We checked in for our 2:30 ADR at Via Napoli at 2:11pm.
There were a lot of people sitting around waiting and we were taken almost right in. I assume the others were walk-ups??? We were seated in about the same place me and the kids were last time (Cary had not been with us because the night before he was not feeling well so he was in the room resting still) along the back wall.
These seats give a great view of the whole restaurant.
Skye wanted a closed pic of the ovens though so she went over and got one...
It is very loud in here and every time we have been there we have had wait staff with heavy accents that are difficult to understand but add the noise level in there to the mix and it's a disaster!
We ordered a Mezzo Metro Pepperoni Signature Pie - tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, two waters and two cokes.
It was as good as we remembered. Of course, everyone wanted more. So I had to convince them that there were a lot of other things to eat in The World so we did not need to stuff ourselves with pizza. They didn't agree but went along with it.
Everyone was pleased and Cary was even more disappointed that he missed it here the last time now that he had it himself. Needless to say, we have an ADR for our next trip. I have a feeling they will not let me get a trip in without eating here again!
We did not see much of our waiter and needed drink refills a few times for a while before the helper came by and got us them. Service has never been extremely attentive here but it hasn't been bad either.
We were there about 50 minutes. The place was full but not overpoweringly so.
We got there at 4:21pm and a bus didn't arrive until 4:45pm. While we were on the bus we discussed dinner plans. We had none. The rest of the evening was left open for whatever. The consensus was that WE ARE TIRED OF EATING COUNTER SERVICE!!!! So I got online and read them their options. There were many. We made a decision and booked the ADR on the ride home.
Once we arrived back at Pop we all took a nap! We needed it. We'd been busy all week and it was H-O-T outside. So we simply took a nap.
About 7:30pm we all woke and freshened up. At 7:49pm we were on a bus bound for Hollywood Studios. At 8:05pm we were on a bus to Ft. Wilderness. On the way we saw four turkeys and two deer...after the first turkey no one believed me...but they were watching after that...and then they believed!
We had no idea where we were going though and it must have shown, or the bus drivers get this a lot, because as we were getting off the driver asked us where we were headed. We told him and he told us which bus to hop on. It pulled right up behind him and we got on. We had never been to the fort before. I did have ressies to camp here one year but we gave up...too much work. We were really enjoying watching it go by on the way. We decided we might like to stay here some time...the question is when. We tent came and in Florida, much of the year I would see everything being damp from the humidity and that would not be a comfy trip. Heat we could remedy. Cold we could remedy. But wet bedding and clothes, etc...not so much so we'll have to work on the timing of that trip.
Anyway, we checked in for our 8:30pm ADR at 8:18pm. We waited a couple of minutes...
He was inside the light...
...and then were taken in. We were given a large round table (maybe a 6 top???) just inside the door.
Our server was Randall and he told us how everything worked and we ordered our drinks. Then headed up to the buffet.
My first plate...
Chili, pickled cucumbers, Caesar salad, pea salad, potato salad, cold peel and eat shrimp (I hate peeling my own shrimp!), and tomatoes.
Skye's first plate...
Caesar Salad and shrimp...
Tyler's first plate...
Chicken, rib, and cheese pizza...
Cary's first plate...
Chili, ribs, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and I cannot even tell what else???
Skye's second plate...
Mac & Cheese, chicken, mashed potatoes, corn...
My second plate...
Pasta salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, mac & cheese, corn bread, corn, dinner roll, and a chicken leg...
Skyler's dessert plate...
Chocolate cake, red velvet cake, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, mint chocolate chip brownie...
Another of Cary's plates...
Chili, mashed potatoes, ribs...
My dessert plate...
I can't remember but looks like vanilla soft served ice cream, gummy bears, bread pudding, berry shortcake, n apple crumble kinda thing, I think banana pudding, and I cannot even make out what that other thing is???
Everything was really good! Lots of options while not being overwhelming. The set up is nice so you are not feeling like you are cutting in line when you want only one thing. Out plates were cleared and drinks kept full the whole time.
This was a really great, not fancy kinda meal. We really enjoyed it. It is a bit out of the way to get to though. The boat is more direct than the way we came.
This is the entrance near where our table was.
We left at about 9:12pm. It was not crowded in there at all the whole time we were in there. When Cary went to pay Randall noticed the Disney Visa and gave us the 10% off that I did not even know was an option...didn't even think to look.
We would love to come back here some day. Not sure when that will be but if things worked out that this was on the radar, we'd have no problem returning.
TOTAL = $99.69
After dinner we discovered that the boat dock is just to the left of the building so we headed over there.
We had to wait for the next boat as the one there as we were arriving was full before we got to it. But it was not as humid now so it was a nice night to hang out on a boat dock.
We were able to see parts of the Star Wars fireworks on the ride and the Electri Water Parade. In fact, we had to stop and wait for the EWP to pass so we got our own little show.
We got off at Magic Kingdom and walked to the Pop bus stop. We got right on a standing room only bus and were back at 10:33pm. We took a walk through the arcade and saw they had leg massagers and decided to try them out...oh boy do those things squeeze your legs! It actually hurt while it was doing it! Afterwards, I they did feel better but I don't know, that massage hurt!
July 22nd found us heading back to Magic Kingdom. We had a late start this morning. At 9:17am we were heading to fill ourmugs and to the bus stop.
Can you tell who Skye is disbounding as?
At 9:28am we were on a bus (SITTING!) to Magic Kingdom.
And no, Tyler is not disbounding!
We arrived at Magic kingdom at 9:55am and OMG was it crowded! Both sides of the bag check turnstiles were packed! Will Call was packed! Where did all these people come from?
We got in and headed up to the train platform. It had been a long time since we have ridden the train and now seemed like a good time!
Now that picture is deceiving!
At the station in Frontierland where we were getting off.
We got in line to use our fast passes for Big Thunder (return time of 10am) at 10:15am and we were off by 10:29. We were feeling hungry so we headed in search of food!
And we found The Friar's Nook. It was only 10:45am but they were open and serving food.
We all decided to get something here but had we realized the food was so large, we would have shared!
Skye ordered the Macaroni and Cheese - topped with toasted panko bread crumbs (with her bread crumbs on the side)...
It was huge and soupy and she loved it!
Tyler got the Hot Dog and Chips.
It was a hot dog and chips...his was the only small option we got! LOL
Cary and I decided to share the Barbecue Chicken Macaroni & Cheese that comes with coleslaw...
...and the Pot Roast Macaroni & Cheese that also came with coleslaw that is no longer on the menu!
These were huge! Cary liked the chicken one better, I liked the pot roast one better. Both were really good though!
We also got two large cokes.
There is a small seating area to the side and we were able to get a table but I could see that being a problem later in the day. It is a covered area too so it is out of the sun and a tad bit cooler.
We all enjoyed the food here and I am sad to see the Pot Roast Mac & cheese not on the menu anymore. I can see us returning here though!
TOTAL = $46.04
After brunch we watched Philharmagic...love that show! (11:25am). Then we headed to usedour Mine Train fast passes (return time of 11:55am).
At 12:29am we went on the People Mover...
See these pictures don't make it look crowded but lines for the popular things were long. The main walk ways were not crowded (except in Fantasyland by It's a Small World but it is always crowded there!)...but people were there today.
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