Our Welcome sign - I love that you can see the Polynesian Resort in the background here!

The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration kicked off at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, where attendees were treated to a Platinum Soiree welcome reception. Champagne flutes and a buffet of candy – not sure what could be much better than that. We were able to see some of the amazing wedding cakes that Disney Fairytale Weddings offer and meet with “Franck” from Father of the Bride (after whom the Wedding Pavilion salon is named) and “Edna Mold” from The Incredibles who entertained us in between speakers. Check out this photo tour of the evening’s events:

The Candy Bar awaited us - what a cool wedding reception idea!

Close-up of the Candy Bar - thanks to OhAmanda.com for the photo!

Thanks to OhAmanda.com for this photo of Franck and Edna!

We then headed over to the pavilion for some amazing speakers and presentations.

The Princess collection gowns were on display for us - Snow White

The Ariel Gown

Franck, posing for us...

Michael Shettel, Vice President of Design, Alfred Angelo with the newest Cinderella design wedding gown.

Simply gorgeous!!

Carley Roney, co-founder and editor in chief of The Knot, Inc. shared some wonderful information on the growth of social media and online communities.

David Tutera speaks about changing bridal expectations and bringing wedding fashion ahead of the curve.

Next, we were treated to a real, live Disney Fairytale Wedding vow renewal ceremony! The “wedding party” (aka Disney performers) danced down the aisle in fabulous attire as our almost-still-a-newlywed bride of 2 years joined her prince to renew their vows once again at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion.

The ceremony was short but sweet, perfect for a room full of bloggers!

Outside, we awaited the bride and groom and I was lucky enough to stand across from David Tutera where I got a little more time to talk (okay, and take some pictures..he’s just so darn handsome – look at that profile!)

David does a better "Blue Steel" than Zoolander himself!

Joking about his time at Walt Disney World...

David was discussing how much fun he was having on the Disney attractions, especially the ones that took your photo. He said on one, he knew when the picture was coming so he did this pose for the camera! Love it!

David was SO gracious and patiently posed for pictures with all who asked. It was a dream come true for me!

The event was, in a word, breath-taking. I have been a fan of Disney’s Fairytale Weddings from the start, but it was such a treat to be able to experience a little of what their magic is like in person, not to mention the wonderful speakers and sites we were able to see. It is still a hope and a dream that I will someday have a Disney vow renewal. My 15th wedding anniversary is coming up this October, but that might be a bit too soon to pull something off, so I’ll shoot for the 20th.

Stay tuned for more recaps from the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration coming up on ZannaLand!

If you cannot tell, what you’re seeing is my son’s Perry Platypus face T-Shirt. The dryer had stopped right with Perry’s face front and center and made me giggle. Right after I took this picture, the ‘wrinkle prevent’ kicked in and Perry was gone again…Agent P never rests!

This trip is bananas! B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

In this photo, you not only get to see adorable 6-ish year old me, you get my mom next to me in a long sundress (which is I think back in style today?!) and Jackie O sunglasses, my brother on the other side of me in knee socks and short shorts, and to the far right, you can see part of my sister in a green one-piece tube-top/shorts-set situation. If my dad were in the picture, I can only imagine the fashion fabulousity he would’ve added, given his previous appearances with white pants and reaaaally short shorts.

I think my family is pretty tame compared to the other 1970′s theme-park couture going on, even from behind. Thanks, lady with the matching red pants and vest, lady with the super high plaid bell-bottoms with matching plaid jacket in your hand, and dude behind my brother with his shirt buttoned ALL the way down. You really made this picture worth posting. How did we survive as a species during this time?? Oh that’s right. Disco!

Since I still can’t locate my flux capacitor, I have the next best thing – my actual travel diary from that 1983 trip. I remember that blank journal so well; my mom had bought it for me in a sticker shop along with my latest Lisa Frank obsessions to add to my sticker books (I still have my sticker album which would be another awesome entry for my fellow 80′s kids). It had a shiny silver cover with a rainbow on the front. The pages were then different colors of the rainbow, so if you looked at it on the side, it was complete rainbow perfection. Sadly, I didn’t save the whole journal for some reason. We’ve moved so many times I probably just thought I’d pull out the pages I wrote on and save them. I know I used it to record our next trip when we flew down with my siblings and also stayed in the Villas, but I do not have those pages any more. What I do have, is just hysterical.

First, it is written in some sort of 9 year-old short hand and most definitely from a 9 year-old’s perspective as to what the important parts of the trip were. Well, let me just show you…

The first page is from the first leg of our drive, from Sharon, Massachusetts to Savannah Georgia. Unfortunately I did not date my entries, but I’m pretty sure it was the end of the summer in 1983, since school started pretty soon afterward and I remember presenting my trip souvenirs (match books, drink stirrers, guide maps…) to my 5th grade class a few weeks later. Everything below is as I wrote it, including the things in parentheses. The things in brackets, however, are my notes today. Most of the pictures are from 1983, but a few are from our trip the next year.

“We arrived at 1:45. It took 7½ hours. Got settled at the Quality Inn. [This was in Washington, DC.] I got a surprise visit to the zoo! [Pandas were really big back then and I wanted nothing more than to see them at the National Zoo!] Then we took a ride to see the memorials and monument, Capitol and White House. We ate at the Inn of the Eight Immortals (a szechuan Chinese food place) [no longer there it seems]. Then we saw the hospital I was born in and the house we lived in then.

-Wednesday-

We got a tour of the Capitol and had lunch at the Senate Dining Room [I have no idea whether or not this was a big deal back then or if it's the same now, that you are allowed to dine there if they have room. When I was first born, my father worked as the Maitre D' of the Capitol Hill Club, so I'm not sure if he still knew people there or not]. We went to half of the Smithsonian. Then we swam a little and finally we had dinner at Farrell’s ice cream parlor [this was in Tyson's Corner and has been closed for a while]. Then we go home and sleep.

My dad and I outside the Smithsonian - I was caught mid-blink

-Thursday-

We arrived in Georgia about 4:30. We swim for a long time then we eat dinner at the Pirate’s House. That was excellent. I was scared to look  at some of the pirate figures they had set up and I almost walked into the boys bathroom! We come back late and read or whatever. Then we finally get to sleep. (Daddy snores all the time.)

[There is then a gigantic arrow letting anyone reading to know to turn the page. ]

-Friday- [I apologize for the run-on format to follow!]

At 6:00 am we get up and get ready to go. We find a cockroach (gross!) and then start driving to Florida. We have breakfast at McDonald’s. We do every day practically! We came to EPCOT at 10:15! Daddy makes dinner reservations at Germany [I remember this, it was in the original area underneath Spaceship Earth where you could make video reservations with guest relations. That was one of THE coolest things ever.] We call Nana and off to the Land. We see a nature film [Symbiosis] it was SO loud! Then a boat ride with lots of veggies then see dancing veggies  – Kitchen Karoba (sp?) [Obviously Kitchen Kabaret made an impact on me haha]. Then my all-time favorite: Journey into Imagination! Awesome. Then we go to the Image Works same place) – Rainbow tunnel, stepping on notes etc. Then awesome 3-D movie [Magic Journeys]. I admit I did grab for some objects coming out! Then home to an awesome motel  – 2 bedrooms, fold out sofa – bath, kitchen. [This, my friends, was my 9 year-old impression of the Vacation Villas. Oh well. I appreciate it now!]

My mom and I posing in ultra early 80's luxury at the Lake Buena Vista Vacation Villas.

We have a snack and off to Germany. First we went on Spaceship Earth – no line. Went straight up and straight down backwards! Then Germany. Show, dancers, singers, horn players, etc. etc. German shops then go to Italy just in time for the Teatro di Bologna – very funny! Then the France movie and Mom and I wait in a line of 500,000 it seemed for yummy pastry. We buy a Figment. [I still have him, broken neck and all...]

The original Figment topiary...

-Saturday-

Up at 7am. Coffee for Mummy and Daddy. We walk in the super World of Motion after Daddy makes reservations for Japan, then onto the Universe of Energy. Scary dinosaurs but great moving theater – dull movie at end. [Sorry UoE, I'll still always love you, even tho I was petrified of the dinosaurs!] Journey into Imagination again. Still awesome. Then the Land for a danish breakfast, back to monorail and a ferry to the Magic Kingdom. Took a fire engine to Cinderella Castle. We walk into Small World then Carousel ride and on to the Magic Kingdom railroad, Haunted house and Pirates of Caribbean [no, I didn't spell it right back then ]. A hot dog for lunch and then Tiki Birds, a swirl ice at Orange Bird stand [*cry*] and shops, then take the ferry back to EPCOT and car and motel. [I love how I keep calling it a motel.] Daddy and I take a quick dip in the pool then off to dinner in Japanese Manor [not sure why I called it that?!]. Really good. I learned the trick of chopsticks. Then shops, UK shops and Renaissance play – Romeo and Juliet! The Canada round movie. Back to EPCOT and World of Motion, Imagination again. Time for Image Works and DDD movie [I was so funny har har]. We get popsicles then home to bed.

My Daddy, cigarette and all, and me. Look at those cool trees in the background!

-Sunday-

Up at 6:30, coffee and cereal time. Off to Mass at the Polynesian [I spelled it Poloneasayn haha] resort – flowers, birds and buggies. Back to EPCOT on monorail. Then breakfast at Good Turn restaurant. We eat and see Land boat ride as we eat! Off to American stage for World Showcase dancers – great – we talk to a dancer [I remember exactly what she looked like. My mom being a former professional ballerina, she loved this show and loved getting to talk to this dancer] and then Mom and Daddy see French movie. I see marionette show Hansel and Gretel [I have absolutely zero memory of this show OR my parents letting me watch it alone!] Then World dancers again. I dance with one – neat – off to the motel. McD’s for lunch then pool. [ick, McD's for lunch, really?!] Back to EPCOT for dinner in Mexico. Really neat! It’s like a town square in Mexico. Mom and Daddy ate cactus! I tried a little turnip, interesting! Went on the boat ride – neat. Then Magic Kingdom for Electric parade and fireworks. Great! The Wings of Man [my name for If You Had Wings? Ah hA! Just looked it up - that was Eastern airline's slogan at the time.], G.E. Carousel of Progress, People Mover then back on monorail for home. We’re pooped!

I guess that's why I remember what she looked like - we had a picture!

Embarrassed!

-Monday-

Up for EPCOT, sad day – last day. We ate breakfast in Good Turn, went on rides and started driving for Maryland. Drove and drove and drove. When Mom drove we went 90 miles an hour – no ticket. Later Daddy went 76 and got a ticket! Arrived in MD at a good time, went to D.C. first. Went to a French restaurant [La Nicoise, sadly now closed as well] where the waiters were all on roller skates! Then to Maryland, we went to an absolutely awesome aquarium and to the shops. I get stickers and a painters cap with Suzy written on it. Ate at Phillip’s Crab House then drove home.”

This is a terrible quality picture, but I had to post it. We took a picture of our family's picture at the end of Journey into Imagination. I'm the one clinging to my dad's arm because I don't want the ride to be over...

And that’s it. An uneventful end to a journey back to such an amazing time. I think I’ve rambled enough about all that this trip meant to me back then, and I know for a fact I’ll discuss it again, as it is my hope to post my Love Letter to EPCOT sometime soon…so I’ll just end this here. Thank you for reading and letting me indulge a bit of the childhood me. If you’d told the excited little me back then what my love of Disney would turn into today…I just might have believed you. After all, Dreamfinder told me imagination belongs to all of us.

Click to see full-sized.

It’s these little moments that make visiting the parks in outrageous humidity worthwhile. I love stopping to appreciate them. Have you had any special experiences like this away from the hustle and bustle? I’d love to hear about them.

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.

I love this angle of Illuminations from Japan. Beautiful!

photo ©Benjamin Thompson used with permission

Here’s how it works:

First, you go to the register and pay for the pearls you want to pick.

Then, wait your turn if it's busy like this. They do a really nice little ceremony highlighting some Japanese etiquette too.

You get to pick your oyster from either tank.

Next, she carefully cuts open the oyster...

Ta da! A beautiful little pearl was inside!

Next, she cleans any debris off the pearl in a bowl of salt.

Choose carefully - when we were there, two sets of people in a row got TWIN pearls in their oyster!

Once your pearl is born, it gets measured and put into a little baggie with its size on it. You can then take it home, or purchase a jewelry setting there at the stand. They will set your pearl for you and you can pick it up before you go. Our pearls were 7 ^1/4 and 7 ^3/4; a little above average, but there were some people getting even bigger ones there. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you try your luck with this particular surprise!

Have you picked a pearl? What was your experience?

These are the details that I love discovering at Disney.

photo ©Vanessa Guzan

When we left off, we were about to cross this barrel bridge to parts unknown, yes? As always, click to enlarge photos.

What will we find there?

First, you get this nice view of Liberty Square

Then we come upon a lovely little spot, Aunt Polly's...sadly, it does not seem to be open much at all anymore.

Relaxing seating area with a view at Polly's

Why look, it's the Liberty Belle again - really makes you feel like you are on the Mississippi.

Our friends left their mark on a fence as we make our way to Harper's Mill.

Harper's Mill is ours to explore...

Inside Harper's Mill we find some new little friends...

A little blue bird has made a happy nest in a very noisy mill!

...and an owl keeps him company.

To learn more about these little guys, head over to the Main St Gazette for the full story on how they pay homage to Disney’s 1937 short, The Old Mill. (It is listed there as being in Potter’s Mill but they actually reside in Harper’s Mill which Ryan realized when we saw them together-we bloggers have a lot of details going on in our brains you know! )

And that concludes our travels on Tom Sawyer Island. We have discovered many secrets along the way, some of which I’ve left out for you to explore and find on your own adventure. I will leave you with one last secret, perhaps the most well-known of its kind among Disney fans – the Tom Sawyer Island paint brushes! If you are among the first visitors to the Island in the morning, be on the hunt for some paint brushes that Tom and Huck may have left around. Pick one up and bring it to a cast member for a fun surprise. Here’s one a fellow Disney Mom found on her most recent trip to Tom Sawyer Island:

One of the elusive Tom Sawyer Island paint brushes! Will you find one?? photo courtesy of Kara B.

I hope you enjoyed our tour of Tom Sawyer Island. I know I loved my first-ever visit there and can’t wait to go back and search for paint brushes myself. Perhaps the best secret of the island is, as in most things, the journey itself. I had so much fun taking time out from the fast-pace theme park atmosphere to just talk, explore and discover. As if being rewarded for our time spent stopping to smell the roses, Ryan and I got a beautiful show on the raft back to Frontierland…

We saw the strangest and most beautiful phenomenon in the sky...it hadn't been raining, those colors just appeared on their own.

Thanks for visiting, I’d love to hear your stories of Tom Sawyer Island too!

Let’s just get right to the pictures, shall we? Don’t forget you can click to enlarge.

Tren-D's display of colored Sketch Letter Carriers - the strap is just snapped in there for display.

Disney Dooney & Bourke Blue Sketch Letter Carrier

Disney Dooney & Bourke Purple Sketch Letter Carrier

Disney Dooney & Bourke Pink Sketch Letter Carrier

Disney Dooney & Bourke Yellow Letter Carrier

^photo ©Cupcake2008

Disney Dooney & Bourke Green Letter Carrier - photo ©Cupcake2008

Another view of the pink Sketch Letter Carrier - photo ©Charles Aguillon

Back of the pink Letter Carrier - photo ©Charles Aguillon

Price of the Sketch Letter Carrier - $155 - photo ©Charles Aguillon

The wristlets are $49 and do have the pocket in the back like the 2nd edition Sketch series does.

Disney Dooney & Bourke Sketch color wristlets - photo ©Cupcake2008

The Disney Dooney & Bourke Sketch Wristlet in pink

Disney Dooney and Bourke Blue Sketch Wristlet

Disney Dooney & Bourke Green Sketch Wristlet

Disney Dooney & Bourke yellow Sketch wristlet

…

I know I had to restrain myself from getting one in every color. What’s your favorite? What designs or colors would you like to see Disney and Dooney & Bourke come out with next?

…

Other Disney Dooney & Bourke collections may be found here on ZannaLand:

Disney Dooney & Bourke Original White Cindy Sketch Design

Disney Dooney & Bourke Multi-colored Mickey Black Handbags

Disney Dooney & Bourke Brown Mickey, Navy Mickey, Pink Minnie Purse Designs

Dooney & Bourke Disney Cruise Line Edition and Colored Wristlets

Disneyland 55th Anniversary Dooney & Bourke Collection

Disney Dooney and Bourke Princess Handbag Designs

Disney Dooney & Bourke Balloon Design in Black and White

Disney Dooney & Bourke Peace Love Mickey Minnie Denim Bags

The Wonders of Life today...

The former home of the Wonder Cycles now waits for special festival events.

I know it’s no secret that Wonders of Life has been used for festival events both during the Epcot Flower and Garden and Food & Wine Festivals, but I actually had not been inside the building since around 2003. I recently attended a preview event held in the pavilion and as sad as it was to see no Cranium Command marquee, Wonder Cycles with video screens, or Body Wars, my sadness was quelled by a trip upstairs to the VIP lounge. I wish I’d taken pictures of the elevator because it really was beautiful; dark wood, mirrors on all sides, you could watch yourself watching yourself watching yourself riding the elevator.

Once upstairs, you are greeted with an instant circus theme. I know in the past for Food & Wine Festival dinners, the reception area had a full-on red and white striped tent treatment going on. I was able to find some pictures on a Disney fan message board of how the space is used for wedding receptions:

a Mad Hatter reception works perfectly with this decor - from a 2007 wedding

The Wonders Lounge

Another view of the Wonders Lounge

Cranium Command!

For our event, the reception area was all white, and the bright primary-colored seating that normally filled the lounge was replaced with white table clothed banquet tables. I’m  not sure if the big-top has gone permanently or if it can be replaced as-needed, but from the looks of these old pictures compared to the new ones, it looks like white paint has taken over.

The fabric curtains could still have stripes on the back?

The stripes over the bar are now plain white...

Where do these doors lead?? I should've looked but I was good.

When I walked into the bathroom, I was not expecting anything but a plain ol’ standard restroom. I was actually excited when I walked in and saw this. I realize this probably makes me sound extremely lame, but I’m getting old, little things thrill me.

This is my new favorite bathroom in all of Walt Disney World.

I wonder if there is usually a chair here? I loved this dressing room-like mirror though!

Nice, granite counters but there's still a circus theme.

Circus tent bathroom stalls!

Isn’t that cool? If you’d like to check out the Wonders Lounge and its accompanying restroom, look into special events during Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival which are held here in October and part of November. There are events during the Flower and Garden festival too, but I’m not sure if they make use of the lounge. It’s definitely a hidden gem of whimsy that I wish were open to the public!

One of my very favorite views of Epcot - the Imagination pavilion!

Photo ©Vanessa Guzan

Where in the World are we?

Photo ©Vanessa Guzan

Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as these "characters"!

Photo ©Vanessa Guzan

Aaand a question:

If you have any pictures you’d like to contribute to the Photo of the Day (or possibly week?!) just comment below and let me know – thanks!