I tried, I really tried re: Test Track

[agavegirl1]

When we went in 2010, it was down for refurb. When the new version opened, DH wanted to know what happened to the testing facility that was there before. He thinks that was much more fun. It is really hard to hear the narration sometimes so we missed a lot of it. It was just okay for us.

 

[Lothlórien]

Sorry, but after riding this attraction many times since the re-imagineering I have come to the conclusion that it is terrible when compared to the original version. They actually dumbed it down, a lot.

The whole build your own car thing is a cool aspect, but it doesn't really translate at all to the ride itself. All that happens is your car pops up with a random number next to it.

Beyond that, all they did was add a bunch of glowing painted walls.

I can't ride it without having the original narration running through my head: Belgian blocks (removed), without ABS, with ABS (not just weird spiel about extreme weather that makes no sense with the motion of the vehicle), extreme temp tests (it was actually hot and cold), and corrosion test (which was a cool moment when the kuka arm blew mist in your face, but now it's gone). The part where you come around the corner and get surprised by the semi is not as good due to the Christmas lights. No more vehicle being smashed into the wall just before you head outside. I even liked the heat imaging so I could see how hot my arm pits were in August.

I felt that way as well after riding it for the first time during the soft opening and after riding Radiator Springs in DLR, I especially agree.

Like you, when I ride it I cannot help but to have glimpses of the older version or remember certain things about the original attraction.

 

[Lothlórien]

Bummer. I get it from your perspective. I feel the opposite. The original bored me and was soooooo dated.

I like the new car designing a lot. Kids love it too. The indoor part of the ride is lacking in imagination, I agree. The whole ride is a little disconnected now versus the original theme, but I like the updated look, the car design and the competition with other riders, and the ending is still great. I prefer the new version, but I get why others like the first one.

Dan

It is fun for kids until they get up to the attraction and see that every car is the same blue one over and over again. I have heard so many kids say, "aww, but that is not the car we made" or "Hey, where is our car? Somebody else got our car!".

 

[Sydney2977]

We liked the old version, but enjoy the new interactive pre-part more now. DH and both DS's are into cars and we like the competitiveness of the scores- it's for fun, not to be super realistic! The overall ride is still fun. We even like the little driving game at the end.

 

[Magpie]

Didn't say the structured recall exercises were difficult; they require an elementary level of cognition, which is why even younger kids get into them...but they require the desire to want to do them. It's just not what our family enjoys spending time doing. The first time or two it was ok, after that, no. Fun for your family, annoying for ours, but not because we aren't intellectually capable. We simply don't find it entertaining. (We do love to mindlessly tear around the outdoor track, however.) Hence the desire to have the option to bypass the design exercise. Again, my family skipping the design room does not in the least detract from the experience for those who enjoy it and want to spend their time doing it. As Helen Reddy sang on "Pete's Dragon," there's room for everyone in this world... including folks who would rather not spend the time in the design room on Test Track!

If you want to bypass the design process, you can just take the single rider line. True, your party probably won't get to sit together, but since you aren't interested in competing that shouldn't detract much from your experience.

Single riders are free to walk right pass the design station, without stopping. If you do decide to design a car, you have to choose from a limited number of pre-designed cars.

We do the single rider line a lot, once we've got cars we like on our bands. We're often in and out even faster than the Fastpass crowd.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you want to bypass the design process, you can just take the single rider line. True, your party probably won't get to sit together, but since you aren't interested in competing that shouldn't detract much from your experience.

Single riders are free to walk right pass the design station, without stopping. If you do decide to design a car, you have to choose from a limited number of pre-designed cars.

We do the single rider line a lot, once we've got cars we like on our bands. We're often in and out even faster than the Fastpass crowd.

That will work for some. But others have kids too young to do single rider. And some are looking to have their ride photo with the entire group in their car.

 

[DisneyOma]

Again, if structured recall exercises and picture matching appeals to folks, super. I don't always want to pay attention to someone else's script, especially on vacation, and would simply like the option to bypass what I see as a mediocre attempt to make you think there is some real correlation to what you spent all that time doing while trapped in the design room and your ride experience. My skipping it doesn't affect someone else's ability to enjoy it in the least. That would keep everyone happy.

O...M...G... It's obviously a torture chamber for your family! You don't have to make the car. You can just sit there and wait.

It is much more exhilarating to ride in a convertible sports car down the highway next to a semi.

Until the semi blows a tire and...

 

[ssreward]

That will work for some. But others have kids too young to do single rider. And some are looking to have their ride photo with the entire group in their car.

Fwiw, you can also just walk through the design room & out the doors (they're not locked) if you don't want to go through single rider although I didn't know this until after my last trip. I'll be able to offer a firsthand experience next week but I've heard multiple reports that it's totally okay...

 

[DOOM1001]

I rode the old version so many times that the new one was a welcomed change,Its probably not better but I've realized some attractions just need updating,kind of like the Maelstrom and the new Frozen ride,I probably liked the old Maelstrom ride more than I should of but you realize some attractions are not "Its a small World" and can't live on forever.The new Frozen ride will not technically be Norway themed but as long as they make a nice ride its probably the best thing for the park.The old Test Track was good and was nicely themed to an automotive proving ground but changes come and I like the new version enough but I still miss some things about the old ride,remember the pre show"let's do some environmental tests,put up 2,5 and 7,seven??"

 

[ChipNDale86]

My first trip Disney World was just a few years ago so I never got to experience the old TT, but I hated it when we rode it. Been on it twice now and most likely won't go back on during our November trip, long line it usually has just doesn't make it worth it. Maybe we'll go single rider.

With that said, I was in DisneyLand this part November and I LOVED Radiator Springs, it's pretty much the same exact ride but the Cars theme was absolutely perfect. It was one of my favorite rides at California Adventure

 

[Dreamport]

The way you feel about the original Test Track is how I feel about the old Imagination pavilion, so I totally get it. I only rode the original once and can barely remember the differences, but do recall the Crash-Test Dummy aspect. The rest of my family only know the current ride and Butch will never know there was a former. He waited 18 years to get on Test Track with 3 years of pushed-back promises to "open next year". Creating your own car does make waiting in line less boring if going through stand-by and we do love Tron so I guess we're in the "I'll enjoy it as it is" boat.

 

[lugnut33]

I rode the old version so many times that the new one was a welcomed change,Its probably not better but I've realized some attractions just need updating,kind of like the Maelstrom and the new Frozen ride,I probably liked the old Maelstrom ride more than I should of but you realize some attractions are not "Its a small World" and can't live on forever.The new Frozen ride will not technically be Norway themed but as long as they make a nice ride its probably the best thing for the park.The old Test Track was good and was nicely themed to an automotive proving ground but changes come and I like the new version enough but I still miss some things about the old ride,remember the pre show"let's do some environmental tests,put up 2,5 and 7,seven??"

I'm ok with change, but the new Text Track is a step backwards. Sort of like new Imagination versus the old one.

 

[Oswin]

I've always thought it was boring and a waste of FP. Radiator Springs Racers reminds me a lot of what this ride could be, and makes me sad there's nothing like it at WDW.

 

[seacruise]

Just rode it for the first time a couple weeks ago. Thought it was great, seemed much faster and more thrilling than Radiator Springs Racers (which I find fairly boring). Then again, compared to the other rides in Epcot anything would seem thrilling I suppose.

 

[midge3426]

I agree, I don't think that the ride is quite as interesting as it once was, but I do like the design the car aspect. It makes waiting in line a little less boring. I was hoping that the outside ride would be lengthened. I could handle two circles around the building instead of one!

 

[scrhsa]

I'm ok with the new. And the que is SO much better. Waiting for that long with all that clanging and whizzing of the cars being fixed gave me a headache every time before!

 

[richmo]

I'm mixed on this one. Up to the point you get in the car, I like the new version...designing the car, not herding into a theater for the pre-show movie, etc. (Although, the old preshow video, or an updated one, would be an improvement over what they show on the small screens as you approach the ride). However, I thought the older theming of the ride was superior to what they have now. It was more of a "test track", which they seem to have gone away from.

 

[Eastern]

I don't love it, but there is not much choice at Epcot.

 

[DisneyFive]

It is fun for kids until they get up to the attraction and see that every car is the same blue one over and over again. I have heard so many kids say, "aww, but that is not the car we made" or "Hey, where is our car? Somebody else got our car!".

Our kids must have a good imagination, or reasonable expectations, because they didn't have either of these issues. We've ridden the new TT about 10 times and haven't heard a kid mention what you are referring to. Not saying it doesn't happen but we haven't experienced it. YMMV.

There really is no right or wrong in this whole discussion anyway since it's all based on preferences.

Dan

 

[MrsHull]

I agree. I really don't like the new version, compared to the old test track dummies. I was really let down when we rode this in 2014 and could take it or leave it now. Test track was a "must-do" when my son was young and now it has just lost its pizzazz.