To reserve or not to reserve on your next trip
Walt Disney World is not lacking on the Italian options available to park guests. There is an entire pavilion dedicated to the Country and its cuisine at EPCOT. How do you know which one to select when planning your dining reservations? Here is my take on Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and why this may or may not be worth booking on your next trip.
Make a reservation at Tony's Town Square if:
You’re looking for a quick in and out at the Magic Kingdom. Located on Main Street U.S.A., Tony's Town Square Restaurant is one of the first dining locations you’ll pass as you enter the park. If you’re park hopping and don’t want to trek all the way to the back of the park, this is an easy to access location. Because it's connected to the Mickey Mouse Meet & Greet at the theater, I was able to swing over for a quick photo after checking in for my reservation.
You want an economical date night. Themed around Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, love is in the air at Tony’s. Meal prices range from $15.00 - $34.99, so it’s a meal where you can relive the romance of sharing spaghetti without breaking the bank. I find the nods to Lady and the Tramp adorable around the restaurant and the art makes for the perfect atmosphere.
You’re looking for the basics and opportunities to try new things. Of course, a Lady and the Tramp themed restaurant has Spaghetti and Meatballs on the menu.
Thankfully, the menu is more than just the house-made beef and pork meatballs on
spaghetti noodles. I took the seafood route and ordered the Shrimp Scampi Pasta. I ordered mine over rice noodles, but it did not take away from this flavorful dish that included shrimp, veg and muscles.
You’re looking for dinner and a show without paying Seats & Sweets prices. If you time your reservation right and let the cast members know you want to eat on the porch, you can catch a view of the parades coming through Main Street U.S.A. It’s not a perfect view, but still a great way to watch the parade without having to cram in with the crowd. Avoiding the crowds is always a win in my book!
Pass on Tony's Town Square if:
You’re looking for a more authentic experience with your Italian cuisine. As I said, there are lots of Italian options at Walt Disney World and Tony’s Town Square does feel like an Americanized version of the cuisine. Nothing beats Tutto Italia or Via Napoli when it comes to feeling like real Italian fare. Many of the resorts offer great alternatives as well, like Ravello at Disney’s Four Seasons. On my last trip, I carbo loaded at Ravello and Trattoria al Forno prior to hitting the runDisney Wine & Dine courses. I highly recommend both locations.
You want a more private atmosphere. From the moment you walk into this location's waiting area, it just feels busy at Tony’s. While Walt Disney World is trying to maximize the number of diners at each location, this one feels overly packed at times. I got out of the waiting area by stopping at the Mickey Meet & Greet and doing some quick shopping on Main Street U.S.A.
You’ve read the reviews and are sceptical. Tony’s seems to be hit or miss on the reviews. You either enjoy this location and can’t wait to return or you found your experience to be lacklustre. It’s hard to ignore the reviews and Tony’s seems to be a location fans just aren’t sure about. I tried it in my effort to try something new, and since I order off the allergy menu, I wasn’t as concerned with the food reviews since they didn't apply to my needs.
So, will Tony’s Town Square be on my list of locations to return to? Probably not. In my effort to try new things each time I return to Walt Disney World, this location did not wow me enough to make it a repeat dining location for me. Maybe once I cross off all the Magic Kingdom Table Serves locations, I’ll consider a return trip to Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.
What about you, will you reserve or not reserve a table here on your next trip?
I ate at Tony’s about 20 years ago & was really disappointed so I never went back. In my last trip in January one of the people I went with really wanted to eat here so I went back. I’m glad I did. The food, service was wonderful. I highly recommend it.
I went there in April 2024 and everything was delicious and the service was outstanding. Will return in the future!
Great blog Nicki. I probably won't be reserving it for my next trip, but I absolutely would. Over the years, I have only really heard terrible reviews and watched negative experience vlogs. I do like to make up my own mind, so I went there in October 2023. I was pleasantly surprised. The food was really nice, the service was excellent and the restaurant was pretty and not packed. The ambience was romantic, quiet and it felt like you weren't in one of the world's busiest theme parks. A real little sanctuary, with really great food from my only experience dining there. So whilst it isn't somewhere for every trip, I would happily dine again.