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

[Cafeen]

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

• Name: Via Napoli
• Opening Date: This restaurant is currently in its "soft opening" phase. Official Grand Opening to happen on September 10th, 2010
• Dining Reservations: Dining Reservations will open starting August 6th for dates starting Sept 10. (This means that it's Walk-Up only from Aug 5 to Sept 9).
• 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.
  • I have not yet found out the official answer for how the various pizza sizes interact with the DDP, but I expect this information to be coming soon.
• 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.

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

Reader Experiences!

• This portion will list reviews/pictures by members of this forum, either inside this thread or linked to a different one. I'll start putting them here once they start coming in. Please only ask to be added if you are supplying your own content (text and photos), we don't want to be yoinking someone else's stuff

 

[Cafeen]

Mexico
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: To be determined. Officially, this remains at "Fall 2010".
• Dining Reservations: To be determined. Chances are, if a table service restaurant it will be taking them. Current word is that dining reservations will be opened around the same time that the official opening date is announced.
• Type: Table Service.
• DDP? No official word has been released regarding if Hacienda will be on the DDP. However, it is owned and operated by the same company that owns San Angel Inn (and Cantina de San Angel.. it's the San Angel company, no really. I'm not making a joke here) and would be surmised that it too will be on the DDP.
• Menu: The menu mostly focuses on traditional Mexican fare, though perhaps a bit closer to the Tex-Mex that most Americans are used to. Some examples can be found at the Disney Food Blog post.
• Meals: Hacienda de San Angel is scheduled to be 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.

 

[Cafeen]

Go go Quad-posting Feen!

For the time being, the Italy and Mexico specific information will be here, until one of the Mods is able to move them to postions #2 and #3. If they are already there, and you're reading this, please to disregard!

I also updated a bit of the Via Napoli information. It was kinda silly to say that they both opened in "Fall 2010" when Via Napoli opened up yesterday . There was also a new DisneyParks Blog post regarding Via Napoli just today, so I hope to get some of the info up for that.

 

[Patti Q]

Subbing.

 

[nessz79]

Mexico
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: To be determined. Officially, this remains at "Fall 2010".
• Dining Reservations: To be determined. Chances are, if a table service restaurant it will be taking them. Current word is that dining reservations will be opened around the same time that the official opening date is announced.
• Type: Table Service.
• DDP? No official word has been released regarding if Hacienda will be on the DDP. However, it is owned and operated by the same company that owns San Angel Inn (and Cantina de San Angel.. it's the San Angel company, no really. I'm not making a joke here) and would be surmised that it too will be on the DDP.
• Menu: The menu mostly focuses on traditional Mexican fare, though perhaps a bit closer to the Tex-Mex that most Americans are used to. Some examples can be found at the Disney Food Blog post.
• Meals: Hacienda de San Angel is scheduled to be 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.

Looking forward to hearing more! We might switch our reservations to here on our Epcot day. We'd like to try something new!

 

[mousermerf]

Note: Barring any major construction delays, Hacienda and Cantina will be open sometime in September.

 

[KELLY]

The 'suits' (owners & Disney ups) are rumored to have an opening party at La Hacienda on September 16, which is the Bicentennial Celebration of Mexico's Independence. It should open for the public soon after, maybe that weekend for soft openings? Rumor that's all it is .... but the date makes sense for a big fiesta!

La Hacienda is having a Job Fair on July 28.

I hope so we are on the QSDP and I would love to stop in Mexico for some nachos during illumniations. Our dates are 9/24 to 10/3.

 

[PinkEars]

Really confused about the Mexican restaurant. I have a lunch reservation right now for first week of october...now im reading they arent going to be open for lunch? also on their website it says they open at noon for lunch and our reservation is at 11:30???

If its going to me more tex mex vs mexican id rather just pass on this anyway. I like things with flour tortillas and grilled onions/peppers things like that, and enchilladas. I cant really tell what anything is by looking at the menu

anyone help me

 

[ilovejsparrow]

Those pizza prices are ridiculous. Why wouldn't they at least add a small QS option? Like take-out pizza? We can never do the DDP because we usually stay at SoG, so we always pay OOP. Even though we eat 3 meals a day (plus snacks!) on property. I get that they're trying to push everyone to the DDP, but come on.

The Mexican restaurant intrigues me though.. will be interested to see some more info/pictures.

 

[mousermerf]

Really confused about the Mexican restaurant. I have a lunch reservation right now for first week of october...now im reading they arent going to be open for lunch? also on their website it says they open at noon for lunch and our reservation is at 11:30???

If its going to me more tex mex vs mexican id rather just pass on this anyway. I like things with flour tortillas and grilled onions/peppers things like that, and enchilladas. I cant really tell what anything is by looking at the menu

anyone help me

There are actually 4 restaurants in Epcot's Mexico.

You are booked at the San Angel Inn restaurant. It's the one inside the pavilion, has existed since the park opened, and is on the waterfront of the boatride.

There is also a tequila bar that opened recently, La Cava del Tequila. It replaced a bit of retail inside the main pavilion. It has tons of types of tequila and serves light appetizers.

Then there is the Hacienda de San Angel and the Cantina de San Angel. These two locations are set to open soon on the waterfront of the main park promenade. Hacienda will be table service just for dinner. The Cantina used to exist all by itself in the same location, but was closed when they rennovated extensively and built-on to allow for both to exist. It will reopen and likely serve the same tacos, nachos, etc.. it always had before.

So, 4 locations, 3 are named "San Angel" in some format.

 

[TDC Nala]

La Cava del Tequila isn't technically a restaurant, it's a lounge.

If you have a reservation now, it is for San Angel Inn, the restaurant INSIDE the Mexico pavilion. Both the new restaurants will be located outside the pavilion.

 

[PinkEars]

Oh ok! i thought that San Angel Inn was being remodeled and renamed!

Whats with all of them having the same name! No wonder i was confused!!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

They're all operated by a company called San Angel Inn LLC, which apparently likes to put its name on all its restaurants (kind of like there being four different Wolfgang Puck restaurants in DTD, and that confuses people, too)

 

[Daisy21015]

I was wondering if anyone knew the location / position of Hacienda de San Angel in relation to the water - will there be an unobstructed view from the windows to Illuminations?

Thanks!!

 

[Cafeen]

Those pizza prices are ridiculous. Why wouldn't they at least add a small QS option? Like take-out pizza? We can never do the DDP because we usually stay at SoG, so we always pay OOP. Even though we eat 3 meals a day (plus snacks!) on property. I get that they're trying to push everyone to the DDP, but come on.

The Mexican restaurant intrigues me though.. will be interested to see some more info/pictures.

Compared to other single entree's, the pizzas are reasonably priced. $15-$17 for the individual is very comparable to other Disney restaurants (and may even be "cheap" for Epcot!) While I agree that the larger pizzas do look expensive from the outset, when you factor in that they're likely to feed 3-4 people or 4-6 people, divvying up the cost brings it in-line with standard TS pricing. (And even less if you're at the high side).

To toss a comparison out there, the national (and few regional) chains I checked (Dominoes, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Little Casears, Papa Gino's, Hungry Howie's) bring their larges in at 14", which is considerably smaller than the 20" offered here. I know that I can't eat half of a 14" by myself from these places, so the 3-4 target looks likely for this size.

So, dividing up the $28 by 3 (most expensive pizza, fewest likely targeted servings) brings it down to just over $9 per person. Which, in the realm of Epcot TS, is a huge bargain.

Of course, it's "Pizza" so the impression is usually that it's pretty cheap and this could certainly be a marketing hurdle for Disney.

As to the take-out option, I'm sure there were several issues with that design at WDW vs DL, DDP most likely being one of the top issues. Why use a(some) TS credit(s) for a pizza when you can take it to go and use CS credit(s)? Perhaps they could have done the Beaches and Cream thing (no DDP meals through take-out), but they decided that keeping it all inside was better.

 

[Cafeen]

Updated the front page Via Napoli section:

• Added DDP information regarding Pizza purchases (These actually are using fewer credits than I had guessed )
• Added links to reviews from inkkognito, Dan Murphy, and DonaldDoleWhip. Hope they don't mind

Also, for all those who subbed, and those who have not.

Reminder! Dining Reservations (by phone and online) are now open!!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Very excited! Just made online ADR for Via Napoli for October 19th!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Just got my ADR for October 1st! They seem to only offer 5:45pm & 7:00pm reservation times online.

 

[Girly_Qs]

Just got my ADR for October 1st! They seem to only offer 5:45pm & 7:00pm reservation times online.

I was offered 3:30 and 5:45 (for 9/22). Worked for me though!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I was offered 7pm or 7.45 (wanted 7.30) so maybe all the times are filling up fast?