Test Track Imagineering live chat

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From WDW Magic. Follow the link for photos...

Recap of the Test Track 2 Imagineering live chat

Aug 27, 2012 | 1:58pm EDT

The Test Track 2.0 live chat with Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick has just concluded over at the official Disney Parks Blog. For those of you who may have missed it, here are the highlights, along with a new rendering of the entrance marquee.

Question about how the new queue will look.

Melissa Jeselnick: The queue, the whole attraction is completely reimagined. The queue will look like nothing our guests are used to seeing it look. We'll use the space 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. We'll have actual items, sketches, cars, models from GM that have never been seen before by anyone outside the Chevrolet family. It's basically changing from testing to design.

Melissa Jeselnick: Let's talk about the Design Studios. In the 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 that our guests know and love. You'll ride in our sim car. As you move through the space, your custom design will be scored in areas such as Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness and Speed.

When asked about the TRON type appearance of the artwork.

Melissa Jeselnick: I think the new attraction and the artwork represent the digital age, and when people think about what the inside of a computer looks like, that's what you think of.

When asked about if the track layout will remain the same.

Melissa Jeselnick: Yes, it's still the same track layout that we know and love.

Question about how customizing the car will work with multiple parties being in the same car at one time.

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

When asked about what we should be looking forward to most.

Melissa Jeselnick: I think the coolest thing is how we integrate the pre-show with the experience, and then in the post-show, your ride vehicle travels through the entire experience with it. And you can keep interacting with your ride vehicle after.

Question about what will be new in the post show area.

Melissa Jeselnick: 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, we'll move into other opportunities to play with your design with multiple interactive elements. The show room space will still be there with the Chevrolet cars, and we'll have our own photo ops with different concept cars.

When asked about the music.

Melissa Jeselnick: It will be futuristic. We'll have a whole new soundtrack that will not only compliment the attraction with music, but special sound effects too.

Question about the show scenes.

Melissa Jeselnick: Let's talk about the four show scenes in more detail. 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.

Question about what brought about the changes.

Melissa Jeselnick: The whole automotive design process has evolved since Test Track opened and things have moved into the digital realm, and the same has been true for WDI's design process. It updates the automotive story to reflect what is happening today.

When asked about how much of the ride will be real sets VS screens.

Melissa Jeselnick: We talk a lot about being in the digital space, but it's still a physical experience. We're using a lot of new technology to tell the story, but it is still a dynamic physical experience.

How FASTPASS vs Standby will work.

Melissa Jeselnick: 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 and select you a custom vehicle of your choosing to take with you on your ride all the way through the post show.

When asked about new technology in the attraction.

Melissa Jeselnick: Our team is so excited to bring new interactive technologies to the guest to enhance Future World and put the guest at the center of the experience. All of the software is custom for this attraction.

Melissa Jeselnick: The experience will be dark, but more importantly, I think we're pushing the envelope as far as the use of new technology, so it's not really a traditional "dark ride."

Below is a rendering of the new Test Track entrance marquee.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/test-track/news/27aug2012-recap-of-the-test-track-2-imagineering-live-chat.htm

[Lou... 3,118]

Everything I've read is telling me that Disney and GM are trying to pull the wool over our eyes with this supposed refurbishment.

What do people remember about a thrill ride? isn't it the actual ride itself and not the baloney that you go through before and afterwards?

Unless I missed it, the ride around the track is not changing.

I thought the previous pre-ride show was forgettable, so maybe I'll remember some of it with this cheesy makeover.

Oh and BTW, you're actually paying for a portion of the GM Test Track experience. Remember the GM bailout?

They still owe us almost 30 billion, which will probably never be paid back, and we own 500 million shares of GM stock. Talk about being taken for a joy ride.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

...They still owe us almost 30 billion, which will probably never be paid back, and we own 500 million shares of GM stock. Talk about being taken for a joy ride.

I'll gladly write off my share of the debt if they update the ride for REAL.

[Lou... 3,118]

I'll gladly write off my share of the debt if they update the ride for REAL.

I don't think you'll have a choice in the matter. Can we say belly up soon?

I wonder what happens to the attraction when that happens?

Maybe a successful auto company will take it over like Ford or Toyota?

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

I was actually surprised GM renewed the contact this past year at all.

Gotta figure that a ride at Epcot is way down the priority list when it comes to turning around a car company.

Then again, from a marketing perspective it is pretty killer to get somethiing like that in front of so many people on a daily basis.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Hey wait!! I saw a GM ad that said they had their best year in their entire history!!! (They wouldn't LIE in advertising would they!!??)

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I'm with Lou on this.

This so called 2.0 version is just going to be a change in the pre-show.

Big deal.

We are going to miss the old pre-show video. The TCD twins could recite it word for word.

TCD

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Hey wait!! I saw a GM ad that said they had their best year in their entire history!!! (They wouldn't LIE in advertising would they!!??)

Lie

Spin

TomAto

TomAHto

I'm with Lou on this.

This so called 2.0 version is just going to be a change in the pre-show.

But wait... they're painting the cars too!

:rofl2:

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

But wait... they're painting the cars too!

:rofl2:

My bad.

Also, I forgot the part about how you get to create a car and "your ride vehicle travels through the entire experience with it." What could that be- a fancy video monitor in the cars?

TCD

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Sounds about right.

[TnBob 311]

I believe GM gets a good chunk of advertising from test track, just look at the wait time to get in. Figuring what a one min commercial costs during the superbowl, I would say this is probably a bargain in advertising for GM. Look at how much time people spend getting in and out of cars at the end of the ride not to mention the kids (future car buyers), it puts the experience in their heads.

As far as the pre-ride show, you would be surprised as to how much some people enjoys that, I only went through it once when it first opened but it is actually very accurate from what I remember.

Lou, you and I among others might not be getting the full benefit of the experience because of our backgrounds (been there, seen it, got the t-shirt).

I remember the first tour I took of an auto plant in 1965, the smell, the site of the machinery, parts flying out of machines, just so much to see it was overwhelming for a kid back then as I am sure it still is today for (some) kids. Believe me it hasn't changed a whole lot in all those years.

GM still uses the facility for conferences, and believe me has the cleanest restrooms in Epcot.

As far as the bailout goes, it's something I opposed but in all honesty something I benefited from so I am not going to get into that.

[Lou... 3,118]

Bob, before you read the following post ask Kathy to record it while you read it..

Bob and I are in total agreement that we would like to see Toyota or Honda take over that attraction.

Give it to a company that really know's how to build good cars.

[Disneyzombie-Brenda 10]

There are about 20,000 folks here in Dayton that would rather have a job!

[Lil Lisa 53]

I'm just bummed that it will still be closed when we are there... Sniff!

[TnBob 311]

Bob, before you read the following post ask Kathy to record it while you read it..

Bob and I are in total agreement that we would like to see Toyota or Honda take over that attraction.

Give it to a company that really knows how to build good cars.

lucky an ambulance was close by and shocked me back to life.

you keep thinking they are better built while they are having just as many if not more recalls as anyone that puts that many moving parts together.

Brenda, I am sorry that 20,000 people would need jobs, but if they didn't use the budget on test track they would be using it on print or TV advertising. Advertising is a large part of any of the auto manufacturing companies budget, Toyota is big in NASCAR racing as is Honda in Indy Car. All those signs in the background of "events" don't come cheap, football, baseball, racing, tennis even cup stacking. I hope those 20,000 people find good jobs soon.

[Lou... 3,118]

you keep thinking they are better built while they are having just as many if not more recalls as anyone that puts that many moving parts together.

I don't think it, automobile rating agencies think it. GM is not up to par with Ford, Honda, and Toyota.

Ford, which didn't take a bailout, appears to be giving Honda and Toyota a run for their money.

Depending on which car rating magazine you read, in some cases Ford comes in #1, good for them.

I would rather buy American everything, but they need to earn my business. I will not buy an inferior product just because it's American made. We can do it if we really want and Ford is proving it.