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Guest Review: Lunch at Via Napoli in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion

Today, we’re traveling to Epcot’s Italy Pavilion for lunch at Via Napoli in this guest review by Julie B.!

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Buongiorni a tutti! I want to tell you about one of my favorite places for lunch in all of Disney World: Via Napoli, located in the Italy pavilion of World Showcase.

Via Napoli is a relatively recent addition to the dining options of Epcot (and part of a major restaurant overhaul in Italy’s pavilion over the past few years).

This pizzeria doesn’t disappoint when enlightening diners with the true wonders of Neapolitan pizza.

Via Napoli!

Atmosphere

The first thing you should know about Via Napoli is that it’s huge, and I mean HUGE! When you walk into the main dining room you’ll notice that it’s very wide but also features sky-high ceilings. This does create a lot of echoing, so Via Napoli is not the best place to come for an intimate meal (but it’s great if you’ve got kids who need to blow off some steam).

The large dining room.

A benefit of those high ceilings is that they have large windows and allow the room to be bathed in natural light. It’s one of the main reasons I love to dine here for lunch instead of dinner.

Another one of my favorite parts of the restaurant’s large size is the center table that stretches across the whole room. If you’re seated at this table, you’ll be [Read more…]

News! Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Menu Items Announced

By AJ 25 Comments

UPDATE:

Check out this updated post featuring MORE menu items and PHOTOS of the food that will be available at the 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!!
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Awesome news! We reported late last year that the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival would be expanding their specialty food offerings this year. And according to the Orlando Sentinel, there have been a few menu items announced for the highly anticipated Garden Marketplace booths at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival this year (March 6-May 19)!

For the first time, the Flower and Garden Festival will offer multiple food booths featuring regional goodies from the United States and some of the World Showcase countries.

Menu Items Will Include:

Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, fresh Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro
Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries
Watermelon Salad with Pickled Red Onions
Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction
Sweet “Frushi” made with Fresh Fruits and Coconut Rice
Nonalcoholic drinks will include chilled rose blush lemonade and strawberry slush

AND….

Dole Whip with Spiced Rum!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, please!!

Marketplaces Will Include:

To showcase these goodies, 12 specialty themed marketplaces will be set up around Epcot. These will include:

Smokehouse Barbecue and Brew at [Read more…]

Fun Find: A New Form of Gummy Bears at Epcot

By Erin 4 Comments

I have a bit of a gummy bear addiction.

During a Walt Disney World visit in December, I was distressed to find that the epic giant gummy bears had completely vanished from Epcot’s Germany pavilion. Yes, I know that they’re readily available elsewhere, but I found it comforting to walk by and admire their shiny, sugary smiles each time I walked the World Showcase.

RIP Giant Gummy Bears -- now no longer available in the Germany pavilion

Fast forward a few weeks later to another trip and another loop around the Showcase. Still no giant gummies, but in their place was a new product, Choco Gomis, a dual layer chocolate bar with embedded gummy bears. I had never seen anything as glorious as this, even on my recent trip to gummy-centric Germany.

Obviously this was a must purchase item.

I bought both the blue and pink packages, thinking that they were different flavors, but as it turns out, they were exactly the same.

Opening the wrapper reveals a thin sliver of milk chocolate, topped by a more substantial layer of white “yogurt” chocolate. Nestled in each square is one perfect glossy gummy bear.

For the amount of candy you get, the bars are a little pricey, but the [Read more…]

Fun Find: Japanese Food Cards in Epcot

By AJ 4 Comments

We just had an awesome review of some of the Epcot Japan pavilion’s more unique snacks, but today we’ve got something a bit different for you from the Mitsukoshi Department Store!

A while back, Heather and I were exploring the Japan pavilion when the idea struck that we must compile a portfolio of these fun, food-centric greeting cards and postcards!

Fruit Cards

First up, a few fruit-focused cards… the watermelon and pineapple ones have a little move-able, pull-out feature and wish the recipient “Happy Summer”! (Ah… seems so far away right now, doesn’t it?!)

Watermelon

Pineapple

This little monkey with a banana is kind of awesome. Must-share.

Banana

Tofu Cards

Next up — a whole series about what looks like relatively sad tofu cubes. Even the rock-star tofu cubes have a somewhat chagrined look on their faces. From my research, [Read more…]

News! “Tapaz” Waterfront Restaurant May Be On The Horizon at Epcot’s Morocco in Walt Disney World

By AJ 22 Comments

We’ve got exclusive details from the operator of Disney World’s Morocco pavilion restaurants about a fantastic new development that has been green-lighted for Epcot’s World Showcase in 2013!

We all know about that lovely waterfront event space next to the Mo’Rockin’ stage, right? Well guess what — this gorgeous real estate might soon house a brand new RESTAURANT!

Morocco Pavilion Waterfront along World Showcase Lagoon Might Soon Be Home to a New Restaurant

Tapaz Restaurant

Reportedly breaking ground in January 2013, the new Tapaz Restaurant would join Restaurant Marrakesh and Tangierine Cafe to offer authentic Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine in one of Epcot’s most exotic pavilions.

The Tapaz waterfront restaurant complex plans combine 120 outdoor terrace seats with 60 indoor seats to offer guests another incredible option for dining in the World Showcase (and another amazing view of Epcot’s Illuminations, Reflections of Earth, fireworks show).

Looks Like Tapaz Guests Would Have a Great View of Illuminations

Tapaz Eats

The food and drink offerings were described to me as a “Food and Wine Festival all year round.” The menu would include [Read more…]

Review: Black Forest Cake Roulade at Epcot’s Sommerfest

By AJ 7 Comments

I’ve always spied the desserts at Sommerfest in Epcot’s Germany with envy. Apple Strudel, Bavarian cheesecake, and…Black Forest Cake Roulade! For any cherry and chocolate lover (like yours truly), this was a must-try…