George Lucas at Star Wars fan event at Disney

Click here to see pictures of George Lucas, Jon Stewart, Seth Green and Jaime King attending the Disney World ‘Star Wars’ fan event on Saturday.

Jessica Jarrell takes a break from Justin Bieber's My World tour to pal around with Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. (photo by Gene Duncan).

Somehow in the Justin Bieber mania, we let this tidbit slide by us: Jessica Jarrell was hangin’ with Minnie Mouse at the Magic Kingdom. Jarrell, a pop singer, is touring with Bieber and was one of the opening acts at his sold-out Orlando concert last week. During Justin Bieber’s performance, Jarrell joins him onstage for a duet of  “Overboard,” but her partner in fun at the Magic Kingdom was Miss Minnie.

Lady Tremaine looks scarier than the monsters actor Brendan Fraser faces in his 'Mummy' movies. (photo by Scott Miller)

Actor Brendan Fraser was at Disney’s Magic Kingdom over the weekend. He starred in the silly George of the Jungle movie for Disney, but has also been in more serious fare such as Gods and Monsters. He’s best-known, though, for his roles in the Mummy movies. Here, he’s with one of Disney’s evil step-mummies — Lady Tremaine, who made Cinderella’s life a misery until a Fairy Godmother, a glass slipper and true love intervened.

Executive chef Charlie Restivo

The Italian accents in Epcot’s World Showcase now include an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria called Via Napoli. The 300-seat restaurant is different from other Epcot eateries in that it is awash with natural light. From the moment the automatic doors slide open, guests are immediately drawn to the expansiveness of the the restaurant. The vaulted ceilings and a full view of the pizza ovens set the tone for this family-friendly stop. The pizza ovens are grand furnaces with over-the-top monster faces.

>> Check out photos from Via Napoli here

“Those are the icons of Via Napoli,” said Nick Valenti, CEO of the Patina Restaurant Group, which operates the new addition as well as the pavilion’s Tutto Italia Ristorante. “In Italy, there is a famed place called Park of the Monsters. It’s a huge complex of larger than life sculptures. These ovens are our monsters and they named for the volcanoes Stromboli, Etna and Vesuvius. Monsters indeed. These hearth-oven beasts fire up to 800-900 degrees to cook a pizza in only minutes.

This dining room may be Epcot's most family-friendly venue

Here’s what I sampled:
*Blood orange acqua fresca($5), similar to the aguas frescas found in many local Spanish and Mexican cafes. At Epcot the, juice cools around a large block of ice and is the next best thing to water to temper the sweltering summer heat.
*Fritto Misto($24) and assortment of flash-fried veggies, cheese and oh-so-tender calamari meant for sharing. Our platter included aracnini (saffron risotto balls with the most amazing beef ragu in the center), small flat planks of lightly coated fresh mozzarella and the veggies (portobello mushrooms, asparagus, artichokes and zucchini). A robust pomodoro sauce accompanied the platter, but the items needed little embellishment.
*Tortino di melanzane($18) was presented as overlapped circles of thin-sliced eggplant dressed with olive oil and infused with roasted tomato flavor. It could be an eggplant’s proudest moment.
*I ordered the margherita pizza. Earlier CEO Valenti described it as his favorite. So I had to try. The hand tossed dough had a wonderful crispy crust with nice char lines across the bottom and that chewy texture that all to often elusive. It was simply topped with a the house tomato sauce, fresh basil leaves and plops of fresh mozzarella.
*Coppa di Brutti Ma Buoni ($10) is a fab, cool-off dessert. The latter part of the name refers to the “ugly but good” cookies that are served along side. The rich meringue-like treats melt in the mouth. That is, if you get to the cookies. The Amarena Cherry and Vanilla Gelato may be the new king all sundaes. Order one for the table and lots of extra spoons. The deeply flavored cherries are a key player here.
The menu also features pastas, salads, sandwiches and Italian wine and beers. And the 14,000-square-foot space will has indoor and outdoor dining. In August, there were no takers for those outdoor seats, but there are plans in the works to cool down the tables at a later date.

Seeing stars

I felt privileged to be among the folks who got to have lunch and check out the new place during a quiet soft opening. Why? Because one of the first customers was legendary chef Paul Bocuse and his son Jerome Bocuse. He was not expected so it made his appearance an even greater thrill for the staff said CEO Valenti.

What’s coming

Tuesday, August 3, 2010, check out our photo gallery and video from my visit.

What guests need to know

Trivia alert: the pizzeria was inspired by Naples 45, another Patina Restaurant Group pizzeria on East 45th Street in New York City.

If you plan on going: Walk-ins are welcome and you can make reservations Aug. 6 for Sept. 10 grand opening and onward.

Elusive Hidden Mickeys: I searched for hidden Mickeys but found none. They must be in the murals that adorns the walls. I’m taking a closer look on my second visit.

Central Floridian Vienna Girardi, who rose to fame during her stint on ABC’s The Bachelor, visited Typhoon Lagoon this weekend. She and her family cooled off in the warm temps at the Disney World water park. (Photo by Todd Anderson/Walt Disney Co.)

Singer Gloria Estefan poses with Toy Story 3’s Jessie the cowgirl as co-star Woody looks on Saturday near Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. Estefan is visiting Walt Disney World with family and friends. (Photo by Gene Duncan/Walt Disney Co.)

Singer/actress Monica gets help from her sons Rocko (right) and Romelo with trying to pull the sword from the stone in the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland Monday. They are vacationing at Walt Disney World this week. (Photo by Diana Zalucky/Walt Disney Co.)

Grammy Award-winning singer Monica (left) tries to pull the sword from the stone in Fantasyland May 24, 2010 with sons Romelō (center), age 2, and Rocko (right), age 5, at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Monica is vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort this week. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)

Full disclosure: When I grow up, I want to be Tina Fey.  The award-winning actress/writer/producer is currently seen on NBC’s 30 Rock, the motion picture Date Night and, in this shot, at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater with Goofy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Fey and her family are vacationing at Walt Disney World. (Photo by Gene Duncan/Walt Disney Co.)

Aye, aye, Captain, Captain! Ryan McPartlin, who plays Devon a.k.a. “Captain Awesome” on NBC’s Chuck, comes face to face with Captain Hook at Magic Kingdom on Wednesday. (Photo by Gene Duncan/Walt Disney Co.)

It’s a feel-the-ABC/Disney-synergy moment this weekend. Here’s The Bachelor leading man Jake Pavelka posing with his fiancee, Sanford’s Vienna Girardi, alongside his Dancing With the Stars professional dance partner Chelsea Hightower at the Magic Kingdom on Saturday. The next  cycle of DWTS debuts on March 22. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney Co.)