Epcot is a theme park in need of attractions. Like all the non-castle Disney World theme parks, the celebration of culture and technology has sparingly little to do unless you’re interested in buying very expensive things, drinking very expensive things and dining on more reasonably-priced things. That’s the result of all the work on Epcot over the last decade. It’s a very, very large outdoor retail and dining space, propped up by festivals, and featuring a few attractions that keep it in the realm of what Disney Parks guests require.
To give you an idea of just how lacking Epcot is in terms of attractions, the park only has ten actual rides. Studies have shown that guests need to ride eleven rides in a single day in order to feel they have gotten their money’s worth. So with Test Track opening, guests we’ll now feel as though they’ve had a good day if they ride every single attraction in the park. By the way, this is why most experts believe that a theme park really needs something along the lines of twenty-five rides so that guests can find attractions they’ll actually enjoy. After all, not everyone is a coaster enthusiast, and not every guest loves dark rides. Having options means that guests leave satisfied.
So, number eleven is back: let’s talk about the return of Test Track.
Here it is folks! The full Test Track 3.0 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/36Y8UW61VJ
— RideRover (@riderover_) June 27, 2025
Let’s just get this out of the way before we even begin: I’ve never been a fan of Test Track’s actual track layout and that hasn’t changed one bit in the update. It’s part jarring dark ride, part non-thrilling “speed” run. The two are difficult to mesh and there’s no area for a big finale at the end of the “speed” run… so no matter what you do, you always have to end with the less-than-impressive, outdoor “speed” section. Thus, changing Test Track without spending serious money to redo the track layout is always going to result in some of the same fundamental issues for the ride.
So what’s wrong with the “speed” section? Let me explain.
How did many guests arrive at Walt Disney World? A trip to the Epcot parking lot reveals it was via automobile. And what is the speed limit for interstates in the United States? Google tells me it’s 70mph in most places. So, how fast does Test Track go, a ride that is a dedication to the automobile? Well, its big climactic end takes you at a dizzying 65mph! Which means, you could simply stick your head out the window briefly while driving on the interstate to have essentially the same experience as Test Track without the one-hour wait time. That’s the problem.
Without a doubt Test Track 3.0 is the best version of the ride and one of the best reimaginings Disney has done. Huge shoutout to the designers and whole team behind this cause it feels timeless and all the EPCOT vibes that people are looking for. pic.twitter.com/EEjuNi9Gue
— MagicbandManiac (@MagicbandManiac) June 27, 2025
Can you go down a four-story waterfall a la Splash Mountain from the comfort of your home? Nope. Can you ride an out-of-control train through a desert landscape on your couch? Nunca. Can you experience the sights, sounds and smells of traveling through time like on Spaceship Earth? Nowhere else. But Test Track relies on a finale that you can do as soon as you leave the park, more comfortably, with less effort, though you may need to clean the bugs off your face after trying it out.
Okay… so this is a problem Test Track has had ever since it was built. Now let’s get into the real review, which is… what did they change and does it make the ride better?
Gone are the days of designing your own car, which never really worked because the ride experience never changed. Now we’re heading into the “future”. The issue is solidly that much of what is presented as “the future” is already being done by Tesla, which is a major competitor to GM, the sponsor of the attraction. I’m not here to sponsor or advocate for Teslas, just here to say, if you have been in a Tesla with FSD, you’re beyond what Test Track is going to show you. That likely means the attraction will not age well. And it’s not just Teslas, the Rivians also do some of the automated things already, theyr’e just not as well-known for me to use as an example.
Test Track is now about self-driving, automated safety, smart highways that recharge your car (count me extremely skeptical that ever comes to fruition), and a lot of LED lighting to sell the pitch. Overall, the dark ride aspect of the attraction is significantly better, smoother and more interesting, even if it’s dated at the time of release. There’s one very significant upgrade and that’s the room prior to exiting the building for the “speed” finale. If that room were the finale of the ride, it would be even better. It’s an awesome addition, truly beautiful, and harkens back to what Epcot should be. But… because it’s not the finale, it’s not as great as it could have been. It’s a shame. But… it’s still incredible and a very worthwhile addition, justifying the downtime.
There are minimal (if any) improvements to the “speed” section finale. It still exists. It’s fun for little kids. But is it either thrilling or impressive for car enthusiasts? Emphatically, no.
Comparing Test Track ride photos. 3.0’s is the clear winner.
Link: https://t.co/5Xw8Kg2Xc0 pic.twitter.com/88zn6R1hSj— Diservations (@diservations) June 27, 2025
All of that said, Epcot needs attractions. Test Track is an attraction. As a thrill ride, it’s lackluster. As a dark ride, it’s average at best. My recommendation is that you enjoy it if it’s under 40 minute wait time, but I can’t tell you to stand in line for more than an hour to ride it. I do believe that they made the most of the ride as it exists, and that should be applauded. Even down to the headlights doing cute little animations as they come into the loading and unloading station, there’s a lot of love that was put into making this the best version of Test Track yet. They succeeded. I only wish there was something more to make me recommend the ride beyond the polish that’s been added. If you loved Test Track before, you’ll probably think this version is awesome. If you had lesser thoughts about the attraction in the past, just know that it’s the same thing with significantly more shine.
Frankly though, bring back the weather conditions portion of the indoors. I’m fond of “arctic blasts” when it’s this hot outside…
Overall Review Score for Test Track 3.0: 7/10
