I'm going to take the GG approach to evaluating Test Track
TEST TRACK REVIEW: 25/25 POINTS: STORY
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 10/10
The only way this could be further enhanced would be with more video monitors during the queue area illustrating some of the tests they can't demonstrate
- Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 10/10
The effects of the ride are the storyline.
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 5/5
Grizz hit this right on the nose, with test dummies lining the queue it's pretty obvious what our role is.
13/20 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL
- Young children: 4/5 (I bumped this up b/c I believe the high restriction is 40 inches, and the children that I see riding this ride absolutely love it)
- Adolescents/young adults: 4/5 (For a complete thrill experience it's not all there)
- Parents/adults: 4/5
- Seniors: 1/5 (How many seniors drive faster than 30 mph, honestly)
19/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 9/10
I don't know much about the technical aspect of the show, so I'll stick with Grizz's ratings
- Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 10/10. The queue area is more than impressive, and the ride itself is entertaining. It is replacing something that people on these boards are holding as sacred, but in reality was always a walk on. That's not trying to take away from WoM, it served it's purpose, it could handle large amounts of people, but was purely educational. Disney and other theme parks are competing on a new stage, while Disney attempts to hold it's rides and attractions to a hire standard of theming, educational and authentic backgrounds - they must also provide the excitement sought out by today's thrill seekers.
10/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 0/10
I don't know if this is a fair category. Not all rides are character based.
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message: 10/10
The entire ride is educational, it's not meant to inspire you. It serves it's purpose in educating you of how cars undergo testing.
11/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 3/5 I mentioned previously how I like the queue area. The postshow showroom is fine, there's not a whole lot to do other then sit in cars, but that's the sponsorship actually getting something out of their invested money. I knocked it down b/c of the long waits this ride produces.
- Music/soundtrack: 3/5
The only music I hear is the sounds of the mechanic blasting far too loudly in the queue. However, I think this is more appropriate then music given the testing environment we're supposed to be in
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 5/5
Assuming Future of 1982 World is changed to Discovery World then this fits the theme. I think we have to assume that the front part of Epcot's theme is discovery rather then the future. World of Motion, Horizons and Wonders of Life all fit the Discovery theme and are being cast aside for newer discoveries.
FINAL GRADE: 78/100
A little bit lower then I would have initially thought, but not by much. The biggest problem with this ride is it's throughput time. People talk about how it continually breaks down. I've really only experienced one breakdown and that was when it was raining and the breakdown was really a safety issue. In my mind there are very few ways they can improve the throughput time when the ride is functioning properly.
1. Increase the size of the vehicle. By keeping the ride time and space between vehicles the same, but increasing the size of the vehicle the line will move quicker.
2. Add more track. This would require a major shut down of the attraction that will result in a negative spike in Epcot's attendance. They can't afford to do this any time soon.