You Do Not Have to Eat at Disney Springs
If you are staying in Lake Buena Vista or near Disney World, you already know the restaurant situation. Disney Springs is packed, prices are inflated, and half the places are chains you could eat at back home. You did not fly to Florida to eat the same Olive Garden you have in your hometown.
Ciao Italia Ristorante is about 15 minutes from the Lake Buena Vista hotel corridor, and it is a completely different experience. The Navarra family has been making Italian food from scratch since 1991. Handmade pasta, fresh seafood, sauces that simmer for hours. Over 4,000 reviews from guests who discovered that the best Italian food near Disney is not actually at Disney.
A Real Italian Dinner After a Day at the Parks
After spending 12 hours walking around theme parks, the last thing you want is to wait 90 minutes for a table at a crowded Disney Springs restaurant. Ciao Italia is a quick drive from Lake Buena Vista, there is free parking right out front, and you can actually relax. The dining room is warm and welcoming. The pace is comfortable. And the food is worth the short drive.
The kids will love the $13 kids menu that comes with gelato. The adults can finally have a proper Italian meal with Risotto Pescatore, Veal Piccata, or Pappardelle with Wild Boar. There is a full Italian wine list. And the prices are what you would expect at a neighborhood Italian restaurant, not what you would expect at a theme park.
