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.

By day, Senor Frog’s will be more family friendly, serving up a menu of Mexican fare. There will be games for the kids and a balloon artist wandering tables for dinner.

After 11pm, it will become a 21-and-over nightclub with live entertainment and a huge dance floor. Drinks are available in three sizes, including the gigantic yard stick size.

I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but on Yelp it appears to be getting mixed reviews. If you’ve visited leave your opinions in the comments – we’d love to know what you think.

Senor Frog’s is located at 8747 International Drive and they’re open from 11am to 2am.

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.

Well, if you’ve always wanted to check out a Velvet Sessions show, but weren’t sure if you wanted to pay the $30 or so for a ticket, you might want to check out this special Valentine’s show.

It’s a bit off a twist called “Acoustic Sessions” and instead of a full band, it will feature Carl Dixon (formerly of the Guess Who) in an unplugged-style concert.

In addition to being a stripped down version of the normal Velvet Session concert (but no less fun), this show differs because it’s completely free.

Of course, because it’s free, drinks won’t be, but there will be cash bars and cocktail service for the evening, and $5 self-parking at the hotel. You can also reserve a table for two for $30 or a table for four for $50. Reserved tables get the first round of drinks complimentary, as well as parking (self or valet).

This “Acoustic Sessions” show with Carl Dixon takes place Tuesday, February 14, and starts at 8pm.

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.

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:

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.

March 2012 brings an updated version of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man to Islands of Adventure. The film is being remade with 4K digital high-definition animation, which provides even more details to the effects and there will even be a cameo by legendary comic book icon and Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee. The ride will close on February 8 for the updates to be installed.

Artist Rendering of Parade

New for Spring 2012 will be Universal’s Superstar Parade, a daily parade featuring characters like Spongebob Squarepants, the Despicable Me minions and more. The parade will take place at Universal Studios, with character meet & greets prior to the parade.

Also new for Spring 2012 will be Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories. This ode to Universal Pictures and its legendary films will take place at the Universal Studios Lagoon and feature narration by award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. Images from the history of the studio’s film library will be shown on cutting-edge waterfall screens, with additional effects and pyro during this nighttime film that will show nightly all summer and then on select nights through the end of the year.

Based on the popular movie, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a new attraction that will open Summer 2012 where Jimmy Neutron used to be. It will take guests on a 3D adventure with Gru and his minion crew, as everyone is put through minion training. Steve Carell (Gru) and other actors from the film will reprise their character voices from the actual film.

Still no word on what they plan to do with the area currently housing the now-closed Jaws and Amity Village attraction. There have been plenty of rumors, but nothing that we can confirm.

[Images courtesy of  Universal Orlando]

Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories

Here is the current list of headliner concerts for the 2012 festival:

March 01

• 10:30am – Jimmy Sturr (Free)
• 3:30pm – The Oak Ridge Boys ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – Gretchen Wilson ($15/$20)

March 02

• 3:30pm – The Gatlin Brothers with Crystal Gayle ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – Demi Lovato ($30/$35)

March 03

• 3:30pm – The JaneDear Girls ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – Air Supply ($15/$20)

March 04

• 3:30pm – Jake Owen ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – Hank Williams, Jr ($50)

March 05

• 3:30pm – Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – Josh Turner ($25/$30)

March 06

• 3:30pm – Brenda Lee ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – Vince Gill ($35)

March 07

• 3:30pm – Lee Greenwood with Louise Mandrell ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – The Band Perry ($25/$30)

March 08

• 10:30am – Ronnie McDowell (Free)
• 3:30pm – The Charlie Daniels Band ($20/$25)
• 7:30pm – Luke Bryan ($30/$35)

March 09

• 3:30pm – Cornell Gunter’s Coasters/Bobby Hendrick’s Drifters/The Platters ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – TobyMac ($20/$25)

March 10

• 3:30pm – Allstar Weekend ($10/$15)
• 7:30pm – Rodney Atkins ($20/$25)

March 11

• 3:30pm – Easton Corbin ($15/$20)
• 7:30pm – Reba McEntire ($50)

*If there are two prices the first is for advance purchase, the second for day of show.

All prices are in addition to the daily gate admission price to the festival itself, which is $10

The Florida Strawberry Festival takes place in Plant City, about half-way between Orlando and Tampa, just off of I-4. Visit the festival website for driving directions and more information.

This week, the theme park revealed the concert line-up for its 2012 festivities. They take place every Saturday, with the occcasional Friday and Sunday, and start out with a huge Mardi Gras parade followed by a concert from a big name headliner.

Here is the just released list of shows:

• Feb. 11 – The B-52′s
• Feb. 18 – Kelly Clarkson
• Feb. 19 – Boyz II Men
• Feb. 25 – Diana Ross
• March 3 – Goo Goo Dolls
• March 10 – Big Time Rush
• March 16 – J Cole
• March 17 – Sugar Ray
• March 23 – Hot Chelle Rae
• March 24 – B.o.B.
• March 30 – Plain White T’s
• March 31 – Prince Royce
• April 7 – Cyndi Lauper
• April 14 – KC & The Sunshine Band

I am disappointed that there aren’t any classic rock or country acts this year. There are plenty of contemporary acts this year, so I expect to see a younger crowd at most of the shows.

Admission is included in regular park admission for the day, and there is also an “After 5″ discounted pass for those who just want to do Mardi Gras (though if you want to do any of the rides, you really do get a better deal paying for the whole day and doing the rides during the day and the Mardi Gras celebrations at night).

Following each night’s Mardi Gras festivities, you can use your park admission as a complimentary CityWalk Party Pass to access the clubs.

So you do you see any headliners that you’re excited about on this list? Let us know in comments.

A while back, we had spotted them on Groupon. The offer was for day passes to their outdoor water park, so I bought 2 for us at “buy 1 get 1 free” for a day pass. We have been driving by it every Sunday on our way to church since it opened and the kids have been dying to go.

It’s nice that a hotel has realized that locals can provide revenue, too. It’s a small park, but that is not necessarily a bad thing with small kids. They have a good variety of slides for all ages. Our 6 yr old could ride all but 2 slides, and our 40″ 3 yr old could ride all but 3 slides. There are lots of slides and play things for very small kids too. And at 85 degrees, the pools were nice to just be in.

The fall/winter single day ticket price is $14.95 per ticket which makes it more affordable than other water parks. Florida resident discounts bring that price down to $9.95 per pass. But with the winter hours, I would recommend getting there as it opens.

We will go back, there is no doubt about that. But I may wait for another Groupon or other special with the winter hours (Thurs-Sat 11am-7pm; Sun 11am-5pm; closed Mon-Wed). And I did not get any pictures as I was too busy playing, too.

Day passes to CoCo Key Water Resort are available based on water park capacity with certain restrictions and blackout dates. Admission to the water park is only guaranteed to guests of the resort.

[Image courtesy of CoCo Key Water Resort]