A few weeks ago we told you that the Pizzafari quick service location at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park was starting an evening family-style dining experience. That meal period started July 31st, 2018, and we were there to eat to our heart’s content. We journeyed out on this adventure to bring you a full review of the experience.
Let’s start with an annoyance: No discounts. No Tables In Wonderland, Annual Pass, anything. It comes to $19.99/person (which isn’t horrible), but no discounts leaves a sour taste in our mouth immediately.
To check-in you visit a podium at the back of the main ordering area. Tell them your name and time (if you have a reservation – they also take walk-ups), you receive a card with a table number and proceed to the register to pay. Here they also take your soft drink order (you get a large for adults, adult regular for kids to avoid a need to provide refills once you sit down) and give you appetizers: a Caesar Salad and a Caprese Salad. NOTE: This is the serving size for TWO adults, all servings change based on party size. This is all of the food, it is NOT all you can eat.
Both are rather fresh and good, especially for a quick service restaurant. The Caesar salad tastes like it wasn’t sitting around bathing in dressing all day. The mozzarella was fresh and balsamic added a great flavor. A good start to the meal!
For entrees we have Baked Ziti, Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken, and Pepperoni Pizza.
The Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken came out a rather small portion, but flavorful white sauce adorned a bunch of fettuccini with half a sliced chicken breast on top.
Baked Ziti arrives in a larger portion spread across a plate. There’s a LOT and cheese and sauce covering the ziti and it’s pretty tasty. Nothing to write home about but certainly far from the worst thing we’ve ever had. It’s a decent dish that’ll satisfy. Much better than regular quick service but don’t expect Tutto Italia quality.
The pepperoni pizza is the star here. It’s not the typical Pizzafari or Disney quick service pizza, it’s beyond better. A crispy crust that tastes straight from an open-fire oven. It’s a little salty, there’s a LOT of cheese, and it’s charred ever so slightly. This is a winner!
For dessert we received a bunch of cannoli. These taste freshly defrosted from the freezer and honestly weren’t that bad.
VERDICT?
Overall, it’s a great deal – especially for the price. An average entree at Pizzafari runs $12, and adding a large beverage brings the cost close to $16 after tax. For a few dollars more you get a bunch of different appetizers and numerous entrees. Between two people it’s a lot of food, and when you add more people in there’s even larger portions. There’s great value here and the food is pretty good to boot. The only problem that really impacts food quality is, believe it or not, how freezing cold the restaurant is. Sure, compared to the hot Florida summer it’s great, but it sure cools down the pasta quick making for some really chilly bites. That said, we do recommend this offering if you are going to bother eating dinner at Pizzafari.
Did you ask if getting more is possible or are you just assuming the answer is no? I read on another site that said they called Disney and was told that more food could be asked for at this dinner once it started.
We asked, they were very clear. This could change, but based on the price, I can’t imagine they can afford to do it.
I hardly think two quantifies “a bunch”.
I’m curious what type of accommodations they would make for a vegan. The restaurants are usually incredible and the worst meal I’ve ever had at Disney was still something I’d happily eat again, but with something this specific I wonder if it would be a tremendous hassle to get alternatives. There is not a single thing presented that I could eat, so they would have to replace everything on the menu. On one hand I would love to have this experience with my family, but on the other, I hate causing a fuss. Table service restaurants offer a higher level of service, so I’m not as bothered talking to the chef and having something made (though I always prefer to order something right off the menu if it’s available), but with a quick service spot, I don’t know if it would be as easy to change the offerings.
I might just let this be something they can enjoy and I’ll grab some hummus and sit under a tree somewhere for a while.
If you’re talking about the cannoli’s. Maybe you should actually look at the picture before you say something stupid. There’s clearly 5 of them in the pic.
I believe Taryn is referring to the appetizers. The closing remarks said ‘a bunch of appetizers.’
Here, I’ll do the work for you since you’d rather jump down someone’s throat and accuse them of saying something stupid.
“For a few dollars more you get a bunch of different appetizers and numerous entrees.”
I’m confused on what work this is doing.
That’s not surprising.
Wow, Can’t help that you didn’t realize his “jumping down the throat” response was more accurate than yours…
Your response doesn’t address the fact Taryn thought it was two cannoli’s at all….. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Maybe she should be more polite and clear with her comments. This way no one will call her on it.
No discounts, but does it accept DDP?
One quick service entitlement per person to redeem DDP for this meal.
Therefore at $19.99 its a pretty good use of a QS credit.
Any idea if possible to get plain cheese pizza?
Also, I was surprised that “family style” was no refills. Seems like that will confuse a lot of people and may make me cancel my reservation.
You can get cheese.
Can you substitute? If I wanted three pizzas instead of the ziti and alfredo or two salads instead of the caprese is that possible?
Thanks for the review. I’ve always enjoyed the decor of Pizzafari. How are refills handled? Are they not available at all?
It states in the review that there are no refills. Food is one serving appropriate to the party size. For drinks adults get a large and children get a adult regular.
Is the quick service dining plan accepted for this reservation? Sorry it this was mentioned already.
I’m surprised that it’s a peraonal sized pizza for a family style meal considering there are no refills. Also, I kind of wish there was an option for JUST pizza as your entree.
In the review they state this was a serving between two people. Therefore three entrees that are about enough for one person each, split between two is a good size.
If there was four people eating then either a larger pizza would be served or two pizzas could be brought out.
Actually looks pretty good
Can you use the dining plan to eat here?