Imagineer Reveals Details about Test Track Redesign

new-test-track-marquee.jpg

Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick revealed details about the “re-imagined” Test Track attraction that is currently under development in Walt Disney World’s Epcot during an online chat via the Disney Parks Blog on Monday, August 27.

The revamped attraction, due to open in late Fall 2012, will feature a new marquee, pictured above. Some of the other key changes being made to the attraction include the following:

— The attraction will be sponsored by Chevrolet.

— The queue has been completely redesigned. According to Jesselnick, the space will be used to introduce guests to Chevrolet’s Automotive Design process — how it starts with a line and ends with the cars you can buy on the showroom floor. There will be actual sketches, cars, models from GM that have never been seen before by anyone outside the Chevrolet family.

— There will be four show scenes. Capability is where your car is tested for rough road and weather conditions. Efficiency tests your car design’s environmental footprint. The Responsiveness phase tests maneuverability, and finally, Speed is tested.

— In the attraction’s Design Studio, you have a chance to design your own custom concept vehicle. That design follows you into the ride, which is still the same physical ride as before. You’ll ride in a sim car, and as you move through the space, your custom design will be scored in the areas of Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness and Speed.

It’s an interactive design kiosk, so in the full experience you can start from a line, then shape your vehicle and add attributes — the colors, the tires, etc., and make it truly your dream vehicle.

Everybody in the vehicle will have their ride design, whether they designed individually or as a group. As you move through the four scenes, you’ll see how the design stacked up against the sim car design.

— The pre-show is integrated with the experience, and then in the post-show, your ride vehicle travels through the entire experience. You can continue to interact with your ride vehicle afterward.

— Of the number of different customization combinations available, Jesselnick says, “The possibilities are endless.”

— The post-show will kick off with a scoring opportunity, not just with the guests in your car, but guests throughout the day. From there, there will be other opportunities to play with your design with multiple interactive elements. The show room space will still be there with Chevrolet cars, and there will be photo ops with different concept cars.

— There will be new, futuristic music for the attraction. Jesselnick says there will be “a whole new soundtrack,” along with special sound effects.

— The experience will be dark, but as it pushes the envelope as far as the use of new technology, it’s not a traditional “dark ride.”

Other points of interest:

— The track layout will remain the same as the original Test Track.

— There will be a single rider line, and the attraction will still use FastPass. The full experience allows you to do a lot of customization with your vehicle; the FastPass and Single Rider lines allow for an expedited queue experience. You can still select a custom vehicle of your choosing to take with you on your ride all the way through the post-show.

— All of the software is custom for this attraction.

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Debra Martin Koma wrote about food, travel and lifestyle issues for a number of local and national publications before she fell in love with Walt Disney World on her first visit — when she was 34! She's returned to her Laughing Place more times than she can count in the ensuing years, and enthusiastically shares her passion with readers of AllEars.Net and AllEars®. Deb also co-authored (along with Deb Wills) PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, a travel guide designed for all travelers to Walt Disney World who may require special attention, from special diets to mobility issues.

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