Don’t Waste Your Money at These Hollywood Studios Restaurants

It’s time to face the music — not every Disney restaurant can be a winner, and it appears the majority of our shortlist resides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

While there are a few great experiences to be had in this Disney World park  — both newer casual meals and more upscale dining experiences —  knowing where you want to eat and what’s best to avoid in advance could save you a world of heartbreak and strain on your budget.

The very last decision you want to be making spur of the moment in the heat of the sun, the chaos of the crowds, and general tiredness that can creep into your day at the park is where you want to eat.

Unfortunately, being exhausted, hungry, and willing to do just about anything to get some relief from the elements can lead to some questionable decisions if you don’t already have a plan in mind. Don’t worry, we’re here to help take a little bit of that off your shoulders by telling you which Disney World restaurants we think you SHOULDN’T be wasting your money on.

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

There’s a lot to be said here for Mama Melrose’s, and generally speaking, it’s just not one of our favorites. This Italian cuisine is cleverly themed to help you feel like you’re stepping into a family’s humble abode, but the menu here consistently just doesn’t do it for us.

Not only is it hard to spot unless you know where to go, but the menu here just feels a bit more like a Disney version of an Olive Garden. If you’re a die-hard Italian food fan and just really have to try it, at least take advantage of the better value for your meal here and combine it with the dining package for Fantasmic that gets you reserved seating for that show.

Docking Bay 7

Ok, we know what you’re thinking “But it’s Star Wars!?” We know, we’ve worked through all these feelings already. Once you’re able to see past the over-the-top, immersive theming here, it’s pretty evident.

The food here just isn’t that great. Several of our team were very vocal about how they just didn’t enjoy their meals here generally and those with small kids chimed in and said their “chicken” for the kid’s meal was well, weird.

We know that some of that can be chalked up to theming for the intergalactic destination, however, some of these experiences really made lasting impressions on us that we’ve just not been able to get over… even with return visits.

PizzeRizzo

The biggest reason we don’t like eating here can be summed up in two words: puffy pizza. While Pizzerizzo sports a fun, Muppets-inspired pizzeria theme, that’s really as far as it goes here.

Not only are your menu options very limited, but they’re also small portions. You’ll basically have a choice of a small side salad, a mandarin orange, a meatball sub, a seasonal dessert or cookie, and either a kid-sized or adult-sized puffy pizza. And honestly, there’s not much size difference between the two.

So it’s safe to say that it’s not a great value for the portion size, and we’re not pleased with the texture and taste of the food quality here. If you’re looking for pizza, we would suggest heading over to EPCOT or Disney Springs for a better experience.

Catalina Eddie’s

Following in Pizzerizzo’s footsteps is Catalina Eddie’s. This place is good in a pinch, and if your kids REALLY insist on having pizza for a meal, just don’t expect any better of an experience than what we’ve already described at Pizzerizzo.

The extra downfall here is that while there are covered tables and seating, they are all outdoors — which can be a real bother on an extreme temperature day. Again, don’t expect a vast menu here and if you do choose to eat here, don’t say we didn’t try to temper your expectations.

Fairfax Fare

Rice bowls sound like a more adventurous option, right? Well, maybe somewhere else. Fairfax Faire has all the right intentions here with their menu offerings but consistently has failed us in the execution.

There’s nothing “wrong” with their loaded rice bowls that come in various versions, but they just don’t blow us away. On occasion, Fairfax Faire will have an exciting dessert or treat in honor of a celebration or season but that’s really as much excitement as we typically see at this restaurant.

Rosie’s All-American Cafe

Another casualty to our short list here at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Rosie’s All-American Cafe. This quick-service restaurant sits neighboring Catalina Eddie’s and Fairfax Faire and admittedly, isn’t anything spectacular either.

For the most part, you can count on this restaurant to be consistent with burgers, slim fries, and a seasonal cookie or dessert, and that’s about it. Given that there are multiple places around Disney World where you can get standard, run-of-the-mill burgers and fries, we were just really hoping to see more exciting offerings added to the menu at some point, but, that hasn’t been the case in a while. At least you’ll know the food is basic here so if you’re not looking for surprises, then it’s worth your time to try it when you’re really hungry.

But don’t be discouraged! There are plenty of other restaurants we think you’d be pleased with at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned with us at AllEars.net for the latest in Disney news and updates.

This Ride Risk Could Be the BEST or WORST Thing You Do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Which restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios do you personally avoid? Tell us which one and why in the comments.

Comments (5)