Stalled

Here we sit in our stalled Test Track ride vehicle. Ten minutes slips away. Then fifteen.

We’re approaching 10:15 now, the time we planned to leave Epcot to return to the Polynesian, and for the first time I start to worry about missing our bus to the cruise ship. Brandon and Benjamin voice the same concern, but I do my best to reassure them. I have a cell phone to let the others know of our situation, and I’m hopeful that if necessary Disney would hold the bus for us, especially since this delay is not of our making.

But seriously, how long will the CMs leave us guests stranded on the ride before they decide to evacuate us? It’s been almost twenty minutes now.

Fortunately within a few minutes more we have our answer. A different voice comes over the loudspeakers: “The ride is being lifted.” I’m assuming that means evacuated. “Lifted,” hmm? That’s a nice, non-threatening code word.

Suddenly the ride becomes quiet – eerily quiet – as the show sounds are turned off. Shortly thereafter, another announcement: “Show lights off, work lights on.” The darkness evaporates as fluorescent lighting comes on overhead, lighting up the warehouse-like ride chamber. And finally, an announcement to those of us stuck on the ride: “Ladies and gentlemen, Test Track is experiencing technical difficulties.” – duh – “A cast member will be coming around to lead you to the exit. Please remain seated in your ride vehicle until the cast member reaches you.”

We sit for a couple of minutes more, until we spot a female cast member walking down from the hairpin turn ahead of us, leading a small group of guests. She stops at the car in front of us and helps them out of their car. I can hear her giving each of them special Fastpasses allowing readmission to the attraction when it’s open again. Heh. Nice gesture, but one that we won’t be able to use.

The cast member reaches us and finally, after 35 minutes in our ride vehicle, most of that at a standstill, we are able to unbuckle, stand, and climb over the side onto the roadway below us. The CM is friendly and apologetic, and offers the three of us Fastpasses which allow us readmittance to Test Track at any time until January 31. We thank her and tell her we’re headed for the Disney Wonder, so we can’t use them, but we’ll accept them as souvenirs.

We join the group and follow the cast member down the roadway, past the one hairpin turn we drove through, and to the next car of guests. The car after that has apparently already been emptied, so we continue on.

I realize belatedly that walking through Test Track would make a pretty unique photograph, but by the time the flash charges up I’m only able to get off one quick picture. Then we're directed away from the ride path, through a door and into a stairwell. Down we go, at least two full floors. We then exit into an unthemed, backstage hallway, go out a door, and we're in the post-show area.

That was... a unique experience, to say the least. What a way to end our time at Walt Disney World!