Pizza al Taglio at Epcot's Italy Pavilion

 By Nick: 

Pizza al Taglio  - Italian for pizza by the slice — literally "by the cut"

Pizza al Taglio, the pizza window located next to Via Napoli Pizzeria in Epcot's Italy Pavilion was one of those dining spots I had managed to never seem to get to. Either a festival would be happening, or the line would be too long (lines get very long, indeed), or it was closed, as it is apparently only open seasonally. 

A couple of weeks ago, after a Garden Rocks show, the friends I was with suggested we get a slice of this mythical pizza and get a spot for Harmonious, and, I was all too happy to say "Yes!" 

I got a slice of the Pepperoni. 

 I'm not generally a thick crust pizza fan, but this was not dense, and the pepperoni cups... this was absolutely delicious. Full disclosure, I'd had a few beers first, so wasn't absolutely certain my first impression was correct. 

To be absolutely sure, I stopped again the other day and tried a slice of their "Pizza Margherita."

The menu is short but sweet.

 Now, that is a nice looking slice!

Yes, the crust is excellent, I was absolutely right the first time.

It's very cheesy, with very little sauce. Some people (I'd imagine this is really not for those that are lactose intolerant) aren't a fan of overly cheesy pizza. If that's the case, this may not be for you. 

I will absolutely be looking for this window to be open in the future.   

Oh, and if you need a dark quiet corner to duck into and enjoy your slice, there's a little spot to the left where you'll find counter space and a couple of seats.

 

EPCOT : Garden Rocks Regal Eagle Dining Package

By: Nick 

One of my favorite albums of all time is Blue Oyster Cult's "Agents of Fortune." Then there are incredible tunes like Godzilla, Burnin' For You, Career of Evil, to name a few, which are among my all time favorite songs. Yet I never saw them live. Cut to a few weeks ago, and I see that they're on the list of musical acts playing EPCOT's International Flower and Garden Festival's Garden Rocks Concert Series March 19th and 20th! To say I was excited is an understatement.

I planned on trying the Regal Eagle Dining Package, as I love their food, and thought $35 a reasonable price to pay to get good seating without waiting in line. 

Regal Eagle Smokehouse is located at The American Adventure Pavilion, across from America Gardens Theater. Their barbecue is fantastic, up there with The Polite Pig in Disney Springs, and I've never had a meal I didn't love.

At this point I will share that I've become completely lax in planning since moving here, because I never bothered to find out how the dining package worked. 

Here was my experience:

I walked into Regal Eagle about 4:25, as the sign out front said there was still limited availability for all 3 shows. I walked up to register and asked about the package. The Cast Member was unfamiliar with how to ring it up, so asked a manager that was nearby. She came back, took a ticket out, stamped the date, and tried to ring up my order. But it wasn't taking, so she asked another Cast Member nearby who asked what show I wanted to attend. I said 5:30, to which he explained that dining packages should be made 2 hours prior to show time. I was about to say that was fine, I'd take it for the 6:45 show, when he said he'd ask his manager. She gave the okay to make an exception, but I want to stress this was an exception.  After the first show, I walked by the sign again, and it was updated to all shows being sold out. I also noted that it doesn't specifically state that there is a 2 hour window.

The package includes entree, drink and dessert, so I ordered the Memphis Dry Rub Pork Ribs, a Coke, and the Tiana Banana Pudding.  

There is plenty of seating inside and out, and I took my dinner to a bench outside as it was a lovely cool day. As an unexpected and mind blowing bonus, I got to sit and eat while watching BOC doing sound check.

The ribs were tender and juicy, the sauces are always good, the coleslaw could use some salt, and the pudding was delicious.

When I walked over to enter at a little after 5 for the 5:30 show, I was brought to a section to the left of the stage, and there was plenty of space to sit in the front row! Oh, and the ticket is a sticker!

For $35 I got about $25 worth of food, and an awesome seat in the front row. It was a packed show in the rest of the theater, but the dining section wasn't crowded at all. 

 Relative to the sit down restaurant packages, which start at $60, I feel it's a good bargain.

All that being said, you may be able to get a better viewing spot waiting in line, or, as was the case for the 6:45 show, no line at all. I literally walked in at 6:30 and was able to get an aisle seat with a great view, and I could've gotten even closer if I didn't mind sitting mid row.

Then again, if I hadn't been in the front, I would not have gotten this awesome shot of rock icon and original founding BOC member, Eric Bloom! 

 

Will you be at Flower and Garden this year, and will you be seeing a show?

EPCOT'S Preparations for the 2023 International Flower and Garden Festival

 By Nick 

Even as the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is wrapping up, (the last day is today, 2/20, actually), preparations are well underway for the Flower & Garden Festival, which begins on March 1st and runs through July 5, 2023. Many gardens, displays, and topiary's have been springing up recently.

 Elsa and Anna at EPCOT's World Showcase Norway Pavilion 

 Lady and the Tramp at EPCOT's World Showcase Italy Pavilion 

 Flower, Thumper, and Bambi can be found by the Canada Pavilion.

 Peter Pan, Hook, Tick-Tock, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, and Pooh

can all be found at the United Kingdom Pavilion

 Woody, Bo Peep, and this lovely butterfly are between The Seas with Nemo and Friends and The Land Pavilion in EPCOT's World Nature section.

 When you see these flower beds located in World Celebration, 

you know the Flower and Garden Festival and Spring are just around the corner.

Will you be attending this year's EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival?

Alternative Fireworks Viewing Spots: Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian Resort

 By: Nick

If you want to enjoy fireworks, but don't want to deal with the crowds, there are many places from which to view them, and you may even be able to hear the music as well. As an added bonus, you can also avoid the hoard rushing to get out of the park. 

 The spot we're looking at here is a lovely seating area outside of Gasparilla Island Grill, the counter service restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort.

As you can see,  it has a fabulous view of Cinderella Castle. I have, however, heard people expressing dissatisfaction that the fireworks aren't directly over the castle. 

 I actually love the dynamic of the in park pyrotechnics with the larger aerial fireworks, and the reflection off of Seven Seas Lagoon. 

Also, there is usually music pumped through speakers, but the evening we were there, music was not playing due to the lines feeding the speakers being cut by construction. If the wind is blowing right, you can still sometimes hear the soundtrack all the way from Magic Kingdom.

So, there are pros and cons, but if you aren't interested in dealing with a swirling mass of humanity at the end of the day and still want to experience the magic of a Disney Nighttime Spectacular, this is a great alternative. I'll be sharing more in the future, so please come back, and invite your friends!

Construction at Epcot Update

Video: Nick - Photos: courtesy of Brian Charles Kohn 

I'm excited for the new additions coming to EPCOT's... I still call it Future World. 

Yes, I know there are now "neighborhoods," which are World Discovery, World Showcase, World Celebration and World Nature, but I can barely remember what day it is, never mind all of THAT!

It's very fortunate that I have a friend who is on top of these things, and he put together these reference photos to share on the Facebook group he is a moderator on, Walt Disney World Tips and Tricks, which shows where the new additions will be located.

 Video I took 2/12/2023:

 

Completion of these various projects is tentatively scheduled for later in 2023.

The Many Moods of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

 By: Nick

 Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a complex attraction.

To begin with, as of the time I'm writing this, you either need to get a virtual queue spot, or buy an individual lightning lane just to experience it. 

There are 6 different songs you may get when riding:

• “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• “Disco Inferno” by the Trammps.
• “Conga” by Miami Sound Machine.
• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears.
• “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls.
• “One Way or Another” by Blondie. 

For the holiday season, there was a holiday remix including bits from several Christmas standards, which neither Barbie or I were fond of.

As locals, we have been on at least a dozen times, and each time is a different. 

The mood you're in can influence just how your ride goes.

Have I eaten enough? Not enough? I don't think you want to eat too much before, but DON'T go on an empty stomach.

Alcohol or maaaybeee CBD? If you get the timing right, this can be an almost religious experience, and I'm not even kidding. 

The first time I rode was a Disney Vacation Club preview and I was too excited/anxious to truly focus on specifics. We were in the front row, and the song was "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls, but I honestly didn't even recall, Barbie had to tell me. 

We re-rode and got "Everybody Wants to Rule the World.'

Full disclosure... I was on CBD, and it was the most perfect timing to get this lovely melodic and harmonious song. Following the ride, the friends we had just ridden with looked at Barbie and I with an expression of awe, and we all agreed it was next level spectacular. I'm not going to lie... I was on the verge of tears. It was THAT amazing. 

Since that first day, we've gotten all of the songs.

The songs have a huge influence on the overall perception. 2 examples from recently, I was with friends, and in the front row, and we got Everybody Wants to Rule the World, in the front row, and I was at a very harmonious place on CBD. 

                                            

Then, just the other night, we got "September." Barbie and I had gotten it previously, and it became Barbie's favorite, while I thought it was just okay. 

But this particular night, "September" wound up hitting the mood PERFECTLY, and has moved up as a contender of favorite. 

What I'm trying to say, after all this, is Guardians is NOT just an attraction, it is AN EXPERIENCE that can be enjoyed on many repeat visits!

Enjoy the ride!

Epcot in the Evening

 Photos by Nick and Barbie

A few photos from a spectacular evening in Epcot, 2/9/23 in no particular order.

Tron: Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

 By: Nick Maglio

 

My wife and I went to a Cast Member Preview of Tron: Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom a few days ago, and here are my thoughts.

Spoilers!

I really like the Tron films, so I've been excited to ride this attraction for several years. 

Approaching the queue with the ride vehicles going overhead amps up the excitement!

 

 

Before a new attraction opens, I actively avoid reviews, and that was no different in this case; I'm glad I did, because the queue has a really awesome reveal as you approach the load area, which I won't reveal here!

 

Then there is the launch, which is now one of my favorite things ever. 

 

I'm going to be honest here, overall the ride is no more exciting than Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, but that launch to the outside was just amazing. It's a short ride... which may be a blessing, because...

...the big downside to this is the very convoluted ride vehicle contraption. Of course there is a fit issue, and I'm not sure how some people with mobility issues are going to get into it. As a very big boy, I was actually concerned about this, but had zero issues the first time I rode. Seating is similar to Flight of Passage.

The second ride, both my wife and I both felt like our calves were not seated as comfortably as they had been the first time, which we both found irritating.  

Overall it's a good solid ride, not on the scale of Guardians of the Galaxy by any means in my opinion, but I'm sure riding at night with the lights on and the cycles having a more dramatic glow may make the overall experience more immersive, and perhaps gets it closer to that high bar.