EPCOT Test Track to be reimagined

[Epcot82Guy]

I finally got to ride it last night. Walked away mixed. I think execution wise, it's great. There are some really cool modern effects. Story-wise, it's not the best. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it actually leans into the future aspect too much. Classic Epcot to me always showed a fair bit of the past and how we got to where we are. Then a glimpse at the future. Most of your classics were majority past. Even Horizons was about 50-50. I realize Test Track doesn't lend itself to that very easily, given how short it was. But, I think that's where a really cool queue could have helped. Right now, there is just no point other than showing some cool tricks. It's a lot of flash without substance.

I also think the music was a huge miss. I think an upbeat, modern Fun to be Free starting in the forest would have been a great story. Right now, there is no point for the outside loop. Having a narrative about how, "no matter how advanced we get, there's nothing like the thrill of the drive - It's kinda fun to feel free..."

With that, I do love the return to something that very much fits the original themes of EPCOT more and feels founded in our real world and being inspirational. People seem to be enjoying it, and wait times showed that. I also think it shows, right now, people just want fun distractions. So, it will work quite nicely there.

EDIT: One thing I didn't mention - I loved the easter egg from the WoM finale in the old hot/cold rooms. I thought that was a very fun touch. It would lend itself very well to holiday or seasonal overlays. And, it could easily be updated over time. And the new, much fuller forest scene with practical sets afterwards really re-grounds you in the experience after the screens. Job well done there.

 

[ChrisRobin124]

I finally got to ride it last night. Walked away mixed. I think execution wise, it's great. There are some really cool modern effects. Story-wise, it's not the best. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it actually leans into the future aspect too much. Classic Epcot to me always showed a fair bit of the past and how we got to where we are. Then a glimpse at the future. Most of your classics were majority past. Even Horizons was about 50-50. I realize Test Track doesn't lend itself to that very easily, given how short it was. But, I think that's where a really cool queue could have helped. Right now, there is just no point other than showing some cool tricks. It's a lot of flash without substance.

I also think the music was a huge miss. I think an upbeat, modern Fun to be Free starting in the forest would have been a great story. Right now, there is no point for the outside loop. Having a narrative about how, "no matter how advanced we get, there's nothing like the thrill of the drive - It's kinda fun to feel free..."

With that, I do love the return to something that very much fits the original themes of EPCOT more and feels founded in our real world and being inspirational. People seem to be enjoying it, and wait times showed that. I also think it shows, right now, people just want fun distractions. So, it will work quite nicely there.

I sorta wish you had designed this version.

 

[DisneyCane]

Warning to those who have their auto insurance company apps on their phones -- you'd be well served by either disabling it or leaving your phone with a non-rider. The Test Track tale told by your phone's accelerometers won't do your car insurance discount any favors!

I don't let my insurance company spy on me. My normal driving is far more aggressive than TT when I'm not stuck in rush hour traffic.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I sorta wish you had designed this version.

If you saw my drawing abilities... no you don't...

 

[larryz]

I don't let my insurance company spy on me. My normal driving is far more aggressive than TT when I'm not stuck in rush hour traffic.

Congratulations. What year is your automobile?

 

[V_L_Raptor]

What struck me, besides all the Eggs in the future home section… is just how short the ride is. I don’t have the numbers, but clearly it eats people. Just wish I had a little more time on the ride to enjoy it and looking for all those references and details.

 

[HMF]

If you saw my drawing abilities... no you don't...

You don't necessarily need to be able to draw to be a project lead.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think this is the largest flaw with the ride itself. Everyone says this is a return to form for Future World, and I do believe it is, but EPCOT was always grounded in a realistic and achievable future. “You’re going to be able to change the shape and color of your car on a whim” is not achievable, at least not in the way it’s presented on the ride.

They did have the "Skateboard" concept they used to show at the exit of TT 1.0 which meant you could put different bodies on top of an EV powertrain, maybe that's what they were pointing to?

 

[Epcot82Guy]

What struck me, besides all the Eggs in the future home section… is just how short the ride is. I don’t have the numbers, but clearly it eats people. Just wish I had a little more time on the ride to enjoy it and looking for all those references and details.

I had that same thought. It feels noticeably shorter than v1 or v2.

 

[muddyrivers]

How can the ride be shorter? As far as I know, it's the same track going the same speed so it has to be the exact same time as 1 and 2, right?

 

[osian]

How can the ride be shorter? As far as I know, it's the same track going the same speed so it has to be the exact same time as 1 and 2, right?

No, they're saying it feels shorter, not that they think it is shorter. This is a perception of time related to what is going on. I've felt the same, watching the videos. Getting theoretical here, but I can think of two reasons. One is that it feels more like a classic EPCOT Center attraction than either of the previous incarnations, maybe we expect it to be a long, slow-moving Omnimover type ride as opposed to the dark ride/thrill ride combo it was designed to be. In that respect it is short for that type of exposition ride but of course is not shorter than it was previously. Secondly, I think the custom design section is quite long and drawn out, taking a large part of the length of the ride to deal with just one subject, so maybe our perception of length is also due to the number of subjects it covers. Unfortunately, another symptom of having an existing slow moving section through four rooms and needing to think of a method to fill them.

 

[seabreezept813]

No, they're saying it feels shorter, not that they think it is shorter. This is a perception of time related to what is going on. I've felt the same, watching the videos. Getting theoretical here, but I can think of two reasons. One is that it feels more like a classic EPCOT Center attraction than either of the previous incarnations, maybe we expect it to be a long, slow-moving Omnimover type ride as opposed to the dark ride/thrill ride combo it was designed to be. In that respect it is short for that type of exposition ride but of course is not shorter than it was previously. Secondly, I think the custom design section is quite long and drawn out, taking a large part of the length of the ride to deal with just one subject, so maybe our perception of length is also due to the number of subjects it covers. Unfortunately, another symptom of having an existing slow moving section through four rooms and needing to think of a method to fill them.

Agreed I’d also add that with no interactive stuff after the ride it feels like just a ride not a full pavilion. Due to the lack of car design and then post show elements.

 

[wdwjmp239]

The thought was to drive up to Epcot for dinner with the fam and to check out the new iteration of Test Track. Though, by the time we got to Epcot, the ride had shut down due to technical difficulties (or due to a nearby thunderstorm) at around 5:30pm. Thankfully, I live "close" (3 hours away) and will check it out when Florida decides to stop participating in summer.