(February 25, 2009) Multi-platinum Christian rock band P.O.D., currently on hiatus following a lengthy world tour, will make its 2009 concert debut as part of a 14-act lineup announced today for Disney�s Night of Joy Sept. 11-12 at Walt Disney World Resort. The musically diverse event at Disney�s Hollywood Studios theme park also will feature MercyMe, newsboys, Skillet, Flyleaf, Chris Tomlin, Kutless, Jars of Clay, Grits, Leeland, NEEDTOBREATHE, Superchick, Mandisa and Family Force 5.

           
Seven acts will perform each evening between 7 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. at stage locations throughout the park.  Night of Joy begins after regular park operating hours, with concerts and select park attractions available exclusively for the enjoyment of event ticket holders.

P.O.D. is among four acts new to Night of Joy (along with Grits, NEEDTOBREATHE and Family Force 5), joining a legacy of 134 Christian music acts that have played Night of Joy since 1983.  While a Disney �newbie,� the southern California-based band that fuses hard rock with hip-hop, reggae and Latin music is well known in music circles.  They�ve been a hit on MTV, won two GMA Dove Awards, been Grammy-nominated, had two platinum-certified albums � one triple platinum � and in past summers played some of the north�s biggest Christian festivals.

But in spring/summer 2009, P.O.D. is chillin�: Vocalist Sonny Sandoval and the rest of the band are home in SoCal enjoying family life following a seven-month world tour that wound up in South America in December, making their Sept. 11 date at Disney P.O.D.�s first gig of the year.

�In the past year we�ve been blessed to play all around the globe but performing at Disney World excites me most of all,� Sandoval said.

           
The complete Sept. 11 Night of Joy lineup: P.O.D., newsboys, Kutless, Tomlin, NEEDTOBREATHE, Leeland and Superchick.

           
On Sept. 12, the Studios� stages will present: Skillet, MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Flyleaf, Family Force 5, Grits and Mandisa.

           
Eight of the acts are nominated for Gospel Music Association Dove Awards in 2009, topped by Tomlin with seven nominations including artist of the year.  Other nominees are Kutless, Leeland, NEEDTOBREATHE, Skillet, MercyMe, Mandisa and Grits.

           
For Mandisa, Night of Joy will mark her second �guest appearance� at Disney�s Hollywood Studios in 2009.  On Feb. 12, she was among an unprecedented gathering of 27 �American Idol� finalists � including the winners from each of the show�s first seven seasons � who participated in a Hollywood gala-style event to premiere �The American Idol Experience.�  The new attraction immerses guests in the excitement of the hit TV show �American Idol,� with some guests at Disney�s Hollywood Studios auditioning to take the spotlight onstage, while fellow guests cheer them on from the audience and vote for their favorite singer with instant results.

           
With an innovative ticket � exclusively for groups of 10 or more � that combines a �day� visit to Disney�s Hollywood Studios with Night of Joy admission that evening, guests will have a chance to participate in �The American Idol Experience.�  And by booking on or before Aug. 12, the Studios day/Night of Joy group ticket costs just $44.95 plus tax (beginning Aug. 13, it costs $49.95).

There�s also a two-day ticket exclusively for groups of 10 or more that combines Night of Joy admission on both evenings (Sept. 11 and Sept. 12) with two �day visits� to the guest�s choice of Walt Disney World theme parks (one per day) on Night of Joy weekend (Sept. 11-13).  Booked on/before Aug. 12, that ticket costs just $89.95 plus tax (beginning Aug. 13, it costs $99.95).

Night of Joy tickets for individuals also are available.  One-night tickets purchased in advance (up to the day prior to the event) are $49.95 plus tax (on event day, if available, tickets are $54.95).  Two-night tickets (providing admission to Night of Joy on both Sept. 11 and 12) are $84.95 plus tax.

           
All the details about tickets for groups and individuals are available online at www.nightofjoy.com.