As you know Test Track closed for a big refurbishment on Sunday. Well, to offer additional entertainment, they decided to put on a little group called the Test Track All Stars. They will play about every 90 minutes in front of Test Track through November 30. Here's some of their songs:
If they would get rid of the research coats it wouldn't be half bad. Maybe, "The Fonz" Happy Days leather jackets?...Dom: By the way, on another topic, I saw what looked to be a possible shark fin in a picture of the lagoon at Universal Studios on another site. Mayhaps, a Jaws shark lurking in the lagoon will be a part of the new water show after all. I guess I'll find out when I'm there May 8th.
From James Koehl
Posted April 22, 2012 at 11:13 AM
There must be something that doesn't show on the video, because they looked pretty good to me. What exactly "sucked" about them, and what would you do differently?
From Andrew Mooney
Posted April 22, 2012 at 11:49 AM
I don't think "suck" is the best word to use. Personally, I thought their singing was fine but wasn't into the whole "Come over here and watch us" vibes that I picked up. Although it's good that Disney have something going on in the frontage of Test Track, and bringing in Chevrolet personnel (if that's actually true) was a decent idea.
They sound ok, but this ruins it for me: They go overboard with the fact they are Chevrolet engineers when they aren't.
From James Trexen
Posted April 22, 2012 at 9:43 PM
I wouldn't exactly fault singing here, it's just that THIS is supposed to be "compensation" for closing down Test Track. This is an idea below Universal's standards, let alone Disney.
So Dominick, performers should not pretend that they are something other than performers? They should have only hired singing engineers? There is a concept called "willing suspension of disbelief" where the audience has to go along with the fact that what you are seeing is not real, but just being done for entertainment value. Saturday night I saw a performance of "Titanic: The Musical" and it was great, but I didn't expect 2/3 of the cast to actually drown at the end. I suspended my disbelief and knew that the cast members were actors and the ship would sink again the next day.
I would rather have talented actors and singers pretending they were engineers than untalented engineers pretending they could sing and act.
It's OK with me if you don't like them. I don't like jazz- that doesn't mean it sucks, it just means that I don't like it.
From Jeff Elliott
Posted April 28, 2012 at 9:58 AM
@ Todd
I hope you realize that you just insulted and called out one of the nicer people on the TPI boards. It is one thing to ask someone not to email you anymore, which I understand was your point, but to be a complete a$$hole and make unfounded claims against someone who is just trying to be nice to you is unforgivable. If anyone needs to be “reported to TPI” it would be you.
I honestly don’t get why we can’t have a civilized discussion on these boards without the insults and the personal attacks. Is it that you have nothing better to do than smash up the windows of someone else’s house. I come to TPI to have fun, get into good discussions, learn something, and maybe argue a point or two that I feel passionate about. It really bothers me when some of the younger members of this community start attacking the members of this community that bring the information that they want. This is called Theme Park Insider, and Robert can’t be the only insider here, there are many and I would think that we would approach them with a little bit more respect that what has been shown recently. If one of our insiders thinks that you have an interest in something that they have an interest in, then of course they are going to send you an email. Teachers like to teach and share their knowledge with others, that is what this whole site is about. I have sent and received hundreds of private messages from different people on this website, some I choose to ignore, some I choose to respond to, it is completely my choice. But I also receive a ton of spam per day that is just as easy to delete as any private message.
I guess the point I am making here is that the people who frequent this site and bring the insider knowledge you desire are also the people who are the most willing to reach out to someone and share their knowledge. I have no idea how many Jungle Cruise captains we have on this site, but if you were to smart off to one of them, you would have your hands full defending yourself. James is our resident expert on Cedar Point and I would really appreciate if you did not chase him away. I for one consider James a valuable asset to this website and would be very upset if someone chased him off this website over some kind of stupid middle school-ish bullcrap.
Can we please all just turn the respect dial up a couple points around here, please?
From Skipper Adam
Posted April 29, 2012 at 8:43 PM
I'm sure NB means he likes everyone who contributes. And we are Skippers, not Captains! Jk, same difference. However that was a nasty and strange comment.
Hating aside, GM and Chevrolet are one and the same, so if you are irked my the sponsor now, you should have been since 1999 (felt odd typing that date). The ride was fun, no one disagrees with that. However, the refurb is short lived and much needed (the ride screamed 90's which is bad for Future World). The ride, as cool as it was then, will be much better when finished.
As for the singers. They're okay. Not Voices of Liberty, but nice. As for "Quality not even that of Universal" makes no sense. They're a temporary group performing one of the most insignificant shows ever. They're just a distraction, adding movement and sound to the area. I don't expect anything remote to an off off Boradway musical, so I don't understand the lack of quality complaint.
They're cheesy and ham it up perhaps a bit too much, but do any of you plan to spend your time in Epcot watching them anyway? Probably not, so much of this discussion is moot in that sense.
From James Trexen
Posted April 29, 2012 at 9:42 PM
Ok, let me rephrase because many members, including myself, can agree that Universal is stepping their game up. The only reason I dislike this is because to me, it seems like a cheap and lazy solution to closing a great ride (which irks me even more since it won't be open when I head down to Florida in July). I know they have to put something out in the meantime, but maybe put some interactive activities or something that relates to cars more.
From Manny Barron
Posted April 29, 2012 at 11:54 PM
Rides close down for refurbishment all the time. Space Mountain closed for nearly 2 years at Disneyland. The Matterhorn is currently closed and so on.....
Seriously people, Disney never intended for this group to replace Test Track, it's just a small bonus for people who happen to pass by the area. I thought they did a good job in their performance and it would be nice it they stuck around even after Test Track opened.
@Matt I laughed so hard at your statement that it brought tears to my eyes :)
If their singing (which isn't my cup of tea either) does indeed make the construction workers go faster, then please send them over to Fantasyland after this :)
As for something there for the time being, I would rather see some type of temporary innoventions dealing with mechanical physics, or something more along the lines of imagineering of the ride design or anything other than singers.
