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Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria at Epcot Review

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On my most recent visit (February 2024) to Walt Disney World, my mom and I ate at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria at Epcot one night. So, here’s my review of that experience.

Via Napoli Ristorante Review

Via Napoli Ristorante

Pizza is a very common meal that most people enjoy. As such, I’ve seen lots of lists featuring the best pizza at Walt Disney World. Nearly every single one lists Via Napoli Ristorante at or near the top of the list. I’ve been meaning to try it for several years. In fact, I had a history of booking this restaurant 60 days out and then cancelling it for various reasons. However, this time I finally ate here to see if it’s the best pizza!

Technically, Via Napoli is an Italian restaurant with lots of food choices. However, everyone goes here for the pizza. At the front of the restaurant are wood-burning ovens that cook the pizzas. So, it gives the pizza a crispy crust that you don’t get at many other places. The ovens are the centerpiece of the restaurant and it’s fun to watch the pizzas being made.

Dining Plan

If you want Disney Dining Plan tips, you can check out my post on it. That being said, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this restaurant when on the dining plan as it wasn’t the best use of credit. However, it’s a place we’ve been wanting to try for a long time and we made better use of our other credits. For one table service credit, we were able to select an individual pizza, a drink, and a dessert.

The Pizza

I went with the Margherita Pizza as I wanted to try the traditional pizza here. It’s in the image above. It had a really crispy bottom, a tasty tomato sauce, perfect mozzarella, and a little bit of basil on top. It was a pretty good pizza. Personally, I don’t care for smokey or burnt things. So, the crust was a bit of a miss for me personally. The rest of it was good. I’m very fortunate to have a couple of independent Italians restaurants where I live. As such, this pizza wasn’t as good as the pizza I can get locally. If you only have chain pizza locations, then you are in for a treat!

My mom went with the Meat Lover Pizza. It featured a generous amount of pepperoni, ham, and sausage! Her pizza is the first image in my Instagram post below. My mom seemed to like her pizza. The crust was a little too hard for her and she didn’t eat the end pieces. However, she demolished the toppings.

Drinks and Desserts

Since we were on the dining plan, we also got drinks and desserts. We aren’t big alcohol drinkers, so we were tired of the alcohol by this point in the trip. I got a Shirley Temple, which was sweet and delicious! My mom got a Strawberry Acqua Fresca. It was a light yet sweet drink.

For dessert, I again went with a classic. I chose the tiramisu. It was a very light dessert with lots of mascarpone cream. The lady fingers were pretty dry though. Also, there was way too much cocoa powder on top for me. I actually blew some of it off. After that, it was a nice dessert.

My mom went with the gelato. She couldn’t decide on which flavor, so the amazing cast member was nice enough to bring her a small scoop of all three options: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry! That was a nice touch. She enjoyed it a lot.

Is Via Napoli Ristorante worth it?

I found Via Napoli Ristorante to be a unique place where most people can find something to eat. I think the quality of the ingredients used makes its pizza some of the best on property. However, to me it’s still expensive pizza. It’s not a great use of dining credit though. Your best bang for your buck here is to order one of the bigger pizzas to split and pay cash. I think this may be a one and done experience for me, but I don’t regret it. It was a good meal that I enjoyed with my mom.

Have you ever eaten here? Is this your go-to restaurant at Epcot?

Orlando Theme Parks Guide

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I know that it can be difficult to narrow down where to go on vacation. So, I thought I would make an Orlando Theme Parks Guide to help people figure out which park is right for their trip.

Orlando Theme Parks Guide

Orlando Theme Parks Guide

When planning a family vacation to Florida, it can be difficult to know which destinations are worth your hard earned money and limited time. Having visited most of the area’s parks, I thought I would do a quick overview of each park and who it’s ideal for.

Magic Kingdom

First up, I’ll start with the busiest one – Magic Kingdom. It’s the OG, the first theme park in Orlando. It’s the one with the big castle. Ha! It’s located at the Walt Disney World resort and typically costs the most to visit on a single day. I think it has a reputation for being for children (given it has Fantasyland) but I think it’s great for everyone. It seemingly has the most to do for laid back types. The food in the park is a little lacking, but I can recommend Crystal Palace Character Breakfast. This park is great for those who are young at heart.

Epcot

Epcot, also at WDW, is seen as an adults park. It’s a food mecca with a plethora of options! There’s also lots of drinks to be had, if you are of age and into that. I love visiting when there’s a festival going on for even more food and drink options! This park also has some cool stuff for kids including the Frozen and Remy rides. It is great for history buffs to learn about different countries. Kids would probably enjoy Akershus Princess Breakfast or Garden Grill Character Dinner. Adults can just pick any restaurant in the World Showcase!

Hollywood Studios

This was originally similar to visiting the big studios in Hollywood. When it opened in 1989, it was supposed to give you a behind the scenes look at movies. It doesn’t do that anymore, but it’s still fun. It’s obviously great for Star Wars and Toy Story fans. Plus, the Fantasmic Dining Package is lots of fun for all ages. It has similar vibes to Disney’s California Adventure Park, if you are familiar with it.

Animal Kingdom

Opened in the 90’s, it’s WDW newest theme park. As its name implies, it’s perfect for animal lovers! You have to ride the Kilimanjaro Safari ride! The Caring for Giants Tour is also great for elephant fans. This park has several good food options: Yak and Yeti for adults or Tusker House Character Meal are just two good places.

Universal Studios Florida

Moving over to Universal Orlando Resort, there’s Universal Studios Florida. Opened in 1990, it’s an edgier park. I love the seasonal events held at this park. I highly recommend visiting during Mardi Gras. If you are into horror/Halloween, then Halloween Horror Nights is amazing as well! The rides here are more intense than the ones at Disney. However, they just added Minion Land in 2023 and DreamWorks Land is coming in 2024! My preferred meals here are at Minions Cafe and Today Cafe (unless the seasonal booths are an option).

Islands of Adventure

Almost a decade after opening USF, Universal opened Islands of Adventure. Personally, I spend way more time at USF than IoA. However, I make time to check out Grinchmas here during the Holidays. Lots of people like Jurassic Park here as well. I don’t have a go to food place here. I guess this one is best if you like the specific IPs represented here.

Epic Universe

The newest theme park in Orlando is Epic Universe! Opened in May 2025, it features another Harry Potter land, a Universal Monsters land, Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, and Celestial Park. I wrote a whole separate Universal Epic Universe Tips post with tips for visiting this park. As of August 2025, you still have to purchase a one day ticket to this park to visit it. However, it’s a great addition to the Orlando theme park space!

SeaWorld Orlando

If you have a big marine animal lover or a roller coaster enthusiast, then SeaWorld Orlando may be worth a day or two. My mom and I have done several animal add-on experiences here and loved each one! The Sharks Underwater Grill makes for a fun meal. They have lots of fun shows to watch and have been adding a new coaster about once a year for the past several years. In a few years, they will even have their own resort! So, this one is growing and will have even more to enjoy in a few years time.

Legoland Florida

Technically, Legoland Florida is in Cypress Gardens. However, it looks neat for the Lego fans in your life. I wish they were closer to an airport or provided a shuttle. You would probably need to rent a car to visit this one, but it looks fun. I’ve never visited, but I’m open to it.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

This is also technically not in Orlando. However, I know some people will rent a car to drive over to Tampa or ride a shuttle over. Busch Gardens Tampa is owned by the same company that owns SeaWorld. It is also great for animal lovers and coaster enthusiasts. My mom and I enjoyed our short visit here last year. You can read my Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Tours review for insight into some of their add-on experiences.

Orlando Theme Parks Guide

I attempted to cover the main “big” Orlando theme parks in this post, along with a few bonus parks. Which ones have you visited? Which one is your favorite?

Disney Dining Plan Tips ~ Walt Disney World

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At the beginning of 2024, Walt Disney World brought back the very popular Disney Dining Plan. My mom and I had the dining plan on our most recent trip (February 2024). So, I thought I would provide some easy tips for getting the most bang for your buck.

Disney Dining Plan

Disney Dining Plan

As of this writing, there are currently two dining plan options: Quick-Service and the regular Dining Plan. Both options include a Resort Refillable Mug and 1 snack per person per night of stay. The Quick-Service plan comes with 2 quick meals or credits per person per night of stay. The original one comes with 1 quick service and 1 table service meal per person per night of stay. FYI: “quick service” is typically a place similar to fast food or fast casual restaurants. If you want a seated meal with a waitress, that’s considered a table service.

I want to point out something important here: Disney counts the credits per night of stay. That means the nights you are staying in the Disney resort, not the days you are there. So, don’t make that mistake when planning your meals.

As of this writing the quick service plan is $57.01 per adult per night of stay and $23.83 per child (ages 3 to 9) per night of stay. The regular plan is $94.28 per adult per night of stay and $29.69 per child per night of stay. That’s a pricey thing to add on to your trip. So, here are my general tips to help you maximize your credits.

Tips for Maximizing the Disney Dining Plan

  • Make a plan – You will have to do some math to break even or maybe come out slightly ahead with the dining plan. You will have to plan out your meals along with specific foods you plan to eat to maximize your credits.
  • Order a special beverage – For both a quick service and table service meal, you can order a specialty beverage. These will really help you get the most bang for your buck. In fact, adults can even order alcohol on the dining plan. Drinks at Disney World tend to be really strong, in my opinion though. So, pace yourself there.
  • Book a character dining meal – With a few exceptions (Cinderella’s Royal Table, Lunch/Dinner at Akershus, and Storybook Dining at Artist Point are all 2 credits) character meals are an excellent use of dining credits. For instance, we did Chef Mickey’s character dinner using the plan. It’s $66 per adult and then we both got an alcoholic beverage, which put it over $70! So, that was a great use of credit!
  • Book lunch or dinner over breakfast – Lunch and dinner are more expensive than breakfast. Unless you are talking about Akershus Princess Breakfast or Topolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast in which case those are your only options for a 1 table service credit way to enjoy those meals. Otherwise, opt for lunch or dinner.
  • Use snack credits at Epcot festivals – We used ours at the Festival of the Arts. Some of the foods there were over $10 and were a single snack credit! Just look for the “DDP” logo on the boards to indicate if it’s eligible or ask a cast member!
  • Know credit values – Generally speaking, table service credits need to be $59-63 to be a “good use” of credit. Quick service needs to be $23-25. Snacks are $6+. I think the quick service credit is the hardest to maximize. The Polite Pig in Disney Springs is an excellent use of quick service credits though.
  • Pay for lesser value items out of pocket – You don’t have to use your dining plan for everything you eat. I’ve been known to grab a kid’s quick service meal (like at Woody’s Lunch Box) and pay out of pocket. Then, I use my credits for the other two meals of the day.
  • Order the most expensive items – Go ahead! Get the steak!

Is it worth it?

Truly, you will have to calculate your meals to decide if the dining plan is worth it or not. Although, some people will find value in the fact that the meals are pre-paid (minus gratuity). Plus, you don’t have to worry about keeping up with receipts. I think trying to maximize the credits can be fun but it can also add some stress to things. So, it comes down to how you want to spend your time and money.

Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner Review

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Back in February, my mom and I enjoyed Chef Mickey’s character dinner at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. We used a table service credit to dine here, so I thought I would share if we thought it was worth it.

Chef Mickey's Character Dinner

Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner

My mom and I first ate here years ago. Since then, my mom has brought it up several times. My mom loves character dining and enjoys the options of a buffet. It just so happens that most character meals are a great use of a dining plan table service credit. So, since we had the plan this trip and we attended the Magic Kingdom After Hours Event, it seemed like a good time to dine here again for dinner.

For those who don’t know, this is a character buffet meal located at the Contemporary Resort. That makes it walking distance to Magic Kingdom and a great dinner option for an After Hours Event. It costs $66/adult for dinner, which makes it excellent use of a dining credit! We also got some adult beverages, which further increased the value. Although, I always wish I had just gotten a fancy milkshake or smoothie as the drinks at Disney are too strong for me.

The Characters

Given that it’s called Chef Mickey’s, it’s no surprise that the characters here are all dressed like chefs! We had an early dinner reservation and subsequently saw the characters in a rapid fire fashion as they came out. First up, was Goofy, followed by Pluto. Then, we saw Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse himself! Lastly, we saw Minnie Mouse. The staff here are great at making sure everyone meets every character as we had two cast members ask us if we had seen everyone. That doesn’t happen at every meal, so I appreciated that touch.

Most character meals tend to be loud and boisterous. This is no different. I think the location of the restaurant in the middle of the resort makes it a touch louder though. Nonetheless, it’s a fun time if you enjoy meeting characters.

The Food

As this is a buffet meal, the food is plentiful with lots of options. I enjoyed the Asian noodles, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, salad, pasta, and salmon. The breadstick was dry and a little hard. I will admit none of these are particularly exciting dishes or groundbreaking. So, if you are looking for something a little different or perhaps a better quality, then I recommend looking elsewhere.

I will say that I enjoyed trying the various desserts. I probably should have looked prior to starting as I quickly filled up my plate. I really enjoyed the cannoli tart with Chef Mickey’s chocolate on top. I also enjoyed a strawberry lemonade mini cake. There was also a cookies and cream dessert that I liked. The mini Minnie and Donald cupcakes looked adorable, but were pretty basic. The warm apple crisp was also basic but nice.

Overall, the food was ok. I wouldn’t visit for the food alone.

Is Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner Worth It?

As with any character meal, it’s expensive. I think it’s definitely worth a table service credit though. Honestly, I would be very hesitant to pay $66 for it out of pocket. The food was fine but not amazing. The characters were cute but a little rushed. If you have kids or a character lover in your party, then it’s probably a hit. If you have adults with a refined palate and no need for characters, you can probably save your money to eat elsewhere.

Have you ever eaten here?

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Review

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Having recently given my opinion on the Gran Destino Tower, I thought I would do an overall review of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

As a quick refresher, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a sprawling moderate resort at Walt Disney World. Its decor has touches of Spanish, Mexican, and Southwest American flair. There’s even a conference center here! It also boasts a surprising number of restaurants!

Standard Room

On my very first trip to Walt Disney World in 2014, my mom and I stayed in a standard room here. I loved the pretty turquoise color used in 2014, but the current theme is nice as well. The rooms here are comfortable and lovely. They are perfect for an adults only trip.

Pros

  • Lovely theme – This resort has a romantic theme that would be great for a couples getaway.
  • Recently refurbished – You know the rooms should be nice here as they have been refurbished in the past several years.
  • Lots of food options – Since this resort hosts conventions, it has more than the average number of food options on site. So, you don’t have to leave the resort to eat.
  • Awesome pool – I know lots of people love the main pool here with its gigantic pyramid!
  • Quieter – If you aren’t staying during a convention or sports event, it tends to be a quiet place.
  • On-site perks – I love the free park transportation and 60 days advance dining reservations that staying on-site provides.

Cons

  • Large layout – This is my biggest gripe about most of the moderate resorts at Walt Disney World. They are huge! This can make for a long walk at the end of a long day.
  • Multiple bus stops – There’s only bus transportation available here and there’s multiple bus stops around the resort. So, pack your patience when you stay here.
  • Simple theme – While I think the theme is beautiful, it’s not too exciting for kids. There aren’t many Disney touches around this resort.
  • Crowds – I urge you to consult crowd calendars for sports events and/or conventions before booking here. We got lucky because we were staying in between cheer and dance competitions. However, we got to see big crowds leaving on our arrival day and big ones arriving when we were departing.

Is Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort worth it?

While I love the Gran Destino tower here, I don’t intend on spending money to stay in a regular part of the resort again unless I get a good deal. I love the Skyliner access at Pop Century or the small size of the French Quarter. However, it is a good resort. It would really come down to preferences and price for me.

So, have you ever stayed here? What did you think?