other. Has anyone actually gone to report recently and see how everything's working?

 

[Thrill Seeker]

I don't like this. Yes, not allowing Fast Pass guests use the full design studio is a reason not to use Fast Pass, but personally I'd rather reward the guests waiting in Stand By with the full design process. You don't like that? Go stand by. Unfortunately, Disney tries to accommodate everyone even if it's not fair.

 

[Tom Morrow]

You can still go through the single rider entry, but you'll have to ride separately. That is still going through the fast-design section.
As to the "it doesn't seem to work properly yet" is just wrong. Stop reading the very limited hate-comments here in the forum, and go experience it yourself. It works VERY properly for 99.9% of the riders. If you do not complete the steps to activate your card on the way in properly (i.e. skipping steps in the design section) then it won't "work" when you go to activate it at ride loading. Occasionally, one of the cards might mis-fire (down the road, that will be your RDIF wristband anyway) but that is very rare. Are there glitches? Sure. Not like the furor created by one bad review in a forum.
Don't read into the few who don't like the refurb and are going out of their way to badmouth it.

sorry, but I have ridden many times since the re-opening and have yet to even see my car on any screen and yes, I know how to upload it properly. Similar experiences from everyone else I have talked to. I'm also mostly in favor of this new version too.

 

[kap91]

Personally I also like the idea of "rewarding" the standby line with a fuller experience. The point of fast pass is to get on the ride fast. Having a bit of a better experience for those waiting longer seems to make sense. Otherwise the impression is given that people with fast passes are being given preferential treatment. Not to mention that this will likely slow down the standby line more and shorten the amount of design time.

And regarding the cards working, I like to give Disney the benefit of the doubt but in the 15 or so times I've ridden over the past three months I've never had my car show up on all the screens during the ride, and more than a third of the time it doesn't show at all, so there is definitely still work to be done on that front.

 

[MarkTwain]

sorry, but I have ridden many times since the re-opening and have yet to even see my car on any screen and yes, I know how to upload it properly. Similar experiences from everyone else I have talked to. I'm also mostly in favor of this new version too.

Same. I uploaded my car every one of my 8 rides since it reopened and have only seen it work once.

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

Test Track.......To me it looks like Tron Track. On a serious note, I agree wholeheartedly with @Thrill Seeker and @kap91 statements. Hey @KevinYee, if you filmed this change/new queue pattern, you think you can put it on your next photo find video on Youtube please (love those)? I'd like to see it that way I can somewhat get a better understanding of what is being discussed here since I haven't seen virtually or in person TT 2.0 yet.

 

[spacemountain89]

I happened to visit today, the first day Test Track started experimenting with a new queue pattern. Standby was unchanged, and single-rider was unchanged. But FastPass was routed around to merge with Standby in the pre-load to the Design Studio (the "dots on the floor" room).

This was done by roping off the quickie design experience in the FP line; we just walked right by it (well, stood in line next to the kiosks). The former merge spot up ahead now became a sharp U-turn, to a passageway that led down a couple of stairs and then to a doorway right next to the front (but off to the side) of the pre-load for the Design Studio. The poor CMs were working hard, but they looked frazzled by the new system.

One of them volunteered to me that it was done because there were a LOT of complaints about not doing a full design when using a FP. He further said that they are being held to move the Design Studio very fast (can't remember if he said three minutes or five), but this is where part of the stress was coming for them.

In practical terms, the new pattern meant very little line after the Design Studio. I would guess the Standby line moves more slowly now in the front queue. It did add a bit of time to the overall experience on the FP side, but of course the experience also became richer as a result.

It was the second time the test was done. The main reason they did it yesterday was because they were almost out of the design keys. Hence why cm were asking everyone if they had a green plastic park ticket or their disney hotel key. It will be the regular way from now on unless management wants to test it again

 

[KevinYee]

Indeed, it was back to the "usual" pattern tonight (Sunday) of FP getting only the quickie experience. Odd that they'd run out of these plain RFID cards -- that was the point to making them plain and not something you'd want to steal. That explains why my rubber band tonight was a re-tied one that had previously snapped.

And we *did* see a CM asking for RFID chips (guest hotel cards) in the Standby line. He took up the right-hand queue for the "get used to the screens" section right before the pre-load room. Definitely sounds like they're looking for ways to save on cards.

Except, um, isn't a $10/hour Cast Member more expensive than just ordering hundreds of thousands more cards?

 

[Biff215]

After experiencing TT last month using a Fast Pass, I would prefer to have the full design experience. The shortened version seemed so pointless, and took away the interactive feeling of the attraction. I really don't understand those who think that Fast Pass does not deserve the full experience, only standby. I agree that it would likely make the standby line even longer, but if you're using your only Fast Pass entitlement for that window of time then you deserve the same experience IMO. Single riders are a different story, as they are bypassing most of the wait altogether.

As others have pointed out, perhaps some slight changes can be made to make the full design experience a little more streamlined to make this work.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

They did this when we went on it February 4th. It didn't run as smoothly as it had expedited. And to us, the whole design thing didn't make a difference.

But whatever; we still think they ruined it and are refusing to ride it on principle. It's terrible now.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

You can still go through the single rider entry, but you'll have to ride separately. That is still going through the fast-design section.
As to the "it doesn't seem to work properly yet" is just wrong. Stop reading the very limited hate-comments here in the forum, and go experience it yourself. It works VERY properly for 99.9% of the riders. If you do not complete the steps to activate your card on the way in properly (i.e. skipping steps in the design section) then it won't "work" when you go to activate it at ride loading. Occasionally, one of the cards might mis-fire (down the road, that will be your RDIF wristband anyway) but that is very rare. Are there glitches? Sure. Not like the furor created by one bad review in a forum.
Don't read into the few who don't like the refurb and are going out of their way to badmouth it.

Oh, you mean like me? Badmouthing? lol. Really, no one in my group liked it. My father even wrote a very long letter to Disney about it. We basically see it as riding on a track with lights now. My father was the one ranting about it. He said that they should turn off all the lights and make it like another Space Mountain and then it would be more exciting. We just feel as though the story is gone. We don't go out of our way to ride it anymore.