Pizza: The Classic Crowd Pleaser
You’re hosting a casual party and you want to ensure the menu will offer something everyone will want to eat. The age range of your guests is 7-75. Your 7 year old niece won’t eat anything green, your 75 year old mother in law will criticize anything you make and serve yourself, you know your brother will only eat foods that pair well with the beer he’ll be drinking, and your son’s 23 year old girlfriend became a vegetarian 6 days ago and can’t eat meat. Yikes. All of that nonsense narrows your options, wouldn’t you say? So what do you serve?
Pizza is the only food I can think of that will satisfy all of those specific dietary needs listed above, which is why it’s the go-to crowd pleaser at almost every gathering I’ve ever attended. Eveyone knows pizza originated in Italy, but its we Americans who’ve created the cult like love of the dough/sauce/cheese combo, so much so we even have an entire day dedicated to it! National Pizza Day is February 9th, and I can’t think of a better place to spend it than at Walt Disney World Resort! There are plenty of cheesy slices and pies to choose from, so I’ve narrowed your options and made a list of the best of the best Disney pizzas. No matter how you slice it, you can’t go wrong with any of these pizza place picks…trust me, all have passed my taste test!
5. Pizza Window
This spot made the list simply because it reminds me of home. In my book, the classic pizza experience is walking up to a tiny window on any corner of Manhattan and ordering a fresh, hot, cheesy, $1 slice and enjoying it while you walk down the street.
You can get the same experience (although not at the same price) at the Pizza Window located at Disney’s Boardwalk. Walk right up to the window and order a slice served on a paper plate! Or if you’re with a group, you can order a whole pie to feed the entire family on the cheesiest national holiday of them all. This pizza is similar to chain restaurant pizzas (think Pizza Hut) and is the most classic, American-style pizza on the list.
4. Blaze
Located at Disney Springs, Blaze is famous for their made to order, fast fired pizzas that go from raw dough with cold toppings to chewy crusts with bubbling cheese in 180 seconds flat! I like Blaze because you can watch as the cast members make your order, making additions and subtractions of toppings seamless and ensuring you’ll get exactly what your stomach is hungry for!
Another great thing about Blaze is that they make their own dough from scratch every day and offer a ton of healthy pizza topping options! The thinner crust and small size of the pies make Blaze a great go-to spot if you’re with a group whose tastes in toppings are not synonymous. Try topping your pizza with fresh greens after it’s done baking for a healthy addition to your meal!
3. PizzeRizzo
This newly remained restaurant is located in the now extinct Pizza Planet space in Hollywood Studios. Since Pizza Planets’ closing, the entire interior and exterior of the restaurant have been re-imagined to fit with the themeing of the nearby Muppets attraction, story included. The story here is that Rizzo, a Muppet, runs this long-loved neighborhood pizza joint, and the menu reflects the no-frills approach to the back story. The menu is pretty much unchanged since its Pizza Planet days…in the best way possible! Just about the size of a dinner plate, personal pies are what you’ll find baking in the ovens here. Pizza meals come with a size of a Caesar salad and a drink, so if you’re on the dining plan, this is the option for you on National Pizza Day!
2. Pizza Ponte
So far, I’ve highlighted only classic New York style pies, but pizza comes in many shapes and sizes, and I am not one to discriminate. The brand-new Pizza Ponte located at Disney Springs is where you should head if your stomach is set on a Sicilian slice.
I visited the first day the restaurant opened, and I can say two things about the slice I got: It was blazing hot and it was blazing delicious. These slices are big (hey, not a bad thing!) and one will definitely fill up even the hungriest in your party at lunchtime. They’re also a great grab and go snack to enjoy while walking and shopping around Disney Springs! Insider tip: Check out the pizzas that are on the counter before you order, as daily specials aren’t on the menu and shouldn’t be overlooked!
1. Via Napoli
You had to see it coming. Clocking in at #1 on the list is Via Napoli, located in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot. This is the only restaurant on the list that requires a make-ahead reservation, and chances of you getting one this close to the holiday are slim. If you don’t have a reservation, I recommend going early (around 4:30) or waiting until the park is near closing for your best chance at getting a table in this extremely popular spot.
The wait is worth it, as Via Napoli serves the hands down best pizza across all of Walt Disney World Resort. The wood burning ovens are what makes this pizza so darn good; they leave the dough with a slight char on the outside and a chewy, flavorful inside that will remind you exactly why we observe National Pizza Day.
If you don’t have the time to dedicate to a sit down meal, you can pick up a slice from the Via Napoli take away window. It checks the boxes and fits the definition of pizza, but the take away window comes with this warning: the pizza from the window is not, I repeat: is NOT the same as the pizza inside the restaurant. The wood fired ovens are not used in the making of this pizza and the Sicilian slices they serve from the window are thick and on the bready side. The dough doesn’t get that quintessential wood fired texture or flavor and the sauce seems to disappear in the thick dough. It’s an option if your heart is set on a slice from the Italy Pavilion on National Pizza Day, but if you want my take on this pizza…wait for the table inside.
If you’re spending National Pizza Day in Walt Disney World or at home on your couch, it is absolutely a holiday that can and should be observed from wherever you’re located! But if you’re lucky enough to find yourself at the place where dreams come true on February 9, you’re sure to find a pie to hit the spot! Have you tried the pizza from any of these restaurants? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
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Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!