Test Track Car Question

[momto2js]

I know this is a little silly, but I have a 7 year old boy and the "building your car" thing is a big deal for him. If we FP it or do the stand by once on the first day, can he use it again for the rest of our trip (so we can use the single rider line) or do you have to build a new car every day?

 

[lullwater]

My 7 year also enjoys “designing” his car and Test Track is his favorite ride at Epcot. There is a glitch in the simulation software at times. The day before New Year’s he designed a new car and nothing appeared on the monitor; however, we were happy to just be on the ride as it had had frequent 5 minute stoppages while we waited in line. My son has had his designed car appear 60 percent of the time while a rider in the stand by lane and I haven’t determined why it doesn’t work all the time.

 

[uccats97]

It only lasts for one ride. You can still do single riders but no stats will show up for him. Maybe just let him have extra time to play with the design elements after the first ride as you exit the building and explain that the additional rides through single riders won't have a design opportunity.

 

[CarrieR]

I've had cars from previous trips load when I tapped my MB.

There are kiosks in the SR queue that have a "light" version of designing the car; maybe that would be enough for him?

 

[Klayfish]

As far as I know, the last car you designed and swiped with your magic band is what shows up when you tap the kiosk right at the point where you sit in the car, regardless of when you did it. The design part is a big deal for all 3 of my kids. However, since we're a family of 5, they always split us up into groups of 2 and 3. That means at least one kid doesn't get to design a car. Whomever that kid is usually just taps their magic band where you get on the ride and their last designed car shows up. Not sure if that lasts for months, but I know it lasts for at least a week.

 

[cigar95]

The designed car will stay attached to your band or car for "a while". I can't say how long that is, but I haven't had it carry over from one trip to the next in the couple of times I tried. So they do seem to flush the design cache at least every few months. I would guess quite a bit shorter than that.
One thing to note is that this is a case where the design is associated with the actual individual band/card, and not with the MyDEx account itself. So if he had multiple bands/cards, he could actually have more than one car saved in the system. They would each appear if he tapped his cards one at a time in the post-ride area where they display the top cars of the day.
I'm going to experiment on my upcoming trip, but I suspect that any RFID card, such as my Washngton DC Metro card, may work for purposes of designing a car.
Finally, be aware that there are two car design stations in the post-ride area that can be accessed at any time, without having to ride the attraction. One possibility is to hit that station, design a car taking as long as he wants, and then hitting single rider without tapping his band at the design station inside the queue.

 

[gap2368]

you can also desingn a car at the exit in the room with all the interactive things in them.

the single rider line dose have a design your own car station in its line not sure if it is working ( I have not been on TT for about a year I hate the set belts) but it is there you maybe able to stop and let people in front of you, but they would then be infant of you so your wait will be longer.

 

[MalkaR]

Good info in here! I didn't even think about these things, but all three of my boys want to design a car, and I'm guessing they'll split our 6 person party into 2 threes, so we'll need other chances to design cars. Thanks!

 

[BrianL]

Yes, go in the exit and design the car first. You can take as much time as you want down there. Once those cars are saved with he Magic Band they will show up for all subsequent rides, and as far as I know, this lasts until the system is reset. That could happen at any time, but cars can be stored for months (as some have noted). It is unlikely they will reset during your stay, but they could.

One thing to make sure of is that on the loading platform, do not tap your band to the reader until after the car before yours has started to move. This helps with the occasional glitches that will cause cars not to show up during the ride.

 

[CAS239]

Yea go in the shop and design a car there that way you have as much time as you want. And the cars stay tied to your account for a lot longer than 1 ride or 1 day. It'll save the last car created for quite some time. I designed one and then we went back about 2 months later and my wife put the car we designed then on her MB. I decided to scan my band right before getting in the TT car and my car from 2 months prior popped up