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10. It is conveniently located in the middle of World Showcase.
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria is located at the back of the Italy pavilion in World Showcase. This means you need not leave the fun of the park to arrive at your reservation on time. Play around World Showcase until your reservation time arrives. Catching a viewing of The American Adventure, watching street entertainment or bands in the American Garden Theater are my favorite ways to unwind before a delicious dinner reservation in Italy.
9. The World Showcase Placement means you can easily snag a seat at Illuminations post dinner.
The location of Via Napoli again works perfectly to your advantage after dinner. Dashing from the reservation to the rim of World Showcase Lagoon to watch Illuminations is a breeze. If you would rather not watch Illuminations, you are nearby some great rides in Mexico and Norway.
8. There is ample waiting space outside the restaurant.
While this detail may seem menial it can prove to be particularly helpful for families and larger parties. The restaurant is located at the very back of the Italian pavilion meaning there is plenty of waiting room for your party to spread out outside the restaurant. A good portion of the area is shaded and nearby shops are available for a portion of your party to browse while you wait. There is also a waiting atrium around the sign in desk at Via Napoli for indoor waiting. Unlike some more crowded Epcot pavilions I actually enjoyed waiting outside the restaurant, I never felt crowded, having to dodge other guests or take care not to block the entry way as I have at Disney restaurants in the past.
7. The dining room layout is bustling, beautiful and feels authentic.
Upon entering Via Napoli you are greeted with gorgeous paintings, high ceilings, overwhelmingly delicious scents and the feeling that you are about to have an authentic Italian dining experience. Cast members point out the real stars of the show, the ornately carved wood fire pizza ovens named Stromboli, Vesuvio and Etnathe as parties are seated. Guests are scattered at tables inside a large open indoor dining room or outside on the shaded patio. A gorgeous dining counter lines one side of the dining room, directly in front of the pizza ovens providing a pleasing view of the open kitchen so guests can enjoy watching chefs toss pizza dough and assemble delicious dishes. The dining room does get a bit loud due to the activity level of the space; for my family the buzz just added to our excitement about the dining experience.
6. The drink menu is filled with variety.
Many of the drinks Epcot guests enjoy from drink carts in the Italian pavilion are available on the Via Napoli menu. Sangrias, specialty mimosas and beer flights were the recommendations of our server. Drinks are reasonably priced and available to purchase by the pitcher to serve the entire party and get a better bang for your buck.
5. Authentic Napoli pizza is not in short supply.
Not surprisingly Via Napoli’s claim to fame is its pizza. Designed to mirror the delicious restaurants of Naples, Italy the original home to pizza; Via Napoli does not disappoint in the pizza arena. Disney mavens will agree that there is no better pizza to be found on the Disney property than that served at Via Napoli. Available in an impressive number of sizes and flavors, your only pizza problem at Via Napoli will be deciding which one to choose.
4. Families love dining here because pizza portions are shareable.
Via Napoli is a great option for families because of the shareable nature of the food. Pizza comes in huge portions. Pricing varies by pizza but on average five guests can share a large pizza for around forty dollars and have plenty to eat. Pairing a steaming pizza with a shareable family style salad and fun cocktail makes for a great start to your Via Napoli visit. If you just cannot bring yourself to hand over half of your pizza, portion smaller sizes to serve individuals are available as well.
3. Pasta lovers need not fear, hearty pastas at Via Napoli wow guests.
If you are more of a pasta lover than pizza fan you need not fear. Via Napoli has some incredible and unique pasta dishes available. If you are looking to take a break from the usual fettuccini alfredo and chicken parmesan that you enjoy at Italian restaurants in the real world you have come to the right place. While familiar pasta dishes are on the menu you may just find yourself ordering a new dish like the creamy cheese laden Paccheri alla Crema con Pollo or the bright and saucy Candele. The cheese lover in my family was in heaven savoring a dish of Paccheri; this creamy concoction merges fresh pasta, juicy grilled chicken, parmesan sauce and a sprinkling of bacon. Chicken Parmesan lovers will rejoice over the huge plate of Piatti Alla Parmigana Pollo. The large portion is the perfect dinner dish and the side of roasted potatoes is the perfect compliment.
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2. As always, the cast members serving at the restaurant are welcoming and fun.
While Via Napoli does not feature any live music, fun wait staff antics or shows the cast members running the restaurant are incredible. Our server was glad to answer questions, suggest dishes based on our preferences and was kind enough not to giggle as we clumsily dictated our Italian order.
1. They really do save the best for last.
Italian desserts are to die for, this is certainly the case at Via Napoli. At our server’s advisement I saved room for dessert, thank goodness I did! Via Napoli offers an array of classic Italian desserts; I chose a rich and creamy towering tiramisu dusted with espresso. The tiramisu was the perfect size for a couple to share. On my next visit to Via Napoli the Zeppole di Caterina chocolate sauce and whipped cream covered ricotta cheese fritters is on my dessert bucket list. In fact, the dessert menu was so impressive guests could make a meal from it. Via Napoli is a fun restaurant for families, pizza lovers and Disney mavens looking to try out a still relatively new Disney dining experience.
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