WDW Dining Review: PizzeRizzo (Hollywood Studios)

The Best PIZZA on the PLANET… get it?

One of the exciting renovations that I wanted to take a look at while visiting WDW this past vacation was the newly opened PizzeRizzo, a Muppets-themed quick service pizza place in the space of the former Pizza Planet eatery. What makes this exciting for me was the fact that Disney was putting money into EXPANDING the Muppets footprint in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, after long held rumors that the area would be removed with Streets of America to make way for the new Star Wars and Toy Story expansions. Instead, Muppet Courtyard was created, which includes, in addition to the new restaurant, the MuppetVision 3D attraction, a Muppets-themed merchandise location, a Christmas shop, and the Italian table-service eatery Mama Melrose’s.

NOTE: Before I continue with this, I was saddened to hear, and officially see, that the Muppet Fountain, a long held icon of the area, and a beautiful picture taking location, had to be removed because of plumbing issues with nearby construction. Instead of the fountain, all of the characters have been removed except for Liberty Miss Piggy on her perch, and the fountain turned into a planter. There is rumor that the fountain will return, but I personally don’t think they would have removed all of the figures and such to create the planter, as they could have simply left the fountain dry until they could re-pipe the plumbing. Oh, and also there is a sprinkler system installed inside the planter now… so is it really a plumbing issue? I guess we will have to find out.

It’s disheartening to witness beloved landmarks like the Muppet Fountain change due to unforeseen plumbing issues. The intricate nature of plumbing systems underscores the complexities of construction and renovation projects, often leading to unexpected alterations in the urban landscape. As we ponder the fate of the Muppet Fountain and its transformation into a planter, it’s a reminder of the critical role plumbing services play in maintaining the functionality and aesthetics of public spaces. In such situations, seeking the expertise of professionals is essential to address plumbing challenges effectively. Plumbing services like those offered by https://stillwaterplumbing.ca/ can offer insight and solutions that not only restore iconic features but also ensure the long-term integrity of the surrounding infrastructure. The future of the Muppet Fountain remains uncertain, but by addressing the plumbing intricacies with precision, we can hope to see its joyful characters dancing once again in the heart of the area.

Poor Muppet Fountain.

Oh and another thing… Because it can be seen from the Star Wars expansion, rumor is that the beloved Muppet Balloon on top of MuppetVision 3D will be permanently removed… If it hasn’t as of this posting. Being a life-long fan of the Muppets and that area, that is a very sad happening. Disney giveth and taketh away.

Okay, now back to the review of PizzeRizzo. Unfortunately, though the dining area has changed significantly, the menu did not change much at all. Consisting mainly of pizza options, the menu resembled the Pizza Planet menu more than I would have expected. Almost exactly, actually. Agreed… the name of the place would mean pizza, but I was hoping for maybe a more expanded menu, or perhaps the option of ordering full pies and not have to settle for all individual pie servings.

PizzeRizzo Menu.

My friends Emily and Margaret, and I did have a quick bite when we were there, so I did get to try the pizza, which also came with a side Cesar salad. The meal was fine. Sub-par for me as far as Disney Quick Service dining, but I normally stray away from these type of QS locations to begin with. However, it was not the worst QS meal I had this trip (that would be The Liberty Inn at The American Adventure in Epcot… so bad that it’s not even worth writing about for the site).

Vegetable Pizza with Caesar Salad.

The theme of the former Pizza Planet was straight out of Toy Story: pizza place combined with an arcade. The two-story seating area, with a large open space in the middle of the second floor, was very open, and it was always very noisy. PizzeRizzo, on the other hand, is themed as a casual sit down pizzeria you would find in places like Brooklyn, NY. Instead of it being very open, there are now two full floors of seating, allowing for more guests to be seated and eating. In addition, with no arcade games, it actually was a nice place to sit, relax, and unwind for a spell. Throughout the kitchen and dining room areas are touches of Muppety humor, which is pretty fun. 

Downstairs Dining Room.

Upstairs Dining Room.

In addition to the changes inside, PizzeRizzo also features and expanded and updated outdoor dining area, including a covered lower section and a full upper patio section. I have a feeling that this will be a very popular place once the two land expansions open, as this place will be in the center of a lot of the traffic flow going to Star Tours to the Star Wars Land.

Outdoor Expanded Dining Area. Don’t mind my friend Mike in the foreground.

Inside on the second floor, there is a section back by the bathrooms with the walls surrounding a section of tables is decorated to resemble the famous NYC restaurant Sardi’s. Lining the walls are caricatures of all of our favorite Muppets characters. Probably the highlight of my visit to PizzeRizzo.

Overall, will I go back? Probably not on my own, but I do know it’s a good place in the area if people want a place to relax and maybe grab a quick bite. There are certainly better QS dining in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (I usually grab something over on Sunset Boulevard at the outdoor eateries there), but this would be an okay option if convenience was a factor.  

Have you dined at the new PizzeRizzo? What are your thoughts? Let us know below.

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