What the first meal that comes to mind for a runner the night before a big run?
Pasta, Pasta, Pasta or the infamous Carb Loading (which is pretty much a myth, but that is an entirely different post)
One of my favorite places to do some serious Carb Loading and still please the family at Walt Disney World is at Via Napoli. There was no doubt in my mind that this would be one of my dining reservations for the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend.
Via Napoli Restaurant and Menu
Via Napoli is located in the back of the Epcot’s World Showcase Italian Pavilion, which means you get to walk through Disney’s representation of St. Mark’s Square in Venice and past the Fontana Di Nettuno which is meant to pay homage to the Trevi Fountain in Rome (great picture stop and while you are there throw in a coin, so that you will return to Epcot).
Walking in the door you instantly feel transported to a café in Italy. I love the décor, huge open space with arches and chandeliers, and colorful frescoes on the walls and ceilings.
It has three main seating areas large family style table, enclosed patio and general large room seating. With that being said, Via Napoli is a loud restaurant (like Italians who love good food and good wine). The Cast Members who serve you are all from Italy (and if you like cute Italian boys)…
The service was pretty typical for a true Italian Restaurant, they are not as attentive as most American diners would like. I can live with this because the food is outstanding and the views are not so bad. I digress, back to the reason I am here, the centerpiece of the restaurant…
the three pizza ovens. The ovens are named for the three Italian volcanoes, Stromboli, Vesuvio, and Etna. Pizza chefs are hard at work assembling the pies in full view of guests here. This is always an enjoyable bit of mealtime entertainment for curious foodies like myself.
I started my meal off with a glass of the House Red Sangria, after all my marathon was still a day away and I had over 24 hours to get the alcohol out of my system and hydrate. This is the only downfall of eating at Disney prior to a race…you have to limit the drinks. My trips to Walt Disney World are about the only time that I drink. I LOVE the House Sangria and wish I could have had ordered the entire pitcher for myself.
I also paid extra and ordered the house salad. Normally, the salad is only purchased as Family Style and there are 2 person minimum. I told the Cast Member that I would pay the second person price, and graciously in the Italian way he did not charge me double for the salad. The House Salad is simply delicious with its mixed greens, cucumber, pepperoncino peppers, peppadew peppers, diced tomatoes, olives, red wine vinaigrette. Of course I had to sit and pick all of the olives out first to eat, an Italian treat.
Did I mention pizza is was going to be the centerpiece of my carb loading meal? Via Napoli easily tops my list for serving up the Best Pizza as Walt Disney World. But don’t expect Dominos or Pizza Hut pizza, this is Napoli (Naples) style pizza. Trust me, I have had the real stuff in Naples, Italy and this is pretty much a perfect replication and is magical.
Now remember that the magic in the pizzas not only comes from the work of those three giant pizza ovens, but because the chefs use Italian flour and water sourced from a spring similar those in the Campania region. That’s right, the pizza is made from water that is either imported from Naples or calibrated to the exact pH level of that in Naples, depending on which version of the story you want to believe. Regardless, it is an outstanding thin crust that strikes the exact balance of crispy and chewy that you’re looking for in a pizza crust. The wood-fired ovens also give a healthy dose of charring to the bottom and edges of the crust. I love the crispy charred edges but younger and especially fussy eaters may not.
Via Napoli pizza is served in 3 sizes, individual, mezzo metro and large. I ordered the individual Prosciutto e Melone Pizza and trust me when I say that it easily feeds 2-3 people. The menu features many different topping combinations as well as a chance to build your own. My pizza was a white pizza with fontina, mozzarella, prosciutto, cantaloupe, and arugula. Hawaiians can have ham and pineapple, I prefer the Italian ham and cantaloupe.
I wish I could say that I had dessert, but I was so full and had a takeout box with half of my pizza for snacking on tomorrow. But I will leave you with pictures of a past dessert from Via Napoli, Zeppole di Caterina (ricotta cheese fritters served with whipped cream) and I promise next time there will be Tiramisù.
Via Napoli once again delivered a great meal that was perfect for my carb loading and makes me want to come back again on my next trip.
My New Year’s Resolutions are always well intended, but usually do not last beyond the first week of January. It’s time to make a few different sorts – ones that I will actually want to keep!
Montana
Maybe I was hoping to find a young Brad Pitt (circa 1992) waiting for me at the end with nothing but his waders on, after all “A River Does Run Through It” or should a say a marathon runs through it…
We were only supposed to go about 500 miles today, but as you will discover when you read to the end we ended up going much further than planned…
And wear 
reinforcing material allows it to dry you off, while it cools you down. Simply moisten the towel, wring out excess, and it starts working immediately.”
while in line! Many people like to carry a water bottle along with them (just remember not to bring glass) and refill them throughout the day. An aluminum water bottle is a great choice because it keeps the water cold and the bottle does not sweat, so I can put it in your purse or backpack and not be afraid of what it will ruin. I however prefer to go as bagless and hands free as possible, plus I don’t want to waste a precious snack credit on a bottle of water. Instead, any quick service location will happily provide you with a free glass of ice water for the asking. And if you are dining, refill your cup before you leave. And if you are dining, make sure to ask for a glass of water along with your other beverage and drink up!
The old saying, early to bed and early to rise makes a family happy, healthy, and wise. I always advise clients that a Disney vacation is NOT a sleep in kind of vacation. For those families who can answer their wake-up call and get to the parks before opening, they will be able to enjoy some of the theme park’s best attractions with little to no wait. Your family can take advantage of this by arriving early and enjoying the most popular attractions before the heat of the day creeps into the theme parks. You will be amazed at what you can enjoy and accomplish before 1:00 pm, while everyone else is slowly making their way to the parks. 
My Life in Ears 