Disney News

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 thatrepresent Italy’s three active volcanoes: Etna, Vesuvius and Stromboli. Those ovens are cranked up to 700°F with oak wood, each ornamented with an open-mouthed face, waiting to “swallow” the mouth-watering pizzas.

Everyone is sure to find something on this menu. 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. Enjoy entrées such as Lasagna Verde, tortino di melanzane (baked eggplant with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses), and of course, the wood-fired margherita pizza.  And don’t forget to wash it down with an Acqua Frescas, the housemade seasonal fruit juice coolers.

Those pizza pies will quickly become a new favorite and Via Napoli Executive Chef Charlie Restivo shares why.  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. Indulge 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. Contact your Magic Maker® to request a quote and to make your dining reservations.

Magic Kingdom® Park will host a “play and greet” with characters Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder beginning Friday, October 15. You’ll be able to interact with both of the stars from the upcoming Disney film “Tangled”at the park’s Fairytale Garden located in Fantasyland between Cinderella’s Castle and Mad Tea Party.

The Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder experience will replace the current show, “Storytime with Belle” at Fairytale Garden. The final “Storytime with Belle” show will be September 12.

“Tangled” is scheduled for release November 24, 2010.

A new parade, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, will stomp, clang and drum its way to Disneyland® Park next year.

Here is the first preview of the artwork for Mickey’s Soundsational Parade. It gives you a glimpse of the vibrant colors and exciting array of Disney characters that may appear on the streets of Disneyland® Park in 2011.  Mickey and friends are joined by incredible cast including Mary Poppins, the Three Caballeros, Simba and friends, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, Aladdin, and, of course, all of your favorite princesses plus the newest one, Rapunzel.

Plus, there are a whole lot of exciting elements for the new parade that can’t be captured in this artwork:

• The parade is an explosive music festival with thrilling rhythms and bold percussion that will bring to life some of the most beloved melodies from Disney films.
• Live musicians will amplify the fun. Mickey Mouse and some of your favorite Disney characters will play live and will encourage members of the crowd to join a giant jam session.
• Lively dancers will stomp out rhythms as a syncopated drum line, twinkling cymbals, steel drums and more entertain guests with sensational sounds!

The parade promises to be the most foot-stomping, infectious festival of music you’ve ever seen — or heard!  It’s “soundsational!”

Image: Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art, actual construction may vary

The lights will remain on as Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade’s” run at the Walt Disney World® Resort has been extended. By popular demand, the parade at Magic Kingdom® Park will continue an open-ended run when “Summer Nightastic!” ends on August 14.

The parade has been one of the highest rated entertainment experiences at Magic Kingdom® Park since returning in early June. It’s been an “overwhelming success,” according to Park Vice President Phil Holmes. And now, you’ll be able to continue cheering and humming “Baroque Hoedown.”

Of course, new elements of Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” will continue during the encore phase of the run. Those include:

• Tinker Bell leads the eye-filling procession, waving from the basket of a balloon floating gracefully above a magical garden shimmering in fairy light.
• Pinocchio and the boys from the classic film’s Pleasure Island sequence join the parade, and Snow White joins the Seven Dwarfs on a diamond mine float.
• There are new lighting effects, and the parade’s highly recognizable musical theme is brightened by new technology.

Construction has begun on the newest Disney Vacation Club destination, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Ko Olina, Hawaii. This ocean front resort spreads over 21 acres and features hotel rooms, Disney Vacation Club Villas, meeting rooms, wedding facilities, white sandy beaches, lush tropical landscaping, a salt water lagoon perfect for swimming and snorkeling, a large swimming pool with a huge volcano water slide and much more.  And you don’t have to be a member of Disney Vacation Club to enjoy it!

Ko Olina is on the Wai’ anae Coast of O’ahu. It is a secluded paradise, yet close enough to Waikiki to enjoy all that city has to offer. The resort itself takes its inspiration from the Hawaiian culture through and through. Disney Imagineers used as much of the natural landscape as possible in their design for this new resort. In fact, there is a large volcanic rock that passes from outside to inside the glass lobby wall. Large volcanic stone columns line the hallways, works of art are perched in the crowns of the lava rock rising up out of the lobby floor.

Disney Imagineers partnered with members of the local community to determine how the story of the resort would unfold for the guests. By doing this they created an experience of ‘total engagement with the land-revealed through storytelling’. Storytelling elements are found throughout the resort, both inside and out.

This resort was created not only for adults but for families as well.  There is an enormous amount of things for each member of the family to do and see whether on property or out exploring all the beauty and adventure of the Hawaiian islands.  The resort grounds themselves will be able to keep people occupied for hours.  Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is going to be filled with winding pathways that snake their way through streams, lagoons, large swimming pools, water slides, and the beautiful Pacific ocean.  Kids will love the time they spend in the giant volcano pool and water slide or exploring the sea life in the fish ponds and tidal pools.

For adults, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa will be able to offer them everything a World Class Resort should including fine dining experiences that bring the flavor and flare of the culture with each meal or relax in the spa for a couples massage or aromatherapy treatments.

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa is scheduled to open in Fall of 2011.  Beginning August 1, 2010, you can make reservations for this paradise.  Contact your Magic Maker™ for more details or request a quote.

If you want some Hawaiian flavor now, you can book a stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida. Book soon for FREE Dining plan through select dates in December.