Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzaria is located in the very back of the Italy Pavilion at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World. As you stroll through this area of World Showcase, you will feel immersed in Italian culture. The menu features authentic Italian dishes, including incredible pastas, tiramisu, fresh salads, unique drinks and mouth-watering pizzas baked to order in wood-burning ovens.
Upon entering Via Napoli you will notice is that it is huge! The main dining room is cavernous, featuring ultra-high ceilings and large windows. This creates a lot of echoing, so it can be pretty loud. Via Napoli may not the best place to come for a quiet, romantic meal but it’s great for families! There is a long table in the center that stretches across the whole room. If you are seated there, you’ll be right next to other parties. This idea stems from the Italian tradition of family dining. It might seem a little strange, but it works! The staff is very friendly and the period costumes add greatly to the cultural experience of dining here.
Although there are tons of exciting menu choices that are inspired by the cuisine in Southern Italy, pizza is the biggest hit of all. The wood-burning brick pizza ovens have giant stone faces on them named after the 3 active volcanoes in Italy—Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli. It’s great fun to watch the action in the open kitchen. The thin-crust pizzas are made with fresh mozzarella cheese, San Marzano tomatoes and real Caputo flour imported from Southern Italy. Even the water for the dough comes from a spring similar to Italy’s Campania region. Although the price per pizza may sound high, it’s actually a good value for families compared to other dining choices in the park.
Don’t forget to make a reservation for Via Napoli for an authentic taste of Italy on your next family vacation to Walt Disney World!
Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris” — Sheri is proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail. She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel. Book your next vacation with Sheri at 804 405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.