Upcoming Changes to Test Track?

[AJDMB05]

Is there any notable set pieces that were removed? The trees and the truck are still there. Unless I am mistaken, everything else appeared to be a warehouse backdrop

I suppose so, but everything had a purpose. In the 2012 refurb they really did remove a lot. The down-ramp after the initial hill climb used to be testing the "rough road surfaces" with Belgian and German blocks (that's the part where OnStar kicks in). The two short sequences where you speed up and spin-out used to be antilock brake tests that had all sort of physical pieces that resembled a testing ground. The three rooms that are now the efficiency test which is just a mirror and a projection, used to have actual heat lamps, chillers and mist to simulate corrosion and weather effects. The hairpin turns and close call with the truck were the same, and in 2012 just got blue lights to outline the trees and truck.

The entire final indoor scene before the "power" test used to be a barrier test and have an actual car that would crash to simulate what you were about to do. It at least told a story throughout. Doesn't mean one's better than the other, I just preferred the original to today's Tron-like aesthetics.

 

[stretchsje]

The problem with Test Track is that it is less thrilling than driving a real car. Real cars corner with more grip, brake waaaay harder, and exceed 64.9mph. (Not to mention they have working steering!) They can't reskin Test Track to change the engineering parameters.

 

[Missing20K]

It at least told a story throughout.

 

[AJDMB05]

The problem with Test Track is that it is less thrilling than driving a real car. Real cars corner with more grip, brake waaaay harder, and exceed 64.9mph. (Not to mention they have working steering!) They can't reskin Test Track to change the engineering parameters.

I've never understood this logic as to why Test Track isn't a thrilling ride. Yes, you can go faster than 65mph on the highway, but you're also driving a real car in that scenario with real consequences, traffic, etc. The ride wasn't meant to be Driving Simulator 1999, it's a hybrid dark ride/thrill ride in a theme park. How often do you do 65mph around the outside of a building at a 50 degree angle?

 

[MadTeacup]

Since EPCOT seems to playing the whole nostalgia card coupled with misappropriated IP's, how about Toad Track (Mister Toad's 2.0)? It will be a nice, quality attraction that will simultaneously please and anger fans. You know, because Mr. Toad visited EPCOT and actually drove through World of Motion in the 80's...

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Re: 1.0, the crash test segment was brilliant!

 

[disneyC97]

I would love for that canopy to go away

 

[MadTeacup]

I would love for that canopy to go away

If they could at least replace it with something that blends - Maybe a nice, gently arched canopy that is about half the height with a silver metal roof and no tacky vinyl tarp facade.

 

[ChrisFL]

I love the car design aspect and I never skip it. Also, if I go in the single rider line, first I'll to the exit area, design my car there, then go into the single rider queue with my created car design.

I suppose it could be annoying for some people who don't want to do that, but I don't see them making it optional, unless they give people the option to pick one of the 4 generic cars like they sometimes have in the FP line.

I do wish they could make it more tied into the ride itself, like seeing each of our designs copied onto our ride vehicle, similar to the original World of Motion did with the pepper's ghost effect. That should be really easy to do.

TT 2.0 feels much more futuristic and EPCOT Center to me than TT 1.0 which was VERY dated feeling, even when it opened. It was very much a ride for the mid 90's with nothing futuristic about it.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The move here for me would be to utilize the large screens on either side of the track by syncing up the motion/actions of our pre-show designs with the car we're driving in. If they could better incorporate the pre-show designs into the actual ride it would really feel like a modern version of an EPCOT Center attraction.

 

[MattFrees71]

Re: 1.0, the crash test segment was brilliant!

Yes! When I went on it the first time when I was 9 or 10, I thought they were literally going to simulate crashing into those doors, and on the photo (which by the way, why the heck don't they take the picture there still???), it looked like I was bracing for death. And in later years, I loved riding with people who had never been on it before and see their reactions. Now, there is no buildup or background to those doors being there and opening at the last second- it is much more anticlimactic.

 

[MattFrees71]

To me, Test Track 2.0 was a lazy overhaul and missed opportunity. Going on it recently with my family- every one of us couldn't keep from mentioning how much better the original was and how dumbed down and simplified the new one is.

2.0 is just like a video game with no real-world practical application, whereas 1.0 actually made me interested in how cars are tested when I was a kid- Test Track 2.0 would seem to just inspire kids to play more video games... One of the most disappointing things about the new version is that they completely eliminated tests like the rough road blocks and the hot, cold, and corrosion rooms. The latter 3 now consist of dark, flat walls and a mirror with a projection that looks like it could be on an Iphone app.

1.0 showed real tests that cars at GM go through- that way of testing is still done today. The only thing outdated was some of the aesthetics (paint jobs, old video, some props)- they could have easily spruced it up and keep the general idea/practicality of 1.0.. Future World is about real life practical technologies and innovations- and I think Test Track 1.0 fit just fine with that. I hope 2.0 can be fixed to be more practical, detailed, and theatrical as 1.0.

 

[WDWTrojan]

1.0 was interesting, memorable and really told a cohesive story. Even the actors/narrators were fine. Set pieces nice (I miss the smell of the paint sprayers). Sometimes I still say quotes from it "...and that's what we call an evasive maneuver." 2.0 lost all sense of story and cohesion. It's confusing. The car design part is fun and fine but takes too long, plus once you've done it once that's quite enough. 1.0 was fun to ride frequently.

 

[ChrisFL]

To me, Test Track 2.0 was a lazy overhaul and missed opportunity. Going on it recently with my family- every one of us couldn't keep from mentioning how much better the original was and how dumbed down and simplified the new one is.

2.0 is just like a video game with no real-world practical application, whereas 1.0 actually made me interested in how cars are tested when I was a kid- Test Track 2.0 would seem to just inspire kids to play more video games... One of the most disappointing things about the new version is that they completely eliminated tests like the rough road blocks and the hot, cold, and corrosion rooms. The latter 3 now consist of dark, flat walls and a mirror with a projection that looks like it could be on an Iphone app.

1.0 showed real tests that cars at GM go through- that way of testing is still done today. The only thing outdated was some of the aesthetics (paint jobs, old video, some props)- they could have easily spruced it up and keep the general idea/practicality of 1.0.. Future World is about real life practical technologies and innovations- and I think Test Track 1.0 fit just fine with that. I hope 2.0 can be fixed to be more practical, detailed, and theatrical as 1.0.

I think the idea is that a lot of testing can be done in simulations and they're trying to show that...yes, it could have been executed better and it doesn't all "flow" as well as it should, but I understand what they were trying to do.

 

[montyz81]

View attachment 354842
On the new Epcot entrance concept art, the blue roof at the entrance of Test Track seems to be replaced with a newer more permanent entrance structure, does this mean that Test Track is about to receive some major changes in the near future? Does any insiders know what's going on here?

If you squint, it does kind of look like the original concept art for World of Motion

 

[Frenchi]

Maybe they will cover the track and make it space themed. Lol.

 

[No Name]

Current TT is one of my family's favorite rides. My son loves the make your own car aspect. TT 2.0 is a really good attraction that just needs a little something more to be great. And it's much better than 1.0 was.

You’re entitled to your opinion.

 

[mikejs78]

You’re entitled to your opinion.

Everyone is. And I think there's a pretty good split between people who prefer 1.0 or 2.0...

 

[kurtk]

Everyone is. And I think there's a pretty good split between people who prefer 1.0 or 2.0...

I think both 1.0 and 2.0 have their pluses and minuses. This is probably one of the last rides at EPCOT that can still trace its roots to the blend of education and fun. Both versions are based somewhat on engineering which is cool.
1.0 dealt with testing a car for environmental and real world driving conditions. Tuning suspensions, braking, temperature extremes, etc.
2.0 has to do with the tradeoffs engineers make in designing a car. Trying to balance performance, handling, eco-friendly, and other issues.
That is why this engineer likes both.

 

[The Duck]

I would prefer World of Motion 2.0 but that ship sailed and sunk a long time ago.