Test Track is Closing! - Date Officially Revealed
Back at D23, one of the few pieces of news that Walt Disney World officially announced was the temporary closure of Test Track to receive another re-imagining. Test Track 2.0, or referred to as Tron Track by some fans, was opened in December of 2012, reinventing the concept of the original, and beloved 1999 Test Track attraction. Now, it’s time for round 3.
New Concept Art of the Entrance to the Upcoming Test Track Overhaul - Source: Walt Disney World Resort
Now it’s official. Test Track 2.0 will be closing on June 17, 2024 to make way for the next era of the attraction. But why is it being reimagined, and what will the attraction look like when it reopens? Let’s discuss everything we know so far!
Concept Art of the new Test Track reimagining release at D23 - Source: Walt Disney World Resort
EPCOT was originally designed to have sponsorship at each one of its attractions and pavilions throughout the park. These sponsors would do two things. Firstly, they would help subsidize the cost of building and maintaining the attraction, but secondly, they would also insure that their attraction would be kept up-to-date and help convey the ideas of the future of their respective industry or country.
Unfortunately, this concept didn’t work out exactly how imagineers and executives were hoping and it led to lackluster redesigns of rides or sponsors completely leaving and their attraction being left substandard and in desperate need of repairs and refurbishment, but with no one but Disney to cover the costs. I wish someone would sponsor my home too.
A photo of World of Motion - the EPCOT opening day attraction that Test Track replaced in 1998 - Source: Walt Disney World Resort
A scene from World of Motion at EPCOT Center when it first opened in 1982 - Source: Walt Disney World Resort
Amazingly, however, Test Track was one of the few attractions in EPCOT that actually saw a successful model of the sponsor concept work! General Motors (GM) was the original sponsor of World of Motion, the attraction that sat in the Test Track building back in 1982 when the park opened. And due to their contract renewal policies, GM decided to not just spruce up the attraction, but instead take its concept and ask imagineering to come up with a brand new concept for what their attraction could be. What was born was Test Track! It debuted in late 1998 in soft openings and officially in early 1999, and it quickly became a new fan favorite.
A photo of the second iteration of Test Track that closed in 2024
The ride was a smash hit, even with its technical difficulties, for almost 13 years! But then, GM decided it was time for another refresh according to their contract with Disney. Instead of promoting GM as a whole now, the ride would be designed to feature GM’s Chevrolet as the title sponsor, and instead of being test dummies in cars, now you get to step into the design studio at Chevrolet and build your own concept car that you’ll later test on the attraction. Although this version of the attraction was a clear upgrade in terms of its technology and the ideas of the future that it presented, it still met some popular criticism of the new theme, with most fans of the attraction reminiscing of the original ride.
But NOW! Walt Disney Imagineering and GM’s Chevrolet have officially announced that the new redesign of Test Track will harken back to the days of World of Motion, utilizing practical sets and familiar themes. Although we don’t yet have any more details, fans have eagerly been awaiting more news of its replacement with high hopes that the new version will live up to the legacy of version 1.0.
Mickey Mouse standing on top of Spaceship Earth on the opening day of EPCOT Center in 1982 - Source: Walt Disney World Resort
Test Track will officially close on June 17, 2024 for a refurbishment of unknown length. The last time this happened, Test Track closed on April 15, 2012 and opened on December 6, 2012. But with the recent rate of construction at Walt Disney World as of late, can expectations really be similar to the last renovation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Do you think we’ll hear news of the Spaceship Earth renovations next, or do you think that’s dead in the water for good? Are you excited for this next addition of Test Track, or will you miss the 2.0 version?
