Test Track Closing?

[LilyWDW]

The main reason they're closing it is to get more endorsement from other companies, such as Chevrolet.

Personally, I don't like the fact that they're getting rid of Test Track. Was always one of my highlights of travelling to Epcot!

They are not "getting rid" of it. They are simply adding new elements and a new sponsor. The ride itself will be staying as it is, but they are updating and adding things.

 

[DCTooTall]

The main reason they're closing it is to get more endorsement from other companies, such as Chevrolet.

Personally, I don't like the fact that they're getting rid of Test Track. Was always one of my highlights of travelling to Epcot!

You Do realize that Chevrolet is part of GM, right??




My way of looking at is more of an accounting and a small change that could result in a much better return on their advertising dollar. Besides the fact that GM as a parent company has had some bad press over the past couple years, There is also the fact that many people these days don't tend to make the direct mental connection of GM to all the different brands under it. The ride also didn't help bring across the message of "GM, The fine people who bring you Chevy's".

This change from GM's point of view allows them to promote a single brand, Chevrolet's... and help translate their sponsorship $$$ directly into more coherent brand awareness and message. It also may help on an accounting standpoint since they might be able to directly tie the sponsorship budget into the chevy unit, instead of at the corporate level to cover all the different units.

(and I won't go into the possibilities that the many GM brands shuttered over the past several years could have played into the primary brand sponsorship decision).

 

[StarWarsJez]

It will be a big shame if Test Track does close for the peak summer months. I know it just be difficult for Disney to schedule this kind of work but I can't help but think that summer is a bad time.

The problem with Epcot is that there are very few major rides there (and yes I know it's not really that kind of park) but the reality is that most visitors want to have a couple of thrills during the day, and I think the 'loss' of TT for the summer months will result in a number of people deciding to give it a miss (or at best just hop for half a day there)

It will be interesting to see how much it affects EPCOT park attendance.

 

[LilyWDW]

It will be a big shame if Test Track does close for the peak summer months. I know it just be difficult for Disney to schedule this kind of work but I can't help but think that summer is a bad time.

The problem with Epcot is that there are very few major rides there (and yes I know it's not really that kind of park) but the reality is that most visitors want to have a couple of thrills during the day, and I think the 'loss' of TT for the summer months will result in a number of people deciding to give it a miss (or at best just hop for half a day there)

It will be interesting to see how much it affects EPCOT park attendance.

There really is no perfect time for this long of a refurb. If they wait until after summer, it goes into Christmas and New Years. If they wait until after New Years, I will go into Spring Break and the start of summer. Simply put, it has to go down for an extended period and it will impact some sort of peak time period no matter what.

 

[DCTooTall]

There really is no perfect time for this long of a refurb. If they wait until after summer, it goes into Christmas and New Years. If they wait until after New Years, I will go into Spring Break and the start of summer. Simply put, it has to go down for an extended period and it will impact some sort of peak time period no matter what.

Not to mention that EPCOT has some major events that are huge draws to that individual park outside of "normal" peak times.... Specifically the Flower and Garden Festival and the Food and Wine Festival. Because of that, it could actually make more sense to schedule a long refurb during a traditional peak time like the Summer in order to not impact the specific park drawing events.

 

[doconeill]

The "rumors" of it becoming a virtual attraction were due to misinterpreting the original announcement, about how after "designing" a car guests would then board "simulators" to see how their cars perform. It sounded a lot like Sum of All Thrills, so people got concerned.

In reality, the attraction is already a "simulator" of a vehicle testing facility. Nothing about that is changing. What may change is that some variation of how the cars move might reflect the design decisions of the guests - think handling vs. acceleration vs. speed, etc. How they'll incorporate that stuff is anyone's guess at this point though.

 

[punch57]

Hmmm... isn't this ride down often enough for "technical difficulties" ~ perhaps their goal is to remedy that?

We've not noticed it down often but it seems people here talk about it breaking a lot.

Wait till after the referb and it reopens; remember spacemountain it had tons of technical diffs when it reopened !!! Oh dont forget when they built TT it's openning was delayed a very long time due to technical diffs !!!

 

[cookpr]

It will be a big shame if Test Track does close for the peak summer months. I know it just be difficult for Disney to schedule this kind of work but I can't help but think that summer is a bad time.

The problem with Epcot is that there are very few major rides there (and yes I know it's not really that kind of park) but the reality is that most visitors want to have a couple of thrills during the day, and I think the 'loss' of TT for the summer months will result in a number of people deciding to give it a miss (or at best just hop for half a day there)

It will be interesting to see how much it affects EPCOT park attendance.

Rumor goes they chose summer months, as those tend to be the months when the bursts of rain come, and Test Track typically fails more when it rains. I have no proof of this, but would make sense to pick the summer months if true.

 

[crazymomof4]

Is there any official date for when it should be finished, or have they just said fall? I really hope it's done by my trip in september.

ditto!

 

[heyitsmejosh]

Rumor goes they chose summer months, as those tend to be the months when the bursts of rain come, and Test Track typically fails more when it rains. I have no proof of this, but would make sense to pick the summer months if true.

they actually usually shut it down in the rain because here in florida when there is rain there is usually lightning nearby

 

[portocall]

I will be so disappointed if it is still closed in November when we go. I have still yet to make that ride. The original World of Motion used to be one of my favorites and in all the times since I have been back either the ride was closed or like last time, my youngest was too afraid and I didn't want to drag him on. I look forward to seeing what changes they are planning on making though.

 

[Experiment_626]

Is there any official date for when it should be finished, or have they just said fall?

The unofficial date I heard was September 21. October 1 is Epcot's 30th anniversary, and it would make sense for Disney to want it back up and running for that.

SSB