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| Test Track |
Test Track is an attraction at Epcot. Sponsored by General Motors, Test Track is
a simulated excursion through the rigorous testing procedures that General Motors
uses to evaluate its cars, culminating in a high-speed drive around the exterior of the
attraction.
It opened to the public on December 19, 1998 after a long delay due to problems
revealed during testing and changes to the ride design. The ride had many opening
dates that it missed like May 1997 and August 1998. It replaced the World of Motion,
though it uses the same ride building. It did not receive its official grand opening until
March 17, 1999.
Guests ride in futuristic "test cars" in a GM "testing facility" and are taken through a
series of tests to illustrate how automobile prototype evaluations are conducted. The
highlight of the ride is a speed trial on a track around the outside of the Test Track
building at a top speed of 64.8 miles per hour (104.3 km/h) on a 50-degree banked
curve, making Test Track the fastest Disney theme park attraction ever built, next to
California Screamin', Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Tokyo DisneySea's Journey to the
Center of the Earth (which uses an improved version of Test Track's ride system).
a simulated excursion through the rigorous testing procedures that General Motors
uses to evaluate its cars, culminating in a high-speed drive around the exterior of the
attraction.
It opened to the public on December 19, 1998 after a long delay due to problems
revealed during testing and changes to the ride design. The ride had many opening
dates that it missed like May 1997 and August 1998. It replaced the World of Motion,
though it uses the same ride building. It did not receive its official grand opening until
March 17, 1999.
Guests ride in futuristic "test cars" in a GM "testing facility" and are taken through a
series of tests to illustrate how automobile prototype evaluations are conducted. The
highlight of the ride is a speed trial on a track around the outside of the Test Track
building at a top speed of 64.8 miles per hour (104.3 km/h) on a 50-degree banked
curve, making Test Track the fastest Disney theme park attraction ever built, next to
California Screamin', Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Tokyo DisneySea's Journey to the
Center of the Earth (which uses an improved version of Test Track's ride system).
The interior of Test Track shows a simulated test lab, including test dummies and damaged cars.During the entering of
tests performed on cars and parts before they are released. The queue winds past different tests for tires, car doors, an
anechoic chamber for radio receivers, and an area for crash test dummies to be tested. At the end of the queue a group
being performed. The host, John Michael Higgins tells the guests that they will take part in some of these tests and
tells the technician in charge of testing what tests to set up. Small videos of each test are shown as he speaks. He
finally tells her to choose one final "surprise test," and a video of a car crashing into a barrier is shown as a door is
opened for guests to enter the interior queue.
Upon reaching the end of this second queue guests are loaded into the test cars to begin. Upon dispatching from the
loading dock, the car is brought through an accelerated hill climb. Next, the car's suspension is tested over different
road surfaces, including bricks and cobblestones. Next, the car's anti-lock braking system is turned off and the car tries
to negotiate a course of cones, knocking many over in the process. The anti-lock brakes are then turned back on and a
similar cone course is negotiated easily. Guests are shown a video overlay of the difference. Next, the cars are brought
through environmental chambers: a hot chamber of 110°F (43°C), a cold chamber of 10°F (-13°C), and a corrosion
chamber. The nozzles on the corrosion robots are actually Hidden Mickeys.
The handling of the car is tested next. It climbs a set of hills with blind turns while increasing its speed each time. At the
top the car almost crashes into an oncoming semi-truck before swerving out of the way. The car is now on the final test
shown in the briefing room: the barrier test. The car lines up across from a barrier and begins to accelerate towards it.
Just before hitting the barrier a series of flashes occur, where a picture of the guests is taken, and the barrier opens to
a track outside. The car takes a lap around the building with banked turns and a max speed of 64.8 mph (104.3 km/h),
shown on the car as MAX MPH. As the car returns to the loading dock a thermal scan is taken of the guests and shown
on a large screen.
Like most Disney attractions, Test Track exits into a themed gift shop featuring merchandise associated with the
attraction. Guests can also view and purchase photos taken of their vehicle on the ride or scan their Photopass to view
or purchase the photos later. There is also an area where guests can view current General Motors vehicles as well as
the toy Hummer featured in recent Hummer advertisements.
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