Disney dangled the visual weinee & Mickeystoontown gobbled it up! 10/26

[stacy~**]

Keep the updates coming....I want to hear about this latest trip!!!

 

[Angelrose]

I like to know how much they charge to Pick a Pearl. I'd really like to do that on our next trip.

 

[tash439]

I like to know how much they charge to Pick a Pearl. I'd really like to do that on our next trip.

Last year we paid $17 per oyster.

 

[natebenma]

I am sure that Dee can relate to this.

Yes. Yes I can!

Thanks for the tour of POR. Looks like a pretty resort. Nursing home and all. Are there rooms there or is that a public building of some sort?

Galaga was my favorite arcade in high school, too!!!



So sorry that Kona was not great for you.

We love the breakfast there. If you ever decide to give it another chance, I would suggest that meal.

But we have always had decent dinners there.

 

[Angelrose]

Thank you tash439. I appreciate the info.

 

[jenseib]

That picture of Hunter is hilarious! Something Skip would do!!!!
The pick a pearl is always fun. I did finally buy something to put Claire's last pearl in. I can see her wanting another one next time we go...whenever that may be.

 

[Bethislucy]

Thank you tash439. I appreciate the info.

I still don't know what happened but now I'm concerned

 

[maryj11]

I cant believe your trip is over and your back! Time just flys! I hope you will be doing another trip report. I just really enjoy reading them. What the heck is going on, on the Disboard I dont even know anything?

 

[pwdebbie]

I'm another curious one regarding what the story on the DIS is. Popped in here today to see if Lisa has started a new thread yet. I know you'll let us know, right?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Sorry to have gone MIA. Work has been so very busy as has our personal life. I know that my dis friends can keep a secret....Lacey and Jesse are moving to Louisiana!!!!! Their goal is to be here sometime in October but a job came open at church and she has applied. They will be hiring sooner than October so there is a possibility that she will be here earlier. She has told her boss but Jesse hasn't let his employer know yet. So yall don't tell anybody. Lol!

Also mama has had more medical tests run and they are all good. Right after that, her van was put in the shop and it has to have some fairly expensive repairs. I have been helping in her deal with all that and have been running back and forth to medical and automotive tests.

Add all that on top of normal everyday stuff and I am ready for another vacation.

I promise that I will be back to post an update as soon as I possibly can. Please stick with me!!!!

 

[PittypatBR]

Wow, Lisa. Your life is never dull!! So excited about getting Lacey and Jesse to Louisiana!! I know you are over the moon. Glad Mama's tests were good, but sorry about the car. Car repairs are just the pits. We will wait patiently for your return.

 

[ddstratton]

How wonderful about Lacey and Jesse moving to Louisiana! Glad to hear that Mama's medical tests went well, but sorry that's the car's tests weren't as good. Don't worry - I'm sticking' with ya!

 

[jdd]

I'm not going anywhere!! I'm up to checking the Dis 2-3 times a day now....in countdown mode for our trip, and having a hard time focusing on work or anything else

 

[Pluto0809]

Lacey and Jesse are moving to Louisiana!!!!!

That must be so exciting for you. I know my Mama would be thrilled if I ever moved back to PA. I'm not sure I could handle the snow any more though if I ever did move back.

mama has had more medical tests run and they are all good.

That's great news! Glad she is doing well other than the car troubles.

Please stick with me!!!!

Of course! I'm not going any where.

 

[natebenma]

I am thrilled to hear the news about Lacey and Jesse!!!

My lips are sealed

Also glad to hear things are going ok for Mama, health-wise.

 

[natebenma]

I am about a million pages behind on your report!!! Back before you even left for the most recent one...

DisneyQuest- I'm so glad to hear you found something you liked. Or I guess, loved! I am not a fan. Although I am with John and the classic Atari games. Galaga is awesome!

I'm so sorry your meal at Kona was disappointing, but I'm glad you will be giving it a shot at breakfast. So good!!!

Loved your review of the Keys to the Kingdom tour, even though you didn't give away much. I really want to do that someday, probably without the boys. Nate is eligible to do it now, but Ben still has a couple of years before he can go.

The pictures around empty Main Street and the castle/partners statue are awesome. Very jealous, here!

Of course your comprehensive tour of CBR and the store/food court warms my heart! I'll be doing that in August at BC!

Great picture of the three of you at CBR (you definitely win the best use of a mousekeeping cart for photos award) and the one of you on the boat on the way to Hoop-de-Doo is great. Really gorgeous shots from the boat!

We have not done HDD, although all we ever hear are ringing endorsements.

Now I can talk the horns off of a billy goat but this lady (and her husband and daughter) could talk the horn off a dang rhino.

This cracks me up!!!

 

[natebenma]

PHEW!

Caught up!



So did you ever resolve your quoting issues? I am having trouble with multi-quote. it is not working for me. I have to now highlight the text I want to quote and hit reply and then go on to the next message instead of just hitting the plus/multiquote button. Not ideal, but it is at least a workable solution. Regular reply is working fine for me. I tried to find the solution by posting the issue on the DIS Technical Board, but nothing helpful came of that.



I am honored that you mentioned using my string-bag method for by passing bag check. I'm not always traveling light enough for it to work, but there are times that it is really helpful.

Great Test Track pictures and the "Love the Yoda Car, I do"

You do not need to make apologies to me for all the Living with the Land pictures!

I'm also a big fan of Spaceship Earth!

What upstairs at Electric Umbrella???

My group ate there for the first time in June. Saving tables so 17 of us could sit relatively close together was not easy, but it wasn't as hard as I though it would be, either!

Glad you got that last ride on Maelstorm.

I have never done pick-a-pearl in Japan. Truth be told, I don't wear much jewelry, but I love watching the ceremony.

Your pictures of the snacks in Japan gave me a great idea for when I go with the gals in August. I am going to suggest we all pick a snack from there and then I'm going to triple-dog-dare everyone to try some.

Not a urinal! Classic Mickeystoontown!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

In order to get an update posted before the end of the day and due to not being able to multi-quote, I'll wait on posting replies and go straight to an update. I will be back to reply though.

Are you crazy?! Stop making eye contact!

After picking up my pearl, we started towards Italy which is where we had dinner reservations. From what I can recall and by looking at this picture, Hunter hadn't waited while we were in Japan and had gone on ahead and found a nice resting spot. The Flower & Garden Festival had ended just about a week before our arrival and this spot had been used as a display. Many people were now using it as a place to relax.



Resting time was over Hunter. We've got places to go, people to see, food to eat. Tonight, we would be dining on the best pizza on Walt Disney World property....Via Napoli. Now, I don't know if it is true or not but Disney says that they import water and special ingredients all the way from Italy for use in the restaurant. If it is true, then, dang, they have some good water over there. If it isn't true, then they've got this old gal fooled because, dang, that's some good water they use.

Before our trip, I had seen a picture of a hidden Mickey and I was on a quest to find it. Can you see it? It's on the left. About half way down the fish, there's an indention in the stone. See it?


Then, I found what I think is an upside down Mickey but I could be wrong. What do you think?


I also snapped a couple of pictures of the beautiful flowers:




At Via Napoli, there are two different check-in stations or at least there always have been when we visit. One is outside and it's for guests who do not have ADRs. If you have an ADR, you go straight to the check-in desk in the restaurant. Of course, being the vacation planner extraordinare, I made reservations so we were going right on in. Well, right on in to check-in. Not right on in as in "Ah, Mickeystoontown! We've been waiting on you. Come right on in and have a seat." Don't I wish?!?! Instead, I checked us in and we stood to the side until our name was called. Look at the cool chandelier in the foyer.


Our wait was fairly short and we were seated at a table not too far off the check-in area. We had a nice view of the ovens:




and, this good looking guy. I think that "are you good looking" is on the questionnaire that you must fill in prior to obtaining a job at Via Napoli. Italian people are beautiful and handsome!


**Continued in next post

 

[mickeystoontown]

Are you crazy? Stop making eye contact! Part 2

Tonight, we would have not one, not two but three waiters waiting on us. We usually have two. One who will make sure that our drinks are brought to the table, refilled and plates picked up. The other would take our order and then periodically check on us. Well, tonight, there was an extra person. He was in training and, if you are wondering, he did check the "Are you good looking?" box on the application as did the other two. Before you start thinking that I am one of those people who get all googly eyed and slobbery over a good looking man, (I didn't even know what the heck Magic Mike was about.) I'll just say that even John and Hunter commented on how nice looking everybody was. So, anyway, the three guys came to our table and introduced themselves. There accents were thick so it was a little hard for us to understand them. But, on the other hand, our accent is thick as molasses too.

The Disney Dining Plan doesn't allow for an appetizer or salad but John and I were in the mood for a good salad so we ordered Family Style House Salad - Served Exclusively with Pizza - $7 per person, minimum 2 people; leaf lettuces, diced tomato, cucumber, peppers, marinated mushrooms, olives, peperoncini, red wine vinaigrette $7.00 per person. It was soooooo good! I could eat a salad every single day for every single meal. I love them and this one was fantastic.


I'm looking to the left of the above picture and it looks like John or Hunter or someone had already eaten something on their plate but I know that the salad came out either right before or during the meal. Don't have a clue what the deal is with the plate. When we placed our orders, our servers let us know that the pizzas and the other dishes on the menus come from two different kitchens so there was a possibility that John's entree would come out before the pizzas. We were fine with that.

While we were eating the salad, there was another worker in the restaurant, Luigi, who was busting his behind. He was going to and from all the tables cleaning them up and getting them ready for the next guests. He would also stop and refill drinks. He was one hard working dude.

Here in the South, when a man sees another man, they will sometimes just slightly nod their head at one another. Kind of a "hello" or "what's up". Well, Luigi, thought that John's nod meant "Come over to our table. I need something." He hurried over and asked what we needed and we told him that we didn't need anything but thank you.

John's candele came out first: candle stick pasta, sausage ragu, polpettine meatballs, mozzarella, ricotta.


Luigi happened to look up and he must have thought that John wanted something and he started coming over. I told John to think of something quick so when Luigi asked what he needed, John said some parmesan cheese. Luigi was back in a jiffy and was grating cheese before John could give another nod of his head.

Our three servers brought out the pizzas. Hunter ordered a plain cheese pizza:


And, I ordered the pepperoni pizza:



Luigi was cleaning the table next to us when our pizzas were brought out and I made a quiet comment to our servers that he was a hard worker and very attentive even though we weren't technically Luigi's table. They said that he was always flitting about and he was, indeed, a hard worker. When Luigi heard the server say his name, he came over. Bless his heart! I didn't want Luigi to think that we were complaining about him so we all told him that we were giving him praise for his hard work. Luigi's smile lit up the room.

Our servers made sure that our food was okay and left us to enjoy our dinner. At one point, John happened to glance Luigi's way and I said "Are you crazy? Stop making eye contact!" John laughed and said that this is how he was going to stay for the rest of the time we were there:


All of the food was so good and I swear the water, imported or not, did make the crust on the pizza better than ever. Our servers came back to the table periodically to check on us and when we were done asked if we were ready to order desserts. Of course we were! Ordered placed, I took pictures of the mural on the wall as I figured there had to be a hidden Mickey in there somewhere. There was. As a matter of fact, more than one!





When it comes to desserts at Via Napoli, there's really no need for me to look at the menu. I know what I want. The Zeppole di Caterina - Ricotta cheese fritters, served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce a/k/a "little balls of deliciousness".


John ordered the ugly but good dessert:


**Continued in next post

 

[mickeystoontown]

Are you crazy? Stop making eye contact! Part 3

Hunter's birthday was noted on the reservation and the servers came out singing when they delivered Hunter's dessert:


In addition to the zeppoles that Hunter ordered, they also brought out this cute little macaroon dessert:



The desserts were fantastic and service was exceptional. Via Napoli, once again, received two thumbs up from the Mickeystoontown family. We settled our tab and walked out into the courtyard in Italy.




It was almost time for Illuminations to start but would we be able to find a place to watch the presentation? It was pretty busy but we'd try.

**Up next: Why do I even try? 'Cause I have a trip report to write!