I tried, I really tried re: Test Track

[DisneyOma]

This used to be one of my favorite attractions but now we rarely ride it. I find the whole bogus car design thing maddening since if you used even one brain cell to think about it, you would realize the car you eventually get in looks nothing like what you designed, and you are sharing the car with people who also designed a car that looks nothing like what they designed OR the car you are in. So the entire design thing is just another holding tank for you to wait in and has no correlation to your ride. If there was some connection to what you designed and what you ended up riding in, that would be impressive. For me, I'd rather just look at the crash test dummies getting their knees hammered than go through an elaborate but pointless exercise. I also am wistful that the interior now just looks like the inside of our shopping mall glow golf. I still love the outdoor track part, but it is becoming harder to justify going through all the upfront pre-show diversion to be able to get to it.

You get a score for each section of the attraction for the car you design. If you design one heavy on fuel efficiency, you get higher points for that, may get first place in that category, etc. There's a running total high score at the end - my daughter was high scorer one day when we were there.

Test Track was merely a 20-year beta test for Radiator Springs Racers, its superior older brother.

If TT came first, wouldn't Radiator Springs be the younger brother?

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

Only if you build average, boring cars.

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.

No, you get a score based on the section of the ride you are in - wind resistance goes to fuel efficiency, etc. Does nobody pay attention?

 

[uccats97]

It's too bad it wasn't reimagined to be Radiator Springs Racers. What an amazing overlay! I don't like the boring drive through neon lights nearly as much as the former crash test dummy theme and neither one even comes close to RSR.

 

[Ser Arthur Dayne]

If TT came first, wouldn't Radiator Springs be the younger brother?

You are correct.

 

[BrianL]

Test Track was merely a 20-year beta test for Radiator Springs Racers, its superior older brother.

If TT came first, wouldn't Radiator Springs be the younger brother?

Forget that...Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea is both TT's and RSR's bigger, badder, brother!

 

[lugnut33]

You get a score for each section of the attraction for the car you design. If you design one heavy on fuel efficiency, you get higher points for that, may get first place in that category, etc. There's a running total high score at the end - my daughter was high scorer one day when we were there.

No, you get a score based on the section of the ride you are in - wind resistance goes to fuel efficiency, etc. Does nobody pay attention?

It seems elementary that if you design a fuel efficient vehicle that it will perform well in that category. What does the number even really mean to what you have done, there is no tie in at all during the ride other than that number that pops up. The black walls with glowing paint have nothing to do with designing the car. The future city diorama has nothing to do with the car you designed. The aero scene in the middle room just shows the air going over your car, it doesn't even show the air going over the most well designed vehicle.

 

[BrianL]

It seems elementary that if you design a fuel efficient vehicle that it will perform well in that category. What does the number even really mean to what you have done, there is no tie in at all during the ride other than that number that pops up. The black walls with glowing paint have nothing to do with designing the car. The future city diorama has nothing to do with the car you designed. The aero scene in the middle room just shows the air going over your car, it doesn't even show the air going over the most well designed vehicle.

The number is an overall score assigned to each area of the car. You actually know what these numbers are from the design phase, but you get to see how they compare to the others in the vehicle. It's just a little competition.

The black walls with glowing paint is just how they have conveyed the "Sim Track." The ride now takes place in a computer simulation where the attributes are tested. The areas simulate weather and other obstacles (note the rain & lightning strike).

The aerodynamic test is just an effect, not too different from the hot & cold rooms from before.

I dunno. It seems it's one of these you like it or you don't things. I kinda think it's artistic now, being less literal. Plus, I could waste hours at design-a-car.

 

[maxiesmom]

I miss the original too. I like the new version, but I miss the bumpy road, and I miss the fake crash before the door slid open.

 

[skylynx]

The best solution would be to allow people who wanted to skip getting confined in the "design" room to do that; those who like that aspect can take the detour on their way to the ride. I don't remember the vehicle being able to tell where each individual was sitting in that car to match performance with their design choices so the individualized competitive angle isn't resonating with me. Still, if people like this activity, that's great...I just would appreciate being able to bypass it.

 

[DisneyOma]

It seems elementary that if you design a fuel efficient vehicle that it will perform well in that category. What does the number even really mean to what you have done, there is no tie in at all during the ride other than that number that pops up. The black walls with glowing paint have nothing to do with designing the car. The future city diorama has nothing to do with the car you designed. The aero scene in the middle room just shows the air going over your car, it doesn't even show the air going over the most well designed vehicle.

The tie-in is in each section you go through - performance, fuel efficiency, it tells you that during the attraction. The goal is to design a car that tests high in each category.

The best solution would be to allow people who wanted to skip getting confined in the "design" room to do that; those who like that aspect can take the detour on their way to the ride. I don't remember the vehicle being able to tell where each individual was sitting in that car to match performance with their design choices so the individualized competitive angle isn't resonating with me. Still, if people like this activity, that's great...I just would appreciate being able to bypass it.

There's a picture of the car next to the score. You're supposed to remember what your car looked like. At the end, you find your car on the big screen, if it ranks high enough it will be up near the top.

Again, doesn't anyone pay attention to what's being said/going on during the attraction?

 

[Accident]

I hate both versions... I'd rather it was more like a coaster and just went. both versions feel like I'm getting a ride from grandpa with both the break and gas being used at the same time and random times where he forgets the breaks to over compenate.

I don't even bother with the ride anymore unless i'm really bored or don't want to wait however long for everyone else to come back out after riding.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

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.

Haha!! I have yet to ride the new Test Track... And I've been to Epcot more times than I can count since the redo.
I did enjoy the original.

 

[skylynx]

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.

 

[aprincessatlast]

Have to admit did not know there was a difference between an old and a new. I just thought they updated things as it was rather dated from what I remember. We go periodically and not semi annual like many on here so perhaps that is why we did not notice a huge change. Went around in a circle before and it does now, what really changed?

 

[Magpie]

I'm amazed at how many people jere find the "structured recall exercises and picture matching" difficult!

For us, it's really fun. We never had any problem understanding the concept or figuring out which was our car. We love competing with each other to get the highest total score. Want an easy-to-remember car? Paint it pink with butterflies! Or bright orange with flames! Or make it a weird shape, or whatever.

Before walking in to the design studio, we decide which attribute we want to focus on. Do I want my car to be powerful? Maneuverable? Fuel efficient? (Hint, building the "greenest" car will not get you the highest score.) Pick a quality. Then, during the design session, make your choices based on that quality. Take a moment to add on extras that enhance that quality (and make your car look hilarious).

When you get to the ride itself, you can test your car in the simulation and compare it to your family members. "Sure, you came in first on Efficiency. But just wait until we get to the Power test!" Fun!

The only sad part is when the screens aren't working, which happens sometimes. But, even then, the car is still on your wrist, so you can always hop through the single rider queue at some later date and use it then. You can even email it to yourself!

 

[lugnut33]

I hate both versions... I'd rather it was more like a coaster and just went. both versions feel like I'm getting a ride from grandpa with both the break and gas being used at the same time and random times where he forgets the breaks to over compenate.

I don't even bother with the ride anymore unless i'm really bored or don't want to wait however long for everyone else to come back out after riding.

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

 

[DisneyFive]

both versions feel like I'm getting a ride from grandpa with both the break and gas being used at the same time and random times where he forgets the breaks to over compenate.

LOVE this! This was what it was like riding with my mom as kids. At one point we had a station wagon with that demented rear seat that faced backwards. Who ever thought that was a good idea?!?! We called it the puke seat, especially when my mom was driving!

Dan

 

[Ambear]

The only sad part is when the screens aren't working, which happens sometimes. But, even then, the car is still on your wrist, so you can always hop through the single rider queue at some later date and use it then. You can even email it to yourself!

I wish I had known this a couple years ago. I got unreasonably angry when a cm rushed me into the car and I didn't have time to tap my band lol. I should have known it'd keep the design linked.

And to go along with the car designs, I love seeing what other people come up with. It's fun to see what the kids make compared to the adults. Which often the adults are insane haha.

 

[skylynx]

I'm amazed at how many people jere find the "structured recall exercises and picture matching" difficult!

For us, it's really fun. We never had any problem understanding the concept or figuring out which was our car. We love competing with each other to get the highest total score. Want an easy-to-remember car? Paint it pink with butterflies! Or bright orange with flames! Or make it a weird shape, or whatever.

Before walking in to the design studio, we decide which attribute we want to focus on. Do I want my car to be powerful? Maneuverable? Fuel efficient? (Hint, building the "greenest" car will not get you the highest score.) Pick a quality. Then, during the design session, make your choices based on that quality. Take a moment to add on extras that enhance that quality (and make your car look hilarious).

When you get to the ride itself, you can test your car in the simulation and compare it to your family members. "Sure, you came in first on Efficiency. But just wait until we get to the Power test!" Fun!

The only sad part is when the screens aren't working, which happens sometimes. But, even then, the car is still on your wrist, so you can always hop through the single rider queue at some later date and use it then. You can even email it to yourself!

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!

 

[Disneylover99]

I really like both versions. But I prefer to go to La Cava and grab a margarita while my family rides.

 

[Taylor Nicole]

The old version didn't have anything to do with Future World, though.