Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Scheduled to Open in 2012.

Of course Disney plans to open the Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World – then take a look at this. It’s a new artist rendering showing an image of the new resort. The image is part of a new web page that has just launched on the WaltDisneyWorld.com site.

More details will be coming and booking dates haven’t been announced but the resort is still scheduled to open Summer of 2012.

Disney’s Night of Joy Concert Schedule Released

Disney’s Night of Joy is less than a month away and the excitement is building. Throughout the summer, artists have been stopping by the Vacation Kingdom and we’ll be showing some exclusive video of their visits here on the Disney Parks Blog in advance of the event.

Today’s video is from Fervent Records’ Christian hip hop sensations Group 1 Crew.

Blanca, Manwell and Pablo, who hail from Central Florida, burst onto the Christian music scene in 1996 and haven’t slowed down a bit. They stopped by the Magic Kingdom recently; and, after a little fun on Space Mountainand a special meeting with their pal Goofy, the band chatted about their new EP Spacebound.

In addition to Group 1 Crew, 2010 Christian music Artist of the Year Casting Crowns and past Christian music “Artists of the Year” Third Day, mercyme and Chris Tomlin head a star-powered 16-act lineup set for Disney’s Night of Joy 2010 Sept. 10-11 when the long-running Christian music event makes its return to Magic Kingdom.

Also part of the two-night event (when specific acts play one evening each): David Crowder*Band, Family Force 5, Red, BarlowGirl, Day of Fire, Smokie Norful, Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, Sidewalk Prophets, Thousand Foot Krutch and Britt Nicole.

This Just In: We have a first look at the 2010 Night of Joy Concert Schedule (artist/times subject to change without notice)

Friday, Sept. 10

Artist	Stage	Showtimes
Group 1 Crew	Galaxy Stage	7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.
David Crowder* Band	Cinderella Castle Stage	7:45 p.m.
Sidewalk Prophets	Rockettower Plaza Stage	8:15 p.m.
Casting Crowns	Cinderella Castle Stage	9:45 p.m.
10th Avenue North	Rockettower Plaza Stage	9:45 p.m.
BarlowGirl	Galaxy Stage	10:45 p.m. & 12:15 a.m.
Thousand Foot Krutch	Rockettower Plaza Stage	11:30 p.m.
Chris Tomlin	Cinderella Castle Stage	11:45 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 11

Artist	Stage	Showtimes
Smokie Norful	Galaxy Stage	7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Family Force 5	Cinderella Castle Stage	7:45 p.m.
Britt Nicole	Rockettower Plaza Stage	8:20 p.m.
Third Day	Cinderella Castle Stage	9:45 p.m.
Day of Fire	Rockettower Plaza Stage	9:45 p.m. & 11:20 p.m.
LeCrae	Galaxy Stage	10:30 p.m.
MercyMe	Cinderella Castle Stage	11:45 p.m.
Red	Galaxy Stage	Midnight

Night of Joy tickets and additional information about the event are available at www.nightofjoy.com.

Early Review/Sneak Peek at Via Napoli...

Review by food writer Pam Brandon...

At last, we got a “sneak” taste of the delicious creations at the new Via Napoli – soft opening at the Italy pavilion at Epcot. (Official opening is not until August 5th for dinner.)

The lively, 300-seat restaurant that is operated by Patina Restaurant Group is full of energy with an open kitchen and three wood-burning pizza ovens that represent Italy’s three active volcanoes (Etna, Vesuvius and Stromboli). Those ovens were cranked up to 700°F with oak wood, and we got a kick out of the Disney touch: each of the ovens is ornamented with an open-mouthed face, waiting to “swallow” the mouth-watering pizzas.
Elizabetta, our young server from Terni, Italy, walked us through the menu while we sipped Acqua Frescas, the house-made seasonal fruit juice coolers (the blood orange trumped the limonata). If you’re hungry or have at least four gathered for lunch or dinner, try the fritto misto, an enormous platter of fried mozzarella, calamari, eggplant, asparagus, zucchini, artichoke hearts and arancini (rice balls) – delicioso! dipped in the spicy red sauce. We also shared the beautiful insalata del contadino (farmer salad), a colorful plate of greens, fennel, radish and tomatoes in a light vinaigrette that was one of my favorite tastes.

Four of us each tried a different entrée: the tortino di melanzane (baked eggplant with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses); the lasagna verde with spinach, Parmesan, béchamel sauce and a generous flourish of nutmeg; mafaldine Amatriciana (ribbon pasta with guanciale pork, a light tomato sauce and pecorino cheese); and, of course, a wood-fired margherita pizza. Every dish was well prepared and we debated what tasted best (I think the rich eggplant and pizza tied).

Oh, those pies. Via Napoli Executive Chef Charlie Restivo shared the secret combo: the oven, the mixer and the ingredients. The mozzarella is flown in from Italy, the water from a source in the U.S. that is similar to the alkaline of the water in Naples, and San Marzano tomatoes – absolutely no substitutions for a “certified” Vera Pizza Napolitana, with specific rules, including hand stretching the dough. The crust is blistered and slightly charred to seal in the flavors, says Chef Restivo. The gargantuan “1/2 meter” to share is rolled to the table on a stainless steel cart.
Sweet endings are not an afterthought. We indulged with the hot, crisp zeppole di Catarina, ricotta cheese fritters with chocolate sauce and whipped cream; traditional tiramisù; pistachio gelato; and the over-the-top coppa di brutti ma buoni, a vanilla gelato with Amarena cherries and “ugly but good” cookies. Worth an extra lap around World Showcase.
The same menu is for lunch and dinner. Table service only, one meal point on the Disney Dining Plan. For reservations after Sept. 10, call 407-WDW-DINE.