New Buick Video @ GM Test Track...

[DetroiterinFL]

I am a product specialist for gm at our florida venue; epcot. Today the new "Beyond Precision" video was up, replacing the horrid, "Dream Up" bit. I love it and won't reiterate it now but if anyone is in the Florida area and can stop by test track come check it out.

ill take you up to our lounge too! BOOYAH

[poly]

I am a product specialist for gm at our florida venue; epcot.  Today the new "Beyond Precision" video was up, replacing the horrid, "Dream Up" bit.  I love it and won't reiterate it now but if anyone is in the Florida area and can stop by test track come check it out.

ill take you up to our lounge too!  BOOYAH

Give my best to Corinne We'll see her soon !

[GMTruckGuy74]

I am a product specialist for gm at our florida venue; epcot.  Today the new "Beyond Precision" video was up, replacing the horrid, "Dream Up" bit.  I love it and won't reiterate it now but if anyone is in the Florida area and can stop by test track come check it out.

ill take you up to our lounge too!  BOOYAH

You're so lucky! The GM Test Track is my favorite amusement park ride ever. I was lucky to chaperone last year's senior class trip to Disney World; although the weather was a bit rainy for March, I did get to go on the ride the day we were leaving (everyone else was in Animal Kingdom, me and a bunch of the senior students were over in EPCOT to ride the Test Track <in case you don't know, the ride closes whenever it rains>). This year my kids are seniors, but they have chosen to go to California for their class trip (not that I'm complaining! 3 weeks from Monday! )

Anyway, one of my students and his family went to Disney World in January for a family trip. He called me and said that ride was closed for refurbishment. What exactly did Disney/GM do or change? Anything major? I've been teasing the wife that one day I'm going to take off, fly down to Orlando and go to EPCOT just so I can do the Test Track ride. She says I'm nuts

How long will you be in Florida? Me, the wife and the two kids may be going in October - I'd love to get a behind the scenes tour of the Test Track and see the Lounge. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your going to tell me you'll be there for a while!

P.S. - I bought off of ebay a blueprint drawing of the Test Track ride that I will eventually frame and hang in my office, along with all of my other Test Track memorabilia!!!

Edited February 19, 2006 by GMTruckGuy74

[Mike The Canadian]

what exactly is this ride you speak of? (sounds very interesting )

[DetroiterinFL]

It was basic refurbishment that was long overdue, apparently. Disney had the whole track re-surfaced...and that's alot of ground to cover. Not to mention the other things they were doing; air conditioning...yada.

[DetroiterinFL]

You're so lucky!  The GM Test Track is my favorite amusement park ride ever.  I was lucky to chaperone last year's senior class trip to Disney World; although the weather was a bit rainy for March, I did get to go on the ride the day we were leaving (everyone else was in Animal Kingdom, me and a bunch of the senior students were over in EPCOT to ride the Test Track <in case you don't know, the ride closes whenever it rains>).  This year my kids are seniors, but they have chosen to go to California for their class trip (not that I'm complaining! 3 weeks from Monday!   ) 

Anyway, one of my students and his family went to Disney World in January for a family trip.  He called me and said that ride was closed for refurbishment.  What exactly did Disney/GM do or change?  Anything major?  I've been teasing the wife that one day I'm going to take off, fly down to Orlando and go to EPCOT just so I can do the Test Track ride.  She says I'm nuts 

How long will you be in Florida?  Me, the wife and the two kids may be going in October - I'd love to get a behind the scenes tour of the Test Track and see the Lounge.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your going to tell me you'll be there for a while! 

P.S. - I bought off of ebay a blueprint drawing of the Test Track ride that I will eventually frame and hang in my office, along with all of my other Test Track memorabilia!!!

Disney and Gm have certain binds. For instance, we have the attraction, fleet...that type of thing. The ride is a "representation" of what goes on, generally speaking, at the proving grounds in Milford. There are short demonstrations throughout the majority of your 5 minute ride; enviromental, abs, road conditions etc.. However, the main attraction (or distraction, for some) is the track surrounding the entire outside of the circular building. At this point your "test" car will be at roughly 65mph, along with a sharp angle that adds the sensation of speed. Really fantastic of a ride. After exiting the guests go from the "assembly experience" to the showroom, where each brand is featured on one of three revolving stages(minus saab...er). So when I mentioned, originally that the Buick featurette was new I found myself in bliss. It is very different than "dream up"...which means the total oppositte of aerosmith, thank god. Hmmmm; wonder if i can post video anyway?

[DetroiterinFL]

Uh huh, I will be here for at least a few more years in this position alone. It's a great place to come to, especially if you're in the crappy north. When my schedule frees up perhaps we could discuss a visit to the lounge. Well that's fun...bye!

[GMTruckGuy74]

It was basic refurbishment that was long overdue, apparently.  Disney had the whole track re-surfaced...and that's alot of ground to cover.  Not to mention the other things they were doing; air conditioning...yada.

I know when my sister and brother-in-law were there last Fall, they said that the ride would operate for an hour or so, break down & shut down for repairs, would reopen for a while and then shutdown again. I'm assuming in this refurbishment any known problems were taken care of? Going to Orlando/Disney <EPCOT> and not getting to go on this ride does not make it worth the trip for me

Did GM change out any of the vehicles on display prior to boarding the ride? I know that in the "assembly area" of the line there was a pre-'99 Bonneville, various S10/Sonoma pickups (cabs, etc), and I think even a Firebird! Did GM update this portion of the ride too?

Uh huh, I will be here for at least a few more years in this position alone.  It's a great place to come to, especially if you're in the crappy north.  When my schedule frees up perhaps we could discuss a visit to the lounge.  Well that's fun...bye!

Well, it looks as if we'll be in Orlando/Disney World in the middle of October. Since plans are no where near being finalized right now, I wouldn;t want to committ you to a date yet. But I would really be interested in the tour/behind-the-scenes look you could provide. Would you PM me your e-mail address???

Mike The Canadian, DetroiterinFL's ride description is dead-on accurate. There's also a GM-virtual ride (sit in chairs and watch a virtual reality 5-min show on GM), video and displays showcasing GM facotires/assembly systems, the already mentioned vehicle showroom and stage area, and a GM & Test Track store. While I'm a die-hard roller coaster fan, I still firmly stand my ground with the statement that the GM Test Track ride in EPCOT is my all-time favorite ride in existence. I first got on it back in 2001 (during my honeymoon in Disney) and rode the darn thing for a total of 5 times during a three day period! I subsquently went on it again in 2003 and 2005 two more times each, bringing it to a total of 9 times in three visits to EPCOT! The store at the very end of the ride past the "showroom" is where you can buy Disney/EPCOT "GM Test Track" merchandise in addition to GM-licensed merchandise. I must say though that in 2001 I felt there was a better variety of GM stuff, which has only gotten smaller in the past few years. A visit to this store is one my wife dreads, as I can take a while to peruse and find many things I want to buy (thank God I stay in the Disney hotels, as they offer direct-to-room shipping at no extra cost!) <-- never have to carry all the things I buy!!!

Sorry for the long post... as you can see, I'm very passionate about this ride!