Epcot gets the shaft yet again!

[PDJPrinceCharming]

Rumor has it its opening sporadically during the refurb, specifically in August & it is supposed to reopen around October 1 for Epcot's anniversary. I am down 17-23 of September this year & although I do have November 28-December 8 & December 15 & part of 16 to go back, I would still hope for a soft open of the new attraction, possibly for AP holders. Just wishful thinking.

 

[LongLiveDisney1]

Rumor has it its opening sporadically during the refurb, specifically in August & it is supposed to reopen around October 1 for Epcot's anniversary. I am down 17-23 of September this year & although I do have November 28-December 8 & December 15 & part of 16 to go back, I would still hope for a soft open of the new attraction, possibly for AP holders. Just wishful thinking.

Where did you get Oct 1? I heard Sep 21 a few weeks ago. Oct 1 is a strange date as that's after the opening weekend of the F&W Festival.. I would think it would open before that.

 

[PDJPrinceCharming]

The calendar has it open for May & August but closed June, July & September. I'm not sure what's going on right now, it would make sense to stick to the originally rumored date of my birthday(21st) but it seems like they aren't closing it full time like anticipated so they might need a little longer to get it officially opened. Looking for the soft open though, that would be nice.

 

[tjkraz]

Rumor has it its opening sporadically during the refurb

Not rumor...speculation + wishful thinking. That's how threads like this get started in the first place.

The calendar now lists it as being closed through September 30. The goal is to have it open by October 1 for Epcot's 30th anniversary. Way too early to tell if they can even make that goal, much less hold public soft openings in advance.

 

[LongLiveDisney1]

Not rumor...speculation + wishful thinking. That's how threads like this get started in the first place.

The calendar now lists it as being closed through September 30. The goal is to have it open by October 1 for Epcot's 30th anniversary. Way too early to tell if they can even make that goal, much less hold public soft openings in advance.

Where are you getting this Oct 1 date? The initial goal was to have it ready before the F&W Festival which makes more sense than some meaningless
30th anniversary.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

All of the dates I've seen are Fall 2012. Wasn't this supposedly going to be a 6-month or more timeline for the refurb?

 

[racefanof88]

Well according to Disney--------------



"Pardon our dust. This attraction is temporarily closed for refurbishment and scheduled to reopen in fall 2012.

We're gearing up for an exciting re-imagined Test Track! When complete, you can design your own custom concept vehicle, then buckle up and put your design through its paces on the exhilarating hills and switchbacks of the Test Track circuit."


I think it stinks because that is two major rides down right now. With BTM down at MK and now TT down at Epcot, the lines for the other big rides at these two parks will be horrible. Soarin' is already a huge chunk of time out of a day, but now with the only other good ride down it will be even worse. I am not a run to the ride type person so it looks like our Epcot day next month is almost a wash .

 

[tjkraz]

Where are you getting this Oct 1 date? The initial goal was to have it ready before the F&W Festival which makes more sense than some meaningless
30th anniversary.

Dates are posted right on the official Walt Disney World calendar website:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/

Since my post they extended it through November '12. It currently states:

Test Track - Closed For Refurbishment ( Monday, April 16 - Friday, November 30 )

 

[skier_pete]

I think it stinks because that is two major rides down right now. With BTM down at MK and now TT down at Epcot, the lines for the other big rides at these two parks will be horrible. Soarin' is already a huge chunk of time out of a day, but now with the only other good ride down it will be even worse. I am not a run to the ride type person so it looks like our Epcot day next month is almost a wash .

It is a bummer that they have both BTM and TT refurbs overlapping, which is a bit of a surprise. My guess is they really want TT to be open for the Christmas Holidays and are trying to get everything open for the big marketing push that the new fantasyland will bring in 2013.

But, as far as Soarin', just FP it. You can get FPs without having to "run to the ride". WE usually enter the park at rope drop, do the character connection first thing, and then go and get FP for Soarin' before we hit Nemo. Our return times are usually around 11 AM at that point, perfect for wrapping up Nemo and moving to the Land. I like Soarin' a lot, but 3 hour waits are not in the cards.

 

[doconeill]

Dates are posted right on the official Walt Disney World calendar website:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/

Since my post they extended it through November '12. It currently states:

Test Track - Closed For Refurbishment ( Monday, April 16 - Friday, November 30 )

Heh...only took until the DAY AFTER it closed...

So much for getting it opened for the 30th/F&W.

 

[LongLiveDisney1]

Heh...only took until the DAY AFTER it closed...

So much for getting it opened for the 30th/F&W.

Do you really trust the Disney calendar at this point? LOL.. I trust that calendar about as much as I trust meteorologists.

 

[doconeill]

Do you really trust the Disney calendar at this point? LOL.. I trust that calendar about as much as I trust meteorologists.

It's another date at this point, as trustworthy as any of the others posted

 

[LongLiveDisney1]

It's another date at this point, as trustworthy as any of the others posted

Actually less trustworthy as they were the last to post the closure date.

 

[mbrittb00]

Dates are posted right on the official Walt Disney World calendar website:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/

Since my post they extended it through November '12. It currently states:

Test Track - Closed For Refurbishment ( Monday, April 16 - Friday, November 30 )

Ok, I'm even more confused now. I thought the whole purpose of doing the referb now (and have TT closed for all of the summer travel) was so that it would be open for the Food and Wine Festival, and for Epcot's 30th birthday.

If it isn't going to be opened for those two events, wouldn't it make more since to wait until say November or December, start the work on the Cue-line and exit area (keeping the ride open), then in January close the ride for the ride part of the referb, then have it open for next Summer's Travel?

 

[tjkraz]

Ok, I'm even more confused now. I thought the whole purpose of doing the referb now (and have TT closed for all of the summer travel) was so that it would be open for the Food and Wine Festival, and for Epcot's 30th birthday.

If it isn't going to be opened for those two events, wouldn't it make more since to wait until say November or December, start the work on the Cue-line and exit area (keeping the ride open), then in January close the ride for the ride part of the referb, then have it open for next Summer's Travel?

I've never known Disney to do half refurbishments--particularly not when enhancing a ride in this manner. Star Tours closed for 10 months, impacting part of the summer season plus Christmas and Easter periods.

All of the re-opening dates to this point were idle speculation. Now that we have something concrete, we can conclude that they are looking at a 7 1/2 month refurb period. There's simply no way to avoid Easter, Christmas, Food & Wine, Flower & Garden, summer and other high-draw periods.

Seems logical to target the period between Easter and Christmas since those are unquestionably the weeks with highest overall attendance. Soft openings in time for Thanksgiving are probably something they are hoping for, too.

If this was just painting and general maintenance, they might be willing to split-up the work. But given that TT will be marketed as a whole new experience--with GM writing 8-figure sponsorship checks--I'm sure they want the attraction completely updated before it reopens to the public.