Walt Disney World's Test Track to close June 2024 to begin reimagining

Earlie the Pearlie7 days ago

To-scale layout courtesy of parklore.com. I essentially made sure that the two layouts were the same size, chopped up WoM into tiny pieces, and placed it around the TT layout. I figured that as you came up the hill, there could be a time traveling effect, and as you rounded the first corner, you could see the cavemen blowing on their feet. The skid off the road could be almost crashing into the invention of the wheel, and then as you came back up though that straightway the spinning-wheel projections could surround you. Columbus (or some other, less problematic explorer) and the sea serpent could be at the entrance to the slow rooms, in which you could fit some version of the bull scene. You could circle a scaled-down world's first traffic jam, and then the handling tests could be an elongated "let's go for a drive in the forest!" scene like in the concept art. Near misses with the unicycles, the pig man, and the air show picnic would be fun. Finally, the slow turn into the launch could be past a line of evolving vehicles (Chevys), and over the tunnel to the high speed loop could be a forced perspective city of the future that we are racing towards. The final turn to the exit (not shown) could have the pepper's ghost effect from the original. This way, the track doesn't need to be changed or enclosed, and plenty of resources could be spent on sets instead. Not based on any rumors, just my own blue-sky.

Moth7 days ago

Do you still have these mock-ups? Very interested to see what Test Track 3 is currently rumored to resemble!

Zummi Gummi14 days ago

Incidentally, and apropos of nothing, I rode the ride this weekend, and it was in rather sad shape. There was no narration, my car never showed up at the end of each segment, despite scanning in, and there were large gaps of the ride with no scenery or anything but neon stripes. It’s definitely past time for a refurb and I’m glad one is coming.

Moth14 days ago

I've heard sets are planned to be 'somewhat' better. I cannot comment on narration.

EeyoreFan#2414 days ago

I hope they use some of the budget to make the ride system support the new version. I feel they hamstrung themselves a little with 2.0 by not changing the ride system and following the same requirements. I get it’s an old system and changing the tempo and programming might not be easy, but I think they need to do something with the infrastructure itself. If they want to set apart from the last too.

aladdin200715 days ago

lets get back on track about test track.

DonniePeverley15 days ago

Get rid and build journey to the centre of the earth like they have in Tokyo and what uses the same technology

Horizonsfan15 days ago

Interesting. Disney choosing to explicitly say they’re using WOM for inspiration in TT3.0 and then confining any traces of WOM to a post-show Easter egg or two seems like one of the worst promo strategies they could go with. A sure fire way to make many people feel underwhelmed in the final product, regardless of it’s actual merits. I still think adding back the song, more robust sets, and a light-hearted narration are table stakes for saying you’re referencing WOM. Anything else is a wonderful bonus.

Moth15 days ago

Just to clear the air, I don't believe Bird and the Robot is returning. I heard rumors of the post-show getting a show like that (with AAs), but other than that, expect the WoM 'influence' to be minimal. I have no word on if the song is returning or not. I'm placing 51/49 odds on the song returning.

DreamfinderGuy15 days ago

They would build a new figure lol, no sense in bringing back one from 40 years ago which has already found a new permanent home. It would probably cost less to make another one than it would to negotiate for the original back.

BagOfGroceries15 days ago

Nothing a little Disney money can’t fix!

DreamfinderGuy15 days ago

Bird isn't in Disney's archives, he's in BRC Imagination Arts' "archives" (the company who produced the show and manufactured the figure)

Moth15 days ago

I thought it was Tyger... I heard murmurs that there's going to be a show like that in the post-show. I dunno if they're returning but I think Bird is still in archives?

splah16 days ago

I hope they remove the anti lock brake swerve section. Rode last week and could have done without the spinal realignment