Guests strolling through EPCOT at Walt Disney World today got a surprise: the newly reimagined Test Track has entered a soft‑open technical rehearsal phase, allowing select visitors to experience the ride ahead of its highly anticipated official return on July 22nd.
Park-goers, including X-user and Orlando journalist Ashley Carter, were unexpectedly allowed into the standby line Friday. “What a nice Friday surprise: I was able to just get in line for Test Track,” Carter shared. Though Disney has not formally confirmed the soft-open, operational testing appears to be underway with park guests.
When Test Track reopens on July 22nd, it will debut its third major overhaul – dubbed Test Track 3.0 – returning to General Motors as its sponsor. The reimagined attraction and queue pay homage to EPCOT’s heritage, weaving in design elements from the original World of Motion ride and a modern musical nod to the classic theme, “It’s Fun to Be Free.”
The updated experience features an immersive, six‑room queue spotlighting past and future GM prototypes alongside sustainability and mobility tech. Riders progress through on-ride scenes showcasing sensors, cameras, projection domes, and an outdoor top-speed dash reaching nearly 65 mph – all highlighted by a fresh soundtrack and visuals.
Throughout Annual Passholder previews, the ride is operating via Virtual Queue. When Test Track reopens to the public, it will once again feature a standby queue and Lightning Lane access. Guests who have a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass can choose Test Track as one of their Tier 1 options.
If you’re at EPCOT today or over the weekend, head over to Test Track’s iconic pavilion; you might just get lucky and slip onto a coaster car ahead of the official reopening. Just remember: this is a preview run, and the soft-opening can be closed at any time. But if you can ride it now, it’s a must-do before the full launch.
