Pizzafari: A Quick Service Spot for Lunch or Dinner at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

If there is one thing Pizzafari at Disney's Animal Kingdom is known for it has to be the gorgeous decor. You thought I'd say pizza, right? Nope. This spot serves your standard Walt Disney World theme park pizza, but the design of the restaurant's murals and overall themeing is what keeps us coming back for more.

Pizza, breadsticks, and cool decor at Pizzafari

Pizzafari has some of the best themeing at a quick service spot, maybe second only to the Flame Tree Barbecue. The theme is understated and if you don't know what you're looking at it might not be clear. But we'll give you a hint: the animals in the murals of each dining room are grouped by something they have in common.

For example, one room features animals that are known for camouflage, another room features animals that carry their homes on their backs (think snails and armadillos), and in another room you'll find animals that spend a lot of their lives upside down. And the final dining area features nocturnal animals.

One of the colorful murals at Pizzafari

It's a lot of fun to visit the different dining rooms to check out the murals and 3D elements, including the bats hanging upside down from the ceiling. The restaurant is really a gorgeous example of Disney design and Imagineering so make sure you take some extra time to check it out.

Another colorful mural in the Pizzafari dining areas

But let's talk about the food. Pizzafari used to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner but the breakfast service was discontinued in June 2015. Lunch and dinner feature pizza and other Italian quick service dishes, but understand that this isn't the best pizza you'll find on property. You'll need to dine at Via Napoli for that.

However, when you're looking for a quick bite at lunch or dinner or when the kids really want pizza, this is a good place to visit. And if you're wondering, yes this is pretty much the same pizza you'll find at Pizza Planet in Disney's Hollywood Studios which is to say a lot of crust and not a lot of toppings (which isn't a bad thing if you're a crust fan like me).

Enjoy pizza with a side salad at lunch or dinner

The menu includes a meat lover's pizza, pepperoni pizza, cheese pizza, vegetarian pizza, meatball sub, pasta Bolognese, and a hearts of Romaine salad. Kids can choose from cheese pizza, mac and cheese, peanut butter & jelly sandwich, or pasta with turkey marinara sauce.

The meat lover's pizza is a good choice if you're looking for a lot of meat on your pie but the cheese pizza isn't bad either. I'm particularly fond of the breadsticks with marinara sauce. (Clearly I have a love affair with bread). The pizzas are "personal size" pies and are served with a side Caesar salad. Beverages include assorted soft drinks, water, beer, and wine.

Breadstick make a great snack from Pizzafari

Overall, the food at Pizzafari isn't the best food you'll have at Disney's Animal Kingdom but it's not horrible either. It's a good place to satisfy the kids at lunch or dinner (if they like pizza) and you really can't beat the decor and themeing.

Is Pizzafari on your list of go-to quick service spots at Disney's Animal Kingdom? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Many thanks to the Disney Food Blog for use of their photos.