I have been waiting for years to go on Epcot’s Test Track attraction at Walt Disney World. For one reason or another, I had not been able to go on it until recently. What a let down when I did actually get to experience it! This ride is definitely not worth the wait.

The last time we were at Walt Disney World, I was so excited that I was going to finally be able to go on Test Track. It was closed on our previous visit for refurbishment. Before that, I was pregnant, so I could not ride and the time before that, we waited in line (with a FASTPASS) for over 30 minutes, only to be turned away just before getting on the ride due to “technical difficulties”.

Getting Ready
Aside from not having been on Test Track before, I was also very curious as to what this ride was all about. From the outside, there is really no line (a seemingly good thing) and you can hear loud zooming and some screams coming from an apparent track up above. The Test Track attraction is located inside a big round building that you cannot see in its entirety, it is so large. The entire queue is also located inside the building, so it can be difficult to gauge just how long the wait time will be, aside from the one designated wait time sign near the FASTPASS distribution location.

The queue does have a unique concept. You will be entirely inside as you make your way to the Test Track. The line will probably be long, but you will have plenty of eye candy. Not only can you people watch (our favorite thing to do), but you will also be able to see simulated “crash test dummies” and other various tests that vehicles are put through before, during, and after production. An educational queue, if you will. It is quite loud inside, and will get louder as you get closer to the ride, so be prepared.

The Ride
The ride itself consists of a “test vehicle” that seats 9 passengers at one time, three people to a row. This test vehicle will proceed to go through a number of different vehicle safety tests, as would a new vehicle going through a set of inspections. Some of these tests include how a vehicle maneuvers at a slow speed with the loss of anti-lock breaks. Extreme temperatures are also tests that new cars go through and so you will briefly enter a “cold zone”, which feels like someone just opened a freezer door on you. The hot zone feels like standing under a heat lamp for a few seconds. There are a few other unexciting tests before you get to the only part that makes Test Track even remotely worth going on- the speed test.

After going through a series of boring tests, you will then exit outside, onto a track that is high above the ground, although you cannot see below (we did go at night, so perhaps this makes a difference in how much or little you can see). The test vehicle will then speed up going around a banked curve. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but then you’ll speed up to 65- which feels pretty fast. I may drive 85 on the highway, but not around corners!!

Post ride
As you exit the ride, there will be the opportunity to purchase a photo taken of you during the speeding around the curve part of the ride. It may or may not be worth it; you’ll have to be the judge, depending on what you looked like! Otherwise, you’ll simply exit through a showroom of new GM vehicles. My husband and I would have rather spent the time waiting in line and riding Test Track in this showroom, checking out the new model vehicles. I would have been just as happy to sit in the 2007 Yukon pretending it was my very own as I would have riding this boring ride. My husband particularly liked the Hummer that he could check out on his own time, without a pushy salesman breathing down his throat! The cars were all unlocked and guests were given pretty much complete access to the vehicles. There was additional information on all the cars nearby, of course.

Cautions and all that extra stuff
Of course, if you are pregnant, have heart, neck or back problems, you will be advised to not go on Test Track. There is a height restriction of 40 inches. Although all these warnings are posted, Test Track is not an exceptionally jerky ride. There are the break tests, of course, but it’s no worse than riding in a car with someone who has a lead foot!

As I mentioned before, there is a FASTPASS available for this ride, where you can get a ticket that will tell you to come back at a certain time of day with a much shorter waiting time. We didn’t find this to benefit us much, as we still had to wait a good 40 minutes to get on the ride. (Although had we not had the pass, our wait would have been well over an hour).

Big Thrills
As for big thrills, this ride is loud, but not scary. If you are looking for thrill rides at Walt Disney World, click here


Final Thoughts
Not every ride has to be a thrill ride. I am cool with that. Not every ride is perfect, I understand. But what bothers me about this ride is that instead of spending an hour (or more) waiting to go on this ride, I could be enjoying the beautiful World Showcase or getting a good spot to watch Illuminations, the evening's grand finale of fireworks and other excitement. I guess I just wasn't that impressed with this ride. The fact that it only seems to be working less than 25% of the time only aggravates my perception of this ride. But with all the technical difficulties this ride seems to experience, I would be surprised if it's around all that much longer anyway.


For other Walt Disney World attractions, see the following:
Le Cellier Steakhouse Restaurant
Canada Pavillion
Mexico Pavillion
Expedition Everest
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Space Mountain
Country Bear Jamboree


Recommended: No

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb