Week at Walt Disney World? More Like Weekend at Bernie's: A July '12 TR COMPLETE 5/23

[ztam3]

I am thoroughly enjoying your review. Your commentary is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

 

[MarieTheCat24]

This is a BRILLIANT plan! Yes. We must! I'm waiting on Jess to let me know if he's there right now. Hopefully he is and we can skip the whole memorial thing!

Did you guys ever figure out what happened??

Just want to say thank you for sharing with us. Our next trip is 10 months away, I can live vicariously through you for a bit!
Barbie

Having people live vicariously through me is what I'm here for.

I am thoroughly enjoying your review. Your commentary is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Thank for reading!

 

[MarieTheCat24]

JULY 9TH PART TWO: In Which We Tour Our Minds and the World
As has been pretty well established throughout my trip reports, Mom and I are big fans of things that involve songs, silly voices, and general wackiness. The more someone groans about how cheesy something is, the more we enjoy it.

That is why Journey Into Imagination is what we remember when the dog bites and the bee stings in that it is one of our favorite things.

I mean, raindrops on roses? Come on. Blue satin sashes? Tacky. Silver white winters that melt into springs? That muddy, slushy, in between mess is the worst.

Figment is where it's at.



Lucky for us, the Imagination Institute always seems to be holding an open house when we're there.



The ride was a walk-on (as usual) but we still took our time in the queue. We had to stop and laugh about things like Flubber, of course.

In life, I find that it's always appropriate to stop and laugh about Flubber, but it's especially appropriate in that queue.

When we finally made it to the ride, we got front row seats! Woot woot!

It was like the Cast Member could feel the Figment enthusiasm pouring out of us and was so moved that he just had to reward us for loving something with such intensity. Or he just wanted to balance things out because the only other two people on the ride were sitting in the very last car.

It was obviously the first thing, but whatever.

I took this picture of our favorite lab-coat-wearer in the Disney parks, Dr. Nigel Channing (who is waaaaay better than that jerk over at Dinosaur btw) while we were sitting there to immortalize our front row status.


Boom. Immortalized.

No one else showed up, so the four of us (and rows and rows of air) headed off on our tour.

We laughed, we cried (seriously the 'Imagination is a BLAST' blast hit me at such an angle that my eye started watering like crazy), we sang along. It was great.

After Figmenting our hearts out, we decided to swing by Club Cool. It was hot, so this was an obvious choice. I'm always baffled by the people who walk right by in the summer. Like, FREE SAMPLES, PEOPLE! Why are you not stopping?

Perhaps they're opposed to carbonation? Or drinking out of tiny cups?

Here's the selection:


I am madly in love with the Chinese watermelon stuff. I believe it is called Smart Watermelon and it is delish. Like a fizzy liquid watermelon Jolly Rancher.

Except it was kind of lacking in fizz on this day. Hence the lone bubble.

It looks so pathetic. Dont worry, Smart Watermelon, I still love you even when youre flat!

Just ignore the mess that is my thumbnail. I had some serious chipping issues this trip. So serious that a big chunk came off RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NAIL. It was weird. Disney magic, I guess.

Anyway, we sampled a bit. By sampled I, of course, mean that I had downed a bunch of Smart Watermelon and Mom had a Coke, I think. Just plain regular Coke.

We are super into trying new things.

Actually, I have tried just about every flavor over the years. Even Beverly. Which is not nearly as bad as everyone makes it sound. But nothing compares to the party in your mouth that is Smart Watermelon. You can practically hear Kool & the Gang jamming away in there as your taste buds celebrate good times come on.

And, yes, I just made a Kool & the Gang reference. And, no, I don't really know why.

Thirst quenched, we headed back out into the heat and made our way to World Showcase.



Our plan for WS was to not have a plan. We just wandered, stopped to look at whatever caught our attention, and then wandered some more.



We started in Canada.



Where all we did was take these pictures.



Really exciting stuff.



Next up: the UK.





We walked through the gift shops. Didn't buy anything, but there was some cool stuff. I always enjoy looking through the children's books and all the Beatles merch. The Yellow Submarine ice cube tray would make a fine addition to anyone's kitchen.

Alice was out for her M&G, so we got in the very short line. Even if it had been longer, we still would have gotten in line. Big Alice in Wonderland fan here.

When Alice saw my birthday button, she got super excited about her Unbirthday. It was cute. And called for a rousing rendition of the Unbirthday Song. Too bad the Mad Hatter and March Hare weren't, like, ready and waiting in the bushes or something. I could have done it myself, I guess, but one person dancing around Alice would have just looked stupid. I mean, come on.


Apparently I decided I'd rather side-eye the camera than look at it straight on. I don't even know.

After Alice, I noticed this little guy walking around.


My first instinct was to scream LIVING DINOSAUR and run away in terror with my arms flailing about, but then I noticed that one of his feet was squished and I felt really bad.

For like 3 seconds.

Then I screamed LIVING DINOSAUR and ran away in terror with my arms flailing about because it turned and walked toward me.

Birds.



In France, my DIS namesake was out, so we hung with her.


I went under on the hug when I probably should have gone over, so I've got a weird hunch thing going on. So awkward. But I always wind up doing something awkward in character pics, so this is no surprise. Will I ever grow out of my awkwardness? Probably not.

To finish this off, have some random pics of France:










PS: I'M BACK! Sorry this update's kinda dull, but hopefully it won't take me two months to post the next one.

 

[onelilspark]

I have about a 4 month period when I was in college of not looking at the camera. My eyes always are, but my head is tilted away. It's pretty funny to look back on.

Alcohol might have been a factor in most of them

 

[nfggirl5454]

PS: I'M BACK! Sorry this update's kinda dull, but hopefully it won't take me two months to post the next one.

Yay for being back! I'm not sure how I've been to Disney roughly 15 times in the past year alone and not gone on Figment. Maybe I need to remedy that this year.

 

[marDgreen88]

HOORAY, you're back! I almost did a double take when I saw that you updated.

Okay, since I'm obviously really lame, I've never done Figment. (I PLAN TO IN MAY, I PROMISE. Maybe even two or three times because I already know I'll love it.) What do you mean by front row seats? There are rows? I'm intrigued.

Yay Marie! Next time you meet her she'll have the castle as her background. I mean, it's only because she's royalty!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

KARA I MISSED YOUR UPDATES SO MUCH. THEY'RE SO FANTASTIC AND YOUR SIDE COMMENTS AND PUNS ARE PERFECT <3

ps come visit me.

That is all

 

[MarieTheCat24]

I have about a 4 month period when I was in college of not looking at the camera. My eyes always are, but my head is tilted away. It's pretty funny to look back on.

Alcohol might have been a factor in most of them

Ha. I wish I could blame alcohol.

Actually, you know what, I'm just going to go with that anyway. Someone clearly spiked all that Smart Watermelon I drank. It wasn't just me being awkward. Noooo. Not at all.

Yay for being back! I'm not sure how I've been to Disney roughly 15 times in the past year alone and not gone on Figment. Maybe I need to remedy that this year.

You must! Figment is AMAZING and should be everyone's favorite ride.

HOORAY, you're back! I almost did a double take when I saw that you updated.

Okay, since I'm obviously really lame, I've never done Figment. (I PLAN TO IN MAY, I PROMISE. Maybe even two or three times because I already know I'll love it.) What do you mean by front row seats? There are rows? I'm intrigued.

Yay Marie! Next time you meet her she'll have the castle as her background. I mean, it's only because she's royalty!

You must do it in May and give me a full report. Live Tweet that puppy.

And yes, Figment has rows. Well kind of. I don't wanna spoil it, but instead of individual 2 or 4 person ride vehicles like most of the dark rides, it's a longer train. Which row you sit in is actually meaningless. I was just in a weird Figment frenzy kinda mood.

Marie is royalty so it's fitting she meets on Main Street now. I actually met her there during my November trip that I rarely talk about but will eventually do a TR for because everyone's just dying to hear my thoughts on WDW's seasonal festivities, I'm sure.

KARA I MISSED YOUR UPDATES SO MUCH. THEY'RE SO FANTASTIC AND YOUR SIDE COMMENTS AND PUNS ARE PERFECT <3

ps come visit me.

That is all

Thanks Jess!

As for visiting you, I'm working on it.

 

[beachphotog]

Yay you're back! Yay for an update!! Yay for awkward side looks and under hugs when you should have gone over!!! I'm clearly very excited...

I love doing all the cheesy Epcot-y things that we have come to accept at well, Epcot! Club Cool, Figment ( though I must say, new Journey into the Imagination is SO not as good as original Journey into the Imagination. Vivè le Dreamfinder!) dinosaur birds in the pavilions...

Welcome Back!!

 

[flyergrad09]

(Sorry, I've been MIA for awhile, so I'm trying to play catch-up on all of the TRs I'm subscribed to!)

How can people not find the Muppets funny? I mean, they're CLASSIC.

It's so difficult to get good pictures at Beauty and the Beast unless you're really close to the front. Or you know, if you like the backs of people's heads.

We had a line for Living with the Land in May too! Although, it didn't actually show up until we had gotten off the ride, thank goodness. My bet is that people saw the ridiculous line for Soarin' and panicked.

YES. The Chinese watermelon pop is the BEST. And is the Mexican pop ever available? I've never seen it.

That Alice looks a lot like Bernadette from The Big Bang Theory. Or maybe it's just me.

 

[__disneygirl]

You are so right on target about My Favorite Things. Journey Into Imagination > brown paper packages covered with string.

LOL the lone bubble. I've never tried Beverly but I just feel like... how bad can it really be if coca cola in Italy has sold it continually for years? Like remember SURGE from the 90's? It didn't sell and they stopped making it. So I guess Beverly is better than Surge because we all know Italians have fantastic taste, they invented lasagna! My point is: the Beverly is a mystery. And I don't know why I'm still talking much like you don't know why you made a Kool & the Gang reference. These are the unexplainable things in life.

......................they have a yellow submarine ice cube tray? Oh my GOD. I need that. My mom buys like all different holiday ice cube trays and I'm always like *eyeroll* but I definitely need rock and roll related ice cube trays to shape my ice correctly now that I know this.

I'm cracking up imagining a scenario in which the March Hare and Mad Hatter suddenly come popping out of the bushes in an explosion of Unbirthday joy. PLEASE START DOING THAT DISNEY.

My first instinct was to scream LIVING DINOSAUR and run away in terror with my arms flailing about

SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!! Update again soon b/c it is hard to live without your TR.

 

[MarieTheCat24]

Yay you're back! Yay for an update!! Yay for awkward side looks and under hugs when you should have gone over!!! I'm clearly very excited...

I love doing all the cheesy Epcot-y things that we have come to accept at well, Epcot! Club Cool, Figment ( though I must say, new Journey into the Imagination is SO not as good as original Journey into the Imagination. Vivè le Dreamfinder!) dinosaur birds in the pavilions...

Welcome Back!!

Yay for your excitement!

Yep, those cheesy Epcot-y things are the best. Sure, high-tech, cutting edge attractions are great, but sometimes you just need a silly purple dragon who puts his furniture on the ceiling.

(Sorry, I've been MIA for awhile, so I'm trying to play catch-up on all of the TRs I'm subscribed to!)

How can people not find the Muppets funny? I mean, they're CLASSIC.

It's so difficult to get good pictures at Beauty and the Beast unless you're really close to the front. Or you know, if you like the backs of people's heads.

We had a line for Living with the Land in May too! Although, it didn't actually show up until we had gotten off the ride, thank goodness. My bet is that people saw the ridiculous line for Soarin' and panicked.

YES. The Chinese watermelon pop is the BEST. And is the Mexican pop ever available? I've never seen it.

That Alice looks a lot like Bernadette from The Big Bang Theory. Or maybe it's just me.

Right? The Muppets are hilarious. Having a fear of puppets is the only valid reason for not liking them, I think. If you just don't think they're funny, then you're wrong, Muppet haters.

Yeah, the mess at Soarin' is probably what causes LwtL to get a line. Either that or horticulture somehow became trendy.

I haven't seen the Mexican pop available the last couple of times I was in there, but I don't know why. Maybe they just have a hard time keeping it in stock.

You are so right on target about My Favorite Things. Journey Into Imagination > brown paper packages covered with string.

LOL the lone bubble. I've never tried Beverly but I just feel like... how bad can it really be if coca cola in Italy has sold it continually for years? Like remember SURGE from the 90's? It didn't sell and they stopped making it. So I guess Beverly is better than Surge because we all know Italians have fantastic taste, they invented lasagna! My point is: the Beverly is a mystery. And I don't know why I'm still talking much like you don't know why you made a Kool & the Gang reference. These are the unexplainable things in life.

......................they have a yellow submarine ice cube tray? Oh my GOD. I need that. My mom buys like all different holiday ice cube trays and I'm always like *eyeroll* but I definitely need rock and roll related ice cube trays to shape my ice correctly now that I know this.

I'm cracking up imagining a scenario in which the March Hare and Mad Hatter suddenly come popping out of the bushes in an explosion of Unbirthday joy. PLEASE START DOING THAT DISNEY.

My first instinct was to scream LIVING DINOSAUR and run away in terror with my arms flailing about

SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!! Update again soon b/c it is hard to live without your TR.

Yeah, it's not like good, but I've definitely tasted worse things than Beverly. It's not something I'd drink in large amounts, but maybe that's the point? It clears out the taste buds so the next thing you put in your mouth seems extra delicious or something. IDK. I trust the Italians when it comes to food and beverage.

Yes, they had a Yellow Submarine ice cube tray! I don't know why I choose to settle for regular ice when I could be cooling my drinks with such awesomeness.

Oh, Disney absolutely needs to start doing that. I say we start a letter-writing campaign. Or a White House petition. Those are pretty popular now. I wonder how the petition to change the national anthem to R. Kelly's Ignition (Remix) is doing...

 

[MarieTheCat24]

JULY 9TH PART THREE: From Morocco to Mexico
Continuing counterclockwise through World Showcase, our next stop was Morocco.



It’s too hard for me to pick a #1 favorite WS pavilion, but Morocco is definitely up there. It’s gorgeous. Mo’Rockin is great. Aladdin meets there. The food is delicious. I’d be perfectly content to spend an entire day there with a vat of hummus and a hot CM who brings fresh bread every hour.







See? Gorgeous.

I wish I had been able to do more photography-wise because I feel like there isn’t enough Morocco on the interwebs and there were very few people around to get in my way, but my camera was on low, low, low, low, LOW battery since I forgot to charge it the night before and, at the time, I was all “I really need to save it in case something important happens!”

Oh well. It’s probably for the best. Now I have an excuse to go back. Not that I needed one.

Anyway, we browsed through the shops. I love that they’re interconnected. The twisty-turny winding-ness of it all is super disorienting, but in a good way. It heightens the “adventure” of exploring a “foreign country”. I do always feel like I’m missing something, though. Someday I’m going to wind the other way and stumble upon a section I never knew existed.

We skipped through the next few countries. Not because they’re not worth stopping in or anything, but because I really wanted to get to Norway to ride the greatest, most amazing, most popular, most worthy fastpassed, most wham ride in all of Walt Disney World: the Maelstrom.

Also because we had dinner reservations in Italy that night, so we knew we’d be back.

But mostly because Maelstrom.

I got over my MUST.SAVE.BATTERY thing (it’s not like my phone wasn’t in my bag ready and waiting to be called upon in a photographic emergency) and took a few pictures before it died in Italy.





Japan is the one pavilion I don’t think I fully appreciate. I mean, it’s very pretty and I’ve spent time there and I’ve shopped and stuff, but I’ve never quite absorbed it the way I have the others. Which, in the grand scheme of Disney vacationing, is actually kinda cool. Shuts down all those “You’re going to Disney again?” people. Yes, I’m going again because there are still things I haven’t done. Like appreciate Japan. Take that, haters.





When we got to Norway, the Maelstrom was CLOSED.



How dare it have technical difficulties when I, its birthday buddy, wanted to ride. It should be open and rideable whenever I (and the millions of other people born on July 5th…but mostly I) want it to be. I don’t care if it’s 3 AM. Fire up the trolls and let’s do this.

But since Disney doesn’t listen to me (which is a good thing…they would lose a lot of money if they did), we were forced to settle on the Gran Fiesta Tour. Which isn’t a bad ride, per se, it’s just no Maelstrom. I mean, does it go backwards? Are there polar bears? The absolute last thing I want to do is go to a “fiesta hoy” when I could be looking at oil rigs.

Alas, to the “fiesta hoy” we went.

They loaded our boat unevenly, so we spent the entire ride significantly tipped to the right. Between that and the fact that the air conditioning didn’t appear to be working, I felt nauseous. So basically they gave us the ‘one too many shots of tequila’ tour of Mexico. Very authentic.

After that, we decided to head back to POFQ for a break. The afternoon ‘surface of the sun’ heatwave was rolling in and all I could think about was how much I wanted to lie down.

But before we made the trek to the front of the bus stop, I had to stop and get a strawberry slush from that stand next to the store with all the Duffys. I’m kind of obsessed with those things. Actually, I’m kind of obsessed with most frozen beverages. Just wait until I start the report for my November trip. Lefou’s Brew and I fell madly in love at first sip.

So I pretty much inhaled it as we headed out. It was gone by the time we got to Spaceship Earth which just goes to show how delicious and refreshing it was. $5 well spent.

At the bus stop, everyone (myself included, I’m sure) looked like they were on the verge of passing out. That glazed over, “Epcot just kicked our butts” look was prevalent. We looked like a pack of zombies minus the rotting flesh plus a thick layer of sweat. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long before the bus and its sweet, sweet AC arrived to shuttle us home.

I decided I was hungry when we got back, so we stopped at Sassagoula Floatworks for some chicken nuggets with copious amounts of honey mustard. Then we watched Stacey and took a nap while my camera charged. Super exciting stuff. Also my calf started to tighten up which was annoying. Expected after three and a half days of walking/standing, but still annoying.

But what’s a little leg pain when you’re in your happy place?

They don’t tell you this, but every single one of the critters in the Laughing Place on Splash has super sore muscles. Which explains why Brer Fox was all of a sudden able to catch Brer Rabbit. Sore muscles.

That’s the price you pay for happiness.

 

[MarieTheCat24]

JULY 9TH PART FOUR: The Best Kind of Surprise
When we woke up from our nap, Dad and Katie were just getting back from Blizzard Beach. We all got ready and headed out for the evening.

As I mentioned before, we had dinner reservations at Via Napoli, so back to Epcot we went.



Just as geodesic as it was when we left it.



I love this fountain. It’s simple, so it’s overshadowed by Epcot’s flashier fountains, but I’m a fan. The Fountain of Nations and the upsidedown waterfall at the Imagination pavilion are like the Yankees and Red Sox of Epcot water features. They’re great fountains, I’d just rather root for the fountain no one talks about.



So many triangles. The Illuminati must meet here. Or maybe it was built by the Illuminati? I know they’re in the Bible-reenacting Vikings who own a pawn shop in a swamp business now, but I’m gonna need a History Channel special ASAP.



I’ve always wondered why this support column is mirrored. I mean, it looks cool. I guess that’s the why.

Actually, thinking about it, the reflections sort of camouflage it. Maybe that’s the why. Feel free to chime in here, people who understand architecture.



Since Dad and Katie were with us this time, we decided to stop by Club Cool again.



It’s a good thing we did because they were giving out FREE SAMPLES OF FROZEN COKE AND BLUE RASPBERRY SLUSHES.

Oh, Club Cool. You get me.

I’m not kidding when I say that that little paper cup of blue raspberry slush was one of the highlights of my trip. I know it sounds silly, but it was unexpected. I like unexpected things when they’re not someone jumping out of the bushes and murdering me or whatever. It was just one of those moments where I’m in Disney and I’m with the three people I love most in the world and we’re having a great time and everything is wonderful and I’m perfectly content and just as I’m thinking it can’t get any better than this, a CM hands me a slush.

It got better. It always gets better.

Isn’t that what Disney vacations are all about?

Fun and happiness and togetherness and surprise free slushes.



We continued on to World Showcase.

While I took pictures of lamp posts and torches…





Dad took these:





He wins.

We skipped over Mexico, Norway, China, and the Outpost. It might have been a good idea to take the boat over to Germany instead of walking, but I would’ve missed out on taking these great, super professional-looking, best-you’ve-ever-seen photos.









Of course I had to stop and take a picture through the hole in the rock. I’m quite certain they put it there solely for these amateur attempts at being artistic. Or maybe there’s a deeper meaning to looking at trees off in the distance through a rock and in between two tree trunks.



Once in Germany, we realized we had some time to kill before our ADR, so we explored a bit.







We mainly spent a lot of time looking at Christmas ornaments. As you know by now, they’re kind of a thing with us, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The ones from Germany may not be Ye Olde, but they’re still very pretty.

 

[__disneygirl]

Hey, you gotta give Maelstrom a break sometimes! Because it's the most popular attraction in Walt Disney World (after Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse), trolls are tired from trying to push so many people back over the falls.

OMG. You said the words "Lefou's Brew" and now I have to go suck on an apple in an attempt to feel whole again. *Sigh*

You and that surprise slush sample reminds me of when they were giving away free candy apple samples in Storybook Circus. I was like I AM EATING FREE FOOD IN A NEW MAGIC KINGDOM LAND.

AHH you cut off the update here!!!!!!! I WAS COUNTING ON SEXY ITALIANS. I OBJECT. POST NOW!!!

 

[nfggirl5454]

I too have an objection to the post cutoff. I'm going to Via Napoli Saturday night for my sister's birthday (unless something better comes up), and I was looking forward to reading your thoughts about it.

I like the Moroccan pavilion a lot. The band is fun, and their F&W booth is always one of my favorites.

 

[wiigirl]

Great update!

 

[marDgreen88]

I like the entrance fountain best as well. We should give it a special name.

Great updates! You know it's good when I can't think of anything to say.

 

[MarieTheCat24]

Hey, you gotta give Maelstrom a break sometimes! Because it's the most popular attraction in Walt Disney World (after Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse), trolls are tired from trying to push so many people back over the falls.

OMG. You said the words "Lefou's Brew" and now I have to go suck on an apple in an attempt to feel whole again. *Sigh*

You and that surprise slush sample reminds me of when they were giving away free candy apple samples in Storybook Circus. I was like I AM EATING FREE FOOD IN A NEW MAGIC KINGDOM LAND.

AHH you cut off the update here!!!!!!! I WAS COUNTING ON SEXY ITALIANS. I OBJECT. POST NOW!!!

That's true. The trolls' union probably wouldn't like my plan very much.

I know the feeling. I've always been a big apple juice drinker, but now it just makes me sad because it's not frozen and topped with foam. I still drink it, but my tears make it a little salty.

Right? Free samples are always great but in Disney they're 10000000x better.

I'm sorry! The sexy Italians are coming soon.

I too have an objection to the post cutoff. I'm going to Via Napoli Saturday night for my sister's birthday (unless something better comes up), and I was looking forward to reading your thoughts about it.

I like the Moroccan pavilion a lot. The band is fun, and their F&W booth is always one of my favorites.

I'll try to get my full Via Napoli review posted sometime in the next few days, but, in case I don't, here's a sneak preview: I loved it.

Great update!

Thanks!

I like the entrance fountain best as well. We should give it a special name.

Great updates! You know it's good when I can't think of anything to say.

We should give it a special name.

Hmmmm...

Yeah, I'm gonna need to think about this for a while.

 

[MarieTheCat24]

JULY 9TH PART FIVE: Via Napoli
We still had time to kill, so we continued Browsefest 2012 in Italy.

Just typing the word Italy has left me with the STRONGEST craving for gelato.



Italy even has a gelato-esque color palette. This is not helping. SOMEONE BRING ME A BIG BOWL OF THE STUFF. PREFERABLY A SUPER HOT SOMEONE. WHO’S WILLING TO STICK AROUND TO LADY AND THE TRAMP SOME SPAGHETTI WITH ME LATER.

Ok, here’s a nice distraction:


A fish-shaped door handle. It’s like something straight outta District 4. Their fish-shaped bread has led me to believe it’s a land of many fish-shaped pleasures.



We really don’t carve tiny people into enough things anymore.









Despite the number of people in that photo, World Showcase wasn’t crowded at all. Since I’m a primarily summer WDW vacationer, the calibration of my Crowd Level Judgeometer is a bit different than most, but the crowd level was downright pleasant that night. Instead of the usual giant masses of humanity with all the pushing and the shoving and the gross too-many-sweaty-people-in-one-place smell, everyone was just calmly wandering around and enjoying themselves. I don’t really know how to accurately describe it, but the whole area had a really laid-back vibe that was different from anything I had experienced before in WS. It was really nice.





Even with all the time we killed, we were still kinda early for our reservation.

We had no problem checking in early, though.





I fell in love with this chandelier hanging above check-in. I want one!

The restaurant was only about half-full, so we were seated almost right away. Our table was one of the half-booths (Is there a name for those?) along the back wall of the main dining room. Katie and I took the booth side which gave us a great view of the show.

The show being the incredibly attractive Italian waiters.



THE VESTS! THE ROLLED UP SLEEVES! THE WELL-TONED ARMS!

I was in garlic-scented heaven.

Our waiter checked in at about mid-pack on the hotness scale. He was a lot of fun, though, so I wasn’t disappointed. I’m not that shallow. And I tend to get super awkward around dropdead gorgeous men, so it was nice not having to worry about embarrassing myself.

Anyway, he took our orders and then brought out some bread and oil. It wasn’t anything special, but it helped tide us over until the food came.

Mom, Dad, and Katie split a large pepperoni pizza.



It was a safe choice and they enjoyed it. I can’t comment on the taste because I didn’t have any of it, but it smelled really good. You really can't go wrong with a wood-fired pepperoni pizza.

I ordered an individual-sized Prosciutto e Melone pizza.



It’s a white pizza (so no sauce) with two types of cheese, prosciutto, arugula, and several big slices of cantaloupe. It was DELICIOUS. The cantaloupe and prosciutto make a great combination. It’s sweet and salty and warm and cool and really, really good.

If you’re a melon fan, I would definitely recommend it.

We took our time eating and sharing stories from that morning. Dad and Katie’s tales of Blizzard Beach were amazing. We were laughing so hard. Everyone around us had to have thought we’d lost it. Dad and Katie have such a unique, very blunt way of telling stories and it cracks me up.

Even though I was pretty full, I went ahead and ordered dessert.



That is the Coppa di Brutti Ma Buoni aka the Ugly But Good. It’s vanilla gelato with Amarena cherries and chocolate. It was wonderful. I ordered it (in part) because Katie said she’d share it with me, but I wound up eating most of it myself.

Overall, I’d say our first time at Via Napoli was a success. The food and service were great. The eyecandy was also great. I’d recommend it for that alone. I mean, you’re not only paying for the food, you’re paying to ogle the arms of the man who sets it in front of you.

Worth. It.

After paying and saying goodbye to our super friendly waiter, we headed out. We hung out by the water for a bit while we let our food settle and decided what to do next.





As you can see, I was verging on food drunk. That gelato pushed me right up to the edge.



Italy is so pretty.



And so is Spaceship Earth. So is all of Disney really. I’m trying to think of an on-stage part of WDW that would make me recoil in horror at its ugliness, but I’m coming up blank.

Help me out here, guys.

Something has to be ugly. What am I missing???