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Test Track (Pavilion)

141 bytes added, 23:16, 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 Guests would enter the pavilion's large atrium which was to feature a series of interactive exhibits. Upstairs, the pavilion's major attraction , was to be a dark ride that took a historical look at the evolution of transportation<ref name= "Martin"/>. 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 Marc Davis and Ward Kimball and Mark Davis (who's career had primarily been in animation) were brought onto the project <ref name= "widen"/>. A secondary attraction for the pavilion that was to feature an outside track, 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 the space was cleared on the pavilion's first floor to house a the preshow exhibit, however this space exhibits 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 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 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"/>.