I tried, I really tried re: Test Track

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We never went on the original. Soarin sounded much cooler last year so we didn't do it then (small kids, big line). The fact that there was nothing else to FP is basically the only reason we did it this year. Having nothing to compare it to, it was a great ride. DS3 loved creating the car. He was way into the rocket engine things he and DH put on their car. DD6 loved the ride portion and going fast. DD7 loved the element of competition. And I liked the ride. The careening was fun, the semi scared me (had no idea it was coming), and going fast is always fun. My kids were disappointed that their butterfly and fire designs didn't end up on the vehicle graphics but DD7 got it that they were giving you the results of what your design would have been if built. I don't doubt that those who rode the original have room for disappointment, but having not been, I think it's a good ride that stands on its own. And any ride that has something for each of my kids' different tastes in attractions is a huge winner for me.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Wait until the next retheming in 2030 and maybe they'll change it back.

Hate on it all you want. But what else are you going to ride when you're at EPCOT? Ellen's energy adventure? Figment? Living with the land? The 3 callaberro's? Nemo over and over?

Of course not. You WILL ride Tron Track, you WILL design a car.... and you WILL like it.

I was booking FP+ for our early June trip and there are indeed very slim pickins. TT and, um, M:S? LWTL? (No, that's Tier 1.) SE? Can I have a lifeline please?

I know it'll be better in the near future, but on our upcoming trip I can see us spending a good bit of time in La Cava (which is not a bad thing).

 

[ssreward]

I'm another fan of the old version! Not only is it watered down now, I can never figure out who in my ride vehicle designed which car...up to & including my own And as the pp mentioned - terrifying my kids w/ the acid was awesome, lol!!

 

[Bullseye]

I like the new version. The old queue was annoyingly noisy. Plus the car design aspect adds a little playful competition between passengers.

 

[ellie05]

I agree the older version was much better!

 

[tmoo]

Is it just me, or can you do just about anything to the cars and come out with a similar overall score?

 

[TexasErin]

I had come to really hate the video at the beginning, so I much prefer the new version. Even though a lot of the preshows have been around for many years, the old Test Track preshow was the only one that I was so tired of that I thought my eyes and ears would start bleeding if I had to witness it again.

Plus, I like Tron, lol.

 

[lugnut33]

I personally prefer the new version. It is a "sim-track" and you are in a computer program where the variables you placed in the design phase are tested. It's just a projection of your car. It's like TRON. Then again, I LOVE TRON.

Dude, I love Tron also, and other than the black paint walls it's nothing like Tron.

 

[Boudin]

The new test track still feels dated to me. In fact, most of Future World doesn't feel so futuristic any more. For us, all the charm of Epcot is in World Showcase. Our typical Epcot day includes Spaceship Earth, a Soarin fast pass, the boat ride in the Land pavilion and then on to WS.

 

[lugnut33]

We like the new version, creating our own car adds to the experience IMHO.

Bill From PA

You say that, but how is what you do in the sim-car creation applied to the ride itself? There isn't really a tie-in at all. You get some random numbers generated on a screen.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

I like the new version. The old queue was annoyingly noisy. Plus the car design aspect adds a little playful competition between passengers.

It's been 14 years since we last rode, so I had forgotten about the noisy queue. I remember a number of the ride elements and enjoying it overall. The opinions I've read have sufficiently lowered my expectations of the new version, and the passage of time has clouded my memory of the original. Might have been different if it hadn't broken down right after we entered the loading area in 2009. Weather zapped out chance to try the new version three years ago, and our toughest wasn't tall enough. All the kids are tall enough to ride now, so I think we'll have fun even if it doesn't measure up to our memories of the original.

 

[lugnut33]

I was booking FP+ for our early June trip and there are indeed very slim pickins. TT and, um, M:S? LWTL? (No, that's Tier 1.) SE? Can I have a lifeline please?

I know it'll be better in the near future, but on our upcoming trip I can see us spending a good bit of time in La Cava (which is not a bad thing).

Speaking of Cava, I was shocked to see a line of around 20 people waiting for it to open at 11:15 a.m. Those be some hearty souls.

 

[Huff]

The old was way outdated and boring. The new version is a much funner ride to me. The build your own car is rather boring and is just there to occupy peoples time while waiting.

 

[eastendlights]

Our family agrees. We prefer the old version, especially the actual experience on the track.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

You say that, but how is what you do in the sim-car creation applied to the ride itself? There isn't really a tie-in at all. You get some random numbers generated on a screen.

It's not random. You get what you designed for. My environmentally conscious DD wanted an efficient car and we "won" in the efficiency test. DH and DS went for the rocket assist engines and "won" the speed test.

 

[BrianL]

The Design a Car feature is very nuanced, but the numbers are not random. It's similar to player stats in a video game (typically the RPG type) where the smallest numbers can make big differences when put through the algorithm. I'm not sure how the Test Track algorithms work, so I just design to look cool and see what I end up with. I usually win Power and massively fail the other tests just by following this method. I guess i'ts all those "speed lines!"

 

[Ambear]

I always attempt to make a car that can ace all the categories or be relatively balanced. Then I get bored and start making it the most powerful, terrifying, unrealistic car I can imagine.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Speaking of Cava, I was shocked to see a line of around 20 people waiting for it to open at 11:15 a.m. Those be some hearty souls.

Maybe Cava can become a Tier 1 FP, at least until new Soarin/Frozeway opens.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Maybe Cava can become a Tier 1 FP, at least until new Soarin/Frozeway opens.

I overheard someone outside the Main Street Bakery in MK lamenting that he needed an FP for his Starbucks.

 

[Rabb it]

I agree with you, it's a real bummer..