CitySurfing Orlando

One of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World’s Epcot will be closing this spring for a few months of updating.

Test Track at Epcot will be closing in April 2012 for what Disney is calling a “re-imagineering” of the ride.

First, the full name of the ride will be changing from GM Test Track at Epcot to Test Track Presented by Chevrolet.

The entrance queue and the exit area are both going to receiving a remodel that incorporates the ride’s sponsor, Chevrolet, in a more prominent way. There will be interactive design and styling workstations at which you will be able to create custom concept vehicles. Also included will be a “SimCar” ride vehicle experience where you can put your design through its paces on the Test Track circuit.

The post-show area will still be a showroom for the latest Chevy models.

I’m hoping they make the ride seats a little wider and comfortable, too.

They don’t have an exact date for the ride to reopen, except to say their projected timeframe is fall 2012. So if you were hoping to ride it during a visit this summer, it won’t be open.

The Rainforest Cafe has released information that over the next few months, they will be adding on an outside bar area to their location at Downtown Disney.

It will be called the Lava Lounge and is expected to be open by this fall.

Also being updated is the volcano outside which will now erupt to go along with the sound effects.

The restaurant will not close during any of these updates.

Rainforest Cafe also has another Orlando location at the entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park.

One of the major annual events hosted by SeaWorld Orlando and its sister park Busch Gardens in Tampa is the spring Bands, Brew & BBQ weekends.

During this event, each park hosts weekend concerts by big name headliners. SeaWorld Orlando’s include both classic rock and country, and run on both Saturday and Sunday.

Here is the list of headliners:

• Saturday, February 11: Foreigner
• Sunday, February 12: Gary Allan
• Saturday, February 18: Trace Adkins
• Sunday, February 19: Kenny Rogers
• Saturday, February 25: Doobie Brothers
• Sunday, February 26: Ronnie Dunn
• Saturday, March 3: Sara Evans
• Sunday, March 4: Scotty McCreery

Over at Busch Gardens, the concerts are Sundays only. Here is their line-up:

• Sunday, February 12: Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Sunday, February 19: Bret Michaels (of Poison)
• Sunday, February 26: .38 Special
• Sunday, March 4: REO Speedwagon

All concerts are included in regular park admission, from single tickets to Fun Cards to annual passes, as long as they are valid at that park.

Each park will also be offering BBQ for sale, as well as host a beer garden area with at least 50 different brews for purchase.

After his team, the New York Giants, won Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, MVP quarterback Eli Manning proclaimed, “I’m going to Disney World!”

Monday morning, he did just that, riding in a ticker tape parade down Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom with Mickey Mouse.

He returned to New York City just in time for an afternoon taping of the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Here’s a shot of the winning duo courtesy of Walt Disney World:

Not content to rest on the laurels of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando held a press conference this last week to unveil what they have planned for park guests for 2012.

Artist Rendering of Despicable Me Attraction Entrance Room

The January 25 conference included information on new attractions, upgrades to existing attractions and shows, and more that are coming to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk.

Here’s a quick rundown:

The popular Blue Man Group show will be debuting an entirely new show to audiences in February 2012. Their CityWalk theater is being revamped with cutting edge technology and the show will feature more interaction with the audience. New elements to the show include BMG interacting with enormous “GiPads” (not sure what exactly those are but it sounds fun). The finale will also feature new music.

Hollywood Drive-In Golf is set to open in February, as well. Designed to resemble a classic drive-in theater, one side will be 18 holes of classic horror film themes and the other side will be 18 holes of sci-fi film themes.

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