Walt Disney World is constantly evolving. Attractions come and go, lands get re-themed, and fan favorites get reimagined to stay current. Sometimes, the company even demolishes the most beloved attractions to make way for the next big thing.
Nothing is really ever safe from The Walt Disney Company’s Imagineers. Just last month, the company announced it was closing Liberty Square Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Rivers of America area in Disney World on July 7 as part of a sweeping transformation of Magic Kingdom.
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These popular attractions have been operating since the park’s earliest days, but they are going the way of Disney’s Dinoland: extinct.
Change is a constant at Disney parks. And while these updates often spark strong opinions from fans, they’re also a core part of what keeps Disney relevant in a world of ever-rising guest expectations. A visit to a Disney park is never quite the same experience twice, and that’s by design: it keeps Disney relevant in an ever-changing world.
That philosophy of reinvention is especially evident at Epcot, where the company has spent years updating the park’s once-futuristic attractions to align with modern audiences.
In that spirit, one of Epcot’s most popular thrill rides has been given a welcome refresh.
Now, Disney has finally revealed when guests can get behind the wheel again.
Disney World is reopening a fan-favorite ride later this summer.
Image source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
‘Test Track’ reopens mid-summer with a new look and new thrills
Disney just announced that Test Track, in partnership with General Motors, will reopen to guests at Epcot on July 22, following an extended refurbishment that began earlier this year.
The updated version of the ride will feature a new storyline, refreshed visuals and music, and a more engaging queue experience, building on its legacy while offering a fresh take for returning guests.
When it opened in 1999, Test Track became one of Epcot’s most popular attractions. On the high-speed ride, guests get to experience what it would be like to drive a prototype car, feeling its performance, responsiveness, and safety features.
In 2012, the ride was updated in collaboration with Chevrolet to feature a sleeker, more futuristic theme where guests could design their own virtual car before testing it on the track.
Related: Disney World closing three iconic attractions permanently
The latest version of Test Track once again teams Disney Imagineers with Chevrolet designers, but this time with a nostalgic twist.
According to Disney, the new concept draws inspiration from World of Motion, the ride that originally occupied the same location before Test Track debuted. That original attraction took guests on a humorous journey through the history of transportation. While the new Test Track will still focus on innovation and performance, fans can expect more nods to the past.
“We’re taking the best of what people loved about World of Motion and Test Track and merging it into a new experience,” said Disney Imagineers in a statement on the Disney Parks Blog.
The updated ride is expected to feature new lighting, audio, and track elements, all while keeping the iconic outdoor speed loop that has thrilled guests for decades.
Disney’s strategy: refresh, reimagine, repeat
The Test Track update is just the latest example of Disney’s strategy to reimagine its parks continually.
With new theme park competition from Universal, regional parks, and immersive experiences in cities across the country, Disney knows it can’t let attractions get stale.
Epcot, in particular, has been undergoing one of the most ambitious transformations in Disney’s history. The park has introduced new rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, re-themed favorites like Spaceship Earth, and added new dining and entertainment experiences aimed at appealing to younger audiences.
It also added a night-time experience for guests 21 and older.
Related: Disney World adds an adults-only after-dark experience
The park that once celebrated scientific progress and global unity now focuses on storytelling, intellectual properties, and interactivity.
At the same time, Disney is careful to maintain connections to its past. By incorporating elements of World of Motion into Test Track’s redesign, the company acknowledges the nostalgia many guests expect when they visit Disney. It’s a balancing act Disney continues to perform across all its properties.
If history is any indication, it won’t be long before another ride somewhere at Walt Disney World undergoes a transformation of its own.
Related: Disneyland closing beloved attraction, adding huge replacements