Who Invited My Mother In Law? A Moderately Deluxe TR All New X 3 & PTR Link 2/3 !!

[shan23877]

Originally Posted by IheartDDuck

It appears I'm a few updates behind. Bad bad Danielle.

Don't you love being prepared for high crowds but then encountering less people? Gotta love that!

It was a great surprise!

Wait....I did think all good parents give their kids salt and sugar at 10am?

It makes me feel better to think so

That's awesome that the PP CD contains all of those F&G Festival pictures!

The Arancini just sounds amazing. I'm drooling on my keyboard right now. Hopefully it doesn't fritz out....

OMG. It was so divine. I wish that I had some right now. How's the 'puter?

I'm very excited to eat at Via Napoli on my Thanksgiving trip. So so so excited.

Yay! I can't wait to hear what you think!

I saw your Cubs pumpkin on FB. There is always next year. I've been saying the same thing since I was like 4 I think.

yeah, pretty sure that 'wait till next year' was the first thing that I knew to say about sports.

Love their Cinderella / Prince Charming pictures. That's just too cute for words.

Thanks Danielle!

Originally Posted by pkondz

So does it make me a bad person that when that happens, I secretly gloat and feel smug that people who got there before me have to wait?

Nope. I do the same thing.

"Shoulda joined the DIS pal. They coulda told you that you'd need an ADR. It's a high crowd day at Epcot for goodness sake!!"

Huh. Up until right now, I had no idea that Stromboli was a volcano. I'd heard the word somewhere but didn't make the connection until I saw it with the other two famous (or infamous) ones.

It is? I suppose that I should have made (or googled) that connection.

Disboards. Like Wikipedia... but more fun.



I don't get that. Then why not delay dropping the pasta for a minute or two?

I've never really understood that either. Doesn't seem to be that hard to time everything?


My DD15 still eats hers like that.

I don't see Maddie changing her ways any time soon. She even mimics us mimicking Joey from Friends

"Noodles Good. Butter Good. Sauce Bad"

That looks about as big as a medium in some restaurants!

It was giant sized! No way I could have finished it.

Oh you poor thing! You had plenty to eat and it tasted good! OMG! Are you okay? Or is the trauma too fresh to talk about?

It's still tough. My diamond encrusted shoes were too tight too.

I would be too. Gelato is definitely not the same as ice cream!

We're going to find out next time.


Any Halloween update is a good update.



That seems eminently practical.

You've obviously had these conversations before!

Ya got off lucky. She could've said, "Oh, really Mother. That dress is so last year."

I have daughters. I know.

Point made. I'm sure she would have asked if she thought she could have gotten away with it. She's already put 4 of the outfits she rejected on her Christmas list.



They turned out great! I saw a headless horseman pumpkin at MK on another TR and carved that this year.

Thanks Ponz! I'd love to see that!

Nice. My youngest's school doesn't allow the kids to wear their costumes. You have to be sensitive to the other kids who might not be able to afford a costume, or to the little ones who might be scared.


Give me a freaking break. "Nobody have fun! Somebody might not!"


That's awful. The PC stuff has really gone too far. It really goes hand in hand with the "every one wins" mentality.

What a Great idea!



All those pics are absolutely terrific. My only complaint is I wish I'd thought of it when my girls were little.

Really a wonderful memory you've created.

Thanks Ponz! You're so sweet.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much POnz!

I know it's a LONG way off, but you could always plan to be the cool grandpa who dresses up with the little ones!

I think if you started offering around the neighborhood people would get scared.

Originally Posted by smidgy

ponzi.. years ago my nephews' school didn't allow any type of fake "weapon". (also nothing scary,etc).
so SIL lynn dresses Jordan like a chef. looks out the window at the bus stop and there her son is swatting another kid with his spatula!!!! (but, hey, it wasn't a "weapon")

Originally Posted by Aussiesalad

I love your pumpkins!!

Oh my goodness! Those Cinderella and Prince Charming photos are amazing!
They make such a gorgeous pair. My dad dressed up with me once for halloween when I was about 8 and it's still one of my favourite photos ever!
Definitely frame worthy

Thanks so much!! I love hearing stories like that. I know that it will mean a lot to my two when she's older.

Originally Posted by pkondz

Never bring a spatula to a knife fight.

Originally Posted by Pluto0809

After seeing those pictures I'm really wishing we would have made a ADR for Viva Napoli for our trip in three weeks! There are just too many good restaurants in WDW!

Maddie looks so cute in her princess dress and the dress itself is beautiful!

WS has wayyyy too many great choices. VN was an easy choice for us because we love Italian food, but now I want to go every trip!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by marDgreen88

So glad yall loved Via Napoli! I went there pretty soon after it opened and loved it, but I've heard plenty of not-so-nice reviews since then. It's nice to hear another great review!

Oh no! So sorry about Maddie's eye! That's so sad.

Love all her Halloween costumes (I mean, dresses.) She looked adorable and I love the Prince Charming photos. So cute!

I've only read a few bad reviews of VN, but I'm glad that I ignored them. Our meal was outstanding!

She was so sad, but it healed quickly. She actually really liked it when it got to the colorful stage. She said it looked like eye shadow.

Thanks Marissa! They had so much fun.

Originally Posted by amandaw

Loved reading your update and review on Via Napoli! Sounds like y'all may have been seating where we were on our trip. But, you'll have to wait to see what we thought of it.

I love, love, love all of the Halloween pictures! Maddie looks great in ALL of her outfits. But, the Cinderella dress is perfection. And so sweet that Bryan dressed up with her.

OOOHHHH I can't wait to hear what you guys thought! How funny if we were sitting in the same place!

Thanks Amanda. They had so much fun. I can't wait to see what she makes him dress up as next year.

Originally Posted by cindianne320

Ah! Got all teary seeing your Halloween pics! What a great Daddy!!!

And the food at Via Napoli looks great- I can't wait to eat there next year!

Thanks so much! He is a really good daddy.

It was amazing! I hope that you love it as much as we did!

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I hope your dining credits were actually worked out at VN!!!

I hadn't realized the coloring stations used Sharpies...that really doesn't make sense!! Why not crayons??

The pixie topiary area looks really cute!! Disney is a master of the details!

[CandleontheWater]

About the sharpies- Preach it Sister!

Everett is at a great age for the kidcot stations now, but there is NO WAY I will ever let him know they exist. DS+permanent maker= disaster. I have thought maybe I'll bring my own crayons for him, but you know once he sees the other kids with markers, that it will be all over.

Maddie is so good and patient waiting in those character lines, she is such a sweetheart! The photos always come out so cute, and I love hearing the stories about the funny questions she asks the characters.

Glad you actually got to spend some time browsing WS, it sounds like you guys had a great afternoon!

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by shan23877

First stop on the Princess World Tour was a visit with Snow White in Germany. I assumed that we’d breeze right through the line since there was almost no one in World Showcase that morning.

I assumed wrong. As Snow White’s wishing well came into view so did EVERY SINGLE PERSON who was visiting Epcot that morning.

Uh oh. Don't you hate it when that happens?

Originally Posted by shan23877

It became clear very quickly that this particular Snow White was outstanding at her job, and spent a good deal of time with each and every person who waited in line to see her. She was no hug ‘em sign ‘em move ‘em on their way gal. And so we waited. In the blazing mid day Florida sun. For 45 minutes.

45 minutes is no fun, but at least it was for a good Snow White. When you see a CM doing their job well, it almost makes the wait bearable.

Originally Posted by shan23877

While waiting in line I’d been looking over our dining receipts again and it appeared that we’d been charged 2 credits each for our lunch at Via Napoli.

Originally Posted by shan23877

And so we sat while she colored that bear on a stick with medium point Sharpies.

Lots of waiting in this chapter. We tried to keep our kids away from the masks and concentrate on getting Passport stamps instead. That seemed to help.

Originally Posted by shan23877

Another great meeting with our gal Belle. She was quickly becoming my favorite princess.

She's the best princess! I convinced my daughter she was a good role model because she reads books, and doesn't wait around for someone to rescue her.

Originally Posted by shan23877

Once Maddie saw the line of people waiting there she did the unthinkable. She said she’d rather not wait.

"Now can we go color something?"

Originally Posted by shan23877

We thought that this might be the year that we’d find Bryan his much coveted maple leaf shirt. They’re readily available as a red leaf/white shirt, but Bryan had his heart set on a white leaf/red shirt combo.

Picky, picky.

Originally Posted by shan23877

While we searched Maddie considered some new hats.

Uh oh. Now Kathy's going to yell at you for violating her copyright. Better get lawyered up, quick!

[katt789]

I seriously don't get why character lines were SO CRAZY that week, maybe there was just a LOT of smaller kids who wouldn't do the other rides? I've got no clue, Tyler was happy! Ha!

I love the pics all around WS, hahaha, I would totally get like that coloring too, I AM like that colouring bahah. I'm glad everything worked out with the DP credits being correct, what a weird mix up!

It makes me happy when characters are good! I hate the ones that are all "Hi" *signs* *hugs* "BYE", Ugh.

I definitely know the shirts you're talking about, definitely had a red one with a white leaf, they're pretty readily available up here baha! Love the pics of the hats in the Canada gift shop! Cute!

[WDWaddictt]

I have finally caught up. Your daughter is absolutely beautiful, especially with her big smile.

Loving your TR! Thanks for sharing!

[Bethislucy]

lol I'm a sharpie junkie too and have often wonder why they gave small kids sharpie's to color with.

[tralin]

Thanks for the call out Shannon. Isn't the Pooh and Tigger M&G classic? I loved the setting. Did Bryan ever find the shirt? Tons of them here. Be happy to send one in appreciation for the help you gave me. (Even though it caused serious undue stress and multiple changes for my ADR's. ) I think the Snow White was the same one we had for dinner and yes, she was amazing. Wait till you see the pictures. Can't wait see more pictures!!!!

[amandaw]

Looks like y'all were really having a nice time at EPCOT! That's great that y'all got in some character meets. I can't believe Maddie didn't want to wait to meet Jasmine!

And that is so frustrating about the dining credits after Via Napoli! I sure hope everything really was ok with them.

All of the pictures are great!!

[marDgreen88]

While the dining credit mixup and the less-than-lovely VN manager don't sound great, the rest of the afternoon looks like a lot of fun!

I always enjoy the F&G pics! It's cool to see all the fairy topiaries. I recently watched one of the Tinkerbell movies for the first time so now I actually know what it's all about!

The Belle and Beast pics are my favorite! So cute.

[StitchIsOurHero]

All caught up! I, too, must confess to being a sharpie addict! I have hidden D from the KidCot stations, although I may be ok since he doesn't like to color! I think just to be safe, I'll avoid them in March, too!

[smidgy]

everyone really, really has to check their DDP credits BEFORE leaving the restaurant!

years ago, they cahrged us double at Capt. jacks..(this was towrads the beginning of the trip) we didnt' look, or notice.. it didn't bite us in the butt untill our last day.

we had lunch at teppan edo our last day, with enough time to walk out the internaonal gateway and walk over and check out yacht and beach club (wow, tha WAS a longime ago, seeing as we had never been over there), and then maybe have a bit of pool time before the Magical Depress picked us up.

the waitress kept insisting we had no credits, and it took forever with a manager to sort it out.. after waiting forever while he called the resort (I had a printo out of the ADRS, and told him exactly how many credits each was) he finally came back all happy and smug..... "here's the problem! you probably didn't know that the hoop de doo is 2 credits each!"

Um, yes, I TOLD you that a half hour ago!!!!! I know every rest. at WDW that is 2 credits each, and rattled them off.

he kept wanting us to pay with our credit card and sort it our at the resort. we refused. it finally got settled, but by that time, all we had time for was to go back to Pop centruy, and have a cocktail and wiat for the bus .

the moral of the story, ALWAYS check your credits on the receipt after every meal!!!

[CDolacki2003]

Originally Posted by shan23877

After a quick tour of half the world we’d arrived at our lunch reservation. It hadn’t been long since breakfast –one of the few pitfalls of the Deluxe Dining Plan- but luckily we hadn’t stuffed ourselves at breakfast. Bryan in particular was really looking forward to this meal.





Our lunch reservation was at 11:30 at Via Napoli. We arrived a bit early to see the lobby swarming with people, and I got a little nervous that we’ve have quite a wait. However it seemed that the crowd was mostly people hoping for walk up seating. We were called in right on time and led to our table by the friendly hostess. The lobby area features a stunning chandelier, and the vast restaurant is very open and homey.



The main feature of the restaurant itself is the set of 3 pizza ovens- Vesuvio, Stromboli, and Etna- that line the left side of the room. I’d sort of hoped to be seated near the ovens, but we were led to a banquette in the very back of the room. Since this restaurant is set up as on large room versus a few smaller ones, we didn’t feel as though we were seated at a substandard table despite the location.

Our server arrived fairly quickly and took our drink and appetizer orders. Bryan and I decided to order two that we were both interested in and split them. I chose the Arancini and Bryan picked the Salami e Provolone while Maddie again had fruit.

Arancini - fried risotto balls filled with mozzarella and meat ragu $11.00

Salami e Provolone - dry cured sausage, imported provolone cheese $9.00


Our server delivered our drinks along with some bread and took our entrée orders shortly before our appetizers arrived (I ordered pizza and she warned us that the pastas would likely make their way to the table before the pizza did. I wasn’t surprised as many wood oven pizza places warn the same thing.)

The Arancini (which I refer to as simply risotto balls) were 100% as good as I’d hoped they’d be. They were rich, creamy, dense, covered in a great marinara, and overall outstanding. I’d order these again in a heartbeat. Bryan’s Salami & Cheese was also very, very good, but let’s be honest I’d filled up on much less authentic salami at breakfast. We both agreed that if/when we return to Via Napoli we’d probably get 2 orders of the Risotto Balls. They were that good.

Risotto Balls, and no I couldn't wait to get the picture. Some salami on the side-you can really see the fat and garlic that studded it. Delish!

Clockwise from top: Bryan. Salami. Cheese.



Maddie’s plain buttered noodles (naked noodles in our house) and Bryan’s baked Candele arrived shortly. I urged them to eat while the food was hot, and before long my pizza arrived too.

Candele - candle stick pasta, sausage ragu, polpettine meatballs, mozzarella, ricotta $24.00

Build Your Own
Individual $17, Large $28 (serves 2 - 3), Mezzo Metro $39 (serves 3 - 5)

Pepperoni - pepperoni, tomato, mozzarella

Candele

Bread

Noodles-the princess couldn't wait either

Individual sized pizza (with olive oil for bread dipping in the back ground) Can you believe the size of this thing?



The pizza was GREAT. I like both thin crust and pan pizzas, and this one was somewhere in the middle. The crust was thin, but not paper thin, the pepperoni was spicy and thick (much more authentic tasting that typical pepperoni on pizzas) and the sauce was fantastic too. Bryan was really happy with his pasta (I had a bite and loved it too), the texture of the pasta was great, and the meatballs were delicious. Maddie’s naked noodles were, well naked noodles, but she loved them.

The single complaint I have about Via Napoli was that the portions were so large and the food so good that we simply didn’t have the will power to leave ourselves room for dessert. I’d been eyeing the Zeppoli for months, but when the time came I was stuffed. I just couldn’t eat another bite.

Zeppole di Ricotta - Ricotta cheese fritters, served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce $10.00

Bryan had been planning to order the vanilla gelato (we were both curious to see if they were passing plain old vanilla ice cream off as gelato) and Maddie had been wanting the lemon sorbet, but they too were too full for dessert. Oh well, that’s what the next visit is for!

Gelato e Sorbetto - vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, lemon sorbet $7.00


Would we dine at Via Napoli again? In a heartbeat! Even though we eat Italian food quite often, the meal really stood out. It was among our favorites of the trip. I’m not sure if it’ll be an ‘every trip’ place, but that’s only because there are so many World Showcase restaurants that I’d like to try. If you’re on the fence about Via Napoli—book that ADR. It’s GOOOOD.

Once we’d stuffed ourselves silly, Maddie and I left Bryan to settle up the bill while we made a beeline for the first stop on our Epcot Princess World Tour.

We dined here in June and had the pistachio gelato. It was heavenly and we talked about it for weeks. We are going next October and I cannot wait to come back here for dinner.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

[TinksThree]

You got some great PP pictures and of course yours are great!! I loved the Tinkerbell and Fairies area...and I am grown up with no kids!

[pkondz]

Originally Posted by shan23877

It's still tough. My diamond encrusted shoes were too tight too.

I hate it when that happens. Those gold laces are lousy if they're too loose, too. You just can't win sometimes.

Originally Posted by shan23877

Thanks Ponz! I'd love to see that!

Your wish is my command, my lady.

Originally Posted by shan23877

That's awful. The PC stuff has really gone too far. It really goes hand in hand with the "every one wins" mentality.

Yeah. "We don't have failure... only deferred success. Oh, and good luck when you leave school and get out into the real world."

Originally Posted by shan23877

Thanks Ponz! You're so sweet.

Hear that, Nebo?

And for the record. Yes, yes I am.

Originally Posted by shan23877

I know it's a LONG way off, but you could always plan to be the cool grandpa who dresses up with the little ones!

I think if you started offering around the neighborhood people would get scared.

Well, it is Halloween, so it'd be okay, right?