Dinner Near Disney Springs

You Already Spent Enough at Disney Today

Disney Springs has restaurants. A lot of them. They are beautifully themed, expertly marketed, and priced like you are eating inside a theme park, because functionally, you are. A plate of pasta at a Disney Springs Italian restaurant can run $30 to $45 before you add a glass of wine. Meanwhile, 10 minutes away, the Navarra family is serving handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and Zagat-rated Italian food that has been perfected over 35 years, and the check will not make you flinch.

Ciao Italia Ristorante has been on Westwood Blvd since 1991. Over 3,000 reviews, 9 awards, and a reputation that was built long before Disney Springs existed in its current form. Locals know this place. Repeat visitors know this place. The only people who do not know about Ciao Italia are the ones who never left Disney property.

Better Food, Bigger Portions, Lower Prices

This is not a debate about ambiance or theming. Disney Springs wins that category by design. But if you care about the food on your plate, Ciao Italia is the better dinner. The pastas are handmade daily, not boiled from a bag. The sauces are built from scratch every morning. The veal, the lamb chops, the seafood risotto, the chicken parmigiana, all of it is prepared with the kind of care that comes from a family who has staked their name on every dish for over three decades.

The portions at Ciao Italia are generous. You will not leave hungry, and you will not leave wondering why you paid $50 for something you could have gotten at a chain. The wine list is curated for the food, not priced for a captive audience.

Kids Eat Well Too

Traveling with children? The kids menu at Ciao Italia is $13 and includes gelato for dessert, available for ages 10 and under. Compare that to what a kids meal costs at Disney Springs and the savings add up fast, especially for families with multiple children.

Free Parking, No Garage, No Wait

One of the hidden costs of Disney Springs dining is the parking situation. Even though parking is technically free, navigating the garages during peak hours is its own ordeal. Ciao Italia has a free surface parking lot. Pull in, park, walk to the door. No garage levels, no tram, no 15-minute walk from your car to the restaurant.

Open Every Evening

Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, about 10 to 12 minutes from Disney Springs. Open 7 days a week from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, including all holidays. Reservations recommended during peak Disney season. Call (407) 354-0770 or book online.

About Dining Near Disney World Orlando

A day at Disney World is magical, but dinner at Disney World can be stressful. Reservations booked months in advance, prix fixe menus, and prices that make you question everything. By the end of a park day, many families just want to go somewhere easy, affordable, and good.

The roads between Disney and International Drive are lined with dining options, but most of them are the same chains you have at home. The tourist areas around Disney prioritize convenience over quality, and truly memorable restaurants are rare.

Ciao Italia Ristorante is one of those rare places. About 20 minutes east of Disney World on Westwood Boulevard, the restaurant has been family-owned since 1991. The Navarra family makes fresh pasta every morning and serves it in a warm, unpretentious dining room.

Families come in from Disney tired and hungry, and they leave relaxed and full. The kids menu is $13 with gelato. Parking is free. Walk-ins are welcome. And unlike Disney dining, you do not need to plan 60 days in advance to get a table.

Directions from Disney World to Ciao Italia

Ciao Italia is approximately 12 miles from Walt Disney World, about 20 minutes via I-4 East. Exit at International Drive and continue south to Westwood Boulevard. The restaurant sits at 6149 Westwood Blvd with a free parking lot in front. A rideshare from Disney typically costs $18 to $25 depending on which park you depart from.

More Questions About Dining Near Disney World

How to Get to Ciao Italia from Disney World Orlando

The drive from Disney World Orlando to Ciao Italia takes about 20 minutes. Head toward International Drive and continue to Westwood Boulevard. Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821, with free parking right in front. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.