Disney Special Events

In Napoli Where Pizza is King…Epcot Welcomes Via Napoli to the Family

6 August 2010 by Suzannah Otis 9 Comments

Ok, so Dean Martin said love was king, but he never tried the pizza at Via Napoli now did he? I was among those lucky enough to get a taste yesterday at the Via Napoli grand opening celebration and I can’t wait to return. Of course there has been a lot of buzz about Via Napoli online since it was first announced it would join the World Showcase family of restaurants. Fears swirled that adding a new element to an existing country pavilion would disrupt the look and flow of our beloved Italy, while others felt an expansion was necessary and eagerly awaited its arrival. Me? Well, I am used to Boston pizza, where Dominoes is a 4-letter word and places like Bertucci’s once took the pizza chain restaurant up to date and into the land of the brick oven. Knowing there would now finally be a place to get authentic Neapolitan pizza in Epcot, I was a fan before I even got there.

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!

Dooney & Bourke Exclusive Disneyland 55th Anniversary Collection

11 July 2010 by Suzannah Otis 12 Comments

Following in the vein of Disney Cruise Line exclusive Dooney & Bourke bags, Disneyland park now gets its own special collection of these wildly popular handbags. Once again featuring Dooney & Bourke designer Ian Ray, Disneyland fans are sure to enjoy this newest offering from perhaps the most popular marriage of fashion and fun.

The bags showcase so many iconic images from the different silhouettes of Mickey through the years, to Mickey Mouse Club I.D. cards as well ticket media and famous phrases associated with ‘The Happiest Place on Earth.’

Disney Vault 28 will be the first to offer these Disneyland® Resort Dooney & Bourke co-branded bags. This fashionable collection highlights the essence of Disney with color, art and a nostalgic touch.

Click each picture below to head to the DisneyStore.com and purchase these bags!

Bags and prices are as follows:

Medium Tote – $270.00

Small Messenger – $ 255.00

Letter Carrier – $155.00

Large Wristlet – $70.00

Checkbook Wallet – $175.00 (not pictured)

Dooney & Bourke Disneyland designs — Disneyland 55th Anniversary collection featuring Dooney & Bourke's Ian Ray - photo ©Disney

Don’t forget to check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current released Disney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.

*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!

The Greatest Bathroom and Lounge On Earth!

9 July 2010 by Suzannah Otis 24 Comments

Disney certainly is no stranger to circus themes, what with the whole Dumbo/Casey Jr. connection. However you may be surprised to hear there is actually a circus-themed lounge and bathroom within a now long-extinct attraction inside Epcot. A little bit of “The Greatest Show on Earth without the scary clowns.

Wonders of Life pavilion — The Wonders of Life today…

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:

It’s Summer Nightastic! Night! What Would YOU Like to See Pictures Of?

6 June 2010 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Tonight I’m heading over to the Magic Kingdom with my family to experience Summer Nightastic! first hand. We’ll be seeing the Main Street Electrical Parade and the new Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular. I’m really excited because none of my children have seen the Main Street Electrical Parade. Ever! Last time I saw it was in 2000, right before we packed up and moved back to Massachusetts and it packed up and moved to a different Disney park. While Spectromagic is perhaps most dear to me because it reminds me of my time as a cast member on Main Street, the Main Street Electrical Parade embodies my childhood visits to Disney World and transports me back to that time. It was amazing to see it backstage, but I can’t wait to see it live on Main Street again.

So my question to you, my faithful readers, is what do YOU want to see pictures or video of? (I can’t promise too much with the video as it’s not my strong-suit and I only have the video function on my regular camera ;)) Comment here with your requests and I’ll do my best to capture them tonight and post it tomorrow here on the site. Of course it doesn’t have to be limited to the parade or fireworks; it could be an attraction, a sign, heck even a trash can!

Comment here, and your request may show up tomorrow!

Take the Raglan Road to Wonderland – Celebrity Chef Dining Experience

4 June 2010 by Suzannah Otis 7 Comments

You may remember my review of my last Tables in Wonderland experience at The Wave in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It was so spectacular, I had to take my husband to the next event. Lucky for us both, it happened to be at Raglan Road Pub at Downtown Disney at $115 per person, which included the entire meal and wine service as well as a signed cookbook from Chef Kevin Dundon, who would also be on hand cooking. Just looking at the menu got both of us excited since we just love Raglan Road in general. Let me recap the evening for you – with pictures of course!

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 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.

WDW Summer Nightastic Main Street Electrical Parade Preview Video

1 June 2010 by Suzannah Otis 7 Comments

I think it’s high time I embraced the future by editing and posting my first video here, don’t you? Technically, I posted one last summer which was my low-quality video of the Headless Horseman‘s ride during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party‘s Boo To You Parade…and also technically, this is a slideshow not a video, but it was way more complicated than my first attempt!

In any event, this video contains pictures and information regarding Walt Disney World’s Summer Nightastic! coming to the parks June 6 – August 14, 2010. As many of you may have seen on twitter, I was invited to a media preview of the parade and events last week. Then I got wonderfully sick and I’m just now getting to share my pictures with you all. There will be more to come about the other events, but for now, I hope you enjoy this sneak peek at the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade!

Let me know if you liked this first attempt – if so, hopefully it will be the first of many – and maybe I’ll even record actual video next time! 😉