Who could forget the original Test Track? The old clutter-filled queue, the old sign that was yellow and orange. The original preshow with the rogue engineer.
The original Test Track had the better story. Thinking you were “Crash Dummies” was a brilliant idea. Although the original captured the essence of a good thrill ride. It didn’t make sense with Epcot’s overall theme.
Epcot is suppose to be a place where we celebrated man’s achievements in technology while celebrating other cultures. A attraction about cars and crash dummies didn’t fit well with the theme. Until the sponsorship changed with Chevrolet. Now with Chevy sponsoring Test Track we saw Walt Disney Imagineering change the attraction completely.
The new attraction invites us in the Chevrolet Design Studio at Epcot. While in the neat, fresh queue you can be dazzled by designs of tomorrow. Chevy is usually showcasing new car concepts. The one that has been showcased since the very beginning is the Chevy EN-V. A beautiful concept car that would a technological upgrade for transportation. The EN-V is a electric vehicle concept. The other concept car you see in the queue is the Chevy Tru.
The new Test Track attraction is based on design. Power, Capability, Efficiency, and Responsiveness. Those are the key elements of your design for your “Sim-Car.” EPCOT was based on educating people and this attraction educates people.
How to build a car and testing its speed is a fun concept. Especially when it’s packed in a slick thrill ride. Some Disney fans hate that the attraction essentially doesn’t have a story anymore.
Well I disagree.
The story of the attraction still stands at “Can your car handle the track?” and it delivers a thrilling experience each time. Pitting guests against guests. Who’s the better car designer? Did this person go for a look, or did this person go for the best overall concept?
I feel like this version of Test Track is the start to more educational attractions at Epcot. Say what you want to say but Test Track can teach you many things if you pay attention. The attractions value is essentially ignored.
If you really think about it. The last incarnation of Test Track didn’t fit the theming of Epcot at all. This new version does fit the theme. The original acronym of Epcot was Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Vehicles that have been dreamed inside of Test Track would’ve been wandering or flying around the streets of Epcot.
Test Track is one of the best attractions at Walt Disney World. I hope Disney keeps creating attractions similar to this for the future of Epcot. Especially if Epcot is going to keep the educational, world culture, and technology theming.
As a fan of the original attraction, it was very relieving to have this be its replacement. The newer version is a better fit for Epcot. So before you go at super fast speed on the attraction. Take a moment and look around. Check out the queue, and look at the impressive Chevy concepts.
You are at Epcot Center! The place where we honor technology and human achievement. Test Track is just another example of the brilliance of Epcot.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief at the Boardwalk Times
Follow @TripleZ_87 on Twitter.
