Test Track Deterioration

[Eljay]

I've ridden Test Track many, many times since it opened several years ago. Lately I've noticed that the maintenance on the visual effects aren't being kept up much anymore. The TV monitors in the cars often don't work, the crashing car in the barrier test segment hasn't worked for a couple of years, they don't flash lights in your eyes anymore to keep you from seeing the doors opening to the outside, the doors to the outside are often partially or completely open before you accelerate toward them, only one or sometimes neither robot sprays mist. About half the time you ride, something goes wrong. You stop where you aren't supposed to stop or you smell rubber burning. I love the ride, but I think they need to do a big rehab to make Test Track the experience it was originally meant to be! I emailed WDW about this & I'm waiting for a response.
Am I being too critical?

 

[Virgo10]

No, I don't think so. BUT... please don't tell Disney your concerns until after May 19th. I'd rather ride it the way it is than have it closed for renovations while I'm there!

And if you think all of the stuff you mentioned is bad, go on the Undiscovered Future World Tour. They took us near the back part of the track. There are tire bits and pieces all over the place. I try not to think about that as we're screaming along at 65+ mph.

Roberta

 

[stacy6552]

well we just got back.......we rode test track. its broke down adn we sat in the car for more than 20 minutes waiting, once we got back to the loading dock, they said they were going to send us through again to do the ride right. well the second time we got stuck and sat there for more than 10 minutes. We arrived at the loading dock again and with no apologies, we were helped off the ride and sent on our way.

i guess you could say the ride has lessened in its appeal for us.

 

[KathyFP]

The same happened to us last yaer. We got stuck on the track. Although it wasn't that long, we had to wait for someone to come out a restart the car and finish the ride turtle speed.

They let us go again, but there was some kind of delay and we sat waiting for awhile.

I still love the ride and we rode five more times that trip without problems.

 

[dahess]

stacy6552,

Same thing happened to us. We will give it another trip in just a few short weeks.

 

[cindala]

The year that Test Track opened, it broke down on us each and every time we rode it. We started to get a complex, but it became a mission to actually ride it from beginning to end without a breakdown.

We got so many 'try again' passes each time it broke down, that I still have two left from, how many years ago?

It's still a great ride, and we put up with the inconveniences of the breakdowns. I think it goes with the technology employed in the ride.

 

[rangebob]

I don't know how many times I've riddend test track. I've seen it with everything working to multiple things not working. The only thing that I've seen recently is the crash test not working. I've never seen the outside doors open as we go around the corner. As for the break downs. It is a very complex ride, if a car enters another zone while another car is in there the ride will shut down. If a car looses enough air it will shut down. If the car realizes something is wrong with it it will shut down. You need to remember this attraction is like a rollercoaster on steriods. Both the cars and the track are smart and they continually talk to each other. If you ever get a chance to do a re-entry through the picture side you will walk past the control booth you will see where every car is and the status of the track. They have a dopler radar in there that I believe is tied into the ride and will shut it down if there are thunderstorms in the area.

 

[songbert]

When we were there in March of 1999, we waited in line for over 2 hours, got within 20 feet of the ride entrance, and they shut down.......my then 10 y.o. DS was inconsolable........

We are going back in July, and are hoping to finally make it on. Hope we aren't disappointed

My son's father will also be with us on this trip (we're divorced - he's staying at another resort !!), and he works for GM, so it should be interesting............

Virgo10 - I'm Roberta, too!!

 

[Safari Steve]

The monitors wear out or are damaged by guests from time to time, and are replaced as soon as possible.
I've ridden several times in the last 4 years, and sometimes the car before the barrier test is working, sometimes it's not. It's a complex effect (I'm disappointed when it doesn't work, but it isn't "off" or "broken" continuously for the last 2 years.)
Last week, the barrier doors and strobe were working just fine.

It was probably just a stroke of bad luck that had you see a broken monitor, no crash test, and no strobe/disabled barrier doors all in the same visit.

As far as the bits and pieces of tire, go to a NASCAR track and look around. It's a symptom of speed. Test Track uses racing tires, and they are replaced often.

 

[ChairborneRangr]

The tires are actually an extra hard tire specifically built for test track so that the tires last months instead of weeks. The standard tires just couldn't handle the regular abuse. You would never want to use these tires on the road. I've got a VHS tape of a Imagineering special that went over it.

 

[Eljay]

Originally posted by songbert
When we were there in March of 1999, we waited in line for over 2 hours, got within 20 feet of the ride entrance, and they shut down.......my then 10 y.o. DS was inconsolable........

We are going back in July, and are hoping to finally make it on. Hope we aren't disappointed

My son's father will also be with us on this trip (we're divorced - he's staying at another resort !!), and he works for GM, so it should be interesting............

Virgo10 - I'm Roberta, too!!

I hear that GM employees & guests get into TT without a wait! Maybe your ex can make it happen for you.

 

[EJ Gracie]

Test Track has ALWAYS been plagued with bugs since it opened. Remember, the opening was delayed because they couldn't get the sychronization of audio and action together.

I truly think that it's a right of passage for WDW fans to have a TT "break down" experience. Lord knows there are enough of them....

 

[songbert]

Eljay -

I have been to the special lounge for GM employees with him before on other trips.....it sure would be cool if we didn't have to wait in line

I'll let you know!

P.S. He's a good guy and a great dad, even though we're not married anymore; and he gets along great with my husband, too!