Travel Journal: Testing My Car at Epcot
- Nov 9
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Travel Journal:
Testing My Car at Test Track at Epcot
On our YouTube Channel
Travel Journal Entry: Location, Epcot at Disney World
We have a lot of experiences in our daily lives in New York, but speed on the roadways is not one of them. We have safe speed limits (well-justified, mind you). Even our so-called highways are limited to 50 mph. Then, even if we could go a little faster, the traffic would prevent you, well at least during the day. Higher speed limits with less traffic are best for the highways outside of the city so that we can stay safe within the city. But what if we wanted a (safe) taste of life in the fast lane? We know where to go to have some safe fun. Enter Test Track at Epcot in Disney World. Corny, but true. And it will have to do until we get to one of the race track places for a taste of the real deal.
The NYC Traveler at Test Track
Epcot's Test Track was closed June 2024 for a complete reimagining and reopened slightly a year later. That's some facelift. We can't wait to bring you a full report, but meanwhile, read on for our experiences with the past version.
Stay tuned!
It never fails: you could literally fly onto Soarin' without waiting for a long time on a line sometimes, but Test Track will always probably be one of the longest lines of an attraction at Disney World's Epcot (the others are Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Forever After and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind).
And ultra thrill seekers will be scratching their heads wondering why? It's not really a roller coaster, it stops and starts, so that there is only really one stretch of speed at the end. What is the allure? Why do people like it so. much.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Test Track really does have a long line, so consider using the Lightning Lane feature to shorten your wait.
Some background info: The idea came about as early in 1976 and finally opened up for real in 1999, after a series of soft openings and technical issues. A little history: Test Track replaced an attraction called World of Motion, a cute ride through the history and development of transportation (think Spaceship Earth). At the end, was a projection of the future in CenterCore, metropolis. And there was a theme song.
World of Motion ended in 1996, to make room for the construction of Test Track. The old Test Track ride (opening in 2012), also fit into the "edutainment" theme of Epcot back then. The queue showed guests how a repair and test shop was operated, complete with test crash dummies. Then, you rode in a car that simulated the actual tests: hill climb, how the suspension system worked over different types of road surfaces, a race course with cones with and without the anti-braking lock system, environmental chambers, hills and then the open road outside. This all changed in December 2012, when Test Track was updated.
So, still, why the long lines? Especially since it's not an extreme ride. That's because most Disney people know that Disney doesn't have extreme rides. And, they know Disney's history with thrill rides. Walt Disney dreamed up Disneyland because he wanted a park where most families could ride together on attractions. He was sitting on the sidelines watching his daughters have fun and he wanted to be with them. As the Disney Parks matured (along with the park goers) and as other theme parks started including more thrill rides, Disney found a way to give a thrill ride feel without alienating riders who couldn't or wouldn't ride the extreme rides. And Test Track is one of them.
The attraction is usually sponsored by an automobile company, such as GM, so when you're in line (in the queue), you may see cars on display. They aren't your average cars from the road, but extreme models. If you are a car buff, take lots of photos, you may never see these cars on the highways.
Part of the fun was the experience with Test Track. It was a complete experience. In 2012, the attraction and ride experience was renovated. The queue was changed to a more interactive experience. Instead of Epcot showing how a car was repaired, you "built" the car yourself. At a kiosk, you chose the model, color and certain features that you thought were important in a car, such as speed, power or efficiency. After that, depending on which version of the ride, you received a card with all of that info or, in later renovations, that info was stored on your magic band.
When you got up to the front of the ride, you swiped the info at the kiosk which it stored everyone's info that was riding in the same car. This was so you could compare your results with everyone else.
So, here's a rundown of the Test Track experience pre-2025. As we said: You're invited to create your own virtual car for the test. Tap your ticket, or your Magic Band. Create your vehicle according to your own specifications. When you enter the ride, tap your card/Magic Band again and your data will load into the attraction. Everyone in the same car will have their data loaded in, too.
Then the ride begins. After the obligatory safety inspection (part of the attraction and a real safety check), you're on your way.
Ride through a series of tests for your vehicle: capability (skids), efficiency (aerodynamics), responsiveness (a series of hairpin turns) and power (the final run outside of the building). At the end of the ride, you can see how your "vehicle" scored on each test, as well as have fub playing in the activities area after you exit the ride. The design of the ride was dark inside, with the track looking like a real highway, and landscapes on the side.
The current Test Track still pays homage to the old Epcot theme of mixing fun with learning and science (edutainment) while creating a ride that everyone can still enjoy. Of course, there are the usual warnings for those with back issues, because the ride will start and stop quickly and there's fast ride at the end.
Part of the fun is to look for the hidden symbols in the ride. You have to be quick. Here are some of the references in the four tests:
Capability: look for old World of Motion logos, an attraction at Epcot
Efficiency: the initials WED (Walter Elias Disney) and some websites and a hidden Mickey.
Responsiveness: Look for the line that Mater says to Lightning McQueen in Cars: Turn right to go left. Also, look for a sign that says Beaver X-ing, a GM plant in Beaverton, Oregon, where some of the first Test Track was designed.
Power: Look for the number 82, the year Epcot opened 1982; a picture of a futuristic city, in reference to the old World of Motion; and the acronym FN2BFRE, which refers to the World of Motion's former theme song, It's Fun To Be Free.
Well, that's the story of Test Track. We're off to stand in line or maybe buy a Lightning Lane pass to find all of the hidden symbols. Hope they's still there in the new 2025 version. Come back for our report.
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
Subscribe to our blog!
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All photos and videos created and copyrighted by Marcia Crayton, unless otherwise noted.
Comments