Test Track Vehicle Impacts Sliding Door During Cast Member Previews, Effect Now Turned Off
BlogMickey.com has been able to confirm that a Test Track ride vehicle impacted the foam sliding doors in the grand finale scene as the car accelerated toward the outdoor portion of the ride. The incident took place during a Cast Member preview yesterday at EPCOT. Four guests were treated on site for injuries sustained when their ride vehicle hit the door. No guests were transported to the hospital. Here’s what we know.
A Test Track ride vehicle impacted the foam sliding doors after the doors failed to open properly during a Cast Member preview yesterday. Four guests were treated on site for injuries sustained during the incident. None were transported to the hospital, which would suggest that the injuries were relatively minor.
While the doors, seen in the promotional image below, are supposed to fling open as your car accelerates towards them, they are also built from foam for safety in case they malfunction. While it is rare that they do not open, they are designed to break away should a vehicle impact them, as was the case yesterday. While the sliding door effect itself malfunctioned,
the safety measures put in place operated as expected.
Test Track Sliding Door Effect Turned Off Following Incident
As a result of the malfunction, the doors have been removed for Cast Member previews today. It is unclear if the effect will return at a later time or if Disney will operate the attraction without the sliding door effect. It’s also possible that the effect timing could change in an attempt to mitigate the possibility of this happening again.
The effect, when working properly, not only adds to the thrill of the ride but also serves an important role in the updated finale scene. Having the doors closed darkens the room, which is filled with projection effects showcasing the future of travel.
The doors opening at the last minute is probably the most exciting part of the ride... the old ones at least. They might or at least should get it operating again, but Disney, as of late, isn't all the easy to feel sure of a quick fix.
