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Test Track (Pavilion)

467 bytes added, 04:44, 25 March 2016
/* Pavilion History */
By the end of GM's original contract in 1992, the popularity of the World of Motion had declined. With this is mind General Motors was hesitant about continuing their sponsorship of the pavilion <ref name= "Martin"> 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 renew, 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.
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 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 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 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 February 13, the GM Preview Center opened in front of the closed pavilion, featuring 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. Finally, 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"/>.