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.

[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...

3 more weeks for my WDW :horray:

[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]

[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