All images not watermarked are ©Disney

Now I know, everyone just wants to know how good the pizza is, but please indulge me as I discuss what makes Via Napoli such a satisfying experience…First of all, look at the picture above – how beautiful is that? So authentic-looking and inviting, isn’t it? Before we venture inside, lets take a look at the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Epcot Vice President Dan Cockerell, Patina Group CEO Nick Valenti, legendary chef and Patina Group and founder Joachim Splichal and of course, Mickey and Minnie, in their finest Italian couture!

Via Napoli is open! Let’s go inside…

As you walk into the dining area, you are met with a huge expanse of space. A large table intersects the space, allowing single diners or those wishing to experience a more social meal a place to dine in the middle of the action. The table is covered with beautiful hand-painted tiles depicting historic Italian architecture and scenery. Colorful containers of olive oil and glassware complete the scene.

To the right, inviting fresco murals cover the walls in gorgeous shades of blue, while windows reveal lush landscaping, letting your mind forget you aren’t actually in Napoli. Vintage travel posters hang above the banquet seating and more windows let in natural light. It is so spacious and open (9760 square feet to  be exact), the illusion is truly set.

It’s hard to choose a single centerpiece at Via Napoli, but surely one of the most intriguing are the brick pizza ovens. Three of them, each named after an active volcano in Italy: Stromboli, Vesuvio and Etna, sit proudly at the far end of the restaurant, watching over all. It will be interesting to observe their mustaches darken and age over time with the smoke from the ovens inside.

There are other unique touches throughout the building which I’ll let you discover on your own, but kudos to the design team of Florentine architect Stefano Nardini (of Magris & Partners) working in conjunction with Rick Swisher Architect to achieve a simply amazing homage to Italian style and form. And now…the food!

At our opening event, we were given samples of appetizers, pizza, desserts and drinks but there is so much more at Via Napoli. Here are some dishes we saw and tried:

A Mickey pizza was on display for us at the opening.

Arancini – fried risotto balls filled with mozzarella and meat ragu. These were light and perfectly cooked, but a bit bland without the dipping sauce. I would definitely order them again.

We were also given samples of the Fritto Misto – an assortment of flash fried seasonal vegetables and fish. The calamari was perfection and some of the vegetables we were given were artichoke, eggplant and zucchini. Delicious! Other appetizers on the menu include Minestrone soup, eggplant salad and a salad with assorted greens, beans and fennel in a red wine vinaigrette. Next up, the pizza!

The Margherita pizza includes tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil leaves. Simple, wonderful.

Lovers of traditional Pepperoni pizza will not be left out – this one got thumbs up from a teenager at our table.

Unfortunately I forgot to snag a pic of the delicious Quattro Formaggi (four cheese) pizza, but my blogging buddy Amanda caught me trying it out anyway! It was my favorite. The quattro formaggi has no tomato sauce for those that aren’t fans, the garlic and cheese was heavenly.

The pizza toppings on display. Other pizza choices include Quattro Stagioni (Four Seasons) which contains the vegetables eggplant, artichokes and mushrooms and parma cotto (cooked ham). Calamari, topped with fried calamari, arugula and fennel. Ortolano, tomato sauce, mozzarella and vegetables (I believe the mix was peppers, fennel and asparagus). Piccante comes topped with spicy sausage, broccoli-rabe, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Carciofi has artichoke, pecorino, mozzarella and truffle oil. Finally the Prosciutto e Melone mixes fontina, mozzarella and pecorino cheeses with prosciutto and cantaloupe.

I was asked to discover if there were any gluten-free dining options available at Via Napoli. A manager told me that yes, they did offer gluten-free entrees and desserts (we were shown the gluten-free brownie at the event). However, she cautioned that due to the nature of the open kitchen, with flour flying everywhere, anyone with severe or life-threatening allergies should definitely call ahead to plan a special meal, for fear of unintentional cross-contamination. They are more than happy to attempt to accommodate any dietary restrictions. Just call 407-WDW-DINE to ask. Edit: a Disney fan recently visited and was told they can do nothing special for gluten allergies aside from the pre-made dessert and a cold eggplant and pepper salad…this contradicts what we were told by management, so hopefully calling ahead will remedy this, or a solution will be reached in the future. Until then, have a plan B in place.

If you’d rather enjoy something other than pizza during your stay, there are quite a few choices. Traditional eggplant or chicken parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna verde made with spinach, parmesan and besciamella sauce are among the pasta options.

Of course Via Napoli is not going to leave you without dessert! We were treated to miniature versions of their tiramisu…

A splendid creation called Gelato Frizzante which was like an Italian Creamsicle. Vanilla gelato floating on San Pellegrino’s Aranciata (orange) soda. Heavenly.

Zeppole di Caterina are traditional fritters with ricotta-infused dough, served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. These were light and airy and wonderful.

This little taste is only a small portion of the Via Napoli experience. You can see the full menu on the Disney Food Blog as well. I cannot wait to get back, try other menu items and report back on them. They also had an amazing drink menu, the sangria, which I do not usually care for, was fabulous. There is a children’s menu as well, with appetizers, entrees, desserts and even a specialty drink. It’s a bit on the pricey side compared to most Disney restaurants, but the unique made-to-order choices will be worth it, I feel.

I hope you decide to venture down Via Napoli on your next visit to Epcot. I’d love to know what you tried and how you enjoyed it. Advanced Dining Reservations may be booked through 407-WDW-DINE or on www.DisneyWorld.com.

Buon Appetito!!

Check out Via Napoli Revisited for more menu item reviews.

Then, life happened…I moved away and back and away and had my own children. I have been given the gift of 3 healthy children and I understand even more, as a mom, just how valuable Give Kids the World is for children that need it.

For those unfamiliar with Give Kids the World, here is a bit more about them from their site:

A child with a life-threatening illness between the ages of 3 and 18, whose one wish is to visit any of Central Florida’s best loved attractions, may have their dream vacation come true by first being identified by a doctor as a child with a life-threatening illness. The child is then teamed up with one of over 250 partnering wish-granting organizations from
around the world, who then refer the eligible Wish Child and their family to GKTW Village. Once a Wish has been approved and recommended by the Wish Child’s local wish-granting organization, the Give Kids The World Wish includes:

• Accommodations on-site in one of 140 villas
• Donated tickets to all three major theme-park resorts (SeaWorld Orlando, Universal
• Orlando and Walt Disney World)
• Transportation
• Meals in our Gingerbread House Restaurant and Katie’s Kitchen; and ice cream all day in
• the Ice Cream Palace
• Many other fun surprises

Everything is entirely cost-free to the family!

In the course of the past year, I became close to a group of people that raised money for Give Kids the World, and am happily now able to help do that again. Our group of 43 friends are organizing a fundraiser for Give Kids the World from now until October. I thought the best way I could help would be to raise awareness with all of my wonderful readers. Before I tell you more about how to give, I wanted to let two of my friends share their personal stories of how amazing Give Kids the World is. Please give them a moment of your time as their tell their stories…

From John Saccheri -

Remembering Matthew

The year was 1990. Matthew was 12 years old and I was 19. While it doesn’t seem like 7 years is a huge difference, it certainly is in terms of life experience at that age. Even though we were cousins, and because of the age difference he called me Uncle, we were like brothers. I was always, and still am a big kid at heart and Disney fanatic. Matthew had never been to Disney and it was my tales and pictures of Walt Disney World that kept him fascinated.

The most memorable, crazy thing I came up with that Matthew loved was listening to the Electrical Parade music in pitch blackness with a strobe light. You know how movements look weird in a strobe light? Doing this with the Baroque Hoedown never got old for him.

a card made by John's cousin Matthew

So, I was his big brother and made time for him whenever I could between work and school. Matthew was my number one fan. He was my audience. Entertaining him made me feel special and I knew I was planting Disney memories that would last him a lifetime. I just didn’t appreciate the definition of lifetime. I bet most 19 year-olds don’t. And that is why this story is very important…

Matthew’s mom started to notice many bruises on him and how easily he would get a black & blue compared to other children. He was diagnosed with Leukemia. I remember being in complete denial of what this could ultimately mean and went on with life as usual. As the medications changed Matthew’s physical appearance and he became sicker, requiring the use of a wheelchair, there was no denying life had dealt our family a terrible tragedy. We prayed day and night. He was told that he might not survive without a bone marrow transplant. I remember him telling me that he might die. It was the first time in my life that I was unable to respond. I had no words. A 12 year old was telling me he had no life ahead of him while I was looking forward to mine. I accompanied Matthew and his family to the hospital often. I appreciated life every time I walked into the Schneider Children’s Hospital and was confronted with moms and dads not knowing how many more weeks or days their children had. The next time you have a fight about something in your home, think how trivial it is compared to what some people must face everyday.

Matthew received his bone marrow transplant from a relative and it appeared to be a success. They had confirmation that this new bone marrow was being accepted and was producing the proper cells. We were all ecstatic.

A few days later, we got word that he was being flown home, from the hospital in Seattle, back to New York. However, he wasn’t being sent home for a good reason. The marrow showed a complete rejection and he was being sent home to die. Literally, the doctors in Seattle had some sort of culture to tell the hard truth, even to their youngest patients. I am sure they had to have the parents consent. Whether you agree with it or not, they told him he was going to die shortly after arriving back home. He called me to tell me this news. All I could do was remain strong, tell him they had no idea what they were saying, hang up the phone and sob uncontrollably.

I had not realized the hospital was in touch with Give Kids The World and the Make A Wish foundation. I received a call from them asking for my name and personal information. When I inquired why, they informed me I was a part of his wish. He wanted to go to Disney World, but it was made very clear that he wanted to go with his Uncle John. It is hard to type this right now. I felt so special. It wasn’t just a common wish to go to Disney World, but to go with me.

It was the weirdest emotional concoction you could imagine. I was going to Disney World, I should be happy. I need to smile and be happy for Matthew. But make no mistake about it, we all knew the underlying problem.

We entered the Give Kids The World Village. These people are living saints. From the accommodations to the food, the place was fantastic. The problem was, it was full of people almost certainly enjoying their last hoorah. I hate to be literal about it, but I hope by doing so we all realize what we have and put things into perspective. Matthew,  his parents and I spent a full week enjoying Disney World. At a time when we owed over a hundred thousand in medical bills, this was a welcome respite. Video cameras were never used so much to catch special moments. I watched as Matthew and his Dad went fishing in the village. I just filmed their backs for a whole hour, thinking, one day his Dad might need this.

Matthew needed special attention because he was in a wheelchair and had something called a mediport installed into his chest for easy blood access. The room they gave us had everything we needed to get him around, including a special shower and area to keep his mediport clean. It appeared no expense was spared. I remember thinking that if I ever give to a charity when I grow up, this would be it because they obviously spend the money correctly.

Disney turned out to be a great time. When a child wears a Give Kids The World button, you can bet the characters see it and give them attention like you’ve never seen. I cried as Matthew had a semi-private 10 minute conversation with Snow White about the Dwarfs. He was smart enough to realize they were talking bologna, but that’s what made it so special. He was escaping the reality, even for a few minutes and loving every second.

We returned home and Disney was all he could talk about. As I suspected, he told me the Haunted Mansion was his favorite but I wondered if he told me that because he knew it was my favorite.

I was awoken 2 mornings later to my stepfather uttering these words that will stick with me forever, “He’s gone.“

Just like that, “He’s gone”…I just fell back into bed with an empty feeling of loss.
Really? Just like that. It was as if life gave me a hard slap and said, “Welcome to reality.”

Fast forward 20 years to the present. I’ll be 39 in a few months and Matthew’s story, although always with me, recently crept up in an unusual way. I came across a card Matthew wrote me while cleaning up my home office. I hadn’t seen it in 20 years. All the emotions came rushing back and I felt this NEED to write about it. I contacted Suzannah and asked if she’d be interested in a Blog post and as fate would have it, some sort of fundraiser was already in the works.
God? Coincidence? Whatever you believe, all I hope is this. If you give anything to a charity this year or whenever, please consider Give Kids The World and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They make a huge difference at a time people really need it. If you do it in memory of Matthew, I thank you and know I wrote this for a reason.

I love you, Matthew DeSantis,

Uncle John

…

And from my friend Kaylene J, who also has some Give Kids the World experiences to share, and will explain our fund-raising efforts:

“The most magical sound in the world is that of a child’s laughter.”

“Give Kids The World Village is a storybook 70-acre, non-profit resort located near Central Florida’s most beloved attractions that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a week-long, cost-free fantasy vacation. To date, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 90,000 families from all 50 states and over 65 countries.”

I’m a member of a group of 43 Moms and Dads, who have come together to help raise money for Give Kids the World. I’m excited about the opportunity to help make a wish come true for a child with a life-threatening illness, and to be a part of helping his or her family make priceless memories together.

I’ve been blessed with 5 healthy children, and yet I know other people who bravely face life-threatening illnesses with their sweet children every day. Two precious friends of mine have been on “Wish Trips” to Give Kids the World with their children. One of them lost their daughter several years ago to the illness that she was fighting. She recently shared her experience at the Village with me. While it was essentially “indescribable” she touched on a few highlights with me.

Naturally, she cherishes the memories of that trip, and what an incredibly special place it is. She talked about the 24 hour Ice Cream Shop and how at all hours of the night you would see children there. Some were recovering from a chemo treatment, had lost their hair and felt ill, so their Mommy or Daddy would bring them downstairs for some ice-cream. Watching them tugged at her heartstrings. As a Mom whose daughter had health issues too, she could relate all too well to what they were going through.

She talked of how each night they’d return to their room to find treasures waiting for the kids…giant stuffed Mickey’s and more…and the smiles that brought to her daughter’s face. She spoke of the “happy music” that they played at the Village and how everywhere she looked, she would see children grinning…and how it brought tears to her eyes. She said she had the opportunity to meet Henri Landwirth, the founder of Give Kids the World. He walked up to her daughter, held her hand and told her how special she was.  She cherishes each and every one of these memories, just like so many other families that have visited Give Kids the World Village in Florida. Another friend of mine received a miracle for her son, and they celebrate his post-transplant health today.

On Friday, October 1, 2010 our group of special friends will visit the Give Kids the World Village for a tour.  Some of us will bring our children with us, as we feel it will give them such meaningful insight. They will be able to see firsthand the struggles that other children have, and to in turn count their own blessings of health.  It will help them to open their hearts even more to others. Our group will also make a donation to the Village. We plan to raise money through neighborhood “Ice-Cream Socials” this summer and by collecting donations as well. Many of the children who visit Give Kids the World spend day after day taking medicine and visiting doctors.  We invite you to help bring a smile to their faces.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit our Fundraising Page at: http://www.firstgiving.com/wdwmoms Donating through this site is simple, fast, and totally secure. Thank you for your support.

…

Thank you, John and Kaylene for sharing your stories with us. I hope everyone reading this can find it in their hearts to send something to this amazing and beneficial organization. Every donation we receive at the above link will go directly to Give Kids the World. If you decide to give, I’d love if, in the comments section of the donation page, mention zannaland – as I know John and Kaylene (and all of us joining together in October!) would love to know that their stories made a difference and helped the cause.

If you are unable to give financially but would like to do something else to help out the Village, check out the various volunteer options available at the Give Kids the World site. Be sure to explore the site and all the amazing pictures, quotes, stories and more. Thank you for taking the time to make a difference!

Snap, Share & Win! Rayovac Summer Photo Contest:

The Snap, Share & Win! Rayovac Summer Photo Contest will begin August 2, 2010 and will conclude on August 29, 2010.  Each week will feature a different photo theme.  Eligible contestants will be able to complete the entry form on Rayovac’s facebook page, upload a photo and specify the theme.  Contestants may upload 1 photo each week for a maximum of 3 photos.  Once photos are posted, viewers can vote for 1 photo a day and add an unlimited number of comments.  Contestants and viewers can share the contest with their friends (eighteen years old or older) utilizing the “Invite Friends” button or by sending an email.  The photos receiving the most votes for each theme will win prizes.  Rayovac Powers Fun, have fun and be creative with your photo entries! All levels of photography welcome!

PRIZES
For each of the three themes there will be:
Grand Prize - a Digital Camera Package, complete with a Photo Printer and Rayovac Rechargeables and a Digital Photo Frame for three of the Grand Prize Winner’s friends.
Second Place Prize - Photo Printer
Runner Up Prize - Digital Photo Frame Keychain.

Phase One: Submit photo entry August 2, 2010- August 22, 2010.
(Week 1: Fun with Water Photo. Week 2: Fun Pet Photo. Week 3: Summer Fun Photo)
Phase Two: Public Vote August 2, 2010- August 29, 2010.
Phase Three: Winners Announced September 8, 2010.

Be sure to check out and “like” Rayovac on Facebook too! http://www.facebook.com/Rayovac

Good luck!

There's a mint or candy for every mood at Disney...

Do you know someone that could use a tin to match their personality??

The Classic Minnie Mouse offers a bit of spice with cinnamon mints

Or perhaps some Elegant Cinderella peppermints?

Know anyone that would like the Grumpy orange sours?

Maybe you're feeling a bit Wicked??

Of course, my personal favorite is Feisty Tinker Bell...

I wonder what happens when you mix them?? Look for these at most Disney parks and resorts on your next visit!

Complete Guide to Disney iPhone/iPod Touch app: #45,  Rikki Niblett

Complete Guide to Disney iPhone/iPod Touch app: #21, Miss M

Set of 3 Audio Guides from Lou Mongello: #9, Lynne from Texas

Celebration magazines: #25,  Brian Hubbard

Walt Disney World Trivia Guide: #2, DVC Mom

Please contact me at zanna@zannaland.com with your mailing information! (For those that won the apps, I only need your email address.) Thanks so much to everyone that participated – I promise it isn’t the last giveaway. Thank you for reading!

…

Oh, and speaking of reading, I wanted to share a site I found recently, thanks to the fabulous DisMarks. You are checking out DisMarks, right?? If not, you should, it has some of the best Disney articles all in one spot. Anyway, I saw an entry from http://www.parkeology.com and clicked over to read it. I laughed, I cried, and I didn’t even have to kiss 3 bucks goodbye (someone tell me they remember that tag line?).

Parkeology has been around since December of last year but they are not short on great topics, even better pictures and videos, and a hilarious commentary on some really unique aspects of Disney Parks. Shane and TeevTee have some amazing facts and history to share. Seriously, I almost didn’t want to tell anyone about it because I wanted to keep their awesomeness to myself, but that would’ve been very evil of me. So please check them out and be sure to comment and let them know how you like their stuff. It’s my mission to go back and read all the blogs I missed from them and I can’t wait.

Have I mentioned I love celebrations? I really do. It’s part of why I love December so much, it has my birthday AND Christmas 2 weeks after that. I’d celebrate something every day if it meant balloons and decorations and lots of pixie dust too of course. (I did briefly consider becoming a wedding planner just for the joy excitement of planning amazing parties…then I watched Bridezillas. )

Anyway, my friend and fellow Walt Disney World Moms Panelist Doug Ingersoll has been generous enough to donate not one but TWO codes to download his all new Walt Disney World Complete Travel Guide app for the iPhone or iPod Touch!

But wait, there’s more! (Sorry, no steak knives) The incomparable Lou Mongello of WDW Radio and Celebrations magazine fame (as if he needs an introduction?) has graciously given me a prize pack featuring some of his amazing theme park Audio Guides, issues of Celebrations Magazine AND his Walt Disney World Trivia Book. How cool is THAT??

How do you get a chance to win these fabulous prizes you ask?

Quite simply, just comment below and you’re entered to win!

Additional entries may be earned by:

• RT’ing about the contest on twitter (be sure to use @zannaland in your tweet so I can see it)
  
• Sharing on facebook or anywhere else – message boards, email groups, the possibilities are endless! Just link me to it here
  
• “Liking” the  ZannaLand facebook group
  
• Joining Networked Blogs on facebook
  
• Joining Google Friend Connect (join in the box to the bottom right of the main site)
  
• Subscribing to our RSS feed or via email (box on the right of the main site)
  

If you’re already a member or subscriber, just let me know in a comment and I’ll count that too.

I only ask that you leave a separate comment for each entry, because that’s really the only way I can track entries and give you credit for each item. I apologize to my Canadian and International readers but this giveaway is only open to US mailing addresses.

I will be giving away 2 codes for the Walt Disney World Complete Travel Guide app, 1 set of all 3 Lou Mongello Audio Guides, 1 set of two Celebrations magazines, and 1 Walt Disney World Trivia Guide, for a total of FIVE prizes to win.

Giveaway ends July 9, 2010 at 11:59pm.

Thank you again for all your support and readership this past year, and special thanks to Doug and Lou for providing the prizes you are hoping to win!

It’s no secret that ZannaLand has changed since its inception. In fact, when it first started there was nary a mention of Mickey and his Florida home. Originally this was a place where I sold a zine I wrote, entitled, “Zanna, Do!” all about my life as a slacker and how I was still searching for my dream job. That was in 2004, right after the sudden death of my father, after I had just turned 30 a couple of months prior. It had been my dream to be a writer since I could first put sentences together. I still have some very funny stories I wrote in grade school, summer camp, and high school which, while embarrassing to read now, bring me back to a time when I wasn’t afraid of failure or rejection. I just wrote. Then I got to college and decided to major in Creative Writing for Children and was suddenly hit with this daunting fear of “What if I fail?”. For a long time, that’s all I thought about, and decided if I didn’t try, I couldn’t fail. I then moved on to Travel & Tourism Management and living in Florida: briefly working for Disney and moving up from travel agent to manager of an Orlando area agency. I got married, had two of my children, and my dream of writing faded even further into the distance. Suddenly I was a mom first and any other ambitions went out with the diaper genie trash.

As I mentioned above, I turned 30, and two months later, my father was gone. Suddenly the little voice I’d tried to silence for so long in the back of my head was screaming at me – “Do something!”. So I wrote that zine. It seemed like a failure-free way to start out. I was publishing it myself, mailing it out to people online that wanted to read it, and even getting some independent book store distributors to sell it. It led to me writing an essay for a book that was published in 2005 entitled “If Women Ruled the World.” My piece was very fluffy and tongue-in-cheek and published alongside serious commentary on women in the world. It was exciting nonetheless. Anyway, life took over and I once again left my writing behind to carry on as a mom first and foremost. A few years passed and we relocated to Tampa, I had our third child, and as you most likely are aware, discovered twitter.

My story from that point on is well known; embracing my dreams of writing and being involved with Disney has been the best risk I ever took. Truly, I could not have been as ambitious as I was without the almost-instant support of everyone I came in contact with online. Rather than hearing “Don’t bother, there are a million and one Disney blogs out there…” I heard “Go for it, you can do it!”. Rather than hearing “The odds are against you getting on the WDW Moms Panel…” I heard, “You’d be perfect! Good luck!” And yes, my application experience was a little different because I thought I didn’t make it to the 2nd round but then I did – but sometimes technology is unreliable. Even Laura Spencer herself thought she didn’t make it to the phone interviews until right before they happened.

There will always be those that say I was picked because I was so vocal about my dreams on twitter and my blog – and yes, I was obsessed. I don’t recommend it to anyone because it truly was a 1 in 20,000 chance that I would get chosen and the odds were against me. I thought I hadn’t  made it and yes, I was crushed. I learned during those few days that it’s great to have goals, but you have to be able to adjust them if they aren’t within your power to achieve. I couldn’t *make* Disney pick me, no matter how bad I “wanted it”. I had done my best and had just gotten to the point where I was able to move on (great thanks to everyone that I leaned upon during that time, I will never forget how you all tried to lift my spirits), when I got the 2nd email telling me there was a mistake. It wasn’t a 2nd chance – it was a mistake. Obviously, my emotions were all over the place at that point and I truly can’t say how I wouldn’t handled it if I made I then didn’t make it to round 3 or the finals. But fate had different plans and I did make it to round 3, on to the phone interviews and (obviously) the panel.

As thankful and grateful as I was after getting off that phone call, a part of me never really stopped to realize what an accomplishment it actually was and to soak that in. Part of me always had my own sense of self-doubt that I had ‘bugged’ my way onto the panel. Logically though, even I can see how ridiculous that is. Why would a multi-billion dollar company choose me out of tens of thousands of entries just to ‘shut me up’? The simple answer is, they wouldn’t. The team behind the Walt Disney World Moms Panel application process doesn’t enter lightly into their choices. And while I’m never going to be the one to say, “yeah, I’m pretty awesome” the fact that Disney thought I was worthy enough to be welcomed onto this panel, is an honor to be celebrated. It has, in fact, been an amazing journey and the friends I’ve made along the way have made it all the sweeter.

Now lets get back to the blog! Once I made the panel, I was kind of in a place of limbo with the blog. Will writing it interfere with my role on the Moms Panel? Should I step away from Disney topics and attempt to be a “mom blogger”? I chose the latter and soon found out it wasn’t for me. I have great respect for mom bloggers and the real-life topics they share with all of us trying to be successful parents. I have even greater respect for those that can be completely real, dirty laundry and all, all with amazing wit and wisdom thrown in. I tried to be involved in networks and ‘get myself out there’ as much as I could. However, I soon found that blogging the same giveaways 100 other moms were posting was not for me. I had built my community of readers up by sharing my experiences and love of Disney, and now I was trying to tell them about this exciting new product. I felt like I wasn’t being true to myself. So I again returned to Disney-centric posting.

Then a funny thing happened, my adorable little baby that was crawling around suddenly started walking and talking and running and wanting to get into everything all.the.time. My older kids had a lot going on at school too and my time to blog was suddenly reduced to maybe two hours a day…and in those same two hours I had to take a shower, keep up with laundry, clean the house and once April came around, answer questions on the Moms Panel. I know thousands of women do all this and more daily, but I just couldn’t keep up and actually get any writing done. There were (and are) multiple days in a row when I just can’t update the site. Then, of course, I get anxious. “OMG everyone’s going to delete my site from their feed, stop reading, move on, and forget about me!” And yes, I am admitting that I fear that. I am not making any money from this site and I’m not in it for ‘fame’ or ‘celebrity’ in fact it makes me cringe when I see pictures or video of myself, even though I love the opportunities that take place to hang out with the other people in those pictures and videos. What I was and am in it for is to fulfill my dream of writing. I’ve made some strides there and have been incredibly grateful for the breaks I’ve been given to be a guest author and now a contributing author at Whoa, Momma! Being on the Moms Panel has also been amazing and every time I log on to answer questions, I get a smile on my face.

So, where does that leave me? Well, I’ve never been an “information only” blog. I will share news or reviews but 99% of the time I still throw my personal spin on it. The thing about blogging is you want to share your stories with others. You want people to read and connect and interact. And once you get a little of that, it does become a little addictive. It’s hard not to think, how can I reach more people? How can I get more readers? And as noted, I do have down days where I want to give it all up. This blog will always be a personal blog for better or for worse. There are 100′s or even 1000′s of blogs and sites that will tell you the latest and greatest Disney news – and they are wonderful. ZannaLand will never be one of those sites.

What I will do is tell you how walking down Main Street, USA looking up at Cinderella Castle at night still gives me chills. I’ll tell you about my interactions with Dreamfinder in 1983 and how he and Figment wanted to connect the dots on my freckles. I’ll tell you about my when my two oldest children were little and their faces lit up at the ‘snow’ and lights at the Studios or how my youngest ran to the window of Animal Kingdom Lodge and yelled out “RAFFE!” as he saw his first live giraffe through the windows. In between, I’ll share some tips and other experiences that may make your vacation more enjoyable. Maybe I’ll give some things away. Maybe I’ll share some other bloggers with you, or other travel destinations I think you may enjoy. My point is, you’ll get me, my personal experiences and then some. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Hopefully, you’ll find something you can identify with and share back with me, because we’re just getting started.

Thank you for reading.

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Some other news – I am now an official contributing author at TampaBay.com’s Whoa, Momma! blog. I know I mentioned I was writing articles for them before, but now I’m all permanent-like and my name’s on the header and my author bio’s on the side. Yee haw! Pretty darn cool and I am extremely grateful and honored that the fine ladies over at Whoa, Momma! for taking a chance on me. You can read my latest post on Activities Off the Beaten Path at Disney there now, with more to come in the coming weeks. Some pieces may even be picked up by the St. Petersburg Times and in turn their news wire and show up in your local paper.

I’ve mentioned on twitter but I know not everyone is there – I have also written a couple of guest posts for Mr. Hidden Mickey Guy himself, Steven Barrett. Again, the honor was mine and if you told me a year ago I’d be doing either of these things, I’d have laughed and said “yeah, right!” I’m so very grateful. You can read my post on Disney After Dark and Staying Cool in the Summer at Disney over on his site.

And of course, you can find me over at DisneyWorldMoms.com where I’ll be answering questions for a few more weeks. I’d love to get a question from a reader to answer on the panel! Just click on the “ask Suzannah a question” link on my WDW Moms Panel bio page.

If you are looking for other ways to stay connected, you can find me on twitter @zannaland, or the facebook page for the site: facebook.com/zannaland (close to 500 members now!) over there you can post comments or questions on the wall, interact with other Disney fans, add pictures to the group photo album and keep up with all the blog entries as well. I’d love to see more of you!

Thank you so much for reading!

If you’ve met me in real life, you also know that shy and socially awkward are probably the first two impressions that come to mind. There’s a reason I write! However, after several meetings or perhaps an adult beverage, I do mellow out and relax. That said, hanging around my fellow bloggers and media mavens, I finally get that concept of:  “What’s the worse they can say? No? Then you move on!“

So it was channeling one of those very bloggers that gave me the confidence to approach Chef Dundon after meeting him at the Raglan Road Signature Dinner and ask for an interview. As soon as I had the thought, the confidence was there and I knew I could do it. Even if he blew me off and said he was too busy, or was polite and said yes but later blew me off, I was going to DO it. So I did. And guess what? (not hard to guess reading the title of this post!) He said “That would be wonderful!” I spent the rest of the night on cloud 9, if for no other reason than I had made that next step in my new life as a purveyor of fine social media. (Like that title? I just made it up.)

Anyway, now you know the story behind the story and it is with great pleasure and honor that I present the following interview to you, my readers, and hope you enjoy it. Here’s a little more about Kevin Dundon’s background:

Kevin Dundon is the Chef/Proprietor of Dunbrody Country House Hotel & Restaurant, located in Ireland’s sunny South East. Dunbrody was established in 1997 by Kevin and his wife Catherine and has very quickly become a must-see for all foodies. It is now considered to be one of Ireland’s Premier Hotels & Restaurant. Kevin’s runs a cookery school at the hotel as well which already recognised as one of the most respected in the country. (source: KevinDundon.com)

In addition Kevin is the Chef/Patron of Raglan Road which has two locations, Downtown Disney in Orlando and Kansas City, MO. Given that Chef Dundon has cooked for none other than Her Majesty, The Queen and Bono, I think it goes without saying that Raglan Road will not disappoint. He is also author of two cookbooks: Full on Irish: Creative Contemporary Cooking and Great Family Food. Is there another in the works? Read on…

I was curious as to how we’d be seated for the night, since I knew Raglan Road did not have a closed-off area and the event was for 63 people. For those who’ve not yet been, throughout the restaurant you will find antique furnishings, grand fixtures, marble adornments, leaded glass, and ornate detailing.  The entire pub was built in Ireland then shipped to Orlando. As we arrived, the Irish band was just taking the stage.

Raglan Road is pleasing to the eye and ear from the moment you step inside.

We were taken to the Raglan Room to the left of the stage and bar. This oak-paneled room was built using original woods from an old Georgian mansion in Dublin. It was nicely intimate while still enjoying the ambiance of the rest of the venue.When we were seated, we found some nice items waiting for us.

At each place setting was a rose, a souvenir menu, and an autographed copy of Chef Kevin Dundon's most recent cookbook.

There were both large and small tables throughout the room. We were seated at a table for six. Like most group seating at Disney, there is usually an instant topic of conversation because of course, we are all fans of Disney. In this case, added to that was the fact that we were all lovers of food and wine and looking forward to the evenings selections. Soon our first choices were offered – wine and appetizers.

We were given a choice of 14 Hands Merlot, 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon, or Terrazas Torrontes. My husband chose the Merlot and enjoyed it while I had the Torrontes and proved yet again that I do indeed like good wine. Our next choice was between an appetizer of Goat Cheese Salad with Orange and Caramelized Walnuts served on a bed of Organic greens or Crispy Filet of Fresh Atlantic Salmon served in a Saffron Broth with Stewed Grape Tomatoes. I chose the former and my husband chose the latter.

Goat Cheese Salad with Orange & Caramelized Walnuts Served on a bed of Organic Greens. Delicious.

I cannot adequately put into words how well the components of this salad worked together. Individually, they were all wonderful, but when you combined the goat cheese with an orange, it burst with flavor. With the caramelized walnuts, it was a whole new taste and with the little peppered Parmesan cheese crust, another completely different and delicious combination. Pretty much perfection in a salad!

Crispy Fresh Atlantic Salmon in Saffron Broth with basil and stewed grape tomatoes

Here I have to admit that I am not a salmon person. I have tried it so many times and I just don’t enjoy it. However, my husband insisted I had to try this, and he was right. It really was wonderful. Even the tomatoes (which I also do not usually like) just melted in your mouth.

Next up, the soup that both of us were so looking forward to – Delicate Lobster Bisque garnished with Crème Fraiche and Lobster Meat. I don’t think any of the diners were prepared for the amazing presentation of this dish:

A bowl was brought out to each diner, with some fresh lobster meat and a dollop of crème fraiche...

Soon, the waitstaff came around with pots of the lobster bisque broth and added it to each bowl...

Instantly, the crème fraiche began melting into the bisque...

Resulting in a simply beautiful bowl of Lobster Bisque - not too heavy, perfectly seasoned and delectable.

Now I have to say, I could’ve gone home at this point completely satisfied, everything was so wonderful. The entrees were soon on their way and we had another choice here: Roast Loin of Lamb with Dauphinoise Potatoes and miniature Lamb Pie or Oven-roasted Turbot with Crispy Potato Scales and Caper Vinaigrette served on a Leek Fondue. My husband chose the lamb and I the turbot.

As you can see, the presentation was impeccable. The shot glass full of lamb pie was adorable and my husband thought every item was superb.

My Oven-roasted Turbot was wonderful. A Perfect combination of flavors and textures.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, dessert was individual mugs of Baked Chocolate Fondant (very similar to a chocolate souffle to my non-expert palate) with Stout-flavored ice cream. Again, presentation was all part of the experience here:

The cups of Baked Chocolate Fondue...

The stout-flavored ice cream melting into the fondue. Wonderful!

After desserts were served, we were all brought an Irish coffee which was a nice nightcap to the evening. Plates of hand-made Irish truffles were then also brought out to each table.

Our Irish Coffee to end the meal.

Hand-made Irish Truffles and Chocolates

After the final desserts, Chef Kevin Dundon came out and spoke to each person at every table. He was extremely personable and open to discussing the dishes and his work. It was a nice treat to meet the chef behind the creations we’d just enjoyed and Raglan Road Pub’s menu as well.

Chef Dundon speaking to our table-mates.

Of course I couldn't pass up a picture with Chef Dundon after we chatted. He loves Boston by the way.

All in all, it was a simply spectacular evening. I was so happy to be able to enjoy it with my husband. It has been a long time since we’ve experienced such a gourmet meal alone together. I would like to personally thank Chef Dundon and the staff at Raglan Road for the impeccable service we received. This night differed from the previous Tables in Wonderland event I’d been to in that it was a little larger and more focused on overall flavor combinations versus the one or two ingredients that the prior event featured. I’m really glad I was able to experience both and that’s just part of the benefit to being a Tables in Wonderland member!

I would have had this review posted sooner, but I had been trying in vain to get an interview from the exceptionally busy Chef Dundon. Finally I decided to just share the experience with you all and hopefully I’ll be able to post the interview sometime in the future (maybe even with a signed cookbook giveaway too!). Be sure to let the Raglan Road twitter account you’d love to read Chef Dundon’s interview on ZannaLand. UPDATE: The fine folks at the Raglan Road Pub twitter account informed me this morning that a response had been sent and to check my spam folder. I did and low and behold, there were the answers. Color me embarrassed! Stay tuned for Chef Kevin Dundon’s interview and a book giveaway next week! Interview or not, look for more unique items like those featured here when you visit Raglan Road at Downtown Disney and more events like this from Tables in Wonderland!