Well, it’s finally happened.
New Test Track sign!
In June 2024, Test Track closed in EPCOT to make way for a reimagined version of the ride. Now, it’s STILL going to be called Test Track, but Disney promised the ride would be a lot different. Well, the new version of Test Track is HERE and we got to ride via an early preview ahead of its reopening …and let’s just say we have some thoughts.
So let’s talk about Test Track BEFORE the re-theme. The previous version of the ride had a pre-show area where you could design a car for testing to see how your design fares on the driving course. Then you’d ride your car and at the end of the ride, you were told how well your design did. Well, the ride’s theme has changed! One of the first things you’ll notice that’s different is the ride’s sign OUTSIDE the ride.
New sign
Other than that, the rest of the entrance is very similar to the previous version. You’ve got a Single Rider Entrance, the Standby Entrance, and the Lightning Lane.
Ride entrance
Remember that whole interactive thing in the queue where you design your car? Well, that’s completely gone now. But the queue is still pretty cool.
Queue
You’ll find some sweet futuristic concept car models in the queue, though.
Our future ride
Here’s a look at the loading area.
Loading area
The ride vehicles have also been updated, but the overall shape is still nearly identical to the old ride vehicles. Think of it like a refresh, more than a redo!
New ride vehicles
Okay, let’s go!
And we’re off!
The new ride also features six new show scenes celebrating vehicles and their makers plus a new outdoor scene celebrating technological advances in transportation. It’s “Fun to Be Free” from the original World of Motion plays as an instrumental after the narrator says the words “It’s Fun to Be Free,” but the original lyrics are not performed. The new show scenes depicting homes and home life have a real 1990s Innoventions vibe.
We’re getting Innoventions vibes
We have to also point out that there’s a new ride smell, too. It’s sort of like a pine smell, but not like Pine Sol. It’s more like a nice candle pine scent. We know Disney is all about those scents. The new scenes are very reminiscent of old school EPCOT and we think hardcore EPCOT fans are going to appreciate that.
There’s a pine scent
The ride does mention something about horizons or a new horizon as a throwback to another classic long-gone EPCOT attraction, Horizons. The scene before you head outside is a GORGEOUS dome projection of a futuristic city. This is PEAK EPCOT, y’all.
LOVE this
The exterior part of the ride hasn’t changed much, but there is a sign now that shows you how fast you’re going, which we thought was pretty cool. If you were worried about the ride being slower, well, it still hits 65 mph, making it the fastest ride in Disney World.
Still the fastest ride in Disney World.
Also gone are those interactive games that were at the ride’s exit. However, you’ll still be able to see your ride photo at the end.
Don’t forget your ride photo
One thing that hasn’t changed is the ride’s sponsor. General Motors is still the ride’s sponsor — the company has sponsored all iterations of the Test Track ride since 1999. After you look at your ride photo, you can check out the General Motors showroom.
General Motors showroom
We feel like this is a nice modern upgrade from the previous version of the ride. Is it as good as the original with the crash test dummies? Maybe not, but nostalgia will always have us longing for that version of the ride. Honestly, we thought this was a worthy update, though.
We were excited to ride this new version of Test Track and can’t wait for everyone else to get a chance to ride it when it reopens on July 22nd.
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
Why Did It Take Disney World a Full Year to Refurbish Test Track?
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What do you think? Are you excited about this new version of Test Track? Let us know in the comments!
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We missed it by two days. It’s sad that took away all interactions before and after. I guess they’re looking to save money. Less things to fix and maintain. The pine smell is cool but I thought it would be more vintage like.
Are there any health or disability restrictions for this ride?
Is the ride smooth or does it throw you around?
From your description of the new Test Track it’s not something that is going to get me to want to visit Epcot anytime sooner than I have planned. Sometimes it’s good to leave good things alone.
We’ll check it out when open to the public. I still miss the 1st Gen Test Track, with the lab video featuring Bill McKim, and his coworker, as they select the road hazards they will test with us in the cars. When we are on vacation in a city with paving stone streets, I still point out, “Belgium Blocks.”
What about the machine where you can create/print your own license? Is that still there?
I’m curious what entertains you while in queue like the car designing. That was good to occupy time.
So disappointed its opening on 22nd as we go home on the 16th booked this holiday 2 years ago then disney close rides again but don’t lower the price of tickets considering the amount of closures I think 2100 is a bit much for 3 tickets
I am sorry to hear that the interactive part where you designed your own car is gone. To us, this was the most fun part of this attraction.
As a Passholder we will go to the early premier event. One of the questions I had was the size of the car. It looks like the car is the same. At 300 lbs and 6’ tall it is tight in seat and getting in and out. Are the cars the same size?