There's Always Too Much Sauce - A July 2022 TR *Updated 3/23

[afwdwfan]

Can I just say, this fall has been busier than I anticipated.

I can relate...

It’s our last year here in the U.K. and in a few months we should know where we’re going next. Alex hates the unknown and just wishes we had our next assignment.

Hopefully it all comes together for you guys so you can plan.

We’re going over Thanksgiving Break (taking a train!) and will get to see all the Christmas decorations.

I saw Alex post a selfie on the DDC Facebook page. I'm glad you were all able to celebrate Thanksgiving in DLP!

April 12-19th, I am returning to Walt Disney World in order to participate in the Springtime Surprise Challenge.

Fun!

Walt Disney World trips and hanging with my mom have always been synonymous, and this time, her and I get each other’s unlimited attention without wrangling little kids.

My mom is soooo excited for this trip, and honestly, so am I.

That's awesome! I'm glad you'll both have this chance to spend that time together!

As I was leaving my mother in-law’s house the day before, she threw an umbrella stroller she had from my sister in-law into the trunk of our car.

Surely, SURELY we weren’t going to use it.

WE WERE OUT OF STROLLERS NOW.



Friends, below you is Exhibit A on how very wrong I was:

Hmmm... I've honestly been debating this one for our trip. Ryder is 6, but his legs seem to get tired way too freaking often. I'm not sure we even still own an umbrella stroller, but might need to find one before we go.

(Also notice who is pushing the stroller. This kid will do anything for his sister. Including schlepping her around a theme park in 90 degree heat.)

That's a good big brother. Or she has something on him. Maybe a combination of both.

So back then, I made him a promise. Once we had all the babies we were going to have, and they were all tall enough to go on Tower of Terror, then I would give it another shot.


Well, friends, it was time to pay the piper.


Evie was 46 inches this trip. Plenty tall enough to experience the elevator ride from…you know.

It's always fun when you can all ride things as a family. That's what I'm looking forward to most for our next trip. Everybody won't be tall enough to ride everything together, but we are at least all over 40" now!

This sparked a great back and forth with the two and did wonders for helping distract my daughter.

By the time we were going to our seats, Evie had calmed down a lot. Thank goodness for great Cast Members! As soon as we were off the attraction, Alex went and left a Cast Compliment for her. She was spectacular.

So how did Mom feel about this? Was there a little hope that Evie would bail so mom would just bite the bullet and sit this one out with her???

I'm glad that there was a CM ready to help out with a little Disney magic.

And for me, a little surreal. I mean, I saw New Fantasyland when I was pregnant with Landon. Now look at us. The kid was striding ahead of his old mom, long legs leaving me in the dust.

You really feel the years when you go to Walt Disney World and see the difference in ages in the kids….

Kind Disney guests do still exist, friends! They’re out there. They might be harder to spot amidst all the people blocking the MagicBands with their scooters, but they are there.

I'm glad you were able to score a table. Thankfully they were looking out for someone who legitimately needed a place to sit and eat.

Simulator rides are still not my cup of tea, and I don’t think I could do Smuggler’s Run more than once, but I walked off the attraction having had way more fun than I expected. Kudos to Disney for getting a casual Star Wars fan to thoroughly enjoy a highly themed attraction.


You can’t deny those Imagineers are good at their jobs….

I'm glad it surpassed your expectations!

Rise of the Resistance was WALK ON.

Awesome!!!

Now, while I might be a so-so Star Wars fan, the youngest member in our group was more than just a little excited.

That picture of her smile... that's what makes it all worthwhile!

With such a late ending to the night before, I made the call to have an easy going morning. Alex and I were, of course, awake at 6:45 in order to make our first Genie Plus selection.


I hate this, by the way. Guests who choose to spend even more money are being punished by being forced to wake up early. On vacation. Why, oh why, are we in this relationship, friends?

Come on Iger... fix this! I know the upcharges aren't going away, but at least make them somewhat user friendly!!!!

Me and Evie? We like a little park time with our relaxation. Give us an evening or a few hours in the daytime to enjoy our favorite attractions. But then give us the pool or a nice place to nap, and we’re happy as can be.


The boys, though?

They want to spend every second inside the parks. Open to close, no stops. Time spent napping is time wasted. Why sleep when you could be riding Big Thunder Mountain? You can hang out on a couch at home! But you can’t chow down on a Ronto Wrap in your kitchen.

Make the most out of your tickets! You worked hard to pay for them, now play hard.

I feel like you're talking about my family...

I can nap anywhere. We have a pool at home. This is Disney World!!!

Future World.

Yes, I’m still calling it Future World.

Me too.

I honestly don't even remember what it is supposed to be called now. And I really don't care.

Our first order of business upon getting through security and the tapstiles was to grab a small lunch at the new Creations Café.

You mean Electric Umbrella?

My sauce game is not up to par with Disney’s standards, evidently. Regardless, the four of us had a lovely lunch.

You've become too European. You're no longer used to the American customs like covering everything you eat in a half gallon of ranch or ketchup or some other similar sauce.

Landon went, “Ehh, it’s not that bad.”

I'll agree with him. I've never got the Beverly thing. I wouldn't go out and buy a 2 liter and chug it. But it doesn't cause me an immediate gag reflex like some people seem to have.

If you can’t surprise your kids every once in awhile, then life would be pretty dull, right?

That's what vacation is all about! Break from the norms!

I'm pretty sure this is the trip that Evie fell in love with the parks. She bawled on the walk to the train station in DLP, she bawled on the walk home from the train station, and she bawled going to sleep last night. All because she was "sad to be home again."

That's awesome!! I'm glad she's starting to connect with it more!

I'd like to write a trip report for Paris, but I'm not sure if I have enough pictures for a full report

I'd love to read about it even if there aren't a lot of pictures!

 

[Joy1127]

DLP looks like it was so much fun! Glad Evie even joined in on the love of disney! haha Its hard not to at DLP though!!

 

[Steppesister]

All caught up again, Alicia. Your kids are growing up so fast! I remember when Alex was just a baby and you toting him around. Ugh, I feel old!

I think I'd have been incensed at missing LwtL. Maybe someday I'll get to DLP for a day trip. Who knows! It sure looks pretty!

 

[amazingact21]

Awww welcome home

Feels like we've been back far longer than we have. Schools and activities have been on overdrive, trying to cram everything in before the holiday break. Hope your December has been going well!

Glad your DLP trip went well! Would love to visit that park some day. Your DD found the magic Awesome! Hope you find the time to write a little more about it- even without many pictures. Club level - fancy!

DLP is a beautiful park.
By the time we went to book the trip, the only availability left was Club Level. It was a massive sticker shock, but Alex and I agreed it would be our Christmas gift to each other and we are only doing activities we have memberships to for winter break. But it's fun to say we did something extravagant like that once in our lives.

DH and DD love the relaxation and pool time. DS and myself hate not being in the parks. I do however and thankful at the end of the trip that DH made me take breaks.

It's funny how families can be split like that. I suppose it's a personality thing. Alex and Landon like to be go-go-go. Evie and I aren't in a rush for much.

I agree with you. It is a cool ride but not one I want to stand in a long line for.

Especially since I'm older and have driven on the Autobahn in Germany, the thrill of going 60 on a bank isn't as high as it was as a kid.

Hopefully it all comes together for you guys so you can plan.

As time gets closer, I'm definitely getting antsier to know what our future holds. It would be nice to know if I need to start grabbing winter gear when it goes on sale at the end of the season or if I should be investing in swimgear for the kids.

ing often. I'm not sure we even still own an umbrella stroller, but might need to find one before we go.

I think having an umbrella stroller wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. They're pretty small and can be folded up easily. Alex actually hooked the handles to the strap of the backpack so he didn't even have to carry it when Evie was walking. And there's bound to be someone that has one lying around in their garage that you can borrow.
My BIL (he works for Mears) says that umbrella strollers are the most popular item in Lost and Found in the theme parks. Because people buy them and leave them at the end of their trip. So worst case, you could always go up to Lost and Found and say you're looking for yours.

Everybody won't be tall enough to ride everything together, but we are at least all over 40" now!

Uhm, what?! The last time you were writing reports your youngest was just born! It's unacceptable, how fast kids grow up. (Except for your own. Why does time seem to run at a snail's pace when your own are yelling at each other or coughing in your face or yelling "I forgot my project!" as you pull up to the school dropoff? )

Was there a little hope that Evie would bail so mom would just bite the bullet and sit this one out with her???

Let's just say I wouldn't have lost any sleep over missing this attraction.

I feel like you're talking about my family...

I can nap anywhere. We have a pool at home. This is Disney World!!!

How one tours Disney can divide a family.

You've become too European. You're no longer used to the American customs like covering everything you eat in a half gallon of ranch

This made me laugh out loud. It's probably true. If I were to bet, the first restaurant we go to once we move back to the states, Alex is going to order a soda with extra ice, and then he's going to get, like, three refills.
Just because he can.
(Over here, ice and refills aren't a thing.)

 

[amazingact21]

DLP looks like it was so much fun! Glad Evie even joined in on the love of disney! haha Its hard not to at DLP though!!

Right?! Disneyland Paris is beautiful and not nearly as crowded as WDW. I think if I were to get Evie to DL she'd probably like that more than WDW, too. She's not a summertime in Florida kind of gal.

Your kids are growing up so fast!

It does surprise me sometimes how old Landon has gotten. I am definitely not ready for the teenage years.

Maybe someday I'll get to DLP for a day trip. Who knows! It sure looks pretty!

Hopefully one day your travels will bring you to DLP. It's one of the most beautiful parks, in my opinion.

 

[vamassey1]

Sounds like your trip to DLP was just what everyone needed. It warms my heart to hear that Evie is a park lover now, even if it's DLP.

 

[amazingact21]

July 10th Part 2:



What is this? An update from Alicia? It must be Winter Break.

Thank goodness.

I don’t know how my kids feel, but I’m grateful for a few weeks off from schlepping them to basketball practices, after school activities, and from all the holiday commitments.


Of course, Evie was nice enough to give Alex and me her cold, so right now we’re cozied up on the couch with Dayquil and tissues.


‘Tis the season, right?



Anyways! In my last update, the kids had just met with Vanellope and Joy. We were finished with Future World and ready to make the long, long, long trek to the World Showcase.

Or should I say halfway around?



Why does my favorite restaurant have to be allllllll the way across the park?


EPCOT makes me work for my pizza.

Burn a few calories before you dive into the cheesy carby goodness.



In case you don’t know me, let me share with you my Must-Do restaurant every Disney trip.


The one.

The only.

Via Napoli.


Perhaps my palette is that of an eight year old’s but pizza is one of the best foods ever invented. In my opinion.

You’ve got bread.

You’ve got cheese.

You’ve got flavors that pair well with wine.

What’s not to love?



Don’t get me wrong, I love a good spicy ramen soup, a buffalo wing that numbs my lips, a turkey burger smashed between sweet brioche buns.

I can appreciate all good food.

But nothing beats pizza.


Just sayin’.



So it was with great pleasure that I checked my family into the restaurant. We were seated at the exact table we’ve sat at before. In May of 2014, to be exact.

I guess that happens when you visit as much as I do.

(This was our 8th time, to be exact. Don’t you judge me!)



Our server for this evening was stellar, paced the meal very well, and gave us a suggestion on where to catch Harmonious.

Which we, naturally, did not heed and regretted later on.

You can’t take us anywhere…



The great thing about Via Napoli is that two pizzas are more than enough to feed a family of four. Evie agreed to share my beloved Quattro Formaggio while Landon was fine splitting a pepperoni with Alex.








What I was not prepared for was how much Evie would love this pizza.


She takes after her ol’ mama.


Alex and I were sitting at the table, enjoying our food, laughing at nothing, grateful to be out of the heat, when Evie asked for a second slice.


Surprising, but sure. Have at it little girl.

Then she asked for ANOTHER one.


I wish I were exaggerating when I say this was the most food she’s ever eaten in one sitting. Normally, she is our little bird. Alex and I constantly struggle to get her to eat more, because that’s the doctor’s order. So to have her demolish a third of that gigantic pizza was spectacular.


She made me proud.

The Via Napoli tradition continues with the next generation.


First it was my mom and me devouring pizza. Now it’s my daughter fighting me for slices.

I love it.




Dinner completed, all of us stuffed to the gills (dessert would have been impossible this night), we left and admired the Italy pavilion for a few minutes.

Landon was nice enough to offer to take a picture of Alex and I for us.




Can’t wait until he’s tall enough not to get the chin upwards shot….

(Then again, I shouldn’t joke about that kind of stuff. The boy comes up past my shoulders now.)




We had Genie Plus reservations for Frozen Ever After, so the four of us waddled our way to Norway. Unfortunately, the ride was down so there was a backlog of people just standing around.

Alex and I talked about bailing, but there was nothing else we planned to do. We didn’t want to go back into Future World, since we wanted to see Harmonious later that evening. I suppose we could have wandered over to the Mexico pavilion, but it was so blessed hot that walking seemed a task too daunting.



The kids were happy to stand around and chat, so it didn’t seem like a big deal to wait for the attraction to come back online.





It only took about twenty minutes for operations to resume, and since we were in the Genie Plus line, once it started moving, the four of us were through quickly.





I enjoy Frozen.

I liked Maelstrom better.

I would have loved to have seen a Rhine River attraction in Germany.

But.


Us Disney fans take what we can get.

And if we can’t have trolls or majestic tours through German wine country, I guess we’ll take talking snowmen and sage trolls.




Once our trip through Arendalle was complete, my family was in the mood to do…nothing. We’d completed Test Track and Soarin’. We'd gone on Fingment and Frozen. We’d said hello to a few characters and eaten a big dinner.

There was nothing else we felt we absolutely had to do on our Epcot evening. Except for Harmonious, and that was almost an hour and a half away.


So we did something we almost never allow ourselves to do.


We wandered.


We strolled.


We meandered.


We stopped and smelled the roses.


It was magnificent.

Some might say it was time wasted, but I dare say it was time well spent. Alex and I were able to chat, the kids were able to let whatever caught their attention be explored.

It was what vacation is supposed to be. Time to reconnect with your family. Time to relax and unwind. Time to just….be.




Eventually, our nose found the caramel store in Germany.

Anyone else a sucker for that place?

It just has so many delicious treats!


We decided enough time had passed since dinner that we could indulge in something sweet.

I don’t remember the name of the cookie we got, but I can say it wasn’t the best treat on the menu.

Evie was not a fan:








Honestly, Alex and I think the caramel on top had been allowed too much time to harden, so it made the cookie really hard to chew. It wasn’t a soft cookie, like I prefer mine to be.

That being said, though, the shop is still worth a visit if you haven’t been. One mediocre cookie does not ruin the allure of the shop.




Continued in Next Post:

 

[amazingact21]

Continued From Previous Post:



Our legs tired from walking around the World Showcase, Alex and I found a park bench by the water and decided to set up camp.


In addition to the cookie, we had bought a bag of caramel popcorn.



And there was nothing to complain about with that treat.

Sweet, crunchy, and fresh, it hit the spot. And one bag was the perfect amount for our family of four. We all felt like we got a decent amount without feeling gross afterwards.



While we ate the popcorn, the kids played around.

Evie pretended her MagicBand was a camera and was taking pictures:





And Landon was dancing to the music:





Have you ever had a moment on a Disney trip where you’ve gone, “This. This is the memory that’s going to stick out to me from this trip.”?

If so, what was it?



For me, I knew it was going to be this.

Sitting in Epcot, eating a snack, watching my babies goof around, I said to myself, “I’m going to remember this. I’m going to think back to this trip and the first thing that’s going to come to mind is this. Evie and Landon standing in front of me, kids being kids, while Alex and I look on.”

I wish I could have bottled that time up and kept it forever.

Already, six months on, those two kids who were messing around in the World Showcase are different. They’re a little bit older, a little less likely to be as goofy. They’re taller and have new shoes and different glasses and they are simply not the same as the kids they were in the summer of 2022.



Then again, I have to remind myself they aren’t the little toddlers that were waddling around the parks, either.

Dang, I feel old. I’ve been writing trip reports since the dawn of time, it seems.




Eventually, the time for Harmonious drew near. Alex asked me a few times if I wanted to move to the area our server suggested. I knew we probably should, but I was tired, and I didn’t want to do any more walking. I wanted to stay put and continue to stay in the state of relaxation we had accomplished.


Not an unreasonable idea.

But also not one conducive to getting the best experience from Harmonious.


This was our view of the barge:






So while we still saw plenty of beautiful sights:












It wasn’t the full experience.


This was our first time seeing Harmonious in person, and while I liked it, I didn’t LOVE it. In my opinion, the ordering of the songs was disjointed. They’d play a really upbeat number, then transition to a slow piece, and then back to a fast song. I wish they’d rearranged the soundtrack.



I could tell the kids were having a similar reaction. They would get excited and start dancing, and then become bored and start messing around. The show didn’t sustain their attention throughout the entire performance.


I’m very curious to see what’s coming in 2023 now.




As if on cue, as soon as the show was over and the masses began pouring towards the exit, the heavens started opening up. With Evie sitting in the stroller, Alex, Landon, and I were able to speed walk towards Future World and get inside a store before the worst of the rain started. And, thank goodness, it was not a long storm. Just a quick front moving through, so that we were able to wait out the worst of it. By the time we exited, it had slowed to a drizzle.


Time to say goodbye to Epcot.



If you don’t take a nighttime shot of the globe with a palm tree in view, did you even go to Epcot at night?





Up Next…No, Sir, You Cannot Have My Food

 

[suse66]

Perhaps my palette is that of an eight year old’s but pizza is one of the best foods ever invented. In my opinion.

You’ve got bread.

You’ve got cheese.

You’ve got flavors that pair well with wine.

What’s not to love?

Via Napoli is awesome! I can't wait to take my boys there this summer!

So we did something we almost never allow ourselves to do.


We wandered.


We strolled.


We meandered.


We stopped and smelled the roses.


It was magnificent.

Some might say it was time wasted, but I dare say it was time well spent. Alex and I were able to chat, the kids were able to let whatever caught their attention be explored.

It was what vacation is supposed to be. Time to reconnect with your family. Time to relax and unwind. Time to just….be.

Nothing better!

Have you ever had a moment on a Disney trip where you’ve gone, “This. This is the memory that’s going to stick out to me from this trip.”?

If so, what was it?



For me, I knew it was going to be this.

Sitting in Epcot, eating a snack, watching my babies goof around, I said to myself, “I’m going to remember this. I’m going to think back to this trip and the first thing that’s going to come to mind is this. Evie and Landon standing in front of me, kids being kids, while Alex and I look on.”

I wish I could have bottled that time up and kept it forever.

Already, six months on, those two kids who were messing around in the World Showcase are different. They’re a little bit older, a little less likely to be as goofy. They’re taller and have new shoes and different glasses and they are simply not the same as the kids they were in the summer of 2022.

So, so special.

One memory that sticks out for me is the boys running around the fountain at Epcot after snacking on treats and excitedly talking about their favourite so far. Jamie declaring "Mission Space is the best!", Sruart in full favour of "Tower of Terror" and Jack looking up and saying "I'm looking forward to seeing the manatees."

 

[SEAGULL59]

I love Via Napoli too! Our day at Epcot this last trip it rained and rained. I really was hoping for a leisurely stroll around Epcot as well but it didn’t happen with the yucky weather. Hopefully next time!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

What a perfect Epcot day!
I love those times when you simply wander about, no agenda and just enjoy being together. They always make me happy
Some of my favourite memories are Matthew as a toddler sitting on the water in the wee fountain play area as you cross the path from future world to world showcase at the Mexico end with the older two in wrinkles laughing and once, when the World Cup was on, castmembers had set up a football net on a grassy area in World Showcase and were asking kids where they were from and letting them shoot for a goal. Matthew announced he was “from the hotel” and scored a goal. Everyone cheered and he felt like he was a world champion. Connor was especially proud of his baby brother and claimed it was all down to his expert coaching . Funny thing is he ended up becoming a coach for Matthew’s football ( soccer) team a few years ago.

 

[Steppesister]

Wonderful chapter, Alicia. You all made some really nice memories that day together. I can take or leave VN, but I love that you have made traditions there and have so much fun.

I think you copy and pasted what I wrote about Harmonious a few years ago. EXACT same impressions and feelings. Music is disjointed, there just really isn't a great spot to watch it, boring parts..... all of that. Not a fan.

 

[afwdwfan]

Of course, Evie was nice enough to give Alex and me her cold, so right now we’re cozied up on the couch with Dayquil and tissues.


‘Tis the season, right?

That was November for us. 2 rounds. Good luck! Maybe with no school, you can get it beat quickly and move on.

Perhaps my palette is that of an eight year old’s but pizza is one of the best foods ever invented. In my opinion.

You’ve got bread.

You’ve got cheese.

You’ve got flavors that pair well with wine.

What’s not to love?

Especially pizza from Via Napoli. Something about it just hits different.

The great thing about Via Napoli is that two pizzas are more than enough to feed a family of four.

One of the best table service deals you're going to find in the parks!

And it is an absolute disgrace that you can't get an ADR for it on New Years Day at 2 weeks out. Not that I'm stalking the ADR or anything...

I wish I were exaggerating when I say this was the most food she’s ever eaten in one sitting. Normally, she is our little bird. Alex and I constantly struggle to get her to eat more, because that’s the doctor’s order. So to have her demolish a third of that gigantic pizza was spectacular.

And this is when Evie finally fell in love with Disney.

(Then again, I shouldn’t joke about that kind of stuff. The boy comes up past my shoulders now.)

Happens fast. DS is now 5'5" at 12 years old. Has a few inches still to catch DW but is now as tall or taller than both of his grandmas and all of his aunts and makes sure they all know it.

I enjoy Frozen.

I liked Maelstrom better.

I would have loved to have seen a Rhine River attraction in Germany.

Us Disney fans take what we can get.

But not without a fair amount of grumbling and complaining!

So we did something we almost never allow ourselves to do.


We wandered.


We strolled.


We meandered.


We stopped and smelled the roses.


It was magnificent.

Honestly, I'm always rushing around the parks. I want to maximize my time. Heck, the time you buy in a Disney park isn't inexpensive and it only gets worse all the time. But something about World Showcase just does this. Some of the most enjoyable time is just wandering around WS... look at what you want to. Grab a snack whenever you want. Have a few beverages. Hard to beat it.

Eventually, our nose found the caramel store in Germany.

Anyone else a sucker for that place?

DW can't walk past it without stopping for caramel corn.

Then again, I have to remind myself they aren’t the little toddlers that were waddling around the parks, either.

Dang, I feel old. I’ve been writing trip reports since the dawn of time, it seems.

Making me feel old too.

This was our first time seeing Harmonious in person, and while I liked it, I didn’t LOVE it. In my opinion, the ordering of the songs was disjointed. They’d play a really upbeat number, then transition to a slow piece, and then back to a fast song. I wish they’d rearranged the soundtrack.

I haven't even seen it in person yet, and I kind of feel the same. I'm not terribly excited about seeing it, honestly.

If you don’t take a nighttime shot of the globe with a palm tree in view, did you even go to Epcot at night?

No. This is mandatory when you walk under it to leave. I don't think they will let you out of the park if you don't do that.

 

[Woth2982]

I am 100% in agreement, Via Napoli is the BEST restaurant in Epcot. My friend and I book it every trip as a mid day meal. We like to get out of the heat, split a pitcher of beer and a pizza. Even when we have the dining plan we go to Via Napoli and split the bill OOP since it is so easy to share a meal there and is "cheap" in terms of a table service. We skipped it on our last trip since DH and I were traveling with friends and their kids, but we are going just our family in January and it was the first reservation I made!

I am with you on the "memory moment". Ours was in 2021 during the Christmas parade, I just so happened to catch on video my DD's reaction to seeing Mickey and Minnie in the parade for the first time. She won't remember (she was 15 months), but the look on her face was priceless. It was worth every penny of the Christmas party. I struggled with buying the tickets because I knew we would not be there long. Today I don't even remember what I spent on the ticket, I just remember her face and the pure joy on it.

 

[vamassey1]

Wonderful chapter.

Pizza is a big hit in our family. It's one of the few food John Paul will eat. Not to say that he doesn't eat, he just wants to only eat the sugar stuff.

I love Karamel-Kuche. I have a few go to treats. I don't think I have ever gotten the cookie and now know not to get it.

Love the little moments of just enjoying being there and together.

Sorry Harmonious was a disappointment. It has grown on me the more I have seen it.

 

[amazingact21]

I can't wait to take my boys there this summer!

Are you going with all three boys? Just the twins? No matter, I'm sure that will be a magical time for you!

One memory that sticks out for me is the boys running around the fountain at Epcot after snacking on treats and excitedly talking about their favourite so far. Jamie declaring "Mission Space is the best!", Sruart in full favour of "Tower of Terror" and Jack looking up and saying "I'm looking forward to seeing the manatees."

I love how different all three answers were. Isn't it amazing as a parent, to have instances where your kids can seem so similar and then have other moments where you see their individuality shine through?

I love Via Napoli too! Our day at Epcot this last trip it rained and rained. I really was hoping for a leisurely stroll around Epcot as well but it didn’t happen with the yucky weather. Hopefully next time!

Oh no! Walking around EPCOT when it's raining is the worst. There's virtually no cover in the World Showcase. You just have to walk as fast as you can from place to place. But as you said, hopefully next time around that stroll will happen for you.

 

[amazingact21]

Some of my favourite memories are Matthew as a toddler sitting on the water in the wee fountain play area as you cross the path from future world to world showcase at the Mexico end with the older two in wrinkles laughing and once,

I know exactly which fountain you're talking about. I've seen little kids playing in the water there before and it's always made me smile. As the kids get older, I'm realizing that those simple treats don't enthrall them quite like they do a toddler.

Matthew announced he was “from the hotel”

I love this answer.

I can take or leave VN, but I love that you have made traditions there and have so much fun.

I do believe it's the nostalgia factor that keeps me going back to Via Napoli. I'm not a firm believer in "Disney traditions" but I guess eating at VN is the one I do unintentionally.

EXACT same impressions and feelings. Music is disjointed, there just really isn't a great spot to watch it, boring parts....

You know it's bad when you can't hold kids' attention. Boring tiny humans when you could put any sight on a screen and blast some music and they'd stand enthralled, speaks volumes.

 

[amazingact21]

And it is an absolute disgrace that you can't get an ADR for it on New Years Day at 2 weeks out. Not that I'm stalking the ADR or anything...

Wait, what? Are you going to WDW this break?

DS is now 5'5" at 12 years old. Has a few inches still to catch DW but is now as tall or taller than both of his grandmas and all of his aunts and makes sure they all know it.

Ugh, I don't want to think about that day. It's like a point of pride in kids when they grow taller than family.

But something about World Showcase just does this. Some of the most enjoyable time is just wandering around WS... look at what you want to. Grab a snack whenever you want. Have a few beverages. Hard to beat it.

It's hard not to slow down in the WS. Maybe it's like you said, you're compelled to grab a snack and a drink and look around.

I haven't even seen it in person yet, and I kind of feel the same. I'm not terribly excited about seeing it, honestly.

It might be gone by the time you go for Spring Break. Unless you'll be there sooner....

I am 100% in agreement, Via Napoli is the BEST restaurant in Epcot. My friend and I book it every trip as a mid day meal. We like to get out of the heat, split a pitcher of beer and a pizza. Even when we have the dining plan we go to Via Napoli and split the bill OOP since it is so easy to share a meal there and is "cheap" in terms of a table service.

Via Napoli is one of the best meals to split. I think that's why my mom and I decided to try it in the first place, back in 2012. Then they keep you coming back with their tasty pizza!

Ours was in 2021 during the Christmas parade, I just so happened to catch on video my DD's reaction to seeing Mickey and Minnie in the parade for the first time. She won't remember (she was 15 months), but the look on her face was priceless. It was worth every penny of the Christmas party. I struggled with buying the tickets because I knew we would not be there long. Today I don't even remember what I spent on the ticket, I just remember her face and the pure joy on it.

You make a very valid point. I think a lot of us forget about the prices of tickets after the trips are over. The thing that sticks with you are the memories.
And I'm a firm believer in taking babies to Disney. Their faces reflect all the wonder and amazement they're seeing.



(This was my oldest at 9 months old watching the MVMCP parade.)

 

[amazingact21]

Pizza is a big hit in our family. It's one of the few food John Paul will eat. Not to say that he doesn't eat, he just wants to only eat the sugar stuff.

Ahh, the classic picky eater. Hopefully, as he gets older he'll start to become more adventurous and try new foods. Alex's dad was a professional chef, and it drove him crazy that Alex was one of the pickiest eaters on the planet. He didn't eat pasta with red sauce until he was in high school, and it wasn't until about eight years ago that I got him to start eating barbecue sauce. And, finally, in his thirties, I convinced him to try Frank's Hot Sauce.
So it might take a long, long time for John Paul, but he might get there!

Love the little moments of just enjoying being there and together.

I feel like I really notice these moments more when we're at Disney. Because at home we're rushing from place to place or cooking meals or scrambling looking around for lost gloves. Disney's so nice in that we get to stop and go, "Oh yeah, look at our lovely family."

 

[afwdwfan]

Wait, what? Are you going to WDW this break?

Um... well... yeah. Our 15th anniversary is coming up in February. We kind of wanted to do something for it but weren't really sure what/when. I graduated from Purdue and they got selected for the Citrus Bowl. The last time they made that bowl, I was in school and went. So DW suggested that maybe we should take a quick trip to Florida, just the 2 of us. We were going to go on a budget trip just to see the game, get some sunshine and a couple of days away from the kids. But since we're going to be in Orlando anyway.... well you know how that goes. Ended up booking 2 nights at Pop about 2 weeks ago. We'll be there NYE and NYD. We work with an awesome TA who was able to snag us a park reservation for MK on NYE just last week when the only thing I've ever seen available is AK. We're driving because flights were outrageous. Going to drive to Gainesville area on 12/30 and stay free on points then drop the car off at Pop and hop on a bus to MK. I think we're going to try to watch the 6:30 fireworks then go to EPCOT for some WS time and maybe do the midnight thing there from the France/UK area so we can make a quick exit to the Skyliner. Then NYD we have park reservation for DHS. So yeah, completely last minute, not much in the way of ADRs to be had and not much of a plan for the busiest time of year. And we're probably not going to hit any rope drops so I guess we'll see how good Genie+ is or how much I hate it.

ETA: I just got Via Napoli for 7PM on 1/1. Hopefully we can get back to EPCOT for that!!!

It's like a point of pride in kids when they grow taller than family.

My wife's cousin's kid is a Jr in high school. We had a Christmas gathering with them this past weekend. I've still got 1 inch on him, but I'm the last one left in the family for him to catch and he's getting close. I rained on his parade when he couldn't take bragging rights.