Test Track's Opening - What's Everyone Talking About?

[DrKnow77]

With Mission: Space about to open this summer, I keep hearing people say, "Remember what happened w/ Test Track... Mission: Space will never open when they say it will."

So what's the story w/ Test Track's opening? What caused it to be delayed so much?

 

[wdwguide]

Test Track was delayed something like a year and a half, which was a huge PR disaster.
There were technical problems (which there still are, the ride pretty much breaks down daily) with getting enough vehicles to operate on the track at one time without the computer systems shutting it down constantly. At one point they ran a car with all safety features disables through the ride and it flew off the track, so they had to fix the damage and make sure this wouldn't happen with a guest inside, etc. They also had big problems with the tires getting worn out way too often.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

And it still doesn't run well. Test Track was down all day on Monday.

Sarah

 

[HakunaMatataMan]

If you ever go to Epcot and don't get to ride Test Track due to mechanical failure, write Disney Guest Services and let them know about it.

Back in 1999, my fiancee and I went to Epcot on two spearate occasions to ride TT and both times it was shut down. When I got back, I wrote an email to the Guest Relations Dept; basically explaining the situation and how much we loved WDW but weren't sure if it was worth going again (yeah right?) because we wasted so much time trying to ride TT.

Within two weeks, a CM contacted me and asked me for my park card (yes, I save them). Within a week, she sent me 4 One-Day Park Hoppers to compensate me for the time I lost when TT was out of order.

Needless to say, I booked my trip the very next day. I didn't really expect to be reimbursed, but it just goes to show that a little effort can go a long way at Disney.

 

[barbeml]

Wow, wish I knew that would happen! I'd have about 12 free one-day Hoppers by now. In our three trips since Test Track opened, we have never been able to ride it--even though we spend more time in Epcot than anywhere!

As far as I am concerned, Test Track is a cruel hoax.

 

[grinningghost]

Yes, TT was Disney's worst nightmare, but for those who haven't had the chance to ride it due to mechanical failures, keep trying. It's really a great ride. We were lucky to ride because the day we went, it was breaking down all day long. I guess that's par for the course at TT. CM's were pretty laid back in saying to keep trying, it generally runs at least some of the time.

 

[Dznefreek]

The original software took 1 hour to reboot if there was a problem, that was one of the biggest hurdles.

 

[Poohbear123]

I have been ON IT when it broke down!

 

[#1MMFan]

I must be one of the lucky ones. I have never had it break down when we were queueing, or on it. I have ridden absolutely countless times every visit since it opened. It's a great ride, and currently the most complex attraction/ride in WDW. Perhaps if I was staying off-site I may have experienced problems as I wouldn't have been doing so much park-hopping etc, but I honestly have never encountered these problems to that extent. Gosh you guys are incredibly unlucky.

I have ridden it, however, with my seatbelt broken - does that count?

Man, that was unnerving. When I reported it initially, the CM dismissed it and round the track I went flying around a bit more than usual. Then when I pulled in at the end of the ride I told the CM loading who looked at it in horror and told another CM to pull the car off the track for maintenance!
Maybe I could get an annual pass for that one, eh?

Just kiddin'

 

[lrodk]

Another problem Disney is forced to deal with at Test Track are the automatic weather-related shutdowns. Disney has it's own local satellite tower that monitors lightning storms in the immediate vicinity. In the event an approaching storm is detected(and you know that during the summer months it pretty much happens every day) the ride is shut down. The reason for this is because the portion of the track that runs outside is all metal, which is an excellent conductor for electricity. Needles to say it poses a potential safety hazard. From the time they get the all-clear sign it takes upwards of 1 hr to reboot the program and get the ride back on pace.

Regarding Mission Space, I honestly don't believe we'll see delays on the same scale as we saw with TT. Testing has gone extremely well with MS. If I remember correctly TT threw in the towel much farther out than the anticipated 4 month opening of MS. In the wake of TTs embarrasment I think that if things were so far out of wack with MS we would have gotten wind of it by now. If anything Disney has learned to be conservative with it's estimates on new projects. They wouldn't have come out with this release last week if they weren't more than reasonably sure they could pull it off by August.