Disney released some major news this weekend during Destination D23.
EPCOT
A new restaurant, redesigned shows and attractions, and huge changes to SIX rides in Disney World — it’s been quite the whirlwind! One of the biggest announcements we heard over the weekend was that Test Track in EPCOT would be getting a reimagining. While we don’t know when this change will take place, we have been carefully looking over what Disney has shared to get an idea of what to expect.
By looking over the concept art that Disney has shared and the comments they have made about this upcoming reimagining, we can make a few guesses about what changes might take place at Test Track. Keep in mind, this is just speculation!
World of Motion
First, Disney shared that with this reimagining, they are going to be “reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion — and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of Test Track”
Test Track
An opening day attraction, then sponsored by General Motors, World of Motion “took visitors on a time travel journey through the history of transportation.” During this ride, guests saw scenes of man as he created new means of transportation — from the bicycle to the airplane.
©Disney
At the end of the ride, visitors got a look at the “cars of the future.” Currently, Test Track takes guests on a thrilling ride on a virtual self-created concept car. As it is today, it focuses heavily on current technology with a nod to future possibilities. While we don’t know the details about how Disney plans on taking inspiration from history, it does sound like they might be incorporating more of a full timeline of the evolution of transportation.
Ride Vehicles
Another detail that Disney shared is the concept art for the upcoming attraction. In the image, we can see an idea of what the ride vehicles may look like.
©Disney
While this is just concept art, it does look similar to the current ride vehicles on the attraction — which are inspired by automobiles. But could they also take elements from other rides around Disney?
Test track vehicle
World of Motion utilized Omnivehicles, which we still see in Spaceship Earth today. Could the reimagined Test Track use a modernized version of these? Maybe they will look something like the ride vehicles from the past and the ride cars of the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster?
©Disney | World of Motion ride vehicles
The Guardians of the Galaxy coaster was a major project, so an undertaking like that is probably not in the cards for Test Track. But, it will be interesting to see what kind of ride system Disney uses with the technologies they have used in the past.
Setting
Lastly, the concept art depicts a potential scene from a ride that is surrounded by trees. We already know that this updated attraction will take inspiration from history and World of Motion, so maybe this will be similar to scenes from that ride.
©Disney | Bicycle scene from World of Motion
Currently, Test Track does pass by a few scenes to emulate different driving conditions, like how a vehicle would fare in various weather, so it’s not completely far off from what we already see. But, this updated version of the ride could show scenes that are more akin to the kind we would see on World of Motion — an illustration of time and evolution instead of a simulation.
©Disney | Scenes from World of Motion
We’re still waiting to hear more about this upcoming overhaul. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news!
FIRST LOOK at a Transportation CHANGE in EPCOT
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All I ask is to not break my hands while protecting my adult knees from the jerky last minute stops #iykyk
I like Test Track so I hope they don’t do something like Frozen which is worse that the original version.
I hope they don’t change it too much. I enjoy the thrill ride aspect of Test Track. If they go back to the history of automobiles its going to be a snoozer.
I love test track so honestly I hope they don’t change it too much. It’s such a fun ride.
World of motion was one of my favorite rides.I liked going up the spiral in the beginning, then seeing the progress of vehicles. It was cute and fun. I miss the cute learning aspect of old EPCOT.
I love Test Track, but I really loved the show at the old World of Motion. The WOM was much more entertaining.
Honestly, I wish they would just go back to World of Motion. That was my favorite EPCOT ride!
Of all the rides in Epcot that could use some love <> why are they revisiting Test Track AGAIN?!?
I hope they do revisit the WOM aspects. It would a nice change from Test Track. Not much of a ride, just going around in a circle. Disney needs to do it right. Use animatronics and not the screen style projections.
We love this ride! It has something for everyone! It’s a teenage boy’s dream, to be able to design your own car 🙂 It has a ‘fast ride’ part, it has cool cars to observe, interactive games to play, photo opportunities… There is nobody in our large family who doesn’t love Test Track, and there aren’t many Disney rides that has that status! Please don’t do anything too drastic – Epcot doesn’t really have a huge number of fast rides
Just make it handicapped accessible
Truly hope they don’t make it spin or I won’t be able to ride it anymore! Absolutely sucks that guardian’s spins. Nothing I take or do helps me at all. And I can never ride it again.
I liked Gen I of Test Track and the educational aspects of new car technology, followed by the high speed test loop, complete with simulated Corvette V8 sounds. That may be an exhibit unto itself…”Remember when cars sounded like this?” World of Motion was great, but Test Trak was more fun to me. I even liked the intro video with Bill McHale and the lady engineer. I am not a big fan of design your car Test Track Gen II. I also miss the educational exhibits at the old Epcot. Cranium Command was my favorite. And I agree that Malestrom was far better than Frozen in Norway.
So World of Motion was like Spaceship Earth? We don’t need another Spaceship Earth (I love Spaceship Earth!) but having two of the same type of ride (one about transportation and one about commuication) isn’t a good idea. But I’m not an Imagineer either.
Ryan may not be an Imagineer, but he is someone Disney needs to listen to a lot more. Ryan is that long-forgotten expert — the Walt Disnry World Guest!