Showing posts with label Test Track. 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!
Not Just Waiting In Line At Disney World: Test Track
Test Track
General Motors (soon to be represented by only their flagship Chevrolet Brand) brings you into the world of automotive design and testing in their attraction aptly named Test Track.
No matter which line you take to experience Test Track (Single Rider, FastPass, or Stand-By) you will get a chance to experience the world of automotive testing while you make your way to the featured thrill ride.
Once you enter the building you quickly see that this is not your typical theme park line for a ride. Disney and General Motors literally spent millions of dollars to create this immersive environment to entertain and educate (in that order) you while you wait.
The Disney Imagineers use real testing equipment and cars as the props in the testing area. As guests you get a chance to see some of the actual testing that is conducted on cars during their development phase.
Track Test may be one of the most impressive of all of the attraction queues in Disney World.
There is no shortage of visual stimulation here. Believe it or you may actually be disappointed if there isn't a line because you will be rushed through this area and not get a chance to check out everything that is here!
There are a number of Crash Test Dummies to be found here. If you read the "Kingdom Keepers" books by Ridley Pearson you may get a little scared, but don't worry they are not audio-animatronic.
The array of tools and equipment here is amazing. At each new testing area there are descriptive panels so that you can understand the type of testing that is conducted.
A close-up look at the tools is provided. You will also notice that Disney uses the area to show off their preferred tool "sponsor" here. It recently shifted from Snap-On to MAC Tools, so all of the tools and tool chests in this area had to be exchanged to reflect the new sponsor.
After your time in the testing area is complete, you proceed to the Briefing Room. Here you will watch a short video that ties together the Automotive Testing Ground Story and introduces you to the car that you will test drive and what to expect on your upcoming Test Drive.
The last pre-ride area is where you finally get to see the amazing ride vehicle that has more computing power than the space shuttle (at least that is what they say!). The excitement builds in this short wait before you get strapped in.
Finally you are in your ride vehicle and ready to go!
Not Your Typical Ride Queue
After you visit the Walt Disney World Resort, we believe that you will agree that Disney does a better job than anyone at creating a complete story around their attraction and make the absolute best ride queues. Don't be ashamed if you feel you are getting rushed too fast through the queue and you did get enough time to take it all in. That is just a good excuse to experience the attraction again!
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.
