>Things that Glow

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When my son was eight we went to Walt Disney World for the first time. He was a typical eight year old, loving everything, and having a blast. The one night while we were there, we went to Fantasmic. We did not know then about the Fantasmic! Dinner Experience, which is basically a fast Pass for the Fantasmic Show (for more information check out our post “Ooh, Ahhhh….Part 3”). So, we joined the many other people that showed up about an hour before the show started, staked a claim to our seats and sat. Well of course an eight year old is going to get bored, so we did what many people do in that situation, we bought a toy. (While you are waiting for this show and fireworks in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, there are Cast Members selling different toys and light up items.) The toy we bought him was a light-up Stitch vehicle, which had arms that twirled around. He must have sat there for 35 minutes playing with that thing and he was content until the show started. He played with it through the rest of the trip whenever it got dark, he’d have to have it with him. He still has it in his room (he’s now 14), I don’t know if it works, but he won’t let us even think about getting rid of it. Seeing the picture of him playing with it made me think of all the other things in Walt Disney World that light –up and can give you a Magical Experience. So, I present to you today, the Unknown Magic of Objects that Glow.

The obvious things that glow in Disney are throughout the parks, things like the signs in Tomorrowland, Spaceship Earth, or even the Osborne Festival of Lights in Disney Hollywood Studio around the Holidays. Everyone sees these, so they are not included in the Unknown Magic of object that Glows. The things I’m talking about are the things you don’t expect. For example, in the Haunted Mansion, at the end of the one hallway, where there are skeleton hands that are trying to open a door, there is an eerie green glow from inside the door. There are so many things going on when you are in the Haunted Mansion though that you may miss this glow.

When my son was younger, we had many Magical Experiences created by this little thing:

This is a glow cube; it’s a plastic ice cube that they use in drinks in Walt Disney World. They change colors; red, blue, orange, yellow, purple and green or sometimes they have them one solid color, for example the Glow-tini for adults that they are serving in many of the restaurants in Walt Disney World.

Whenever we were down years ago, my son also got a drink at dinner that had Captain Hook clipped on to the glass; he would glow as the drink was brought over and would light up the glass through the meal. Some places like the Whispering Canyon Café offer Tinkerbell and friends or Buzz Lightyear punch (which is Minute Maid Light Lemonade Punch served in a souvenir Fairies or Toy Story 3 cup with a glowing Tinker Bell or Buzz Lightyear Clip-on Light). These can create Magical Experiences for your kids like they did for our son.

So, now you know, there are Magical Experiences that can be had in Walt Disney World by Unknown Magics that Glow. To have these experiences, you only have to do is order a drink, buy a toy or look around when in the Haunted Mansion and enjoy the Glow.

***I would like to apologize to the http://www.DisneyFoodBlog.com for using one of thier photos without giving them credit. Please go see their wonderful site, and check out their posts and pictures of great food in Walt Disney World.

>It’s Worth Finding

>Via Napoli opened today in Epcot. This is the new Italian Restaurant in the Italy Pavilion. All kinds of people have blogged about it today or will in the near future. You

Picture By Bill Iadonisi From wdwfacts.com

can check out reports from Bill Iadonisi on WDWfacts.com, and from Dewayne Bevil on thedailydisney.com. Lou was there from wdwradio.com also. So, this new Restaurant will be thoroughly covered. Sadly I wasn’t there. I have eaten in the Italy pavilion in the past, and am looking forward to this new place to eat. With it being a new restaurant, getting advanced reservations may be a little difficult for a little while.

There are other Italian eateries in Walt Disney World. At the Swan Resort, II Mulino New York Trattoria is an upscale place, as is Portobello, the waterfront Italian Restaurant in Downtown Disney, that just added a Meatball Bar. For a more casual place you can eat in the Magic Kingdom, at Tony’s Town Square. Where they have the Biggest Meatballs I’ve ever seen on a plate of spaghetti. (I wrote about Tony’s in my post of 5/14 Eat Like a Star) And then there’s Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in Disney Hollywood Studios.

Mama Melrose’s reminds me of a classic New Jersey Italian Restaurant. The colors the pictures of Sinatra and other Italian singers on the walls, along with the sounds and smells, all add to the great atmosphere of a family run Pizzeria. It’s a very comfortable place to go and have a very relaxed wonderful meal. The reason it classifies as an Unknown Magic is because it isn’t promoted very much and also because it is kind of hidden in Disney Hollywood Studios.

Most of the time when you look for a place to eat in Walt Disney World, they are easy to find. This restaurant however is tucked away, off the beaten path, behind the Muppet Vision 3-D attraction on the Streets of America. The entrance to Mama Melrose’s is just around the corner from It’s a Wonderful Shop (a great little Christmas shop). On the Outside wall of the eatery, there is a huge sign that tells you are in the right place. And once you walk inside, you get a whiff of the brick ovens and the wonderful food, you know that this place was worth looking for and will probably create a Magical Experience.

The food is very good. Everything from the appetizers to the Chocolate Cannoli Cake, is real Italian cuisine. They serve steak and chicken choices, along with plenty of pasta meals, Pizzas and Flatbreads. Of course being an Italian Restaurant, they offer a large selection of White, Red and Sparkling wines. They also offer Italian beer and specialty mixed drinks, for your enjoyment during your meal.

As with many of the restaurants in Walt Disney World, the food here is very good, but the atmosphere helps make it taste even better. When you’re eating your Spaghetti Fra Diavolo after your Antipasto, while sitting under a Frank Sinatra Album and his picture, it just seems to taste better. The Atmosphere also adds to Magical Experiences as you can relax and have fun as a family.

Mama Melrose’s does have a kids menu and they participate in The Fantasmic! Dining Package. This is a package deal that is offered in some of the restaurants in Disney Hollywood Studios. What you do is make a reservation to eat at one of the selected places and then they guarantee you designated seating during the spectacular

nighttime show, known as Fantasmic! The other two Restaurants that offer this package are Hollywood & Vine and The Hollywood Brown Derby. This is a nice perk as it can make your wait time for Fantasmic a lot shorter. This in turn adds to the Magical Experience of the show.

So, now you know, throughout Walt Disney World, there are a few Italian eateries for your dining pleasure. But for an Unknown Magic hidden in Disney Hollywood Studios, that offers fantastic food and a great family atmosphere that can lead to a Magical Experience try Mama Melrose’s. It’s worth finding.