REVIEW: We Accidentally Created a GENIUS Snack Hack at This Controversial Disney World Restaurant

You’ve found yourself at Disney World with the world’s pickiest eaters, and you’re not sure how to compromise — don’t panic!

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place! We’re experts in all things Disney World, including the best tips and tricks, strategies to win your trip, and even the dos and don’ts of Disney World’s restaurants. We recently stopped by Pizzafari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and are bringing you our FULL review!

Background

Deep within Discovery Island, you’ll find Pizzafari — a beautifully painted counter service restaurant that serves hot breakfast, pizzas, and deli sandwiches at lunchtime.

This restaurant has been known to be a bit of a hit or miss for people choosing to dine here, and mostly gets a bad rap for being rather bland. However, I recently stopped by to see if we could come up with anything on the menu that could change my opinion of it, and I think we may have cracked the code!

Atmosphere

As you’re welcomed into the restaurant, you’ll find there are three dining room areas beyond its entrance doors, each with a theme. Animals that use camouflage…

…animals that carry their home with them…

…and creatures that prowl at night.

The original fourth room, animals that live most of their lives upside down, was removed during the winter 2015 renovation. Beyond that, there are a few places where you can dine outside on the outskirts of the restaurant.

Unless you’re ordering in the My Disney Experience mobile app, you’ll approach the switchback line that’s typically pretty busy and place your order with a Cast Member at the registers.

When your order is ready, your number will be called out to pick up, and you can find basic utensils like plasticware and napkins within each dining room.

Food & Drinks

Looking over the menu, you might find that it’s pretty basic. Just like the restaurant’s name implies, you’ll find personal-sized pizzas, salads, and a few sides for lunch and dinner.

Additionally, you’ll have your choice of various soda flavors, water, a few alcoholic drinks like beer, and a few non-alcoholic drinks that might make your meal more interesting. Don’t forget to ask about their desserts as those can change seasonally — they’re typically a cute cupcake themed to an animal!

First up, I grabbed the Garlic Cheese Bread for $6.99. This is more of a side offered that I wanted to try to turn into a full meal here. It comes with three generously sliced pieces of toasted garlic bread with cheese broiled onto one side of each slice.

I definitely could taste the garlicky oils on both sides of the toasted bread, and the melted cheese on one side of each piece was just right. They were crispy enough around the edges of each slice to hold their form, but warm and soft in the center where your bite truly counts.

I think what really made this a standout during this review is the fact that they weren’t overly toasted. I was still able to enjoy each of the slices of garlic cheese bread on their own without it being tough and crunchy to bite into. Truthfully, though, the price was actually reasonable for the size and amount that I received from a “side” item according to their menu.

While I was here, I also grabbed the Tomato Bisque Soup for $5.79. This is also another “side” item you can grab here at Pizzafari, but shockingly didn’t feel much like a side.

This is another offering that’s just like it’s billed. It’s served as a small cup of cheesy tomato bisque soup — that’s it. I’m a big fan of Disney World’s tomato bisque soup that I’ve picked up at several other restaurants, but when I noticed this version came with herbed goat cheese, that definitely got my attention!

Admittedly, it’s nothing groundbreaking, but I really enjoyed this one. Watching the warm steam lift off the contents in the cup and swirling it around to reveal the creamy chunks of goat cheese added in was something special. The soup is true to its form with a savory tomato taste that has a slight saltiness to it, and while the herbed goat cheese didn’t have as much flavor as I would have preferred, it really makes it stand out on its own. It also seemed like a larger portion (could have just been a larger cup), so I was pleased with the amount I received, too.

Pro tip! If you’re ordering these together, I’d definitely recommend you dip your garlic cheese bread slices into the cheesy tomato bisque soup! If you’re a fan of grilled cheese sandwiches and soup, it’s the closest thing you can get to it here, and you’ll have several cheese bread slices to enjoy over and over again.

For my drink, I picked up the Treasure Island for $6.29. This is a fun drink made with layers of Mango and Strawberry slushy.

While nothing special on its own, there’s something about the combination of the strawberry flavor against the mango on this slushy, especially when they begin to start melting into each other.

I’d totally recommend bringing your own reusable straw to power through this one, though, because the paper straws have a hard time doing it justice. I also found myself about halfway through swirling the flavors together to break through more of that prominent strawberry that tended to overpower the mango a bit at times. Overall, it was a fun option for a slushy drink on a hot and muggy day, which could easily work for the entire family!

Magic or Tragic?

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You want to sit for a bit. While Pizzafari is a quick service restaurant at Disney World, it does offer both indoor and outdoor seating to enjoy your meal. If you’re grabbing anything more than a cupcake, I think you’d probably do best to sit for a spell.
• You’ve got picky eaters or kids. The menu here is very appealing to picky eaters and kids, AND with a snack hack like I made for this review or an adult entree, there are decent options available for those still with a more curious taste palate.
• “Puffy pizza” is your calling. I do recognize there is a select group out there who really enjoy Disney World’s personal-sized pizzas and its crust. If this is you (or your own child — guilty as charged), this is going to be the best place to satisfy that pizza craving at Animal Kingdom.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You’re an adventurous eater. Looking for more flavors than your standard pizza, salad, and sides? Yeah, I’d recommend eating somewhere else.
• On the flip side of the earlier argument, “puff pizza” as we lovingly refer to it, is NOT your idea of good quality pizza.
• You’re looking for a more well-rounded meal experience. This is a quick service restaurant, and while you can go out of your way to make an entree, side, dessert, and even a faux appetizer, if you’re looking for more variety and budget pricing, this might not be the best strategy to go about it. I’d recommend looking into one of the table service restaurants inside the park

Overall, if you’re in a pinch with a picky eater, not looking to stop for long, or just want to eat somewhere that will accommodate the whole family, this is a pretty safe bet to make. Sure, the food may be divisive,e but most everyone can find something on Pizzafari’s menu that will get them by until they’re ready for their next meal.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!

Disney World Restaurants You’ll Need to Try in 2025

Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant? Tell us all about your experience in the comments below!

Post a Comment