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Test Track to get makeover, sponsor change

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.

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Orlando Theme Parks Reach Capacity

The week between Christmas and New Years is always a busy one in Orlando. This year with both major holidays falling on weekends and twin bowl crowds in town, everyone was expecting it to be crazy. The first part of this week has actually been… Read More »Orlando Theme Parks Reach Capacity

Wonderland – The Ghost Theme Park of China revisited

Nestled outside of Beijing, China sits what was supposed to be one of the regions best theme parks – Wonderland Amusement Park. I first wrote about the Magic Kingdom Ghost Park back in August but it’s getting some attention again with a new story from Reuters.

Situated on an area of around 100 acres, and 45 minutes drive from the center of Beijing, are the ruins of ‘Wonderland’. Construction stopped more than a decade ago, with developers promoting it as ‘the largest amusement park in Asia’. Funds were withdrawn due to disagreements over property prices with the local government and farmers. So what is left are the skeletal remains of a palace, a castle, and the steel beams of what could have been an indoor playground in the middle of a corn field.

According to Reuters, it’s a sign of a decaying property bubble in China. Apparently it popped 10 years ago and no one noticed. With Disney building its own new Magic Kingdom outside Shanghai, you have to wonder about Shanghai Disneyland’s prospects for success if the Chinese bubble does finally collapse.

Check out the post from August to see an artsy video of Wonderland and even more links. Then click below the jump for a video from Trey Ratliff’s Stuck In Customs travel site:

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Disney Memes

Every year or so an anonymous cast member takes it upon themselves to share the funny, frustrating, and otherwise random bizarre moments that contribute to their experience while working for the Mouse. These instances, when viewed separate from the whole of the regular cast member… Read More »Disney Memes

Disneyland Paris at Christmas (Photos)

I had the luck of having a work trip in Paris, and I was able to sneak off to Disneyland Paris for a day. Below are a few photos, but if you want to see more (including a full trip report) you can find that on my personal blog. ( apologize that some of the photos are lower quality; my camera died and I had to use my iPad.)

I think this little boy thought I was taking his picture. He saw me with my camera (trying to take a picture) and stopped for a few moments. I snapped one, and then walked ahead of him to take more. But I just live this picture so much! (More below the jump)Read More »Disneyland Paris at Christmas (Photos)

Disney’s Stand-Alone Hotels On Hold or Over?

Jason Garcia at the Orlando Sentinel has bit more background on Disney’s decision to cancel the National Harbor hotel. Disney claims that DVC was not going to be a part of the hotel and that Aulani’s troubled start had nothing to do with it. analysts… Read More »Disney’s Stand-Alone Hotels On Hold or Over?