Disney News

Test Track®, one of Epcot’s® most popular attractions, will close this Monday, April 16th, for refurbishment. When it reopens again in the fall, it will present guests with a whole new experience!

The re-imagining of the attraction will change the current testing lab queue area into a new “Chevrolet Design Center” allowing guests to become automotive designers. After creating their own custom concept vehicle, guests buckle in to one of the 6-person Test Track® ”SimCars” and try out their customized vehicle on the Test Track® circuit. After experiencing the hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the circuit, guests will receive scores in the post-show area grading the performance of their concept vehicles. Even though the vehicles are called “SimCars,” the attraction will remain a ride like it is today – it will not be a simulator experience.

A reopening date has not been announced.

A couple weekends ago, Disneyland® Resort played host to SIGNin’ in the Street – a Celebration of Creativity in the Deaf community. As a focus on Disney’s commitment to diversity, this first-of-a-kind event at any Disney property provided Disneyland® Resort guests the opportunity to learn about deaf culture through screenings, performances, workshops, and celebrity presentations.

Some of the highlights of the event included:

• Appearances by the stars of ABC Family’s hit series “Switched at Birth”
• Screenings of two feature films, “The Hammer,” based on the life of triple NCAA champ and professional mixed martial artist Matt Hamill, and the award-winning documentary “See What I’m Saying.”
• Musical performances by Deaf West Theatre, Drum Cafe, and rock band Beethoven’s Nightmare

Enjoy this video recap of SIGNin’ in the Street:

A new wine cellar will soon be add to the long list of available food and beverage options in Epcot’s® World Showcase.

Tutto Gusto, set to open in early May, will be located adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy Pavilion. The décor of Gusto will be  inspired by an Italian wine cellar with stone walls and floors, vaulted ceilings, and a fireplace in the dining room.

A small-plate menu that takes guests on a fabulous culinary tour of Italy will be available. Options include: Affettati (cured, sliced meats); Formaggi (Italian cheeses); Panini(sandwiches); Piccoli Piatti (small plates); Cavatappi (a type of pasta), and Dolci (sweets). More than 200 Italian wines, including sparkling, reds and whites, grappas (a distilled drink made from what remains of grapes after they have been pressed for winemaking) and beers such as La Rossa, Moretti and Menabrea will be offered at Gusto.

Tutto Gusto will be a small, intimate location seating only 96-guests. Normal operating hour will be 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. This location will accept the Disney Dining Plan.

Guests may remember back in March of 2010 when the Walt Disney World® Resort debuted the Tron monorail as a promotion for the upcoming movie.

Now, guests will be able to spot The Avengers monorail making its “rounds” on the Magic Kingdom® Park loop throughout the summer. The Avengers monorail celebrates the May 4th opening of Marvel’s film on the big screen.

Here is a video of The Avengers monorail in action:

Tuesday we told you that Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars™: The Clone Wars) and James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars™: The Clone Wars) will host Star Wars™ Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.  Today, we have more celebrities to add to the list making appearances each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012.

Here’s the scheduled celebrity lineup for Star Wars™ Weekends 2012 (subject to change):

Weekend #1 (May 18 – 20)

• Ray Park – (Darth Maul – Star Wars™: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
• Jerome Blake (Rune Haako/Mas Amedda – Star Wars™: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
• Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Clone Captain Rex and Clone Commander Cody – Star Wars™: The Clone Wars)

Weekend #2 (May 25- 27)

• Andy Secombe (Watto – Star Wars™: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
• Ray Park (Darth Maul – Star Wars™: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
• Tom Kane (voice of Yoda – Star Wars™: The Clone Wars)

Weekend #3 (June 1 -3)

• Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker – Star Wars™: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
• Silas Carson (Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi – Star Wars™: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
• TBA (Star Wars™: The Clone Wars voice talent)

Weekend #4 (June 8- 10)

• Michonne Bourriague (Aurra Sing – Star Wars™: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
• Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett – Star Wars™: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VIReturn of the Jedi)
• Daniel Logan (Boba Fett – Star Wars™: Episode II Attack of the Clones)
• Nika Futterman (voice of Asajj Ventress – Star Wars™: The Clone Wars)

As we get closer to the opening of Star Wars™ Weekends, we will share more information about the different events planned each day of the event.