By Aurora Dominguez
There is something about EPCOT that always brings out my sense of adventure. I can arrive with a plan, but somewhere along the way, I find myself dreaming about the next meal, the next pavilion, and the memories I get to make with the people beside me. During a recent visit, I had the luck to spend time at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria with my sis and bestie, Marissa, and my niece and nephew, Natalie and Wyatt. Having them with me made this stop especially meaningful. As much as I love Disney, the people I share it with are such a big part of why I keep coming back. A day at the park becomes part of our family story, and sitting down for a meal gives us time to enjoy being together.
Located in EPCOT’s Italy pavilion, Via Napoli brings Southern Italian cooking to World Showcase with a menu of pizzas, pastas, and salads. It is an inviting choice for families looking to settle in for a sit-down meal during their park adventures. Pizza is the centerpiece here, and its preparation deserves a little attention. Via Napoli uses fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and flour imported from Southern Italy. Its thin-crust pizzas cook in wood-burning ovens named for three Italian volcanoes: Etna, Vesuvius, and Stromboli. Those details give the restaurant a story of its own, something the storyteller in me can always appreciate.
For anyone browsing the menu before a visit, the choices include a classic Margherita pizza, alongside options such as quattro formaggi and the sausage-topped piccante. Beyond pizza, Disney highlights fried risotto balls, lasagna napoletana, and chicken parmigiana among the restaurant’s offerings. There is plenty to consider whether your idea of an Italian meal begins with cheese, pasta, or a little of everything.
And then there is dessert. Tiramisu, chocolate gelato, and Italian coffee offer a sweet way to finish, while Italian wines and specialty cocktails are available for adults who would like to pair a drink with their meal.
What stays with me about this visit is the chance to share another Disney experience with Marissa, Natalie, and Wyatt. Between work, writing, and the everyday responsibilities that fill our calendars, I treasure time like this. Being an aunt, a friend, and someone who still gets excited about a Disney day means appreciating the moments when we can all be in the same place.
Via Napoli became part of that memory for us. A little Italy in the middle of EPCOT, with people I love beside me, is a lovely way to spend part of a park day. It also reminds me why I enjoy writing about travel and dining: the places matter, but so do the relationships we bring to the table.
If You Go:
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria serves lunch and dinner at EPCOT. Disney highly recommends advance dining reservations, and valid park admission is required. For more information, visit https://www.via-napoli.com. Valid park admission is required to visit and dine at the restaurant.
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