Test Track refurb

[DisneyAbsolutely]

It seems so bizarre that they would leave a major refurbishment announcement hanging since January. It's one of their best attractions. I know someone will inevitably get burned either way but like to know in advance what to expect. There are too many ways to comunicate this to them public. Why haven't they? Would they really think that one vague announcement in January is sufficient? This ride is relatively new. It's quite wonderful as is....what's the emergency to revise it all about?

 

[Feckless]

Since BTMRR is down and the Fantasyland expansion is underway, it think it would be great if they delayed. Since our trip is in May.

 

[melissafox18]

I still have my hopes up that it will be operational for our trip this month. We get there on the 18th and I'll run my happy little behind to Epcot first if it's going to close even while we're on our trip. Every time I've been in Epcot TT has gotten shut down due to pouring rain. Some something's gotta give this time!!!

 

[Traveliz]

MY CM daughter says she was told in a meeting April 16 (this was just a couple of days ago). Previous to that she was hearing it might be delayed longer. She works with people who work at TT so I am inclined to believe April 16.

Liz

 

[undertheseas]

Oh I was full of hope for our early June trip but the last post sounds true

 

[pigletto]

MY CM daughter says she was told in a meeting April 16 (this was just a couple of days ago). Previous to that she was hearing it might be delayed longer. She works with people who work at TT so I am inclined to believe April 16.

Liz

Odd. There's usually some sort of advance notice to the public. I guess there was in January. But then nothing for months and they changed the info on their website and pulled down the official announcement.
The whole thing is strange.

Just checked. It's still not listed as a refurb on the park hours site. I wish they'd give some notice one way or another.

 

[Albytaps]

My kids will be thrilled. They were already bummed about BTMRR being closed and on top of that TT being closed was just awful. If TT is open, they will be so happy. I'm not going to tell them just in case.

 

[DisneyAbsolutely]

I'm hearing such conflicting things.
Many recent articles are saying that CM's working on Test Track know absolutely nothing of this refurbishment. Yet Traveliz is saying her daughter that doesn't work on Test Track knows the exact date? This is so confusing!

It seems unfair to expect people to go by an announcement from January. People logging onto Disney sites today will see nothing about Test Track closing. Even the announcement from January was non-specific. I really hope folks don't have to wait until the day comes to find out! That's super annoying to people who are eager to know right now!

 

[DisneyAbsolutely]

Some people are saying that Disney is still determining the length of this project. Translation: It's closing in April but they don't know when it's reopening. That doesn't explain why they pulled the announcement... and I still think it would be better to at least officially announce the closing date in advance. That way people going around that time won't be completely blindsided. What ever happened to doing refurbishments during less busy seasons?

 

[Love Tink]

I don't know, this whole thing is so weird. And all the rumors and hearsay make it even more confusing.

I will say that if they were to announce a lengthy closing starting in only two weeks (or less) of a headliner...it would be totally unprecedented. These things are always put on the calendar way in advance. Today they put up a mere two-day rehab of Buzz Lightyear that's scheduled for June. I assume they do this so people have all the information in advance, to cut down on complaints.

This Test Track refurb has never been listed on the calendar, and official dates have never been announced, and basically the only reason we know about it at all is from a vague press release that has since disappeared, and from CM chatter. I just can't see WDW inviting the kind of brushback that would come with springing this on the calendar (and thus 95% of park guests) now. It seems they would have listed the refurb and then maybe tinkered with the dates later...not left it off the calendar entirely.

But maybe this is wishful thinking.

I will say that operations CMs, the ones working at the rides and so forth, are not the ones I would expect to know if the refurb has been cancelled or pushed back. So what they are being told isn't necessarily pertinent to what's happening in the decision-making process.

 

[Mad Hattered]

This is from Screamscape this morning:

Test Track Re-Imagined - (4/2/12) I’ve dug up a little more information about the pending rehab for Test Track. According to my sources the Test Track crew has been cross-training ever since the lengthy rehab was announced to the other various ‘Future World East’ attractions.
Now to be fair, while everyone had heard April 15th as the start of the rehab, Disney has never confirmed this date, nor officially posted it to the public. From what I’m hearing, the Test Track rehab is still on… just the starting date to close the ride down has been delayed. Part of this may have something to do with the current rehab taking place on Big Thunder at the Magic Kingdom. I’m hearing that the work taking place over there has been even more extensive than expected, and that rehab may be taking longer than expected. As such, Disney is possibly hoping to avoid closing down Big Thunder and Test Track at the same time if possible. Working along the same lines, another source has also reported that the closing date for Test Track had been pushed back a month to mid to late May instead of April, which matches up to when Big Thunder is expected to reopen.

 

[JetsetJAK]

From an Orlando Sentinel article published yesterday morning (LINK HERE):

Test track changes coming

Despite Internet speculation of a delay, Walt Disney World says an overhaul of the Test Track attraction in Epcot is moving forward as planned.

A spokeswoman for the resort said the attraction, which is underwritten by General Motors Corp., will shut down April 16 for an extended renovation. The redesigned ride is to reopen in the fall with a new theme focused on GM's Chevrolet brand and a new automotive-design center.

 

[jenfromjersey]

Noooooo! They could at least update the calendar to reflect this, if they are trying to make it official

 

[DisneyAbsolutely]

From an Orlando Sentinel article published yesterday morning (LINK HERE):

Bummer! I love Disney but they deserve a little flack for how they handled this. Going forward, I hope they give proper notice before shutting down a major attraction. People who frequently look to Disney's official site for information will be surprised to learn about this refurbishment only weeks beforehand!



I am glad to know something for sure though!

 

[disney 4 5]

UGH I am going to have one big family of revolters if both Test Track & BTM are closed while we are there in May. Especially if BTM doesn't reopen while we are there. Not happy. Why would they take 2 major rides down at the same time. Not smart. IMO

 

[DisneyAbsolutely]

UGH I am going to have one big family of revolters if both Test Track & BTM are closed while we are there in May. Especially if BTM doesn't reopen while we are there. Not happy. Why would they take 2 major rides down at the same time. Not smart. IMO

Sources say Thunder Mountain will be finished by June. I don't know what that means and I didn't see if that article above mentioned any delays for that ride. I feel for people that will be missing out on both Thunder Mountain and Test Track. I personally don't love Thunder Mountain. It's too thrashy but I always go on it at least once.

Another thing that stinks about TT being closed is that it will make the remaining Epcot attractions more busy. The line for Soarin was a nightmare last year and I bet it will be worse this year. Epcot only has a few popular rides. Now everyone will be fighting to get onto Soarin. Not cool.

 

[JetsetJAK]

Just a thought...but could the timeframe for this refurb have something to do with Chevrolet/GM? I really have no idea how these things actually work, so this could be completely off-base, but maybe there was something in the refurbishment agreement that Chevrolet would only pay for it if it was completed by a certain date?

Like I said, I have no idea how these things work, but I'm just throwing an idea out there. That, and the idea that maybe they want the refurb done and the ride operational in time for the October 1st anniversary, is the only reason I can think of that they'd have the ride down during the summer while BTMRR is also down.

 

[tink20]

UGH I am going to have one big family of revolters if both Test Track & BTM are closed while we are there in May. Especially if BTM doesn't reopen while we are there. Not happy. Why would they take 2 major rides down at the same time. Not smart. IMO

I'm in the same situation as you, end of May first of June. Already told DS that TT would be closed, don't want to also have BTM down. He doesn't do the other thrill rides (RNR, EE, TOT, Space Mt) so to have both these closed would be a major bummer.

 

[staceysparkle]

So not only will BTMRR be shut, along with most of fantasy land, but it now looks like TT will be too? I am very disappointed with the timing of all this, and the way it has been handled. Why gets peoples hopes up? I suppose nothing is set in stone until there is an announcement from Disney, but 2 weeks notice is all the guests are getting? This is unprofessional behaviour from a normally very professional company. Major sadface

 

[jujube]

If it closes in mid May, that would be fantastic for us but I am truly sorry for those of you who are counting on it for your trips at that time. I know the disappointment because since I read about the possible closure for our trip dates, I was pretty sad. It's one of my favorites.
Big Thunder Mountain is my brave ride at the MK and TT is my brave ride at Epcot so i was totally bummed to be missing both of them.