At WDW Now : Part 2

[Scar]

Thanks for the feedback. Figure I'd provide another round of updates for those who might be interested.

Wednesday, 11 August
* Started the day in Epcot. Tried to eat at Via Napoli but they don't quite have the "Disney" attitude down yet. Wanted a pizza with just proscuitto and was told NO by the waiter and two levels of management staff. Even though they have proscuitto on a pizza that also comes with canteloupe they (a) wouldn't remove the canteloupe from the pizza or (b) just put proscuitto on a plain pizza. Very puzzled and confused by the consistent response of NO and reason was because it "was a soft opening" and "everyone would want to change their pizza". Really made no sense. The restaurant wasn't even crowded (it was 2 PM). Reminded me of the Cheeburger skit from SNL. Oh, well. We walked out and had QS at Germany instead.
* Crowds were manageable. Maelstrom was a short 10 minute wait. Did the "walk through the movie and exit" trick as Norway must have the worst movie, IMHO, of any of the countries.
* Speaking of country movies, I'm a sucker for the new "O, Canada". Went over there and enjoyed it. Something about Martin Short's sense of humor works for me.
* Afternoon was at Animal Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours. I definitely miss Flame Tree BBQ while it is under renovation.
* Festival of Lion King was outstanding as ever.
* Steam was back on EE!!! Yeah!!! Rode it twice, once when it was raining quite hard. Very fun experience.
* Went on Dinosaur twice and it broke down the second time we were on it. We were stuck on a cycle so the ride shook the entire time (about 10 minutes) in darkness. Interesting experience, but not one I would want again.

Thursday, 12 August
* Entire Magic Kingdom day. Crowds were much lighter than on Monday. Lines were more manageable.
* Splash Mountain felt great today with the sun beating down on us. Rode it twice. Most effects were working (jumping rabbit, fish out of the water, etc.). Got absolutely DRENCHED on the second time we went. Lots of fun.
* CBJ was about 3/4 full which isn't too bad for that attraction. I think once we have seen it when it was completely filled. Boy do I love that bizarre attraction (and teaching my daughter to love it to). There's something about the wickedness in the sense of humor of the songs that does it for me.
* BTMR looked great. Everything was moving and working from what I could see.
* HM was closed for a bit in the afternoon. We were near there when it reopened and walked on. I loathe the idiots in the stretching room who either (a) talk on their mobile or (b) text message during this part. For heaven's sake, can't it wait 5 minutes? Way to ruin the environment.
* Mickey's Philharmagic was a walk on. I don't care for sitting in the front rows but we had to as we were a bit late getting there and it was all that was left. The only scene that worked that close was Agrabah. Everything else seemed a bit off.
* Queue for Winnie the Pooh is all walled off and lots of work being done with the tree.
* MSEP was great again. Very impressive light display and as much as I love Spectro, nice to see something different.

Two more days until Last Tour to Endor. Can't wait. Hitting the TOT nighttastic AP extra hours tonight. Thanks for reading.

 

[yeti]

The new Canada movie was great; would have been superb if Nova Scotia wasn't snubbed...:brick:

I love the fastpass for Soarin' bit near the end.

 

[bgraham34]

That is amazing that they would not just put the prosciutto on the pizza for you. Kudos for you by leaving.

 

[NewfieFan]

The new Canada movie was great; would have been superb if Nova Scotia wasn't snubbed...:brick:

I love the fastpass for Soarin' bit near the end.

I thought there was still something about NS in the movie!?! Now NL gets no mention... but we're use to that! :animwink:

 

[yeti]

I thought there was still something about NS in the movie!?! Now NL gets no mention... but we're use to that! :animwink:

I don't think there's a reference to our existence to the extent of he Bluenose being docked in Lunenburg. :fork:

What about the beatiful nighttime skyline of Halifax? (Dartmouth probably threw them off..:lol::lookaroun) What about the Cabot Trail? The Hopewell Rocks? The Bay of Fundy? The Confederation Bridge? The Appalachians? There are countless eastern Canadian landmarks I'd rather see than that CN Tower for the umpteenth time. :lol:

We Atlantic Canadians get it hard, eh?

 

[NewfieFan]

I don't think there's a reference to our existence to the extent of he Bluenose being docked in Lunenburg. :fork:

What about the beatiful nighttime skyline of Halifax? (Dartmouth probably threw them off..:lol::lookaroun) What about the Cabot Trail? The Hopewell Rocks? The Bay of Fundy? The Confederation Bridge? The Appalachians? There are countless eastern Canadian landmarks I'd rather see than that CN Tower for the umpteenth time. :lol:

We Atlantic Canadians get it hard, eh?

Yeah, I was thinking about the Bluenose... didn't the old movie have something about the Bay of Fundy!?!

I'd thought they'd at least show a shot of Signal Hill or St. John's harbour... or even Gros Morne National Park... but nothing! :fork:

We always get the shaft!

But all that being said, I do enjoy the new Canadain movie!

 

[yeti]

Yeah, I was thinking about the Bluenose... didn't the old movie have something about the Bay of Fundy!?!

I'd thought they'd at least show a shot of Signal Hill or St. John's harbour... or even Gros Morne National Park... but nothing! :fork:

We always get the shaft!

But all that being said, I do enjoy the new Canadain movie!

Now that you mention it, there might even be a little mention of Fundy in the new movie... I'll have to check YouTube a bit later.

And you're so right. I think the Yukon probably gets more attention than us. :lol:

 

[DMC-12]

Tried to eat at Via Napoli but they don't quite have the "Disney" attitude down yet. Wanted a pizza with just proscuitto and was told NO by the waiter and two levels of management staff. Even though they have proscuitto on a pizza that also comes with canteloupe they (a) wouldn't remove the canteloupe from the pizza or (b) just put proscuitto on a plain pizza. Very puzzled and confused by the consistent response of NO and reason was because it "was a soft opening" and "everyone would want to change their pizza". Really made no sense. The restaurant wasn't even crowded (it was 2 PM). Reminded me of the Cheeburger skit from SNL. Oh, well. We walked out and had QS at Germany instead.

Well... thats incredibly rude and snooty of them. Glad you decided to leave then.

 

[Horizonstta]

Tried to eat at Via Napoli but they don't quite have the "Disney" attitude down yet. Wanted a pizza with just proscuitto and was told NO by the waiter and two levels of management staff. Even though they have proscuitto on a pizza that also comes with canteloupe they (a) wouldn't remove the canteloupe from the pizza or (b) just put proscuitto on a plain pizza. Very puzzled and confused by the consistent response of NO and reason was because it "was a soft opening" and "everyone would want to change their pizza".

I went twice last week and had the same issue. They would not let me modify any of the pizzas, other than allowing cheese to be removed from one and adding extra cheese to another. I asked if this would change in the future, but the manager I spoke to said no because doing so would mess with the "integrity" of the pizza. I don't see how throwing a few extra toppings on the pizza before its thrown in the oven is a criminal offense to pizza in general, but, for now, you're stuck with what's on the menu.

I can't say the pizza was bad, just average. While I won't crave the place, I'm sure I'll go back again at some point.

 

[tecowdw]

I went twice last week and had the same issue. They would not let me modify any of the pizzas, other than allowing cheese to be removed from one and adding extra cheese to another. I asked if this would change in the future, but the manager I spoke to said no because doing so would mess with the "integrity" of the pizza. I don't see how throwing a few extra toppings on the pizza before its thrown in the oven is a criminal offense to pizza in general, but, for now, you're stuck with what's on the menu.

I can't say the pizza was bad, just average. While I won't crave the place, I'm sure I'll go back again at some point.

Interesting...
So they place a higher importance on the "integrity" than on customer satisfaction? That seems like a bad long term prospect.

And this can be the problem when an outside company manages a restaurant inside Disney's theme parks - Disney has less direct control of the guest experience inside their park. So I wonder, if Disney's Guest Services get a complaint about an experience in one of these places, how does it get handled between the two companies? Hard to make another company's management always have the exact same customer service approach, I'd think.

 

[tecowdw]

I went twice last week and had the same issue. They would not let me modify any of the pizzas, other than allowing cheese to be removed from one and adding extra cheese to another. I asked if this would change in the future, but the manager I spoke to said no because doing so would mess with the "integrity" of the pizza. I don't see how throwing a few extra toppings on the pizza before its thrown in the oven is a criminal offense to pizza in general, but, for now, you're stuck with what's on the menu.

I can't say the pizza was bad, just average. While I won't crave the place, I'm sure I'll go back again at some point.

Those prices and it's just average food? That's bad to hear and what I was afraid of. Doesn't make me want to try it much.

 

[Tigger1988]

I went twice last week and had the same issue. They would not let me modify any of the pizzas, other than allowing cheese to be removed from one and adding extra cheese to another. I asked if this would change in the future, but the manager I spoke to said no because doing so would mess with the "integrity" of the pizza. I don't see how throwing a few extra toppings on the pizza before its thrown in the oven is a criminal offense to pizza in general, but, for now, you're stuck with what's on the menu.

I can't say the pizza was bad, just average. While I won't crave the place, I'm sure I'll go back again at some point.

Integrity? What? When I was there for the soft open we browsed the menu before entering the lobby, one of the toppings struck us as odd (for the life of me I can't remember which it was, but I've never heard of it being on pizza before). So we asked the girl holding the menus if they actually ate pizza with that topping in Italy. Her response "No...no, no one eats that." Before quickly stammering over "but I hear it's great!!!".

So much for the pizza being authentic Italian :brick:

 

[mp2bill]

Wow, I cannot believe that they wouldn't put the proscuitto on the plain pizza or take off the cantaloupe for you. I haven't been to Via Napoli yet, but from the pictures posted on this site, it looks like they might cook the pizzas in batches and then divide up the pieces (therefore, no personal pieces).

Regardless, they could have at least left off some cantaloupe on the next pizza they made and then given you that/those piece(s)...explaining that it would just take a while longer.

 

[mp2bill]

I don't think there's a reference to our existence to the extent of he Bluenose being docked in Lunenburg. :fork:

What about the beatiful nighttime skyline of Halifax? (Dartmouth probably threw them off..:lol::lookaroun) What about the Cabot Trail? The Hopewell Rocks? The Bay of Fundy? The Confederation Bridge? The Appalachians? There are countless eastern Canadian landmarks I'd rather see than that CN Tower for the umpteenth time. :lol:

We Atlantic Canadians get it hard, eh?

That's what she said!

Veering off the track here...did you all hear that Steve Carell is leaving The Office!?

 

[harveyt0206]

Good updates. Thanks for the info. I can't wait to see the new Winnie the Pooh que as well as the new Canada movie. And the deal with your pizza is beyond rude. It wasn't as if you were asking for something completely off the menu. It's a shame you were treated that way.

 

[miles1]

The way my departed Italian mom explained it to me, pizza was just the average Italian housewife's way of dealing with leftovers--whatever was laying around was thrown on a simple flat bread with tomatos and baked. It made for a quick, easy meal for the family. Obviously it has evolved over the centuries, but to worry about the "integrity" of something with such humble beginnings seems absurd to me. It's like calling Campbell's Soup an exotic delicacy.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

Yeah, I was thinking about the Bluenose... didn't the old movie have something about the Bay of Fundy!?!

I'd thought they'd at least show a shot of Signal Hill or St. John's harbour... or even Gros Morne National Park... but nothing! :fork:

We always get the shaft!

But all that being said, I do enjoy the new Canadain movie!

It's funny, I live in Buffalo, very close to Toronto and Niagara Falls, but I have a client who's a staffing firm in Halifax, and as I've looked at pictures of the city we're using for their website, it is truly a beautiful place! It's a shame you're not represented more in the movie.

 

[CaptainWinter]

Tried to eat at Via Napoli but they don't quite have the "Disney" attitude down yet. Wanted a pizza with just proscuitto and was told NO by the waiter and two levels of management staff.

That ain't right. That's an anti-service mentality. Most restaurants will gladly honor such simple requests.

I don't think they'll be able to keep that up.