The Epcot Center charm bracelet is now available

The “Oz The Great and Powerful” playground fro the Flower and Garden Festival is being constructed near Imagination!

The FastPass+ queue seems to be finished at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Yes, the cut a hole in the mural…

The Main Street Bakery is closed until May to convert to Starbucks service

Tomorrowland Terrace has breakfast for now

FastPass+ scanners uncovered at Tomorrowland Speedway

Also uncovered at the Barnstormer

The umbrellas have finally arrived for the tables in Storybook Circus

The construction walls at the Grand Floridian now sport concept art for the Villas at the Grand Floridian

The FastPass+ scanners at Toy Story Midway Mania are tinker-toys!

The exhibit area at the Magic of Disney Animation now has a poster up for Frozen

There is also a poster for Planes

A Walt Disney World charm bracelet has also been released

There’s a ticket from 1981 on it

They also sell a large charm with this artwork

There is a Dumbo New Fantasyland board game out now

New magnet clips, including the Orange Bird

The kids cups at restaurants now match the light-up character they come with

A temporary banner has gone up at the Animal Kingdom turnstiles to let resort guests know they can enter here with their RFID tickets

Fab 5 figurines have been released, they are only $12.95 each

A new surprise release pin set has been started celebrating extinct attractions. The first pin is the Mickey Mouse Revue!

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot earlier today to see the newly remodeled Boulangerie Patisserie in France and the IBM Think exhibit inside Innoventions, so let’s take a look at what’s going on around the park:

Guests with RFID tickets are using the new entrance area all the way to the right, meanwhile more of the new RFID scanners are being installed

Kodak picture spots are still up

Daisy got a new meet and greet backdrop near the front of the park a few weeks ago, it is pretty retro-tastic

Epcot Character Spot is still being remodeled

Preparations underway for the Flower and Garden Festival

The new IBM exhibit quietly opened today inside Innoventions

The new exhibit is simply called Think

A look inside

There is a theater portion to the experience, still doesn’t look like much

Habit Heroes is still closed

Work was completed on the FastPass+ entrance at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Ready for use

Another Kodak Picture Spot

Boulangerie Patisserie has finally opened in its expanded new home

The new indoor seating area

Mmmmmmmm….

They have fancy gold trays…

More my speed… there is an assortment of Phineas and Ferb snacks now available around World Showcase

Holiday decorations are gone

Test Track presented by Chevrolet is now officially open at Epcot and if you haven’t had a chance to check out this great new offering, well, we have you covered. First up, we take an in-depth look at the car and truck design process:

Then we have video of the on-ride portion where you take your car for a ride on the Sim Track:

One of the post show features that was added a few days later was the Driving Tables, where you take you car you designed and race it against other guests:

To top it all off, we have a comprehensive video that includes all the video from above, but also the facade, queue, loading area, and more post-show elements. Enjoy this comprehensive look at Test Track presented by Chevrolet:

So, what do you think of the new Test Track?

With Test Track presented by Chevrolet officially opening tomorrow, we decided it might be a good idea to prepare you for thr rigors of designing your own custom car for ther Sim-Track. The following video will take you through the design process for both a car and a truck and will show you how each decision you make can affect your final score. Enjoy:

Wednesday night, I had the privilege of taking a sneak preview ride on the all new Test Track.  What I saw can easily be described in one word: breathtaking.  Before I go into further detail, I should warn you that this review will be very spoiler heavy, so if you want to be surprised, please read no more.  There is no shame in wanting to experience the attraction with no knowledge of it – in fact, it’s my preferred way to do it.  But if spoilers aren’t a concern to you, then welcome to the SimTrack!

The entrance plaza is sleek.  Plenty of blues and silvers set the tone for your experience, and the whole thing is very futuristic.  It’s amazing how much I thought I was back in the 80′s.  The Fastpass machines were covered, so I can’t report on those, but they are in the same location as the old machines.

That’s about the only thing left over in the entrance plaza.  Gone are the old warehouse doors at the entrance to the building, replaced by two large portals that extend from the building.  The door on the right is for the standby queue, which is long enough to handle a – get ready – eight hour long queue.  Overkill, perhaps…but it’s nice to know that they’re prepared.  I didn’t actually go into the standby queue, as I was directed into the door on the left, which is for both single riders and guests with Fastpass.  I should note at this point that Test Track is equipped with the hardware for Fastpass+.  This in itself is unsurprising, but the posts at the entrance are a different shape than the ones we’ve seen at Magic Kingdom attractions. They’re a sleek, futuristic design – very much in line with everything else in this attraction.

The entrance plaza also contains our first Easter egg of sorts – Test Track has a specific trash can design.  I know, I know, pretty minute detail…but it’s one worth pointing out, as it has the old World of Motion symbol prominently featured on it.  Nods to former attractions are always nice, and resurrecting an old pavilion symbol is even better. Keep your eyes open – you’ll see a lot of Motion symbols in this building.

The queue is full of shiny silver tones, making it look like a futuristic showroom floor.  There’s a Chevrolet concept vehicle on display, and from the looks of what I saw, there are plenty of exhibits and screens to occupy those waiting in the Standby queue.  At the end of all three queues are the design stations.

The single rider and Fastpass design stations are in one room, separated by a railing.  The much larger Standby room is on a slightly lower level, with the back wall made up of windows that look into the Fastpass/single rider queue.  The design process wasn’t working at the time of my preview, so I can’t comment on how it is, but I do know how it works – you get an RFID card on a rubber band that will store your design.  You’ll take this card with you along your journey, scanning it at different points along the way.  It’s worth noting that the RFID scanning point has the new “TT” logo on it rather than the Mickey head we’ve been seeing on things like the Be Our Guest ordering kiosks.

A sign directing us to the SimTrack ushers in the first truly recognizable location from the old ride – the load station.  It’s still four cars long, with rows 1-8.  The difference is that just before each set of air gates are six RFID scanners – one for each rider in the car.  You’ll scan your card before you ride, and see the results of your prototype vehicle as you experience the attraction.

The cars themselves are the same as before, it seems.  They’re all blue, and look exactly like the three “Tron cars” we saw being tested on the old ride.  The seat belts still have the traditional yellow strap, and once you’re all buckled up, the ride begins.  A computerized voice greets you, informing that the seat belt check is around the corner.  Once the check is complete, a different computerized voice – female this time – officially welcomes you to the SimTrack.

The old hill climb and rough road tests serve little purpose other than introducing you to the new track…and boy does it look spiffy.  It’s like the inside of a computer…the only way I can describe it is that it’s as if you’re entering The Grid.  The walls seem alive around you as you quickly ascend and descend the hill leading to the first test, Responsiveness.

The Responsiveness Test is designed to see how well your designs respond to inclement weather.  The first leg is in the old “no ABS” test area, and tests your vehicle’s response to rain.  A virtual rainstorm appears on your left as your car skids off the road in a very convincing effect.  As you move into the old “ABS reactivated” test, your SimCar will face an avalanche and a lightning bolt.  Rounding the corner, we come to the area where the old ABS replay screens were.  There’s still a screen there, but this time it shows the Responsiveness Test results for each of the six vehicles designed by everyone in your SimCar.  This is a neat feature, allowing you to keep track of your design throughout the show.  Next to the scoreboard is something really cool – a small model of a futuristic city with projections on it depicting motion – a very cool tribute to the old CenterCore in World of Motion.

The old environmental chambers now play host to the Efficiency Test.  I can’t go on too much about these, as it wasn’t working properly when I rode it.  The windows from the old ride have been replaced by one way mirrors.  I could see a giant screen behind the mirror, but it wasn’t working properly and all I saw was someone working on a Windows desktop.  I imagine that this will be a Pepper’s Ghost-sequel effect, but I honestly don’t know.  Another screen at the end of the old corrosive chamber shows your Efficiency scores as this test wraps up.

The former Track Course A is home to the Capability Test, which is probably the most breathtaking of the four tests.  Blue lasers line the road and the landscape (laser trees!) as your car goes through some hairpin turns, down a dip, and into a tunnel, where you’re still almost hit by a semi (and yes, the semi is outlined in lasers too).  The whole test is one of the most fun parts of the ride, and it’s neat how the near accident in the tunnel is written off as a “crash avoiding system test.”  There’s a cool Easter egg in this test as well – a road sign directs you to three locations.  You pass it very quickly, so the only location I saw was “General Motorway,” but I’m sure the other two are just as chuckle-worthy.

As your SimCar enters the old Barrier Test area, you see a recap of the three tests you just experienced, as well as the six scores for each concept vehicle.  A computer voice tells you that only one test remains – the Power Test.  Four lit neon purple arches lead to a solid wall with the “TT” logo, and as you speed towards this wall, it splits open leading you to the exterior track.  This portion of the ride seems unchanged – you still go incredibly fast and it’s definitely the most thrilling part of the attraction.  The brakes are still jolting, however, so if this part of the ride gave you trouble on the old version, don’t hope for anything different.  The speedometer is still there and lit up, but it wasn’t showing speeds when I rode.  I assume this will be operational soon.  The reentry tunnel has another scoreboard in place of the old thermal imaging camera.  As you come to the bottom of the hill, you’re back at the load station, and will exit the vehicle on your left.

You’ll go down the same hallway to the old photo view stations. Gone are the old self-scan Photopass stations, replaced by a counter at the end of the room where you can purchase the photo.  You then exit into the postshow, of which I only saw one room.  There’s a huge screen (and I do mean huge) on the wall behind a railing.  The screen shows a map of the track layout, with dots representing SimCars currently on the ride.  The railing in front has about a dozen RFID scanning points.  If you scan your card at the railing, a popup window will show in front of you on the screen displaying your vehicle’s results on the SimTrack.  I was also told that this screen will show the best scoring cars of the day, similar to the leader boards at Toy Story Midway Mania.

Habit Heroes – still closed

The exterior of Test Track is making quick progress as we race towards soft openings

Signage about to go up

They finally painted the exit

A look over the walls

Epcot Christmas tree

Food and Wine is now over, but at least we have the memories…

The temporary Epcot Character Spot is in the old Epcot 25th Anniversary exhibit space

The backdrop is retro-tastic…

Some remnants of the exhibit remain

The actual Character Spot in down for a lengthy refurbishment

Looks like it is going to be a while

Still using the same entrance

Walls still up near Electric Umbrella

The Epcot 30th window display is still up at Art of Disney

FastPass Plus at Spaceship Earth

The podium was uncovered

BYE!

It’s Christmas at the Magic Kingdom

Some tarps up on the Adventureland Veranda

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin refurbishment is done

The old steel drum bandstand is behind tarps, probably related to the upcoming Pirates interactive game being installed in Adventureland

Work continues on the new Fantasyland restrooms

Let’s check-in on New Fantasyland

The Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

New tarps are up on Princess Fairytale Hall

Looks like these 5 princesses will be greeting guests when it opens in late-2013

Mesh for the rock-work going up on Mine Train

Cinderella Castle Dreamlights are back

The exit test is back in use

Goodnight Magic Kingdom!

DETROIT – Chevrolet designers and Walt Disney Imagineers have joined forces to give Walt Disney World Resort guests a deep look inside a professional design studio creating a first-of-its-kind multi-sensory virtual experience in automotive design.

Chevrolet and Disney tapped their best design talent with expertise ranging from industrial and automotive design to architecture and animation. The design collaboration began 18 months ago with a few guiding principles – create an experience that is personal, future-focused and optimistic.

The two teams met regularly throughout the development process in both GM’s Design studios in Warren, Mich., and at Test Track in Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The collaboration allowed for the greatest level of innovation yet ensured the values of both brands were accurately represented in the new attraction, while allowing both teams to learn from each other’s expertise.

“At Chevrolet, the diversity of talent on our team allows us to consistently produce sophisticated, refined and detailed design – but we don’t typically design through the eyes of a 12-year-old,” said Jeff Mylenek, GM Design manager, Global Exhibit and Merchandising Design. “Working with Walt Disney Imagineering, we were inspired to see our brand story from a more youthful perspective and really opened the parameters on how to approach this design challenge.”

The result is a unique experience that gives an authentic, inside-the-studio look at the actual automotive design process, while empowering guests themselves to create their own designs, possibly inspiring the next generation of automotive designers.

“The re-imagined Test Track portrays an optimistic view of the future, and reflects the deep collaboration between Disney and Chevrolet on both the design and the overall experience,” said Eric Jacobson, senior vice president, Walt Disney Imagineering. “It’s a thrilling attraction supported by rich exhibit displays and interactive elements that bring guests directly into the design process – with a few surprises thrown in.”

The teams used multiple mediums throughout the re-imagined attraction for storytelling, including:

• Visual cues inspired by Chevrolet’s expressive vehicle design language throughout the architectural elements in the space as well as in the interactive displays; speed forms and concept vehicle displays, like EN-V and Miray, provide a glimpse into the future of Chevrolet design.
• Advanced computer technology – similar to that used by Chevrolet designers every day – powers the guest design experience, while radio frequency technology allows them to take their unique vehicle design with them through the entire ride.
• A thrill-ride that provides the test experience where each guest’s vehicle design is evaluated.
• Social media sharing extends the experience beyond the day at the park.
• Test Track Presented by Chevrolet offers Disney guests a three-part experience:
• First, guests will have the opportunity to design their own vehicle – car, truck or crossover – with some helpful hints from the Chevrolet designers built into the process.  “Designing a successful vehicle requires some careful thought about how to balance capability, efficiency, responsiveness and power – some of the key elements that Chevrolet designers must consider with every new vehicle they imagine,” said Mylenek.
• Next, they will have the chance to test drive their vehicle design, through the ride, on track surfaces that simulate the actual vehicle validation process that Chevrolet engineers use to ensure every new vehicle meets the highest performance standards.  Each guest’s vehicle design will be evaluated and scored based on how well their design balanced the core attributes.
• Finally, guests have the opportunity to race their vehicle over changing terrain and extreme conditions on a digital driving table, produce and share a TV commercial starring their custom vehicle and pose for action shots in front of their design.

The re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will open on Dec. 6, 2012.

The really interesting part is the new concept art and press photos released today:

The queue

More queue and design studio

More queue

More queue

The SimCar which we already familiar with

A little bit of the Test Track we know mixed with the one we do not

Design stations

Driving tables in the post show

More driving tables… reminds me a bit of the World of Motion finale scene

A glimpse of what the showroom will look like, including what appears to be a game called “Showroom Showdown”

Imagineers and GM officials confer around the model

I have to admit I wasn’t sold on this project for a while, but this new batch of concept art has me pretty excited. What do you think?

UPDATE: Some additional press photos were released by Disney later in the day -

 Exterior

 What is will look like when your vehicle gets scored

A scene where a vehicle gets tested for efficiency

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts available at Sir Mickey’s

Work continues on the restrooms going in at the old Skyway site

Yankee Trader still behind tarps

Weird…

Rock-work appearing

FastPass Plus still installed at Haunted Mansion

The Magic Kingdom is getting ready for RFID park entry

We believe that the purpose of the steel truss at the park entrance is a test for a new possible exit

Cast members have been routing guests leaving the park through wider gates in the center and counting off the guests exiting

A weird test, but they want to see if it allows better guest flow

The Grand Floridian DVC wing off in the distance

The Magic Kingdom parking entrance has been completely repainted

Looks nice, but the letters are still missing

Moving to Epcot, FastPass Plus installed at Turtle Talk with Crush

FastPass Plus installed for Seas with Nemo and Friends ride

Hops and Barley got a sign to help guests find it

It’s hidden in the back of the American Adventure

Disney Parks wine is celebrating 1 year

Work continues on Test Track

Neat…

We can start to make out changes in the facade

A circular shape is starting to jut out from the existing facade

COOL WASH!

Looks like new banners are about to be hung up on the canopy

Here’s what is left of the Epcot 30th anniversary merchandise

Some work going on in Innoventions central

I don’t think they are taking down the canopy

It doesn’t reach The Electric Umbrella

Kim Possible was here…

Habit Heroes is still closed

FastPass Plus installed at Spaceship Earth

Seems like overkill for a merge point

We end with the friendliest buildings on earth… they share a door…

Work continues on Splitsville at Downtown Disney

Spotted construction workers

Still looks nothing like the concept art…

The Phineas and Ferb topiary from Epcot is now near the Phines and Ferb & You attraction

Guests were waiting for it to open

Blink has been open for a while now, don’t think we have shown it yet…

John Carter Vinylmation is now at D Street

Adam is probably the only person who has bought them

They had better hurry up…

Moving over to Epcot

Some work going on at both ends of the turnstiles

A great Epcot 30th anniversary display is up in the window at Art of Disney

They are pretty much ready for the Food and Wine festival, starting Friday

You can still buy these

The Cool Wash near Test Track is out from behind walls and now features the new “Sim Car”

The area got fixed up nicely

The dummy sports the new logo

A large hole is now in the front of Test Track

Goodbye old entrance

A new chimney installed at the Norway pavilion… we assume Agent P related…

The work on the Norway waterfall is done

Some other roof work is wrapping up

The new American Adventure cast costumes have debuted… these ones are pretty bad. Did somebody say McDonald’s?

The attraction host costumes are actually very nice

The Festival Shop actually has real doors this year…

Chase seems to be a sponsor ready to burn cash

All of the booths are ready to go

The DVC booth near Canada is just about complete

Told ya’ it was a DVC booth!

Work going on next to the Refreshment Port as well

Display at the front of World Showcase

Framing props…

WATERMELON PATCH

Apparently the cranberry bog is coming back

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Celebrity 5 & 10 is behind tarps

FastPass+ installed at Indiana Jones

Art of disney at Epcot recently was refurbished and is now open once again, now featuring the Castle Collection merchandise

Looks like they just cleaned up the place a bit

They did rearrange some shelves

Work continues to prepare a new entrance at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

This new wave awning replaces the plain umbrellas that had been here

Work continues on a new entrance, presumed to be a new queue for Turtle Talk with Crush

Work continues on what we believe is a DVC booth near Canada

Bistro De Paris is gone…

It will be replaced with a new restaurant from the same company after 30 years at Epcot

The bakery is also being expanded

Construction walls up inside the shop next door

Food and Wine Festival preparations underway

No more Vanity Fair, now the sponsor is Chase

Nice to know that the new patio at Tutto Italia can be enclosed in bad weather

This fountain outside of La Hacienda has been like this for months…

The new exhibit inside the Mexico pavilion seems to be just about finished

Donald was meeting guests inside

The Cool Wash by Test Track is still behind walls

Work continues on Test Track

Heading over to the Magic Kingdom, we can see Grand Floridian DVC construction

AVENGERAIL!

It now advertises the home video release of the film

It turned into a nice day

The Country Bear Jamboree is closing for a few months this week

Some people seem convinced the show will be shortened and some songs will be removed

Shaker says “Probably not”

Trixie would be sad…

Gomer is befuddled

Some people think Big Al will be cut… yeah, OK…

The Yankee Trader is now behind tarps as work continues on the new path and restrooms in Fantasyland

Next-gen FASTPASS looks ready to go at the Haunted Mansion

The store is open during this

A strange structure has risen on the Skyway site which makes these people angry at each-other…

Chubby Moonliner?

I’m not sure what that is supposed to be

Next-gen FASTPASS installed at Peter Pan as well

People like to lean on things

The castle walls are nearing completion

Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train construction

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

Caught someone picking their nose… fantastic!

Just like in the concept art, Prince Eric’s castle is visible just over the mountain

Next-Gen FASTPASS at Winnie the Pooh

More grass appearing on the roof of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Big Top Souvenirs

Next-Gen FASTPASS installed here as well

The presumed Humphrey the Bear counter service location through the trees

Looks like a sign will be installed soon

Another look at the roof grass…

Work continues on the Tomorrowland bridge

And the old Swan Boats dock

Infrastructure for the eventual move to RFID tickets is being installed at the Magic Kingdom entrance

Another look at Grand Floridian construction