WDW Rated & Reviewed - Test Track

[Red Randal]

Test Track

Intro: Test Track replaced World of Motion in Epcot in 1999, after years of delayed openings. The former attraction, World of Motion, was a lighthearted trip through AA scenes from the history of transportation. Test Track was the highest profile update in a series of them performed in Future World in the 1990's, dubbed "Project Gemini" by some. Despite constant breakdowns lines remain consistently long at the ride, almost a decade after its initial opening.

Queue: We start off with a walk through an automotive repair shop, which, I guess just for fun, has chosen to position TVs all over, showing clips of car accidents. They also play some really annoying music, which becomes more annoying when you listen to it for the entire hour or so that you are likely to spend in line.

Preshow: We are joined by Bill McGill (what a great name) to put together our test schedule, "just like at GM." He rattles off a bunch of tests we are going to go through like hairpin turns and Belgium Blocks (sadly this does not involve waffles). Bill rambles about why car testing and safety is important. He warns us to wear seatbelts. Now its time to ride…but wait, it’s a FAKEOUT. Instead it's time for queue number two, which is a shorter winding line in front of the launch area. This thing gets absolutely inundated with people when the ride breaks down and the system is just not set up to handle long lines AND the breakdowns.

Ride: Up a hill we go and into some rough road tests that felt pretty similar to driving through Pennsylvania. Then we learn what its like to not have anti-lock breaks. Thrilling? Bill keeps rambling in our ears through all this. He lets us know its time for some “extreme test conditions” and we enter some rooms with heat lamps and air conditioning. I’d like to point out that it’s actually warmer in the “arctic” room than it is in Ice Station Cool. Then we head quickly up some hills at full speed and they tease putting us into a wall, but it’s a swerve and for NO REASON some headlights appear and a horn blows. Well, that ruined any sense of realism this ride had. We go for a fast spin around the outside of the building. If it is meant as a homage to the outside portion of World of Motion, it’s a nice homage, but otherwise it’s just sort of there. It’s like riding on the highway in a convertible. Seriously, this is a thrill ride, doing the same thing a bunch of people probably experienced on the ride to the park. Bill thanks us and its over.

Post Show: Walk out through a GM showroom featuring “cars of the future” and stuff. Really they are just cars of next year and it’s all a big ad for GM, which, really, this whole pavilion is.

Thoughts: Wow, what a letdown this is. I was going to go easy on it, but after repeat riding, this does not stand up well. Ride it if it is operational and there is not a long wait. Use Fastpass if at all possible.

Overall Rating: **

[Donald A]

I sorta like test track but the review is right, I wouldn't wait more than about 15 minutes to ride it. I think the World of Motion was better and I know why test track was built - GM sponsored it. The folks at Disney likely have little to no costs associated with it as GM pays them all.

[darthmacho]

I think Test Track is a lot of fun. Perhaps I'm a little biased, *** it was our first ride on our second trip (the return trip) to WDW, and it got the vacation off to a great start. I even love the queue and the pre-show, though admittedly, I didn't get too excited about the shop merchandise. :car:

[GINNY69]

I think Test Track is a good Attraction. I would definately get a fastpass for this ride. Standing in the regular line can be exhausting because it is a slow moving line...:car: :car: :car:

3 more weeks for my WDW :vacation: :horray: :joy: :yay:

[PirateLover]

I am so with you here. I don't get the obsession with Test Track. It is interesting, sure, but I don't consider it a "thrill" ride like many others do. There is only one moment of thrill and as you mention it's sort of haphazardly thrown in. And I cannot believe how long the lines always are even in off seasons. Once a trip is enough for me and it wouldn't phase me very much if we had to completely skip it.

[LoriMistress]

The ride is boring. Unless if you're ten and under you will find this ride annoying and a waste of time. If you MUST ride it, get a FP for it. Other then that, you'll be bored to tears.

[Marker]

WDW attractions are about more than being a thrill. In my opinion, WDW is not a thrill ride park. If you want thrill rides, you'll likely have to go to another park. WDW is about families, WDW is about imagination. I think test track fits in great. I gave it 4 starts. I didn't give it five because it really doesn't represent "Future" World, it more represents "Today" World. But it's still a fun experience.

If I want thrills, I'll head to Sandusky, OH, if I want Disney Magic, if I want Disney FAMILY Magic, I'll head to WDW.

[dumbo ears]

i said that tt was awesome. i loved how fast it went and all the different driving tests.

[Jared]

The reviewer is one of many people on these boards who do not like Test Track. Seemingly every thread about the attraction is another user calling it overrated.

But I think those who criticize Test Track have incorrect expectations. Test Track is not a thrill ride--poor advertising by Disney--but is a fun and unique experience.

The whole pavilion is elaborate, the technology is worthwhile and the loop around the outside is not simply a highway drive. I'd like someone to name an Interstate with hairpin curves and steep banks.

Test Track may not deserve any hype, nor is it one of the top attractions at Epcot, but it definitely does not deserve the criticism it so often receives.

[Marker]

I'd like someone to name an Interstate with hairpin curves and steep banks.


OOOOOO, I'd like that!!!!!!!

[PirateLover]

Hmm...I would just like to clarify my opinion. I do not care that Test Track is not really a "thrill" ride. I like thrills, but I am not one of those people who think that WDW needs to be thrill capital USA. In fact, what I love most about the thrill rides here aren't the actual thrill aspect but the theming. I DO care, however, that it is marketed as such. Add to that the fact that you can see the car racing outside the pavilion and this leads people to believe the attraction is something it is NOT. This causes lines to be long almost year round and fast passes to "sell out" early in the day. Personally, I had no false expectations of the ride when I first rode it because I knew nothing about it. And I do find some enjoyment in the overall ride and presentation, but for me it isn't worth the 1 hr+ wait like it has been on my previous 3 trips, all at different times of the year, and I simply don't think it is one of the best that WDW has to offer... this is my opinion, and everyone else is entitled to theirs as well.

[HndrdPrcnt]

:down: :down:

[SBETigg]

I love Test Track. Even the horrible really annoying music they play in the queue. I could ride it again and again, and some days, we do! And actually, in all my WDW visits, we've only had two breakdowns and we simply went back later and everything was fine. Plus, there are fascinating displays in the queue area. Call me crazy, but I think it's all a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, and a definite "can't miss" all around awesome attraction.

[Bethanymouse]

My vote was just an ok ride- not that great but if no line we will ride

[GrmGrninGost]

Put me down as one of the nuts who think this is an awesome ride! My DS and I rank it near the top of our "must dos." Long live Test Track!

[SpecJoe Magic]

I gave it a rating of ***. In my opinion, the problem with it is that the first half is nowhere near as good as the second half. The first half includes the hill climb, rough road, brake test without ABS, brake test with ABS, and the environmental tests. The second half consists of the maneuvers around the turns, the evasive maneuver, the crash test, and the speed test. The only part I like about the first half is the brake test without ABS whereas I like all of the parts in the second half. We always use either Fastpass or single-rider. The standby time is usually much too long. We like to ride it on every WDW visit, but it's not on our must-do list so we don't mind skipping it.

[Spaceship Tigger]

I like Test Track - it's a fun ride. I think it's fun to be a part of all of the testing processes which are relatively what goes on in parts of an automobile plant (I work in the automotive parts business and have visited them).

And the ride outside is quite fun - I want to laugh whenever I see someone write that 'it's like riding on the highway in a convertible', because it's certainly nothing of the sort.

[wilshade]

I view Test Track as an average ride. The great premis is handicapped by the average (for WDW) execution. I am judging this ride solely on how it compares to other WDW rides.

I do not consider this a thrill ride. But, it is enjoyable, just not worth waiting a long time for.

I will go on the ride if the cues are reasonable when I walk by. I will go out of my way for to see the "Jammitors" perform, but not to get on Test Track.

I also think that this ride will not stand the test of time. Sooner or later, it will have to updated or eliminated. I don't see it becoming a classic.

[ghost999]

Put me down as one of the nuts who think this is an awesome ride! My DS and I rank it near the top of our "must dos." Long live Test Track!

i agree with everything that you say and stand for. rock on and LONG LIVE TEST TRACK

[MickeysDad]

I have always loved Test Track. That last turn is great:thumbsup:

[slt21]

I love it, personally. It's a very different experience; yes, it's not a thrill ride, but it's interesting. Plus, although that heat chamber is TERRIBLE in the summertime, the cool chamber and the corrosion (?) chamber feel equally wonderful and entirely make up for the blast of heatl. I also enjoy the attention to detail; if you look around while on the ride you'll really notice it (even in the queue).

I can see why some people are let down by the ride, especially those who are going in expecting it to be a "thrill ride" in the traditional sense. However, I find it to be a very interesting and fun ride about all of the different ways vehicles are tested (although I suppose my interest in cars does add to my interest).

It gets a big :thumbsup: from me; it's one of my favorite rides at Disney.

[Jeff G]

I would agree for the most with this review. It's an ok ride but not great. I think World of Motion was so much more of a ride where as this seems like a GM plug.

[LudwigVonDrake]

I've only ridden it once and there is no great urge to ride it again...maybe someday :mickey:

[lightyearfan]

me and dw truly love this ride, it's a without a doubt attraction while at epcot! maybe it's because we both work in the car industry, but even if we didn't , this is one of the better attractions throughtout epcot

a must do:thumbsup:

Victor:mickey:

[Mickey91]

Actually, I didn't vote. I just plain hate this ride. I don't like all the stops and turns and jerks. World of Motion was much more enjoyable for me. But the rest of my DF love it!

[princessjojo]

The ride is boring. Unless if you're ten and under you will find this ride annoying and a waste of time. If you MUST ride it, get a FP for it. Other then that, you'll be bored to tears.

Big :ditto:

[WEDTOPIA]

The ride is exactly what it's billed as . It's a simulation of a car testing ground . The detailing in the queue is exactly what you'd find at any of the testing facilities around the world. The rest of the ride is a miniature mock up of every road test a newly designed car goes through before it's massed produced .

So, unless I'm missing something here , Disney did what they set out to do. Now , as far as the fun factor , for me , it's a not-to-be-missed attraction at Epcot. Which is saying something ,because I absolutely loved World of Motion , and I miss it immensely.

Concerning comments that compare it to a highway drive , when was the last time anyone rode in a driverless car on a banked , curved track at 65 mph ?

Disney can call it a thrill ride if they wish to , because at 65 mph , it's the fastest thing on any Disney property.

:mickey:

[Kairi_7378]

I went to Epcot expecting the park to be quasi-educational. I wasn't expecting thrill rides. (There are plenty of parks near us where I can go on thrill rides, but they don't have the Imagineers' touch!)
Test Track was a lot of fun. I don't understand why people wouldn't use a fast pass for it, though. It seems like the entire fast pass system is underused. The ride seems to be a bit unreliable, though. It broke down once when we were there and there seem to be a lot of reports of breakdowns on the boards.

[WDWfeelslikehome]

It's a fun ride, but if the lines are too long or the FP is down, we don't get too bent out of shape if we miss it on a trip or two.

[King Triton]

I know many disagree, but Test Track is probably my favorite "repeat" ride at Disney. If the lines aren't bad, I'll go on it multiple times. I can't think of anything else I try to hit more than once (with the exception of Soarin', but hitting that multiple times requires a lot of time)

[Red Randal]

Bump! Happy Birthday Epcot!

[Here we go again...]

Add us to the list of TT lovers. Yes, the first half is a little boring but we love the last part of the ride.

What would be really cool would be to put the first part on random courses. Yeah, I know it would cost lots of money... any way, never knowing what you are going to do until you get out there would increase the thrill ride part.

They did it with TOT, why not TT?

[4ubie1]

Ok..i will be honest. I have yet to ride this one. :blush: The few times I have been there when it has been available, it was not...aka it was broken down. But from what I have seen, it looks like it could be fun the first couple of times. I am sure after multiple rides, it could get old though. That is if i can even get on it :D

[Gottaluvgoof]

I think test track is great! It is exactly what it's supposed to be. I guess not everyone is going to like every single attraction. Evidently, plenty of people do like it though, since there are always lines. I don't get all the analyzing of all the attractions. I just go to enjoy them all. :thumbsup:

[KAJUNKING]

I think test track is great! It is exactly what it's supposed to be. I guess not everyone is going to like every single attraction. Evidently, plenty of people do like it though, since there are always lines. I don't get all the analyzing of all the attractions. I just go to enjoy them all. :thumbsup:

:ditto: i think disney did what they set out to do on this attraction, to me disney is all about the details and themeing and tt is very well themed, plus when Walt decided to build a theme park his vision was a place where parents and children could enjoy attracions together, and tt does this, me and my ds6 and dd8 could ride it over and over again

[RobWreck]

While Test Track isn't a bad ride (and in comparison to JIYI, it's a GREAT ride), does anyone really feel that it's an improvement over World of Motion? WoM may not have been forward-looking enough for Future World, but Test track doesn't even address the future, rooting the riders purely in the mundane world of today.
As for a thrill ride, Test Track has nothing in the New Jersey Turnpike at 10 pm on a Saturday night...
;)
Rob

[handmaidenofprincesses]

I love test track! yes, the queue definitely needs to be reorganized, but the rest oif it rocks! i love it (probably because its the only time i can get away with drivng like that lol)

[MickeyandTink]

We rode it last week for the first time (actually 3x). DD6, DW and I all loved it. We used FP and never waited more than 5 minutes to get in for the video. Sure it's an advertisement for GM, but they did spend $60mm on it. Did enjoy seeing the cars afterward as well, but the gift shop was pretty worthless.

[amd780]

Put me down as one of the nuts who think this is an awesome ride!
:ditto:

DH and I rode TT at least 4 times on our last trip to the World. It's definitely in my top 5! :mickey:

[Disneyexpert15]

I went on Test track in June of this year and I loved it. :mickey: It was my first time on it. I waited in the singles line. It is faster.

[cal5755]

This is another ride the whole family loves!!

We broke down the last time we were there... had to sit in our car for about 10 minutes before the cm's escorted us off the ride. That was a bunch of fun too. There were 10 of us so half were in one car and half in the car behind so we were yelling back and forth. My poor uncle and son were stuck right under the freezing cold spraying water.

[martinfamily5]

Our family loves TT. It is DD17's favorite at Epcot.

[DizNee143]

its one of my favorites rides..i really enjoy it..and so what if it breaks down alot..that has nothing to do with the ride..just that you might have to wait longer to actually ride it...i love the ride and cant wait to get on it in Nov..and i cant wait to get my fiance on that ride..he is a major car freak..and he LOVED GM!!!!! :mickey:

[TBY2225]

When we went in Sept 2006 I didn't want to ride it. It sounded boring to me. DH and DD wanted to so I went. I loved it! Yes, the first part is a little rough, but the ride outside at the end is great! It is now one of my favorites! I love the themeing at the end with all the cars and trucks and it was a great place for me to take DS to play while we did child swap.

[DisneyOtaku]

TT is decent enough. If I can get a fastpass and not wait more than 15 min. to get on, I'm for it. Any longer of a wait and I'll start wishing that I had picked another line--like Mission: Space right next door. It was fun the first time, and interesting to see how everything works, but I can't justify multiple rides in one trip.

Overall, I give it a **

[animalkingdomguy]

Long waits and baby swaps could be better. If you can endure the wait the attraction is well worth the effort.

[magicman]

I really enjoy the ride, and I gave it 4 stars. The only improvements that I could think of would be:
- If there was a bit of randomness to the "tests"
- If the ride's up-time was a bit higher

[goofysbabe]

We really like this ride, it's a must do for us! This is one of the first "thrill" rides they rode, and now their hooked:coaster:

[Figgyluv03]

Awesome on every level. Another thumbs up for Disney Imagineers!!!:thumbsup:

[kbean]

Bring back World of Motion.