BlogMickey.com has been able to confirm that a Test Track ride vehicle impacted the foam sliding doors in the grand finale scene as the car accelerated toward the outdoor portion of the ride. The incident took place during a Cast Member preview yesterday at EPCOT. Four guests were treated on site for injuries sustained when their ride vehicle hit the door. No guests were transported to the hospital. Here’s what we know.
Test Track Ride Vehicle Impacts Sliding Door
A Test Track ride vehicle impacted the foam sliding doors after the doors failed to open properly during a Cast Member preview yesterday. Four guests were treated on site for injuries sustained during the incident. None were transported to the hospital, which would suggest that the injuries were relatively minor.
While the doors, seen in the promotional image below, are supposed to fling open as your car accelerates towards them, they are also built from foam for safety in case they malfunction. While it is rare that they do not open, they are designed to break away should a vehicle impact them, as was the case yesterday. While the sliding door effect itself malfunctioned, the safety measures put in place operated as expected.
Test Track Sliding Door Effect Turned Off Following Incident
As a result of the malfunction, the doors have been removed for Cast Member previews today. It is unclear if the effect will return at a later time or if Disney will operate the attraction without the sliding door effect. It’s also possible that the effect timing could change in an attempt to mitigate the possibility of this happening again.
The effect, when working properly, not only adds to the thrill of the ride but also serves an important role in the updated finale scene. Having the doors closed darkens the room, which is filled with projection effects showcasing the future of travel.
Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with General Motors to, once again, redesign the attraction. When it reopens on July 22nd, this will be the third major redesign of the Test Track attraction. The first version of the ride took guests through a series of vehicle tests, including a “crash” test at the sliding doors. The second version of the ride asked guests to design their own vehicle before putting it through the paces in a series of tests designed to score guest vehicle designs in various categories. The latest version of the ride will showcase various technologies used in cars today and transportation of the future.
Cast Member previews resumed today following yesterday’s incident and are scheduled to continue through July 10th. Starting July 13th, Annual Passholders will be able to preview the reimagined attraction. Passholder previews will continue for most dates through July 19th. The attraction will then open to the general public on July 22nd.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Not to be that person but it’s had 2 redesigns, not 3
You are now officially “that” person. 😄
So the element of designing your own vehicle has been removed from this latest redesign?