Latest news with #TestTrack
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Travel + Leisure
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
This Iconic Disney World Attraction Just Reopened With New Tech, Scenes, and Thrills—What to Know
Following an extensive refurbishment, Walt Disney World's Test Track has reopened with all new show scenes, on-board narration, vehicles, and queue. The high-speed thrill attraction has been an Epcot staple since 1999, and one of the Orlando destination's most popular rides. And now park goers can race to what Disney has called an all-new 'reimagined experience' that celebrates 'today's innovation while highlighting the past, present, and future.' The new Test Track is a collaboration between General Motors and Walt Disney Imagineering. Riders will first walk through a queue featuring six distinct exhibits that 'celebrate the vehicles—and people behind the vehicles—that push the envelope and help get people to our next chapter in our motion journey.' On display are futuristic, concept cars. Once on board, riders will journey through various show scenes that depict 'technological advances and how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone.' The attraction taps into the spirit of the open road while showcasing the unique vantage point of how vehicles 'see' the world around us. To create this effect, Walt Disney Imagineering utilized over 29,000 points of light. And fans need not worry: The popular scenic outdoors portion where riders are thrust to an exhilarating 65 miles per hour remains. Guests will then exit into a sprawling Vehicle Showcase displaying the latest innovations from General Motors. The newly-refreshed ride also pays tribute to the early days of Epcot and its legacy. Longtime visitors will notice an all-new musical score featuring the 'It's Fun To Be Free,' theme song for World of Motion, the attraction that once occupied the space where Test Track sits today. And its exterior has also been given a refresh, inspired by the original pavilion's design. Test Track will operate with a standard queue and a single rider line. The attraction is also available to book through Disney World's paid expedited line system, Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Walt Disney World is currently celebrating 'Cool Kid Summer' with new experiences that include two all-new stage shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios, 'The Little Mermaid—A Musical Adventure' and 'Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,' and a brand-new evening parade at Magic Kingdom Park, 'Disney Starlight: Dream The Night Away.' And later this year, guests can look forward to a brand-new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern, The Beak and Barrel, at the Magic Kingdom Park.
New York Post
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Disney World plans to open a massive new theme park, its first since 1998 — here's what it'll entail
Mouse ears, meet expansion plans. Walt Disney World may be conjuring up a whole new kingdom — its first all-new park since Animal Kingdom opened way back in 1998. According to a new long-term blueprint from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — dubbed Comprehensive Plan 2045 — the Mouse House has supposedly carved out space for a 'major theme park' and two smaller ones, likely water parks, to roll out over the coming decades. Advertisement The report earmarks 400 to 500 acres for the possible mega-park, which could stand shoulder to shoulder with Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom in terms of size and spectacle. Meanwhile, the mini-parks could each splash onto the scene across 147 acres — perfect for water slides, lazy rivers and screaming toddlers in swim diapers. 3 According to a newly released master plan dubbed 'Comprehensive Plan 2045,' Disney's plotting room for one mega park and two splashy sidekicks — likely water parks — over the next few decades. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Also flagged in the plan? Supposed land reserved for more hotels, commercial spaces, entertainment zones, and Disney's famously secret underground tunnels — used by cast members to zip around like pixie-dusted pros. Disney hasn't confirmed the project just yet, but fans are already dreaming up which characters might headline the House of Mouse's next big adventure. The Post reached out for a comment. Disney World's getting another rare upgrade — and we're not talking rides. Advertisement A luxe new steakhouse, Bourbon Steak by celeb chef Michael Mina, is carving out space at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort. 3 Also on the map? New hotels, glitzy shops, entertainment hubs — and those hush-hush underground tunnels where cast members scoot around like pixie-dusted pros. Central Florida Tourism Oversight District The bougie beef palace promises prime cuts and fresh-from-the-sea fare, all served with a bold, globetrotting twist. Translation? Mickey's going full filet mignon. After a bumpy ride of closures and cancellations that left parkgoers fuming earlier this year, Disney just dropped more news that's revving up excitement. Advertisement In other Disney news, The Post previously reported that Epcot's fan-favorite Test Track is making its grand return on July 22, after hitting the brakes last summer for a major tune-up. Dubbed Test Track 3.0, the high-octane overhaul will come with a brand-new score, a souped-up storyline, and futuristic bells and whistles to thrill even the most jaded Mouseketeer. 3 After a rocky run of shutdowns that had fans fuming earlier this year, Disney just fired up fresh news that's got everyone buzzing again. AP Call it a pit stop well worth the wait. However, (to the disappointment of the resort's fans), a few Disney staples like Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat are cruising into the sunset this year — all to make room for a revved-up new land: Piston Peak National Park, a high-octane homage to Pixar's 'Cars' franchise. Longtime fans are also still mourning the loss of Mickey's Toontown — the zany, mouse-sized village bulldozed in 2011 for Fantasyland's glow-up. But ultimately, Disney's not just sprinkling pixie dust in 2025 — they're going full throttle on the magic with a new park, steakhouse and a returning beloved ride.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Closed Disney attraction to reopen after year-long overhaul with advanced cameras, sensors & new soundtrack
A FAN-favourite attraction is roaring back to Disney World – and theme park bosses promise it will be better than ever. After a long-anticipated wait, Test Track by General Motors will reopen in Walt Disney World's EPCOT theme park in Bay Park, Florida, on July 22 this year. 1 Updates to the popular attraction, which has been closed for more than a year, include a new musical score and scenes that use advanced cameras and sensors to 'see' the world through the eyes of a vehicle. The ride has always been known for celebrating new and future automotive technology. To ensure the authenticity of one scene, Disney engineers used more than 29,000 points of light. Disney bosses say it's also a reminder of the importance of road trips. The attraction, which originally opened in 1998, closed on June 17 last year for refurbishment. Test Track soft-opened to the public, as Test Track 1.0, on December 19, 1998. I went on my first Disney cruise with classy champagne bars, watercoasters and West End-style shows This came after a long delay due to problems revealed during testing and to changes in design. It officially opened on March 17, 1999, replacing the World of Motion ride, which closed three years earlier in 1996 Finishing touches are in place to get the attraction road ready. Special previews will be announced in the coming weeks for selected guests. These will include Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, Golden Oak residents and Club 33 Members. Guests will have the opportunity to 'test' the attraction before its official opening date next month.
Travel Weekly
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Test Track, fresh off a tune-up, is set to reopen at Epcot
Test Track presented by General Motors, a thrill ride at the Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot, will reopen July 22 with a new musical score and new scenes "that highlight technology making our cars smarter and our lives more fun," Disney said in a post on the Disney Parks Blog. The attraction temporarily closed last summer for a retheme. Disney offered a sneak peek at one of the new scenes. In it, guests will drive through an area with more than 29,000 points of light that illustrate, through cameras and sensors, how vehicles "see" the world. Information about previews for the attraction before its official opening is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
New York Post
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
Beloved Disney World ride reopening announced — and fans are overjoyed: ‘This is what I needed to hear'
Disney fans, start your engines! A recent wave of closures, changes and cancellations at Disney World has drawn plenty of ire from longtime visitors, but the amusement park's latest announcement has given Disney devotees something to be excited about. On Monday, June 16, Walt Disney World revealed that Test Track, a fan-favorite Epcot ride, is slated to reopen later this summer on July 22. Advertisement The ride was originally closed down in June 2024, much to the disappointment of park-going adrenaline junkies. According to Walt Disney World News Today, the ride is expected to return as Test Track 3.0, and will boast several new features — a fresh musical score, revamped story, and new insights on futuristic technology, among others. Advertisement General Motors, which sponsored the original Test Track 1.0, has also been confirmed to return as the ride's backer for the revamp, ousting Chevrolet, which was responsible for Test Track 2.0. Aside from its intriguing futuristic aesthetic that attracts car buffs and Epcot enthusiasts alike, Test Track is best known for its speed — it's the fastest attraction among all Disney Park rides, clocking in at a dizzying 65 miles per hour. Overwhelmingly, fans responded to the announcement with excitement. 'Yay! I can't wait,' one fan gushed, while another said: 'I'm ready to speed.' Advertisement 'This just made my son's day,' shared an enthusiastic fan, while another chimed in, 'This is what I needed to hear.' 3 Test Track 3.0 cars also boast an entirely new, futuristic look that mimics the sleek appearance of many contemporary vehicles. Getty Images Given that Test Track has been through several notable renovations — with some better received than others — several commenters were suspicious of the reopening news. 'Hopefully it's better than the previous iteration,' said one skeptical park-goer. Advertisement Refurbishments at Disney parks can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, and breakdowns are generally pretty rare, thanks to the meticulous inspection and repair process the park maintains. 3 Reviews from fans suggest that wait times at Test Track are typically upwards of 22 minutes, so planning ahead is advised for potential park-goers. Getty Images 'We have a meter-based program,' Fredrick Cox Jr., the director of manufacturing at Walt Disney World's Central Shops, told Fox Business. 'Every coaster that we have does X number of laps around the track. 'We do a tear-down,' Cox continued. 'We tear it apart, and we inspect everything, everything on the ride. Bolts, bearings, bushings, panels, you name it.' Typically, closures are scheduled ahead of time — the Test Track shutdown is proof of that — but the occasional malfunction does occur, much to the rage of Disney-goers. Cox says fixes usually take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or two to complete. 3 Test Track is among Epcot's most popular rides, so fans are eager for the fast-paced attraction to return. Getty Images As a result of other closures, some Disney fans began to fret that Test Track would be among the shuttered rides. After all, beloved attractions like Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat were recently announced to be closing down to make way for Piston Peak National Park, a new area dedicated to Pixar's 'Cars' franchise. Advertisement Nostalgic park-goers have also commiserated over the long-felt loss — the area closed back in 2011 to make room for Fantasyland — of Mickey's Toontown, the whimsical, life-size village that mimicked some of the most famous Mickey Mouse-themed attractions. Luckily for Test Track fans, the ride will be back later this summer, but dedicated Disney fans should keep an eye out for any other potential closures — and spend time on your favorite attractions before they're gone, as one fan advised in the comments of the park's Instagram announcement.
