Showing posts with label General Motors. Show all posts
Test Track Brings Back Some Of The Original Epcot Focus With Redesign
Disney World thrill seeking guests know that if they want to experience the fastest attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort they need to head to Epcot to ride Test Track.
Guests that haven't been to Epcot in a while will still get to experience the 60+ mph top speed, but they will notice many changes to this very popular attraction.
During 2012 Test Track underwent a substantial redesign and refreshing that gives the attraction a new look and provides a different experience for the guests. From the moment you enter the building, you will realize that instead of crash test dummies and car parts being smashed and tested, you are looking at prototype vehicles and design concepts.
Instead of focusing on the "Testing" aspect of car building, General Motors now focuses the attraction on the designing process. This switch makes the attraction much more interactive and it engages the guests to think, in a fun way. Much like the original Epcot and the premise that it was built upon, it looks to inspire future scientists and engineers.
The pre-show now takes on a much bigger role than a staged queue before boarding the ride. After seeing the concept vehicles, the guests are engaged with a fun "game" while waiting in line, trying to optimize the design of a car.
This will take you up to the design studio, where the real fun will begin.
In the Chevrolet Design Studio, you will get to design your vehicle. Then you will get to take your design and simulate it on the Track Track proving grounds.
Each person or family can design their own vehicle in the design studio. Here you try to make modifications to the car to fit your needs. There are four different criteria that are noted: Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, & Power.
The rest is up to you, from traditional to wild, you really have a lot of leeway to come up with radically different designs. You learn about trade-offs in design that engineers experience in the real world. At the end of the day, it is about creating the design that fits you and is the result of your imagination.
Once the design is complete it is time to head to the Test Track! You scan your design into the terminal before you board your vehicle. Your design is carried throughout the testing maneuvers.
At the end of the day you still go fast! Most of the Ride Part of the attraction are much the same although the building props look different. The thrill you get when the ride goes outdoors still can't be beat.
After you exit the ride vehicle there is still one last part of the attraction to check out: The Results! You get to see how well your design held up to the challenges of the test track and how it compares to the others that were designed today.
Whether you are happy about the ride portion or not, the overall attraction have become a much more interactive guest experience and I for one am a fan of it!
Disney And General Motors Announce New Upgrades Coming To Test Track At Epcot
Fortunately the refurbishment will happen relatively quickly with the new version "Test Track Presented By Chevrolet" debuting in Falll 2012. See the complete Press Release below.
Disney Press Release:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Jan. 6, 2012 – Disney and General Motors have renewed their long-term business relationship with a new multi-year corporate alliance.
As part of the new alliance, GM will be actively involved with Walt Disney Imagineering in the development of a re-imagined, design-centric Test Track experience. The refurbished Test Track will be presented by one of GM’s most famous brands, Chevrolet. As Chevrolet marks its 100th anniversary, the new alliance agreement enables General Motors to tell its story in new and exciting ways to millions of Guests from around the world and continue as the official vehicle sponsor of Walt Disney World Resort.
“We are excited to renew our long-term alliance with General Motors,” said George Aguel, Senior Vice President, Corporate Alliances for the Walt Disney Company. “This unique agreement extends collaboration between two of the most recognized brands in the world, a relationship that spans over 30 years. The re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will continue our shared goal of providing unique and innovative experiences that engage Disney guests in exciting and interactive ways.” ”
“As a global brand, Chevrolet is looking forward to welcoming Guests from around the world to the re-imagined Test Track,” said Joel Ewanick, Global Chief Marketing Officer for General Motors. “The best of Disney and the best of Chevrolet will come together to bring Guests an immersive experience in the design process of the vehicles they see on the road today and will see in the future.”
Plans call for closing the current GM Test Track in April 2012, with an anticipated opening of Test Track Presented by Chevrolet scheduled for fall 2012.
As part of the re-imagining, the Future World attraction will feature a sleek new “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” immersing Guests in the fascinating world of automotive design. Amid upbeat music, engaging media, dramatic lighting and a collection of Chevrolet concept cars and model vehicles, guests themselves will become automotive designers – and peer into the future of personal transportation in the process.
At interactive design and styling workstations, Guests will be able to create their own custom concept vehicles. The adventure will then shift into high gear as Guests buckle into their 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle and put their design through its paces on the exhilarating hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit.
Their performance testing complete, Guests will move into a post-show area filled with special effects and be scored on how well their custom concept vehicle did. And of course, Guests will be able see the very latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new state-of-the-art showroom.
Test Track - Disney World's Fastest Attraction
Test Track
Epcot had been plagued since its opening by complaints that it was lacking any thrill rides. I am not going to argue whether philosophically Epcot needs any thrill rides, but the Disney Imagineers listened to its guests and decided that it would be a good idea to add thrill rides to Epcot.
The first thrill ride to be added would replace the World of Motion Attraction sponsored by General Motors. Disney Imagineers partnered with General Motors to come up with the concept and design of the new attraction. They decided upon a "Test Track" concept showing how a car was put through its paces during the design and testing process.
The resulting attraction is nothing short of amazing. Disney Imagineers developed a 6 person ride vehicle that would go through the testing that cars would to evaluate the critical systems. Each ride vehicle has more than enough computer processing power to run the Space Shuttle!
Disney Imagineers challenged themselves by creating a vehicle that performs at dramatically varying speeds including full stops, while maintaining proper spacing from other ride vehicles. Each "car" comes equipped with on board audio-visual systems. This was certainly one of WDI's most challenging achievements.
Test Track Facts
From the "Imagineering Field Guide To Epcot":
- The chassis of each vehicle is made entirely of composite materials, meaning there is no steel between the front and rear wheels.
- Each vehicle carries 3 on board computers to create the necessary Space Shuttle like computing power.
- Each vehicle generates 250 horsepower, more than most passenger cars today.
- Test Track is the fastest Disney attraction anywhere in the world, attaining a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
Test Track starts with an expansive queue area that demonstrates a number of the tests that various components of the car goes through like: windshields, doors, seat belts, etc. The queue is actually quite interesting and worth your time to check out all there is to see. There is actually so much there, that you may have to force yourself to ride several times so that you can check out of the elements of the ride queue area.
The next stage of the ride is the Briefing Room. Once you are here you will see a short video that explains how GM tests cars and the experience that you are about to go through. This sets the storyline for the attraction.
Note: This is the fastest moving single rider line since the ride vehicle has an odd number of seats (3) in each row. This is a great way to experience the attractions and cut down the extremely long waits.
Test Track Is A Disney World MUST DO!
Test Track is an attraction that you can experience over and over and still be excited each time! It is one that should be on your list of MUST DO Disney World attractions for each visit. Using the FastPass and/or the Single Rider line is strongly encouraged unless you ride it close to park opening before the lines get long.
Ride Test Track for the thrills, but take the time to appreciate all of the technology that went into designing and building this incredible attraction.
