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
With summer right around the corner, EPCOT has a couple major projects going on right now and a lot of little details being added or upgraded. First a couple things that aren’t pictured: EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival wraps up this weekend with a special… Read More »EPCOT Photo Update: Summer’s Coming
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.
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.
It looks like someone has leaked the pre-visualization video built by Walt Disney Imagineering to demonstrate how a complete ride-through of the Radiator Springs Racers, the main attraction of Pixar’s Cars’ Land at California Adventure, will look, feel, and sound to a guest. Not sure… Read More »Cars’ Land Radiator Springs Racers – Pre Viz Video
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
I was at EPCOT yesterday and managed to sneak in a ride on Test Track. GM’s imprint via name, vehicles, and brands is still all over the attraction. Frankly, it seemed a bit of a disconnect from what everyone knows is going on with the company… Read More »GM & Disney still working out Sponsorship of Test Track at EPCOT