EPCOT Test Track to be reimagined

[Biff215]

If a ride vehicle changing color is considered "theme parks going astray" then it's not about being critical anymore, it's just competitive complaining

I don’t think the color is being criticized much here if at all. The conversation around the ride vehicles is that based on the concept art, many thought we might be getting an actual upgrade to them that could enhance the experience. We’ll have to see how this plays out but I don’t see the harm in any debate before it reopens.

 

[osian]

I don't really see any difference (considering this is all concept art) from the 2.0 concepts, the cars look exactly the same to me, I don't understand how anyone could think it was going to be an all new physical design.

 

[monothingie]

It's got the "I'm walking up to an office building in a corporate park" feeling.

I'm sure it will look better when lit up, but it seems like it caries over the same generic bland modern design ethos that has infected the rest of Epcot.

 

[ChewbaccaYourMum]

Most of us here love these theme parks...that is why we make noise when something goes astray

Every single new thing goes astray, according to y'all

 

[Andrew C]

Every single new thing goes astray, according to y'all

That's not our fault. Blame Disney.

 

[DisneyCane]

View attachment 854018

It's got the "I'm walking up to an office building in a corporate park" feeling.

I'm sure it will look better when lit up, but it seems like it caries over the same generic bland modern design ethos that has infected the rest of Epcot.

I agree that there is nothing particularly unique to the design of the canopy. I don't know what the theme of the new ride will be but, if it fit, something like part of a giant wheel sticking out would have been something to consider.

 

[networkpro]

I agree that there is nothing particularly unique to the design of the canopy. I don't know what the theme of the new ride will be but, if it fit, something like part of a giant wheel sticking out would have been something to consider.

A wheel pergola? Meh, the curve is much better visually and much better for when it rains.

 

[Timothy_Q]

A modern looking structure at Epcot?
Attached to the modern looking Test Track building?
A structure that mirrors the design language of said building?

Now Disney really blew it

 

[MrPromey]

Especially if they are keeping the "design you car" element - makes sense that the actual physical cars would blend into the surrounding more and be like a "blank canvas"

If they aren't (hopefully they're in some way enhancing how that plays out on the ride more than just on some small displays) I hope they're really doing a lot for the sets in this ride.

The last version felt like a major downgrade in almost every single way except for this. People who went through single-rider always got robbed of the only plus from this new version by only being able to pick from pre-designed vehicles.

I thought for years the whole thing was an on-the-whole downgrade until starting to go with kids who would start to panic when the design countdown neared and they had to finalize their customizations. Through that lens, I developed respect for this as probably the best example at Disney of how to turn part of the line into an actual part of the attraction experience before Rise dethroned it.

Part of it was how well the software for the design process worked (why can't those guys work on the phone apps?) and part of it was how unremarkable the attraction itself was, stripped of all sets and most indoor experience, all replaced by screens and projection mapping.

I'm hopeful there still is that interactive element and that there will be more going on during the dark ride portion of the attraction once this referb is complete.

 

[Incomudro]

View attachment 854018

It's got the "I'm walking up to an office building in a corporate park" feeling.

I'm sure it will look better when lit up, but it seems like it caries over the same generic bland modern design ethos that has infected the rest of Epcot.

I think it works perfectly with the building.
The building is a clean, simple tuna can.
The less adornment plastered on it, the better.

 

[Jrb1979]

Okay. What do you actually want here?

A full on re theme to World of Motion.

 

[monothingie]

I think it works perfectly with the building.
The building is a clean, simple tuna can.
The less adornment plastered on it, the better.

The original WOM was emblematic of the typical late 70's and early 80's brutalist design. From the perspective of a World's Fair type pavilion as was the original intent of a lot of Future world it worked. There was character with the surrounding landscape also softened the stark nature of the building.

The new design removes the clutter that masked the original structure, and I like that a lot. But the building is still bland.
Considering what they did with the LED lighting on SSE, which is fantastic, they have an entire canvas in which could have been used to create some whimsy and excitement. (LED Displays, Projections, even static caricatures). In short it needs more energy than a new entrance and sign.

 

[James Alucobond]

The original WOM was emblematic of the typical late 70's and early 80's brutalist design.

I would not call World of Motion brutalist. It maybe echoes a couple of brutalist tenets with regard to geometry and scale, but it is not otherwise evocative of the movement.

 

[monothingie]

I would not call World of Motion brutalist. It maybe echoes a couple of brutalist tenets with regard to geometry and scale, but it is not otherwise evocative of the movement.

It was a big round uniformly colored cross section of a tube with no unique ornamentation or features.

Perfectly cutting edge modern architecture for the time and application.

 

[Jrb1979]

Disney Fans: This update better have lots of better new things!!

Also Disney Fans: I hope they don't change much!!

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How about making it an updated World of Motion with the AAs to go with it.

 

[Jrb1979]

They don’g need to be? They function just fine. They’re not uncomfortable to sit in. The ride’s capacity is fine. The ride isn’t rough. What is there to update?

How about making them look like the World of Motion vehicles and less like Lightening McQueen

 

[James Alucobond]

It was a big round uniformly colored cross section of a tube with no unique ornamentation or features.

Perfectly cutting edge modern architecture for the time and application.

It was never left raw in the style typical of the movement, nor was it constructed in such a way that it could be left raw.

 

[Jrb1979]

My assumption was that they might be keeping the "testing a vehicle in a variety of environments" arc of the existing narrative but instead populate it with more realistic (and therefore more timeless) sets rather than the neon grid cut-out pines and whatnot in the 2.0 iteration.

Then that's not really World of Motion. It's slight nod to the it.

 

[James Alucobond]

Then that's not really World of Motion. It's slight nod to the it.

I'm not a person with any inside knowledge who ever claimed that it would or wouldn't have anything to do with WoM. I was just commenting on what I imagined based on the one piece of interior art we have.

 

[Biff215]

I don't really see any difference (considering this is all concept art) from the 2.0 concepts, the cars look exactly the same to me, I don't understand how anyone could think it was going to be an all new physical design.
View attachment 854016

We clearly disagree on this which is fine, but do these really look “exactly the same” to you?