It’s fun to be free!
Test Track presented by General Motors is currently undergoing Cast Member previews, and The DIS was invited to take a look inside and go for a spin ahead of the official opening! Check out the fresh queue space, ride, and post-show moments below. The ride officially opens to the public on July 22nd, with Annual Passholder previews happening a few days earlier.
Located in the World Discovery neighborhood in EPCOT (we’ll never forget you, Future World), Test Track will offer a Standby, Lightning Lane access via Multi-Pass, and Single Rider queues.
The attraction’s entrance has a new overhang canopy that will illuminate at night.
Much like the previous version of Test Track, blues and darker tones are prevalent in this version’s overall color scheme.
Let’s head inside!
The Queue
The queue is divided into a series of showcase rooms, each highlighting a different chapter in the evolution of automotive technology. It begins with a focus on mobility and innovation, featuring concept vehicles and design breakthroughs from past decades. Throughout the space, a streamlined aesthetic takes center stage, with a cool blue and silver color palette, sweeping curves, and futuristic architectural elements that echo the ride’s forward-looking theme.
Starting with the era of 1910 through 1970, the first car you’ll pass is Chevrolet’s Astro III car concept from 1969:
Two more cars represent visions of autonomy from 1970 through 2010:
One of my favorite features within the first room is the window peeking into the ride’s seatbelt check bend — meaning the queue is also visible from that first turn once you’re in your car. This adds kinetic energy and motion to the room, and is a nice [small] throwback to the space’s original World of Motion attraction:
The second room centers on sustainability and the future of electric vehicles. Interactive exhibits explore the symbiotic relationship between EVs and energy-efficient homes, demonstrating how a vehicle can power a house, and vice versa. Display cases highlight innovations in recycling, waste reduction, and eco-conscious design, reinforcing the link between technological advancement and environmental responsibility.
Sleek silver models of miniature retro-futuristic vehicles are also featured here, while a deconstructed vehicle base offers a close-up look at the components that drive modern mobility.
The final hallway has safety information videos playing overhead, before continuing on to board your car.
The boarding area features new blue neon lights and large ring lights along the ceiling.
The ride vehicles themselves have a received a new sleek makeover:
Test Track Ride Experience
After boarding, your ride begins with a seatbelt check before being introduced to your automated guide: an intelligent onboard system that narrates the journey ahead.
The experience opens with a showcase of current automotive technology, focusing on how modern vehicles use advanced sensors to understand their surroundings. One standout feature is a visually stunning representation of LiDAR, brought to life with over 29,000 synchronized light nodes. (Seriously, pictures and video don’t do this scene any justice.)
From there, the ride transitions into the near future, where you cruise down a smart road equipped with inductive charging, illustrating how electric vehicles could one day remain powered wirelessly as they travel.
The next scene explores customization possibilities, showing how future drivers might tailor their vehicles from the comfort of home. Interactive screens display various design overlays on the very car guests are riding in. Nearby, a garage-style setting features virtual models of all three evolutions of Test Track’s ride vehicles (shoutout 1.0!).
Then, you can kick back and enjoy the ride as your vehicle embarks on a scenic road trip. This is when your car says “it’s always fun to be free!”; a musical callback to World of Motion, one of the park’s original opening day attractions which Test Track eventually replaced. You then enter a tunnel and encounter an updated futuristic-looking semi-truck — a beloved near-miss moment from each evolution of Test Track lives on!
EPCOT fans, keep an eye out for Easter eggs!
- Spot “82” in multiple areas, referencing EPCOT’s opening year; including a road sign that says 82 miles at the start of the scenic route.
- The original World of Motion logo is embossed into the top of the tunnel’s entrance.
The journey culminates in a vibrant city of the future, complete with flying cars, sleek architecture, and a nod to Disney’s iconic Monorail system.
Finally, the vehicle accelerates onto the outdoor track for the signature high-speed finale.
Exit & Post-Show Areas
Upon exiting, you’ll pass a floor-to-ceiling mural of the futuristic city you just previewed on the ride:
The post-show area is now a spacious General Motors showroom. Each car is showcased between curved blue display walls that echo the ride’s futuristic aesthetic, while a walkway winds smoothly through the exhibit. GM representatives are available throughout the area to answer questions, share details about the vehicles, and highlight the innovations shaping the future of transportation.
There’s also an electric vehicle display with a mural and blue neon light representing the charger:
The Gift Shop located at the exit has been renamed to ‘Test Track Gear Shop’ (formally known as ‘Test Track SIMPorium’). New attraction-specific merchandise will be available alongside the grand re-opening on July 22nd!
What Do You Think?
Personally, I think Test Track 3.0 is a significant step forward from the previous version. While some guests may miss the interactive car design feature — and I’ll always have a soft spot for the original “crash test dummy” era — this reimagining seems well-balanced between nostalgia and innovation. It feels more cohesive, more immersive, and much more in tune with EPCOT’s forward-thinking spirit. And let’s be honest, we’ve sorely missed this E-ticket attraction from the park’s ride lineup. What do you think? Are you excited to take this new version for a spin?
