In 2008 Walt Disney Animation Studios released the animated feature “Bolt” which starred a canine named Bolt. Fast forward 13 years and the company has announced a new expansion of their partnership with Chevrolet featuring their Bolt electric vehicle? Coincidence? I think not. This weekend,… Read More »Chevrolet & Disney collaborate on 2020 Bolt Electric Vehicle rollout
Go behind the scenes with designers from Chevrolet and Disney’s elite Imagineers as they worked together to completely re-imagine Test Track at EPCOT. The new ride experience is more engaging and interactive plus it’s more in-tune with the modern realities of the automobile design. Something… Read More »Re-Imagining Test Track with Chevy Designers and Disney Imagineers
The re-imagined version of Test Track officially reopened tonight with a small ceremony and a giant party. Disney execs, VIPs, media, dignitaries, and even the lowly Disney blogger were all invited in to enter the world of automotive design as never before, creating their own virtual concept, then boarding a “SimCar” ride vehicle to race through a thrilling series of performance tests.
For the dedication ceremony, Mickey Mouse took the stage with Disney parks president Meg Crofton and Alan Batey, CMO at GM, to officially open Test Track. The band One Republic was also on hand to help the attraction get a rocking start.
The iconic Epcot attraction, a new collaboration between Chevrolet Design and the creative team of Walt Disney Imagineering, celebrates how meticulous design not only shapes the look of Chevrolet cars, trucks and crossovers, but drives their performance on the open road.
For inspiration for the project, Walt Disney Imagineers made numerous visits to Detroit, collaborating with Chevrolet designers and touring the inner sanctums of Chevrolet’s design studios.
“As storytellers, to be able to tell Chevrolet’s design story was fun for our Imagineers,” said Eric Jacobson, senior vice president of WDI. “Chevrolet designers come from the same creative roots as Imagineers. Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will become, for Epcot guests, an exciting part of their visit to Walt Disney World Resort.”
Read More »Test Track, with new digital design vision, Re-Opens for Multi-Sensory Fun!
Test Track, with its new sponsorship from Chevrolet, officially opens on Thursday. Cast member previews have been under way for a few days and photos have been slowly leaking out along with short reviews like “Amazing!” “Awesome” and “Lots of Fun.” I was able to… Read More »Inside the new Test Track at EPCOT, Non-Spoilery
When Test Track officially re-open in December it will have a new story, a new sponsor (Chevrolet), and a new look to go with it. Disney has just released an artist rendering of how that new look will makeover the exterior of the building at… Read More »New Facade for EPCOT’s Test Track
EPCOT’s re-imagined Test Track attraction will put the guest inside a computer as they partake in a digital test environment from the queue, through the ride, and even into the post ride experience. Modern day automotive design relies on computer aided-design significantly more than it did when they original blueprints for Test Track were drawn up. Now that Chevrolet has become the attraction’s new sponsor Disney is taking the opportunity to update the experience to a new concept.
Guests in the queue will be able to make design choices for their car based on the four qualities of Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Power. After they experience the attraction they will be able to compare the results of their choices with other people in their car.
Read More »Test Track Re-invisioned Puts You In The Computer
EPCOT’s popular Test Track attraction will be getting an updated theme to go with a new sponsor. Rather than General Motors sponsoring the ride, it will change to Chevrolet. Chevy is, of course, a GM brand, but the company wanted to focus the new experience on just one brand.
Plans call for closing the current GM Test Track in April 2012, with an anticipated opening of Test Track Presented by Chevrolet scheduled for fall 2012. A few months ago updated cars were spotted testing on the track, they’ve obviously been working on this for a while already.
With the credit crisis of 2007-08 sending GM into bankruptcy, there was a question if the 10 year #10 million sponsorship would continue. But Disney and GM worked out a series of arrangements that allowed them to keep their name on the ride until finances could be lined up to renew the arrangement.
The new theme reminds me a little of how the ‘Sum of all Thrills’ attraction works. But the execution will have to be different to keep the capacity of the attraction moving at a quick enough clip.
A new car model was spotted on Test Track today by Twitter user @shawnathon33. Thanks to Shawn for permission to use his photos here. Apparently, more of these vehicles will be rolling out soon eventually replacing all the existing cars. I’m told that these are… Read More »New Car Spotted on Test Track