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Test Track (Pavilion)

181 bytes added, 22:55, 27 July 2018
/* Pavilion History */
The history of what is today known as the Test Track pavilion began in 1975 when designs for an EPCOT theme park were just beginning <ref name= "widen"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/wom.htm </ref>. As part of the plans for the new theme park, Imagineers planned on having a Transportation pavilion in the in new park <ref name= "widen"/>. A chance meeting between Imagineer Harper Goff and Bill Mitchell (General Motor's head of design) at a school dedication in 1976 <ref name= "widen"/>, eventually led to GM signing on as the sponsor of the Transportation pavilion in the unbuilt EPCOT Center <ref name= "widen"/>. Remembering the success that Ford had in partnering with Disney at the 1964 World's Fair, GM agreed to 15 year contract, becoming the first of EPCOT Center's many sponsors <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/06/28/whirl-of-motion/ </ref>.
By 1978 the Transportation pavilion began to take shape <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?s=World+of+Motion </ref>. The pavilion's major attraction was to be a dark ride that took a historical look at the evolution of transportation<ref name= "Martin"/>. The This "history of transportation attraction" was designed to end in a model city of the future (a concept borrowed from Ford's Magic Skyway pavilion at the 64 World's Fair) <ref name= "Martin"/>. The attraction was initially created by Imagineer Claude Coats, however due to GM's preference for a more lighthearted tone, Imagineers Ward Kimball and Mark Davis were brought onto the project <ref name= "widen"/> . A secondary attraction for the pavilion that was to feature an outside track, although this was scrapped as plans for the pavilion continued to develop<ref name= "Martin"/>. Another aspect of the pavilion that was eventually scrapped, was the idea that the omnimover attraction would weave in and out of the pavilion <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/06/28/whirl-of-motion/ </ref>. Finally, a space was cleared on the pavilion's first floor to house a preshow exhibit, however this space was never used <ref name= "book"> Pedersen, R.A. The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia:. United States: Epcyclopedia, 2011. Print. </ref>.
The Transportation pavilion was eventually named the World of Motion and construction began in 1979 <ref name= "widen"/>. The pavilion itself was designed to look like a large wheel (albeit one that was 65ft high and 320 feet across), with guests entering through a “wedge” that had been removed from the wheel it <ref name= "Martin"/>. On October 1, 1982 , the World of Motion pavilion opened with the rest of EPCOT Center. When the pavilion opened it featured the aforementioned "History or Transportationhistory of transportation" attraction (also named World of Motion) and the TransCenter, and postshow area that featured interactive exhibits <ref name= "Martin"/>. Although there were minor changes to the TransCenter, from 1982 until 1992 World of Motion remained essentially unchanged <ref name= "Martin"/>.
By the end of GM's original contract in 1992, the popularity of the World of Motion had declined <ref name= "book"/>. With this is mind General Motors was hesitant about continuing their sponsorship of the pavilion <ref name= "intercot"> http://www.intercot.com/edc/Motion/facts.html </ref>. After 1992, GM agreed to sponsor the pavilion for 12 months, in order to reevaluate the benefits of their sponsorship, while also protecting the pavilion from a rival sponsor <ref name= "Martin"/>. Eventually, General Motors decided to renewtheir sponsorship, but with the understanding that World of Motion would be updated <ref name= "Martin"/>. Instead of renovating the existing attraction however, Disney and GM decided to create a new attraction for the pavilion all together.
[[Image:OldschoolTestTrack.jpg|thumb|400px| The Test Track pavilion as it looked from 1998-2012. Photo by Josh Hallett]]
With instructions from GM to narrow the focus of the new attraction to automobiles, Walt Disney Imagineering decided to revisit one of the original ideas for the World of Motion pavilion. In 1976, Imagineers had visited GM's testing ground in Milford, Michigan <ref name= "Martin"/>. While visiting the grounds, Imagineers where they got to see the process that GM's prototype cars went through when they were tested<ref name= "Martin"/>. With this in mind, Imagineers had originally planned on creating a secondary attraction for World of Motion that would have had guests testing futuristic automobiles<ref name= "Martin"/>. an attraction that let guests experience how cars were tested before they became available to the public <ref name= "Martin"/>. After getting Taking inspiration from the General Motors proving grounds, Imagineering pitched the idea of Test Track, an "E-ticket" attraction that would take guests through the rigorous testing that GM cars are put through<ref name= "Martin"/>.
With plans for Test Track underway, on January 2, 1996 , the World of Motion pavilion closed for renovations <ref name= "Martin"/>. On Subsequently, on February 13, the GM Preview Center opened in front of the closed pavilion, featuring . The GM Preview Center featured concept art for Test Track, and a large mural painted by Catherine Feff (which was installed in order to hide the pavilion during its construction) <ref name= "Lou"> http://allears.net/tp/ep/e_tt2.htm </ref>. Due to a series of delays related to both Test Track's ride system and ride vehicles, the attraction was not ready for its May 1997 opening <ref name= "Lou"/>. Instead, in 1998 the GM Preview Center was updated to feature new attraction artwork. FinallyNext, in late 1998, the Preview Center was removed and the attraction soft opened to guests on December 19, 1998 <ref name= "Lou"/>. Despite the fact that both guests and Cast Members were able to ride Test Track in December 1998, due to constant ride breakdowns, Test Track's Grand Opening was pushed back to March 1999 <ref name= "Lou"/>. Finally, after three years of construction, Test Track was officially dedicated on March 17, 1999 <ref name= "Lou"/>.
On January 6, 2012 Disney announced that Test Track would be closing for a major refurbishment <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/01/re-imagined-test-track-will-put-guests-in-the-designers-seat-this-fall-at-epcot/ </ref>in April of that year. Although On April 15, 2012 the original Test Track closed <ref> https://insidethemagic.net/2012/04/test-track and -allstars-singing-group-extra-hours-fill-void-as-disney-world-closes-epcot-ride vehicles remained-to-become-chevrolet-design-center/ </ref>. At this time, the attraction's aesthetics and theming of completely changed, despite the attraction was alteredfact that the track and ride vehicles remained the same. As opposed to showing guests how cars were made, the new version of Test Track focused on the testing of cars. In Test Track 2.0, guests design their own ride vehicle in the queue before testing its capability, efficiency, responsiveness, and power in on the attraction itself. Following the attraction, guests now receive a card with their car information on it, which they can use to play various interactive games.  On December 6, 2012 Test Track reopened to guests <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/10/test-track-to-reopen-at-epcot-december-6 </ref>. Since the 2012 refurbishment, Test Track has been sponsored by General Motors' Chevrolet as opposed to the parent company GM <ref> http://www.autonews.com/article/20121109/BLOG06/121109854/chevy-supercharges-test-track-at-disney-world </ref>.
==Attractions==