BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 From WDW News Today...Still not listed is the rumored refurbishment of Test Track at Epcot. The reason we have heard for this is that the attraction is not closing in the Spring as rumored, but rather in the Summer after Cars Land at California Adventure opens. The reason for this is that Imagineering wants to see how the upgrades to the technology and the new show scene effects work before moving them over to Florida. Once Test Track does close, it will be closed for several months. Right now, the only rumored changes we are hearing about are new scenes where the tires are changed or the paint scheme of the car is changed, just like in Radiator Springs Racers.http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/8043 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 From Screamscape...Fall 2012 - Test Track Update - Rumor - (1/4/12) There is an interesting rumor going around trying to connect the upcoming remodel of Test Track to have a Tron theme, but this is not so. However, Disney and Chevrolet may be looking to add a Tron-style high-tech theme and look to the ride, which would explain the sleak blue new cars with computer graphic stylings. So not Tron… just a high-tech futuristic theme. Think of it more of a World of Motion: Version 2. As expected, Chevrolet will become the primary sponsor of the ride in place of the former all-encompassing “GM” branding. This has already been seen with the new Chevrolet branding on the few cars that have been wrapped in the new blue color scheme. If you haven’t seen them lately, scroll down 2/3rds of the way through this photo update at Theme Park Review to find several pictures showing off the different cars currently running with guests. In fact you can even find a new logo or two floating around backstage it seems, according to a photo posted at Epcyclopedia. They also list the rehab dates as being April 15 through September 21st, 2012.http://www.screamscape.com/html/wdw_-_epcot.htm#TestTrack Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Funny you should post this. Yesterday I just happen to see one of the new Navy blue cars being bought in back stage at Epcot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 And you still haven't figured out how to drive and take photos at the same time, have you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 And you still haven't figured out how to drive and take photos at the same time, have you? Nope, I'm still challenged.Snapping photos of a moving flatbed while making a right turn with a 40 foot bus filled with 75 people, yes I can cram that many people in, while trying to avoid giving the one finger wave to the tourist driver that just decided to stop for no reason in front of me is no easy task. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Wanna borrow Lyn's purple sequined cape? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TnBob 311 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 as long as they don't close the hospitality suite I am ok. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Wanna borrow Lyn's purple sequined cape?No, I want the red one. It goes with my eyes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Lou, I think you need to work on your multi tasking!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Here is a video showing the new carshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-kZtNnj6mQ&feature=youtu.be Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Here is a video showing the new carsActually as far as I know and have seen, the cars are not new, just refurbished. New paint, some new cosmetic gadgets, the Chevy logo is on the front and back as shown on a more recent video. It's a work in progress I guess,From what I've seen so far, TT will look different but it will be the same. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 From the Disney Parks blog... Re-Imagined Test Track Will Put Guests in the Designer’s Seat This Fall at Epcotposted on January 6th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media ManagerBeginning this fall, Epcot guests will be able to enjoy a re-imagined version of the popular Future World attraction, Test Track presented by Chevrolet.This new version of the attraction will transform the current testing workshop into the sleek “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot,” where guests can become immersed in the fun – and fast – world of automotive design. Here, guests will become automotive designers and create their own custom vehicles. Next, they’ll buckle into a six-person SimCar ride vehicle and test out their design on the challenging track of the Test Track course.Afterward, guests can take a fascinating look into the future of transportation by viewing a collection of the latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new showroom.This fun new experience is the result of a renewed, multi-year business relationship between Disney and General Motors, companies that have worked together for more than 30 years.http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/01/re-imagined-test-track-will-put-guests-in-the-designers-seat-this-fall-at-epcot/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Didn't they use the "Re-Imagined" word when they refurbished the Tiki room? Hope it turns out a little better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Lisa 53 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Didn't they use the "Re-Imagined" word when they refurbished the Tiki room? Hope it turns out a little better.Me too! I loved test track just the way it was. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Yeah, and in the end they had to UN-RE-imagine the Tiki Room! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Lisa 53 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Yeah, and in the end they had to UN-RE-imagine the Tiki Room!Or would that be Re-re imagine?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted March 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 From Mice Chat...Our intrepid contributor, R.A. Pederson, weighs in on some news that will disappoint many of you. On January 6th of this year a whole bunch of Disney theme park blogs ran the Disney-PR supplied blurb and photo from the Disney parks blog that was carefully crafted to be light on hard details:Beginning this fall, Epcot guests will be able to enjoy a re-imagined version of the popular Future World attraction, Test Track presented by Chevrolet.This new version of the attraction will transform the current testing workshop into the sleek “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot,” where guests can become immersed in the fun – and fast – world of automotive design. Here, guests will become automotive designers and create their own custom vehicles. Next, they’ll buckle into a six-person SimCar ride vehicle and test out their design on the challenging track of the Test Track course. Exciting right? A little bit of digging and the dates of April 15 – to September 21, 2012, were even established as Disney’s tentative dates for this overhaul. Digging even deeper there was a more formal press release from Disney to their media outlets to be printed and published and cut and pasted and bandied about in all the usual ways. We proudly cut and pasted it here for your viewing pleasure even. The pertinent line of the release states:Plans call for closing the current GM Test Track in April 2012, with an anticipated opening of Test Track Presented by Chevrolet scheduled for fall 2012. And… now it’s four days until April and there’s not a peep from either company about the project. There’s not a foot on the ground and no one at the park seems to know anything about the project. Attractions Cast Members staffed at Test Track reportedly haven’t been told of any rescheduling to send them to alternate work locations – and they wouldn’t simply be laid off or fired en mass, there would have to be normal scheduling notice to have them work elsewhere.No, things seem to be looking bleak for the project on the outside. Inquiries to Disney, GM, and Chevrolet on the matter have been met with non-responses. Odd, considering the timeline they gave technically begins in four days. Further, they actually pulled the press releases from their media website before we began poking our noses around and asking questions even. And it’s not as though that releases is simply old or may have fallen off the listings.. no.. the media and images related to that release are still there, along with the releases from the days before and after, but not the release itself from January 6th… pretty much blatantly meaning Disney hit “delete.”So it seems that Disney has quietly pulled any mention of the redo. While they have not released an official statement regarding the project it is almost certain that it will be on hold for the time being.http://micechat.com/blogs/orlando-parkhopper/3372-no-change-test-track-flower-garden-festival-universal-seaworld.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted April 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 More rumors from Screamscape... still nothing concrete though...Test Track Re-Imagined - (4/2/12) I’ve dug up a little more information about the pending rehab for Test Track. According to my sources the Test Track crew has been cross-training ever since the lengthy rehab was announced to the other various ‘Future World East’ attractions. Now to be fair, while everyone had heard April 15th as the start of the rehab, Disney has never confirmed this date, nor officially posted it to the public. From what I’m hearing, the Test Track rehab is still on… just the starting date to close the ride down has been delayed. Part of this may have something to do with the current rehab taking place on Big Thunder at the Magic Kingdom. I’m hearing that the work taking place over there has been even more extensive than expected, and that rehab may be taking longer than expected. As such, Disney is possibly hoping to avoid closing down Big Thunder and Test Track at the same time if possible. Working along the same lines, another source has also reported that the closing date for Test Track had been pushed back a month to mid to late May instead of April, which matches up to when Big Thunder is expected to reopen.http://www.screamscape.com/html/wdw_-_epcot.htm#TestTrack Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted April 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 From the Orlando Sentinel...Despite Internet speculation of a delay, Walt Disney World says an overhaul of the Test Track attraction in Epcot is moving forward as planned.A spokeswoman for the resort said the attraction, which is underwritten by General Motors Corp., will shut down April 16 for an extended renovation. The redesigned ride is to reopen in the fall with a new theme focused on GM's Chevrolet brand and a new automotive-design center.http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-01/business/os-cfb-tourism-0402-20120401_1_room-prices-hotel-rates-disney-owned-hotels Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 I wish that they would use a CAT D9 to refurb it. That ride sucks, IMHO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 I wish that they would use a CAT D9 to refurb it. That ride sucks, IMHO.I need a lot of explanation with this post. Remember that you're not dealing with rocket scientists. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 I just think that ride isn't very good. Disney could do much better. It wouldn't hurt my feelings to see it bulldozed and replaced with something better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted April 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 From Touring Plans blog... Test Track Closed for Renovation April 16 to September 2012Despite the fact that the same dates have been posted on the TouringPlans.com refurbishment page since Disney first announced that Test Track would be overhauled back in January, we felt it pertinent to remind everyone that the ride will be closing on April 16 and remain closed until at least mid-September of this year.Disney had been avoiding the issue by not acknowledging the closure on its official website calendar. Even internal Disney calendars didn’t list the closure as existing – this caused a lot of unnecessary confusion. There are a lot of people who are going to be in Epcot come April 16 who don’t think Test Track is going to be closed. Get the word out, tell random strangers.The closure is really “confirmed” now because operational schedules covering April 16 were posted for the cast working at Epcot today. They were informed that the Test Track attraction building would be off-limits as it would be under Imagineering’s jurisdiction for the redevelopment. Additionally, Guest Relations staff are scheduled to be stationed out front to answer questions that park guests may have about the closure.More info...http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/04/08/advisory-test-track-closed-for-renovation-april-16-to-september-2012/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
campingpixi 11 Posted April 10, 2012 Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 BOOO!! DH & DS will not be happy about this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted April 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Disney has confirmed that the Test Track will go down for refurb beginning April 16, 2012 and will reopen sometime in the fall of 2012.Disney has also confirmed that they have renewed the sponsorship of the Test Track attraction with General Motors with a new multi-year stragic alliance, part of which is a partnership to re-imagine the Test Track attraction as a whole. When Test Track reopens in the fall it will be as a new, design-centric "Test Track Presented by Chevrolet" experience.The re-imagined attraction will transform into the "Chevrolet Design Studio at Epcot" complete with interactive design and styling workstations where guests can create their own custom concept vehicles.There will also be a "SimCar" ride vehicle experience where guests can put their concept vehicles through its paces on the hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit.The post-show area will include special effects and guests will be scored on how well their concept vehicles performed. Guests will also see the latest Chevrolet vehicles in a new state-of-the-art showroom.While Test Track is closed for refurbishment, there will be several unadvertised "surprise and delight" offerings available, including...The Test Track Allstars - a travel-themed A Cappella group that will be performing daily near the Test Track pavillionOn a trial basis, Character Spot and all of The Land's attractions (including Soarin'), merchandise locations and grab-n-go food & beverage offerings will stay open until 10pm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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