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In March 1999, guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort were introduced to a brand-new thrill ride at EPCOT. Test Track replaced the World of Motion attraction and took guests through a General Motors car testing facility. Guests would board a car and experience a variety of road tests, including different types of roads, testing the automatic braking system, and even different kinds of weather. The highlight of the ride, however, was the speed test, where guests shot out of the building and reached speeds of almost 70 miles per hour.
Credit: Disney
For years, Test Track was one of the most popular attractions in EPCOT, drawing thousands of guests every day. In 2011, Disney announced that the attraction would be closing and reopening as Test Track 2.0. The original Test Track attraction closed in April 2012 and reopened in December 2012.
Unfortunately, the new attraction was not as well received as the original one. Guests still went through a test ride, but everything was more “modern.” Guests designed their own cars and then competed against other cars designed by guests. The high-speed loop was still there and still fun, but most guests never really got into designing the cars.
Credit: Disney
Related: EPCOT’s Test Track Is Being Reimagined: Here’s What to Know
Now, for the third time in 25 years, Test Track is closing for an extended period while it goes through another major refurbishment.
Back in September, Disney announced the closure and said that the ride would be getting a redesign inspired by the original World of Motion attraction. World of Motion was an opening day EPCOT attraction that closed in 1996 to make way for Test Track. The original ride had guests board an Omnimover vehicle, much like the ones seen on Spaceship Earth and the Haunted Mansion. It was very similar to Spaceship Earth, taking guests through the history of transportation.
Disney’s Art Rendering of Re-Imagined Spaceship Earth
When Disney attractions are set to close for an extended period of time — if not permanently — they are often crowded on their last day. And while many reminisce about how much they enjoyed the ride, it appeared the same could not be said for Test Track.
X (formerly Twitter) user Dreamfinder Guy rode the attraction on its last day and said that many people didn’t seem sad to see it go.
Have ridden Test Track with first timers several times today & their reactions have almost all been “That sucked, why do people like this so much?”
I find that very funny bc on Ellen’s Energy Adventure’s last day I rode with many first timers who had the exact opposite reaction
Have ridden Test Track with first timers several times today & their reactions have almost all been “That sucked, why do people like this so much?”
I find that very funny bc on Ellen’s Energy Adventure’s last day I rode with many first timers who had the exact opposite reaction
— DreamfinderGuy (@DreamfinderGuy) June 16, 2024
Related: The BEST Choices For Drinking Around the World at EPCOT!
And Disney influencer Peter Sciretta of the popular YouTube Channel Ordinary Adventures made a good point. If the attraction was so beloved, then Disney would not be changing it for the third time in less than 30 years.
Hot take (which I’m fully aware people are going to get mad at me about): if Test Track was really a great ride it wouldn’t have needed to get completely rethemed 3 times in 25 years.
Hot take (which I’m fully aware people are going to get mad at me about): if Test Track was really a great ride it wouldn’t have needed to get completely rethemed 3 times in 25 years.
— Peter Sciretta (@PeterSciretta) June 17, 2024
At this time, Test Track does not have a reopening date, but Disney has said that it will reopen sometime in 2025 as Test Track 3.0.
Thankfully, there are some really enjoyable rides that are still open for guests to enjoy, like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Are you sad to see Test Track 2.0 close? Or are you looking forward to a new version of the ride? Let us know in the comments!
