Coral Reef or Via Napoli

[Daniela Rose]

I'm having a hard time deciding between the two. I know they're completely diff, but which would you choose? It's me, dh, 2yo dd and 4yo dd. With coral reef they would like the fish tanks and dh and I like fish. With via Napoli we'd all enjoy the pizza.

We're also New Yorkers so good pizza isn't a novelty to us.

 

[Micca]

Just visited CR for the first time in many years and it was a hit with the DGDs (just a bit older than your two.) The food & service were good along with the ambience of the giant fish tanks. Pizza is everywhere, especially in New York and it's SUPER LOUD in Via Napoli, go for CR.

 

[jdisnut]

I'm having a hard time deciding between the two. I know they're completely diff, but which would you choose? It's me, dh, 2yo dd and 4yo dd. With coral reef they would like the fish tanks and dh and I like fish. With via Napoli we'd all enjoy the pizza.

We're also New Yorkers so good pizza isn't a novelty to us.

I'm also from New York and enjoy Via Napoli. But it's also pizza you can eat at home: Naples 45 on 45th Street is essentially the same restaurant.

Overall, I prefer Via Napoli to Coral Reef, I think you'll find Coral Reef to be a more original experience.

 

[Daniela Rose]

I'm also from New York and enjoy Via Napoli. But it's also pizza you can eat at home: Naples 45 on 45th Street is essentially the same restaurant.

Overall, I prefer Via Napoli to Coral Reef, I think you'll find Coral Reef to be a more original experience.

I love the truffle pizza at vezzo on Lexington/31st. Yummmm

 

[jsternad]

In your case with littles I would do Coral Reef, for sure. I loved the food! But beware, just like any aquarium, it smells like fish in there.

 

[OKW Lover]

Via Napoli would be my choice. CR just seems to be way over priced and the food isn't that great. The view into the tank isn't a great enough distraction to compensate.

 

[Skippyboo]

Via Napoli would be the cheaper of the two if the cost matters. You can see the same fish tanks in the living seas attraction. If you have the dining plan, then the coral reef would be a better use of the table serve credits

 

[Daniela Rose]

We are on the ddp, but will have to pay oop for a couple of ts.

 

[rosiebean]

The view at Coral Reef can be great...if you're seated right next to the tanks. There are many tables that aren't that close, so the novelty of the fish wears off fairly soon. When we went a few years ago with my sons (ages 6 and 7 at the time), they stopped looking at the fish after about five minutes...and we were just across the aisle from the tanks. There was an entire row and then some of tables behind us with worse views. And the food was just ok too.

But, as you're a native New Yorker, the food at Via Napoli (no matter how good...and it is good, much better than Coral Reef IMO) might not mean much. One thing in Via Napoli's favor is that it's a fairly low-cost meal for WDW. So it's a good option for an OOP meal.

But between the two with your needs, it's a toss up.

 

[Squirlz]

Pizza was awful at Via Napoli, soggy with rancid grease. The server didn't even know what a Cocktail was. Haven't been to Coral Reef but will never go back to VN.

 

[JerseyJanice]

The pizza in La Pasta and La Pizza in Eataly beats Via Napoli by a far shot.

We liked the desserts at Coral Reef more than our entrees, but they are crazy good. I mean, I am not a huge dessert eater. I'm more of a savory kinda chick, but that boozy mousse is phenomenal.

On DDP, you get dessert so enjoy them. They are incredible.

 

[piccolopat]

I'm also from New York and enjoy Via Napoli. But it's also pizza you can eat at home: Naples 45 on 45th Street is essentially the same restaurant. Overall, I prefer Via Napoli to Coral Reef, I think you'll find Coral Reef to be a more original experience.

...and Naples 45 is just as loud! My vote is also for Coral Reef. We've been there many times and always enjoy it.

 

[piccolopat]

The view at Coral Reef can be great...if you're seated right next to the tanks. There are many tables that aren't that close, so the novelty of the fish wears off fairly soon. When we went a few years ago with my sons (ages 6 and 7 at the time), they stopped looking at the fish after about five minutes...and we were just across the aisle from the tanks. There was an entire row and then some of tables behind us with worse views. And the food was just ok too.

But, as you're a native New Yorker, the food at Via Napoli (no matter how good...and it is good, much better than Coral Reef IMO) might not mean much. One thing in Via Napoli's favor is that it's a fairly low-cost meal for WDW. So it's a good option for an OOP meal.

But between the two with your needs, it's a toss up.

We actually prefer to sit in the top row. You can see all of the tanks and don't have to worry about kids pushing past you to get to the glass. That's what happened to us the first time we went and thought we were lucky to be seated right at the glass. Two kids kept climbing past us until we told them to go back to their parents.

 

[Scottishbrit]

Napoli!!! By far the best food! CR was nice but expensive. And you dont have to get pizza at Napoli, there's so many other options!

 

[rosiebean]

We actually prefer to sit in the top row.

I understand that as an adult. But how many kids under the age of 4 or 5 would be content with that view?

Kids push to see the fish at the tanks on the bottom row because...very young kids want to see the fish up close generally. The OP has very young kids. I think anyone dining at CR with young kids has to think seriously about how those kids will react to being at a table far away from the tanks. They might be fine watching the fish from afar. OR...they might get fidgety within five minutes of sitting down (as mine were) and really, really want to walk over to the tanks and push past diners to see the fish. If making ADRs at CR, the OP really should consider how their kids might react if they're not seated right next to the fish. Because it's more likely that they will be seated away from then than right next to them.

 

[brertoad]

I'd do Via Napoli, then take the kids to see the aquarium at some point in the day. Seating at Coral Reef isn't guaranteed, you may be seated at a table further away from the glass.

 

[piccolopat]

I understand that as an adult. But how many kids under the age of 4 or 5 would be content with that view?

Kids push to see the fish at the tanks on the bottom row because...very young kids want to see the fish up close generally. The OP has very young kids. I think anyone dining at CR with young kids has to think seriously about how those kids will react to being at a table far away from the tanks (and it is more likely that they will get a table away from the tanks than next to them). They might be fine watching the fish from afar. OR...they might get fidgety within five minutes of sitting down (as mine were) and really, really want to walk over to the tanks and push past diners to see the fish. If making ADRs at CR, the OP really should consider how their kids might react if they're not seated right next to the fish. Because it's more likely that they will be seated away from then than right next to them.

We've sat up top every time since that first time. This included when our DD was very young. She could look at the fish up close as much as she wanted in the observation area without disturbing other diners. I really hope you can see why allowing your children to push past diners to see the fish is not considerate and can simply be handled with a promise to spend more time at the observation deck.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I'd do Via Napoli, then take the kids to see the aquarium at some point in the day. Seating at Coral Reef isn't guaranteed, you may be seated at a table further away from the glass.

Exactly. I agree with this. I'd eat at Via Napoli then take the kids to the aquarium later. Via Napoli pizza and pasta is delicious and by far my fave restaurant.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The decisions, for me, comes down to - do you want good food? (Via Napoli) or do you want to see a big aquarium (CR). They both have their pros and cons, but the food is definitely better at VN.

 

[rosiebean]

I really hope you can see why allowing your children to push past diners to see the fish is not considerate and can simply be handled with a promise to spend more time at the observation deck.

Of course I see that, and I didn't allow my sons to go down to see the fish. They were old enough to understand (ages 6 and 7), but they were nonetheless bored and a bit fidgety. Their behavior didn't impact our meal or the diners around us, though I had to 'pull out the reserves' (paper and colors, and their older cousin was wonderful and played hangman with them). We were dining with extended family who wanted to have a TS meal, and I chose CR in hopes it would be more engaging for my DSs than it was.

It would have likely been harder to deal their boredom when they were under age 4 or 5. Not all kids can be placated with a promise to do something later, or at least, the promises don't work every time. I've tried it and have witnessed parents time and again (at WDW, and the mall, and the grocery store, etc.) dealing with a cranky child who wants something and wants it now by promising they can have it later. That doesn't always work. Sadly, sometimes parents give in (as witnessed at CR with the kids pushing past diners to see the fish).

Toddlers aren't the most reasonable of creatures even in the best of circumstances. I would not have taken my DSs to CR at such a young age (QS, yes. Character buffets, yes) just given their personalities. Lots of kids do great in CR, but some don't. I just think anyone going there with very young kids should be aware of the seating arrangements. The parents will know best whether or not that will work for their kids. Hopefully, anyone going to CR with young kids won't let them down to push past others to see the tank, too .