Test Track malfunctions?

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We rode Test Track for the first time yesterday. Right before we went into the room where you watch the little video the ride broke. They got it running again and we went into the room. We stood there for 5 minutes or so but nothing happened. Finally a man behind us pushed through the doors back out into the queue and told them it wasn't working. The video started. We proceeded to the car.

All during the ride we kept stopping, starting, stopping, starting. When we were supposed to "skid" we didn't hit the cones or feel like we were slipping. We were stuck at the "Falling Rocks" sign but nothing ever fell.

Since we had never been on before and chose not to go again (we liked it, but we were wrapping it up for the day) we are wondering if the ride is supposed to do that or if they were still having problems with it. Anyone?

 

[mochabean]

It is most definitely not supposed to do that. For Test Track especially, it often takes them quite a while to get it back up an running properly. You never should really stop during the ride. There are two "skid" parts, the first time you are supposed to "hit" the cones, but the second time you are not.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I expected to hit the cones the first time, but we didn't. Then last night I happened to catch just a bit of footage on "The Top 7" thing on the resort TV and it looked like the car DID hit the cones. I told DH I didn't think it was working properly when we rode! Thanks!

 

[kilee]

Definetly sounds like a malfunction. BTW how did your little one do w/ his cold during the trip?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS was better by the time we left - he had a great time! He was so excited about Test Track! That was the thing he was most interested in at Epcot. I guess we should have gotten more Fast Passes as we were going in to use our first ones, but it never occurred to me that the ride wouldn't be at optimum performance and we would need to ride it again! Besides, the weather was crummy and we thought it might be really cold on the outdoor portion.

 

[lagunaseca]

We love Test Track but it breaks down often.

 

[peter11435]

We love Test Track but it breaks down often.

Test Tracks main problem is not actual "breakdowns" as in mechanical problems. The main problem is that with that many cars going that fast around a track and traveling at different speeds through out the ride is filled with safety checks and other systems to keep the riders safe. The system is so sensitive that it is often set off and the ride stops when there is really no problem. Nearly all and I mean like 8 out of 10 times the ride has a "breakdown" there is really nothing wrong just an overly sensitive safety system. Better safe than sorry I guess.

 

[Minnie824]

You know when DH and I went on this for the first time, we got off the ride and were like, so what? We saw what was coming ahead the whole time. Not until we got home and I was reading stuff on the boards did I realize we were supposed to be in the dark....it was light the entire time and this was first thing in the am. I'm looking forward to going on it again when its working.

 

[Feralpeg]

It malfunctioned once while we were riding. It actually came to a complete halt with our car just starting up one of the steep inclines. After a few minutes, a CM came and told us we would have to walk out of the attraction. He had us follow him out. It was kind of creepy because he told us to walk exactly where he walked. One guy from our car, started walking around another way and the CM really jumped on him. He said it was very dangerous to just walk around back there. Just before we left the building, they gave us tickets to go to the front of the line. We could use them any time the ride was back up and functioning. We didn't even have to wait through the film. It was great.

 

[arizonacolbys]

We love Test Track, but it seems like it is always "breaking down." On one of our recent trips we came to a screeching halt when we were on the outside track - sideways! We must've sat there for at least 10 minutes - hanging sideways out of the car. Once it did start back up again, it never acted quite right. We never ended up going back on it during that trip. Just too aggravating.

We went on it in September & the ride worked fine...until it was time to get out. It apparently had stopped again, after a few minutes, a CM came over & hit a button allowing us to unbuckle & get out. We were just glad we weren't in the middle of the ride again when it stopped.

 

[marypops!]

we've had that once but it was our 2nd time on it
we were riding it and around the corners near the tunnel we were going slow about 15-20mph (im not sure but it was slow) and we stopped in the tunnel for about 3-4 mins before we went and the truck didn't come we were glad that the doors open to the outside though because we were worried that they weren't and we would crash like te shown car (when it used to drive into the wall instead of it already at the wall)

 

[shafke]

We got stuck in te corrosive chamber on out last trip... what a lovely smell to have to breathe for for 5 minutes.

I think another problem the ride ahs is that it is slow to low rider with disabilities, especially those that cannot walk. They are loaded at a point just before the steep climb at the beginning. The cars are very low to step in to and when assisting somebody this can take a couple of minutes. This will then back up the whole ride.

 

[puffkin]

We have rode the ride approximately 8 times since June 2001 and it has only every worked the whole way through once for us. Twice we have been on and stopped for extended periods of time. Definitely not one of our favorites.

 

[SueM in MN]

We got stuck in te corrosive chamber on out last trip... what a lovely smell to have to breathe for for 5 minutes.

I think another problem the ride ahs is that it is slow to low rider with disabilities, especially those that cannot walk. They are loaded at a point just before the steep climb at the beginning. The cars are very low to step in to and when assisting somebody this can take a couple of minutes. This will then back up the whole ride.

Most people with disabilities board the ride at the usual boarding point and take a little extra time while the car is doing its usual stop for boarding (if they have a wheelchair, a CM takes it up by elevator over the track and the back down by elevator to the other side of the track after they board).

The load point that shafke mentioned is used by people with more severe disabilities. You get all ready to get out of the wheelchair before a car shows up. When the car arrives, it's usually a pretty efficient process to transfer in, but would require a stop. Exiting the ride is done at the same spot. They do limit the number of "disability stops" per hour, so we sometimes have to wait extra time to board.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I'm sorry? Did you say it was supposed to be DARK? OK, it was ABSOLUTELY not working properly!!! Now I am actually laughing about it. It sounds like the experience we had was certainly NOT what was intended!