Test Track refurb

[Friendly Frog]

Here's the link to the original Disney Park Blog announcement.

"

Thanks for the link.

I am not too happy with the answers she gave. "actual ride" and "not simulator" doesn't mean that it would not end up being the current car & track, and the addition of a movie screen interior to the building or car. The movie screen design is becoming a trend for Universals rides and would be a way to "customise" the Test Track ride by changing the movie based on vote.

Personally I hate this " show them a movie screen" trend. Imagine Dinosaur or Ellen's Energy Adventure if they removed the Dinosaurs and just projected images of them instead? I want to see them break out a hammer and welder and create a real set. Watching a movie while in a moving ride also makes many people nauseous.

I guess if Disney starts changing/ installing a bunch of "movie projector" attractions I can always just watch the rides on YouTube and have my husband shake my chair.

 

[jujube]

This is my take. If someone has booked a Disney trip, they receive mail from Disney. This is done through computers. Why can't they maintain a database of all these people and inform them of any upcoming rehabs? People were upset with not being informed about the monorail being down for a few hours each day and now people are upset about these rehabs as well. It's good customer service to inform customers of upcoming changes.

 

[budafam]

Has anyone actually called Disney and had this confirmed? I just have a hard time believing it if they're not announcing it by now.

 

[mbrittb00]

I would presume that you would get the same info that the Spokswoman gave to the Orlando Sentinel. I'm not convinced that that info is up to date.

I just looked that original Disney Park Blog announcement and there is no mention of a date of anytime not even April. Previously to the Orlando Sentinel article where was everyone getting the April date from?

 

[DisneyAbsolutely]

I guess if Disney starts changing/ installing a bunch of "movie projector" attractions I can always just watch the rides on YouTube and have my husband shake my chair.

Too funny. I don't really think TT needs to be changed or updated. The ride itself really is quite impressive and unique. I could see changing it maybe down the road. It really doesn't need it right now.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I suspect that it is a contractual issue, much like what happened to Journey into Imagination!

 

[Albytaps]

This is from Screamscape this morning:

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.

This would be the smart thing to do. These 2 rides happen to fall along the same type of thrill meter, usually for young ones that think anything more would be too scary. For example, BTM and TT are my 8 year old's favorite 2 rides, but finds Space, Splash, EE, etc too scary.

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

QFT!

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.

Same here.

Please tell me Disney are joking? So they are getting rid of the crash test dummies, the brake test, the hill test and the best part of the ride, the track at the end, to replace it for a crummy simulator which you could go to a fair ground and ride, and 'create your own vehicle'!? I am so angry right now. What on earth are Disney playing at. I swear they are getting worse and completely ruining every single ride!! I don't want to ride a piece of c*** simulator, I want to sit in a car with a couple of other people and enjoy the ride as it is now.

No way. They have a great ride as is. To get rid of the track in Test TRACK would be to make another John Carter.

Looks like I picked the wrong month to go on vacation! Two of the kids favorite rides are BTMRR and TT. They are a little young for the bigger rides, so this would be a big blow to their "thrill" ride set. Planning to have both of these down at the same time is borderline deceitful to me. I sure the heck wouldn't have planned the trip months ago knowing this was a possibility. Might cut a day scheduled for WDW and go check out Universal.

Again, I feel ya. Hopefully they do finish BTM before beginning work on TT, but it doesn't sound too promising.


Disney did announce that TT would start it's refurbishment in April. Anyone going from April onward should expect it to be closed. If it's not, then it'll be a nice surprise! But expect it to be closed.

 

[maryscooking]

I guess if Disney starts changing/ installing a bunch of "movie projector" attractions I can always just watch the rides on YouTube and have my husband shake my chair.

 

[kadesha]

I think you copied this, while I was changing my post. I changed it after I read what someone else posted. But I did email them. So, I guess WDW won't tell me any new info. I am most concerned about BTM. I will be upset if both TT and BTM are closed at the same time. But, what can you do.

I feel your pain. We'll be there during the timeframe in which both will be closed. (Assuming that TT closes)

 

[undertheseas]

I guess if Disney starts changing/ installing a bunch of "movie projector" attractions I can always just watch the rides on YouTube and have my husband shake my chair.

I hope I remember to call my ADR in so I can get the time I want in my kitchen!

 

[Reddog1134]

I would presume that you would get the same info that the Spokswoman gave to the Orlando Sentinel. I'm not convinced that that info is up to date.

I just looked that original Disney Park Blog announcement and there is no mention of a date of anytime not even April. Previously to the Orlando Sentinel article where was everyone getting the April date from?

Look down in the comments of the blog. She says it closes in April.

 

[Reddog1134]

Please tell me Disney are joking? So they are getting rid of the crash test dummies, the brake test, the hill test and the best part of the ride, the track at the end, to replace it for a crummy simulator which you could go to a fair ground and ride, and 'create your own vehicle'!? I am so angry right now. What on earth are Disney playing at. I swear they are getting worse and completely ruining every single ride!! I don't want to ride a piece of c*** simulator, I want to sit in a car with a couple of other people and enjoy the ride as it is now.

It's not a simulator. They may be getting rid of some of those things but the actual track should remain unchanged.

 

[mbrittb00]

Look down in the comments of the blog. She says it closes in April.

Didn't see that. Considering that most people will never read the comments, that in no way can be considered an official announcement. So I will reiterate my point that as of this date (less than two weeks from the supposed closing of TT) there has been no official announcement of the actual dates of the closure. That IMHO is inexcusable.

Also, can anyone provide a link to where Disney post the Official attraction closing schedule? Thanks.

 

[Reddog1134]

Didn't see that. Considering that most people will never read the comments, that in no way can be considered an official announcement. So I will reiterate my point that as of this date (less than two weeks from the supposed closing of TT) there has been no official announcement of the actual dates of the closure. That IMHO is inexcusable.

Also, can anyone provide a link to where Disney post the Official attraction closing schedule? Thanks.

Even if it WAS in the main article, I still wouldn't consider it an official announcement. At best, it would be a "sneak peek" of an official announcement.

 

[mbrittb00]

Even if it WAS in the main article, I still wouldn't consider it an official announcement. At best, it would be a "sneak peek" of an official announcement.

True, but at least it would be some sort of an announcement of an actual date.

As of right now if some ordinary person was planning their vacation for the middle of April (starting say on Sunday the 15th) using the official Walt Disney World website (i.e. not forums like this etc). They would get to Epcot on their 2nd or 3rd day and find out that Test Track is close with absolutely no pre-warning. I don't see how Disney can think this is at all good for publicity. Add to that, the fact that some people only go to Disney once in their lifetimes, and being given no pre-warning that this major attraction (in addition to BTM) is going to be close, simply is not right.

 

[JetsetJAK]

I don't see how Disney can think this is at all good for publicity.

At this point I'm not sure what Disney could do that won't result in at least a little bit of bad publicity. As you said, if the refurb happens as planned, they're going to get flack from all the people planning their vacations who have no idea the ride will be closed. If it ends up being delayed, then they have to deal with this whole Orlando Sentinel story that all the blogs and websites have been reporting on where Disney supposedly "confirmed" that it WAS happening as planned. So either way I think this is going to be remembered as being rather poorly planned.

Personally, my GUESS based on the info that's out there (stress the word GUESS) is that the refurb will still happen starting April 16th and going into September as planned, with the goal being to have the new attraction operational in time for the Food & Wine Festival and so "the new Test Track" can sort of be the centerpiece for Epcot's 30th Anniversary on October 1st (I keep seeing a lot of people posting that they don't understand Disney's logic in closing TT over the summer cause it's a busy time, but nobody ever seems to remember that F&W is a pretty big deal at Epcot, plus with the anniversary, they're gonna want one of their biggest attractions open at that time). If the refurb is in fact delayed, I would think it would probably be REALLY delayed so at least the original version is still running for F&W and the anniversary. But like I said, this is all just speculation on my part.

And even though I'm in the camp that wants the refurb to happen as planned so the attraction is open when I go at the end of September...I totally feel the pain of all those who might go into the park after April 16th not knowing that the ride is closed. I still remember my disappointment when I entered Epcot back in the fall of 2000, headed over to Future World East to ride my favorite attraction HORIZONS.....and found an empty lot where the building once stood.

 

[mbrittb00]

At this point I'm not sure what Disney could do that won't result in at least a little bit of bad publicity. As you said, if the refurb happens as planned, they're going to get flack from all the people planning their vacations who have no idea the ride will be closed. If it ends up being delayed, then they have to deal with this whole Orlando Sentinel story that all the blogs and websites have been reporting on where Disney supposedly "confirmed" that it WAS happening as planned. So either way I think this is going to be remembered as being rather poorly planned.

Unfortunatelly I am forced to agree that it will likely close on April 16th for the exact reasons you outlined That is unfortunate for our early May trip with two daughters who would be newly able to ride. However I think the outrage over closing without an announcement would be more justified. True that several forums and sites have listed the April 16th closing date. However there has been nothing official or even pseudo official from Disney itself. Even the blog post that everyone is pointing to only states that it will reopen in the fall. Nothing at all about the closing. You have to dig fairly deep into the comments to find the April date and even that only states April, no actual date. Plus that comment is burried so far down that it can't even be considered pseudo official.

 

[tink20]

I feel your pain. We'll be there during the timeframe in which both will be closed. (Assuming that TT closes)

Well, I received a response from Disney from my email.....The answer to my questions about BTM and TT, will they be open on my travel dates (late May..early June)the reply was the standard..Blah blah blah..look on the website, click on the day on the calendar, closures are listed. Thanks for nothing Disney

 

[DisneyAbsolutely]

At this point I'm not sure what Disney could do that won't result in at least a little bit of bad publicity. As you said, if the refurb happens as planned, they're going to get flack from all the people planning their vacations who have no idea the ride will be closed. If it ends up being delayed, then they have to deal with this whole Orlando Sentinel story that all the blogs and websites have been reporting on where Disney supposedly "confirmed" that it WAS happening as planned. So either way I think this is going to be remembered as being rather poorly planned.

I can't argue your logic. It's probably going to stink to high heaven either way for loads of people. I still find it totally unacceptable that it's not posted on Disney's Park Hours page by now.

Anything is possible at this point. I don't think there are too many people foaming at the mouth for an updated Test Track ride. Why can't they just postpone this project until after the 30th anniversary? Does anybody really care? LOL. Someone will always be disappointed but I think all refurbs should happen in January. I don't think people are desperate to see a new version of a relatively new ride.

 

[staceysparkle]

Less than 2 weeks until the supposed closure date and still no word? All I can say is Disney will certainly be getting a complaint from me if it closes without any official announcement. They need to put an end to the rumor mill, and just come clean! At least people won't be blindsided if there is a closure sometime soon. If you were only to look on the Disney website, and not on any forums, you wouldn't have a clue!