LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — From the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, California Grill has been, literally and figuratively, at the top since its opening on May 15, 1995.

Illustrious chefs have come and gone, and today Chef Brian Piasecki is at the helm in the kitchen, continuing the Walt Disney World restaurant’s run as an award-winning dining destination.

Aluminum, glass, marble and wood combine to create a sleek modern look, and the room has a spectacular view — diners can see Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon, and get a picture-perfect view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

Countless awards, including a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon, confirm the restaurant’s enduring appeal.

California Grill classics, like the popular roast pork and polenta, have been on the menu since opening day.  All meals are made from scratch in a stage kitchen divided into seven stations, including a sushi bar, a brick pizza oven, a wood-burning grill and a dessert shop.

Among staff there since the beginning is Yoshie Cabral, one of just a handful of female sushi chefs in the United States. Her creations are one of the most-requested menu items — on a good day she’ll make more than 2,000 pieces of raw fish and rice into pristine morsels for diners, and train her protégés to slice and dice.

The restaurant’s general manager, Bridget Sherren, is a graduate of the Advanced Course of the Court of Master Sommeliers and is currently preparing for the Master level.

“Wine is an essential element in the dining experience at California Grill,” explains Sherren. “And education without intimidation is one of our major goals.” She updates daily a 100-item wine list, with every wine available by the glass.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Jedis, Wookiees and Ewoks, Oh My!

Once again, the power of the Force and the magic of Disney combine in May and June forStar Wars Weekends, a sci-fi fan-fest inspired by the popular film saga. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 21-June 13, 2010, Disney’s Hollywood Studios becomes the galaxy’s home for out-of-this-world characters including Sith, Bith, droids, bounty hunters, Twi’leks and Rodians.

Dates are May 21-23, May 28-30, June 4-6 and June 11-13. This year’s event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back,” which first appeared in theaters May 21, 1980.

More than 50 Star Wars characters will roam the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities. Also featured: the chance to purchase special- and limited-edition Star Wars memorabilia, Star Wars trivia contests, Jedi Training Academy, Star Wars parades, rides aboard Star Tours and the popular “Hyperspace Hoopla” dance party.

Celebrities from the Star Wars films and creative geniuses who helped create the saga will be on hand each weekend for star conversations and autograph sessions.

The celebrity hosts for each weekend are Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in “Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back” and “Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi”)and Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano from “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”).

Special guests making weekend appearances include:

May 21-23: Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett in “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones”),Daniel Logan (Boba Fett in “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones”), and Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Captain Rex in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”)

May 28-30: Matthew Wood (voice of General Grievous in “Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”), Lorne Peterson (model-maker who worked on all six Star Wars live-action films) and Tom Kane (voice of Yoda in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”)

June 4-6: Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian in “Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back” and “Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi”), Ray Park (Darth Maul in “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace”) and Dave Filoni (director of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”)

June 11-13: Ray Park (Darth Maul in “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace”), Peter Mayhew (who played everyone’s favorite Wookiee, Chewbacca, in four of the live-action films) and James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”).