Via Napoli (Italy) and Hacienda de San Angel (Mexico) - FAQ

[Cafeen]

Since we seem to be getting a ton of repeat questions regarding these two new restaurants, I figured that I should probably put most of the answers in a single place.

Updates! More information regarding Hacienda below!

Introduction and General Information
So, you heard it. There are two new restaurants coming to Epcot. Where you heard it doesn't matter , but you did hear it at some time (or, you may be hearing it now... but STILL!).. ahem...

The two restaurants are Via Napoli in Italy and La Hacienda de San Angel in Mexico. Both are Table Service restaurants and neither will have an adverse effect on the other restaurants within the same pavillion. In fact (and especially soon after opening), Dining Reservations will likely be easier to snag at the two original restaurants!

While both restaurants were originally slated to open in "Fall 2010", Disney finished up Via Napoli a bit early and opened its doors on Monday August 2. Dining Reservations for Via Napoli will open up on Friday August 6 for all dates (up to 180 days (+10 if you qualify)) beginning September 10. There is no word yet on the opening date for La Hacienda however.

Italy
Via Napoli original opening source: -(Source)-.

• Name: Via Napoli
• Opening Date: This restaurant started soft opening on Aug 2, 2010 and officially opened on Sept 10, 2010
• Dining Reservations: Yes. Dining reservations are accepted
• Type: Table Service only. Note, there is no planned carryout window as was rumored.
• DDP? Yes. The restaurant will be accepting the Disney Dining Plan. It will be a "1 TS" restaurant.
  • Entrees and Individual Pizza: 1 Credit
  • 20in Pizza: 2 Credits (Adult Only*)
  • 1/2meter Pizza: 4 Credits (Adult Only*)
  • *I am assuming that only adult credits work for these pizzas, I could be wrong
• Menu: The basics of the menu have been released and it will offer some wood-fired oven pizzas along with more traditional Italian fare.
  • The hottest menu item is the wood-fired pizza, and it comes in three sizes: individual; large with eight slices; and a “mezzo metro,” or half meter, that is 12 slices.
  • There is one menu for both lunch and dinner. Average check is around $23.
  • There are several vegetarian options, including the pizza Margherita, fusilli pasta in a Southern Italian-style pesto, salads, minnestrone and more.
  • The Disney Parks Blog has more information on the menu. (Thanks for the link marielynn)
  • Both the DIS and AllEars.Net have recent menus up.
• Meals: Via Napoli will be serving both Lunch and Dinner
• More Information
  • Via Napoli will honor:
    • Tables in Wonderland, Lunch and Dinner 20%
    • DVC Members, Lunch and Dinner 10%
    • Annual Pass holders, Monday – Friday, Lunch only 10% (Post #7)
  • It appears as though it will start out only via phone reservations. (Post #8)

Some of the Blog Post questions and answers:

• Post #16: will you be able to take out pizza? Not liking the idea of having to always make a reservation.
  • Reply: No take-out pizza.
• Post #17: How will the Large and 1/2 meter pizzas work with the Dining Plan? Will they count as an entree for a set number of people?
  • Reply: Details still being worked out.
• Post #18: We will be in WDW in August and would LOVE to try Via Napoli! When you say there will be a soft opening, with a walk-in phase, does that mean everyday? What hours will we be able to walk-in?
  • Reply: Every day during lunch and dinner service.
• Post #20: This sounds great! We love real Italian pizza. and we love all italian food. Do you know of any other menu items? Will they serve alcohol? Have to have a really good wine!!
  • Reply: Hope to share menu next week. And they will serve wine.
• Post #36: (Sheds some light on the no take-out reasoning) I’m in the restaurant business I can tell you that this style pizza is meant to be cooked to order and consumed on site. There are serious quality issues if wood-fired pizza is used for takeout/slices. The pizza will not taste the same if re-heated or if left sitting around.
  
  I know other restaurants that sell wood-fired pizza do this but I would imagine Disney standards are much higher.

Pizza by the DDP - From the thread on the reservations board:

Another Disser- Poohj80- was there today and posted the following:

"I asked about the DDP and pizza. An individual with be 1 TS credit, large 2 TS credits,t and 1/2 meter will be 4 TS credits. We ordered a large for 2 adults and it was more than we could eat so this could be a deal for a family of 3. We saw a family of 4 who left just under half of the 1/2 meter pizza.

As for the food, the calamari was yummy as an appetizer - very flaky, not overly breaded. I didn't like our pizza choice much but DH did. If you are a beer drinker, just order a pitcher. We got almost 6 full mugs out of the pitcher which costs the same as 2.5 individual mugs."

Disney Parks blog post:

At last, we got a “sneak” taste of the delicious creations at the new Via Napoli – soft opening at the Italy pavilion at Epcot. (Official opening is not until August 5th for dinner.)

The lively, 300-seat restaurant that is operated by Patina Restaurant Group is full of energy with an open kitchen and three wood-burning pizza ovens that represent Italy’s three active volcanoes (Etna, Vesuvius and Stromboli). Those ovens were cranked up to 700°F with oak wood, and we got a kick out of the Disney touch: each of the ovens is ornamented with an open-mouthed face, waiting to “swallow” the mouth-watering pizzas.

Read the full article

DISser Experiences!

• Via Napoli Grand Opening Festivities - inkkognito
• Via Napoli pictures and report - Dan Murphy
• Via Napoli Lunch w/ Pics - DonaldDoleWhip

----------------------------

Mexico
Updates can be found on the Disney Food Blog!

Mexico is a bit more confusing as they closed the QS restaurant to build the new restaurant. However, the new restaurant will be TS, and the old QS restaurant will be reopened. (More detail on that below)

• Name: Hacienda de San Angel
• Opening Date: Sept 16, 2010
• Dining Reservations: Dining Reservations are currently open for dates starting Oct 15.
• Type: Table Service.
• DDP? Yes. Hacienda will be on the DDP as a "1 TS" restaurant. Note that there will be some items that are made "for 2" that will require 2 credits (and likely 2 people).
• Menu: - Some examples can be found at the Disney Food Blog post. Some updated examples are available at the 20 Aug Update.
• Meals: Hacienda de San Angel is open for Dinner only

Now, I know that you're saying "I thought it was going to be both QS and TS? WTHeck is going on!?"

The thing is, originally, this is how it was announced. It has since been clarified that Cantina de San Angel (the "current" QS location) would be reopening with Hacienda. They will be two separate restaurants within the same building. Cantina will once again be serving both Lunch and Dinner in typical QS fashion.

Note that the linked blog post above also contains information regarding changes at La Cantina.

Photos of La Hacienda de San Angel - Recent thread with a food blog link to new pictures of the restaurants.

 

[marielynn724]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/07/via-napoli-opens-next-month-at-epcot/

disney parks blog just posted some great information about the menu for the new via napoli restaurant. looks awesome!

 

[alicia080979]

Subscribing. Hoping these are both open when we go in September!

 

[Cafeen]

Added the links and added some of the blog comment responses from Disney. Not really any new information, but at least confirms some of the stuff we already know.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Wonderful info! Thanks!!!

 

[bdoyledimou]

I am going to miss Hacienda while we are there in August.. they had the best lunches in Epcot.. (dinner in Morroco of course!)

 

[Cafeen]

Updated the Via Napoli section to reflect new additions and official information.

 

[Corwin]

Subscribing--thanks for the info!

 

[nessz79]

Subscribing- thanks!

 

[danacath]

That wood-fired pizza at Via Napoli sounds really good right about now. Anxious to see what Hacienda will have on its menu!

 

[Erin_Akey]

Cafeen! Nice to see a fellow Mobillian on here!

 

[feezle]

Now the question is, do we cancel Coral Reef for some wood fired pizza? Very tempting!

 

[Cafeen]

That wood-fired pizza at Via Napoli sounds really good right about now. Anxious to see what Hacienda will have on its menu!

There is a link inline there about some of the menu items. They do look pretty tasty and can't wait for more information on this place. Hopefully, now that Via Napoli is out of the way, official information for opening and all that jazz will be forthcoming soon.

Cafeen! Nice to see a fellow Mobillian on here!

Well, I live in Mobile , not really a Mobilian (yankee transplant ). I think there's a few Mobile people around though.

Now the question is, do we cancel Coral Reef for some wood fired pizza? Very tempting!

I'd say... um. Maybe? I'm hoping to do almost the same, though I'll be canceling Tutto for this. (Or maybe R&C or Marrakesh, depends on when I can get a ressie when they open).

Those same slots (except the R&C, since it's a lunch) will also be holding times for my Hacienda reservation if they're open when I go.

 

[TruBlu]

Any new info on the Mexico TS? I can't wait to see a menu.

 

[Planogirl]

If I understand it right, Mexico will have two TS and one QS soon? And the new TS will be more similar to Tex-Mex? Interesting.

 

[leebee]

It's disappointing that Via NApoli won't have a take-out window. It would be great to be able to walk around World Showcase, munching on a slice of authentic Italian pizza for lunch or a snack!

 

[ms mouse]

Thanks for the info, waiting for ADR's for new Mexican resturant.

 

[Cafeen]

Any new info on the Mexico TS? I can't wait to see a menu.

Nothing yet, although I'm expecting it soon since Via Napoli is out of the way.

If I understand it right, Mexico will have two TS and one QS soon? And the new TS will be more similar to Tex-Mex? Interesting.

Yep, that is correct.

Not sure about the menu per se, that is what I read about it. (I'm not read up on the differences between them so much). They do have some examples on the Disney Food Blog that I linked above if you want to check them out.

Thanks for the info, waiting for ADR's for new Mexican resturant.

Same here. I'll be hopping online/phone early on the Aug 6th for my VN reservations. Hopefully the Hacienda ones will be around the same time.

 

[ipodluvr287]

I read somewhere on another thread that it looks like the Mexican restaurant will open on Sept. 24th. Not sure if this is true or not, but it does sound kinda likely since they keep saying Fall. That would be great if it did because that is our Epcot day on our trip and we would love to go to the QS part for lunch!

 

[Planogirl]

After reading the blog, Hacienda de San Angel doesn't look Tex-Mex to me but more Florida style. Which is fine, it looks great!