Disney News

Tickets Available May 1 for Disney’s Night of Joy 2011 featuring Christian Artist of the Year Francesca Battistelli, Newcomer Chris August, TobyMac, MercyMe, newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Jars of Clay, Skillet

Christian music Artist of the Year Francesca Battistelli, TobyMac, MercyMe, newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Jars of Clay and Skillet will headline one of the most-decorated lineups in the 29-year history of Disney’s Night of Joy Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, 2011. Filling the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort with the sound of contemporary Christian music will be 16 artists with a 20-year legacy of accolades — 70 GMA Dove Awards and eight GRAMMY® Awards.

Thirteen of the 16 acts were 2011 Dove Award finalists in 19 categories that span the musical spectrum — from rap and hip hop … to rock and pop … to contemporary gospel and praise and worship. They won 11 categories. Nobody was decorated more highly than Battistelli, who also received Dove Awards as Female Vocalist of the Year and for pop/contemporary recorded song (for “Beautiful, Beautiful”). Night of Joy newcomer Chris August earned the nod as New Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year plus the Dove for pop-contemporary album (No Far Away).

Here’s the night-by-night Night of Joy 2011 lineup:

Friday, Sept. 9, 2011: newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Skillet, Matthew West, Francesca Battistelli, Group 1 Crew, Sidewalk Prophets and Disciple.

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011: MercyMe, TobyMac, Jars of Clay, Marvin Sapp, Sanctus Real, Kutless, Chris August and VaShawn Mitchell.

Night of Joy is an after-hours event that requires a special ticket. Event hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. each evening. While artists are performing at several stages, many popular Magic Kingdom attractions also are available for Night of Joy guests.

Tickets are available beginning May 1, 2011. One-night tickets are $51.95 plus tax in advance, $59.95 plus tax day of. Two-night tickets are $92.95. Groups of 10 or more can purchase one-night tickets in advance for $46.95 plus tax each and two-night tickets for $87.95. Contact your Magic Maker® for additional information.

Earlier this month, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge celebrated its 10th anniversary. This week, the resort has something new to celebrate – achieving prestigious AAA Four-Diamond status for the first time in its history.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the seventh Walt Disney World® resort to achieve this honor, which recognizes hotels around the globe that offer world-class amenities, service and attention to detail. Only 4 percent of AAA-rated hotels receive this prestigious status.

One of Disney’s deluxe resorts, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge includes three African-inspired restaurants, a thatch-roofed lobby with a massive mud fireplace and flowing stream inside. The resort also features an elevated “kopje,” or rock outcropping, which allows guests to observe animals – including zebra and giraffe – from just yards away.

Click here to learn more about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and to request a quote.

Two new specialty room offerings are coming to the Walt Disney World® Resort.  These rooms are the latest in Disney’s Specialty Room line, which already includes pirate-themed guest rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Health and Wellness Suites at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Beginning this fall, guests looking for some rest and relaxation can indulge in new health and wellness suites, which will debut at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. These suites will feature bamboo flooring, 100-percent cotton linens, non-allergenic wrapped mattresses – as well as great views of Magic Kingdom® Park and Bay Lake. Bathrooms on this floor also will be equipped with rainwater showers and tea tree oils.

Guests staying in these suites also can enjoy the benefit of having cardio equipment right in their room. And they’ll have daily access to seasonal and organic fresh foods at the concierge lounge, and can enjoy yoga sessions and spa treatments at the resort’s renovated wellness studio.

Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
Exciting enhancements also are taking place over at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, with 512 Royal Guest Rooms planned to debut by March 2012. The story behind these lush rooms is that Princess Tiana (“The Princess and The Frog”) invited some of her royal pals – Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Jasmine (Aladdin) and more – for a vacation getaway. Princes and princesses of all ages can enjoy their luxurious lodging quarters, which will include ornate beds that feature headboards with fiber-optic special effects, and gold and crystal accents. Guests also can enjoy artwork and special mementos left by Tiana’s royal friends.

Book a pirate room now or request information to
book a Royal Guest Room or Health and Wellness Suite later this summer.

If you are visiting the Magic Kingdom® park today, be sure get a seat early for the 3:00 parade, Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.  The Easter Bunny and Mrs. Bunny will make an appearance in a special pre-parade that will step off 15 minutes before the parade.

Before taking a break to deliver Easter baskets and eggs, the bunnies spent a few days at the Walt Disney World® Resort for rest and relaxation meeting and greeting guests for a limited engagement.