Disney dates: When Test Track returns and Boneyard bows out

[Disney4me]

Epcot is about to say hello again to Test Track, but it’s time to say goodbye to a kid-friendly Animal Kingdom attraction, Walt Disney World announced Monday.

Reopening day for Test Track is July 22, Disney says.  The ride, which originally debuted in 1999, has been undergoing refurbishment since June 2023. This will be the third version of the attraction. A second iteration rolled into Epcot in late 2012.  A distinguishing element of the ride has been its indoor-outdoor track, where ride vehicles notably accelerate when out in the open.

Before Test Track, the space was used for World of Motion, an original Future World attraction that closed at Epcot in 1996.

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The 2025 version of the ride — commonly referred to as Test Track 3.0 — will have new scenes, including one that dissects how cars now use cameras and sensors to observe their surroundings.

“Get a glimpse into the future of mobility and the cities of tomorrow before zooming off on an electrifying, high-speed race that will leave your imagination soaring,” the official Disney World website reads.  The Test Track height requirement will be 40 inches.

The return of Test Track will be two days after the debut of “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away,” a nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom.

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Meanwhile, the final day for the Boneyard, a playground that was part of DinoLand USA at Animal Kingdom, will be Sept. 1, which is also the Labor Day holiday. The fossil-themed spot is themed to look like a dinosaur dig and includes slides, rope bridges, caves and other energy-burning activities for the under-age-10 set.

This area will be part of the future Tropical Americas, an 11-acre land now under construction at the theme park. Other features will include an “Encanto”-themed ride, a carousel, a new playground and a refurbished Dinosaur ride what will eventually be themed to “Indiana Jones.”  The Dinosaur ride will close sometime in 2026, Disney says, with completion of Tropical Americas expected in 2027. The TriceraTop Spin ride closed in January.

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