Will // FAST TRACK // Survive GM

Originally Posted By ImaginingDisney001

The GM, or should I now call them " THE NEW GM ", sponsered // FAST TRACK // will be coming up on the contractural end.

" THE NEW GM " may not continue the sponsor ship and since all the other BIG 3 auto manufacturers are pretty much in the same ( no money ) boat, will, and how long will the Dis Company run // FAST TRACK // before they shut it down??

Remember, high maintenance costs shut down and removed 20,000 LUTS and // FAST TRACK // will be no cheaper.
In todays economic envireonment, Disney may not keep it open.

Any opinions out there?
Personally, I don't know....

ID

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

I doubt that TT will be shut down. It's one of the flagship attractions at Epcot, a park with few thrill rides to start with. And, although TT originally attracted GM to spend the money it did, there's not necessarily a reason to associate the current sponsorship money with TT. That is, if the sponsorship currently brought in $X million a year, and if it goes away and it's decided that therefore $X million must be cut from operating costs at Epcot, there's no reason that that has to come from TT. More likely, it would be taken from wherever removing $X million in expenses would be determined to have the least impact on the park.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

Would a sponsorship necessarily have to come from an automaker?

How about a tire maker? Or whoever makes OnStar or something?

I'm sure there are a lot of options out there, although sponsoring a Disney ride these days seems much less popular as it was in the past.

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

<<< Or whoever makes OnStar >>>

That would be General Motors.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

Oh.

 

Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland

^ LOL!

I doubt Test Track would be shuttered over lack of sponsorship. Wasn't DL's Space Mountain sponsored by FedEx and then they pulled out?

There's no reason Test Track would be shut down because of maintenance costs. It's one of the park's main draws and the Company is still raking the money in.

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

Space Mountain was originally sponsored by RCA.

 

Originally Posted By Disneymom443

That is a good point, I wonder if Goodyear has been thought of.

 

Originally Posted By Sport Goofy

^^
The tire companies are hurting, too. Any company dealing with automobiles is on the ropes. Even Toyota lost more money so far this year than GM.

 

Originally Posted By ImaginingDisney001

>>>> I doubt Test Track would be shuttered over lack of sponsorship <<<<


Sure, maybe Dis Company can rope in DAIRY QUEEN or Dunken DONUTS, or this

What about, WALTMART??????

The article I was reading was concerned because no business out there is confident in todays economy and said the DIS COMPANY was concerned. They stated that if " THE NEW GM " pulled sponsorship, they may operate the attraction for awhile but may have to close it due to expenses. Reason given was attraction expenses is somewhat high and guest numbers has not been all that great.

If you read about the attractions and what the sponsor pays to have their name on the "Sponsored by __________ ", It is the highest paid sponsorship in all the Disney parks. They felt in this economy, it would be difficult to attract another willing sponsor with the money to keep the doors open another 10 years. ( sponsorship is a 10 year term ).

Another key thought is the fact that // FAST TRACK // was developed to reflect GM's image so it would cost to change that image as well. It is quite possible, given who they may rope into sponsorship, that it could cost DOUBLE what the base cost could be.

It makes you think, doesnt it?
The Dis Company gets paid, by the Sponsors, to run, pay for maintenance for each attraction, AND Guests have to pay VERY HIGH ticket prices to get in.

Top that with Cast member cutting, the Dis Company not building in the tru spirit of Walt Disneys theming (cutting costs), where is all that money going?

Could it be the Dis Company "TIES" payroll and bonuses??? Hmmmmmmm

 

Originally Posted By barboy

///Reason given was attraction expenses is somewhat high and guest numbers has not been all that great.///

High expenses sounds very plausible but unimpressive ridership hmmm?? The costs to operate must be staggering and it wouldn't surprise me if I found out that Test Track is the most expensive ride to run of all US Disney parks.

TT from the word go has always been a huge draw and was the hottest ride ticket on property until Soarin.

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

<<< High expenses sounds very plausible but unimpressive ridership hmmm?? >>>

I agree - low ridership just doesn't sound realistic to me. Is there ever a time during the day when TT is a walk-on? Assuming they have the maximum number of vehicles in service and they're being dispatched full, then the attraction is operating at full capacity whether the minimum or average wait is 5 minutes or 1 hour.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym33

There was an article in the Orlando Sentinel a few weeks back about this. It seems that Disney is allowing GM to be month to month at the moment as they try to negotiate new terms for a sponsorship deal. Possibly for one year initially. Disney is trying hard to keep GM and GM is trying to figure out how to stay there without ticking off people.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

>Another key thought is the fact that // FAST TRACK // <

Am I missing something? Why do you keep calling it FAST TRACK? It's Test Track. And no, they won't shut it down just because there's no sponsor. Horizons went for years after their sponsor (GE?) pulled out. Of course, regular maintenance went downhill, but the ride still ran.

 

Originally Posted By Ursula

I am confused, too. What is Fast Track?

 

Originally Posted By ImaginingDisney001

>>>>> Am I missing something? Why do you keep calling it FAST TRACK? <<<<<


You did not miss a thing.....

sorry, I transposed the FAST from FastPass onto Test Track, and came up with FAST TRACK.

TOo deep in thought

You are Spot On.

ID

 

Originally Posted By ORD84

From what I understand GM want's to remain as sponsor though I'm not sure if that will be up to them much longer after the government starts making all of the little decisions on how GM does ALL their business...


I can't see a reason for the Government to want to dump it, you completely have a captivated audience inside of an attraction that is pretty much just a huge advertisement for your company, you even have a car show room after the ride is over...

On a side note does anyone have any pics from inside the ride in the GM employee offices above...before my last phone was wrecked I had some cool pictures of being up there...I'm going to have to dig through my computer maybe they are still there somewhere..if anyone has any pics however please post them on photobucket as that was one cool view and a oneofakind experience to boot!

 

Originally Posted By cheesybaby

Anaheim's Indiana Jones attraction lost its sponsor (AT&T) several years ago. It currently runs with no sponsor.

Anaheim's Space Mountain lost its sponsor (FedEx) several years ago. It currently runs with no sponsor.

Anaheim's Star Tours lost its sponsor (Energizer) years ago. It currently runs with no sponsor.

There are probably more I am forgetting.

How many E-Ticket attractions are there? Most do not have sponsors.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym33

The problem Disney is facing with Test Track is that the post show is very much about GM. Unlike many other attractions where they can just remove signage, the loss of GM would require a lot more work in the post show area which would be pretty barren without all the GM stuff.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym33

Here is the Sentinel article:

<a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-disney-epcot-gm-062209,0,7040000.story" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com...00.story</a>