Large group quick service in Epcot

[Little Monkey Mom]

We will be in Epcot while my daughter's dance team does workshops there this summer. The team has a 1 hour break for lunch, and we were told that Italy and America are the closest options.

We were thinking of ordering pizzas from Via Napoli (with only an hour to eat and 25 people to feed, pizza seems like the easiest option by far!) but would kids (ages 9-15) like their pizza or is it "fancy"?

Alternatively, are the other options nearby that might also work for such a large group with limited time? Or is there Someplace that might deliver to us at the workshop studio?

Thanks in advance for any ideas anyone has!

 

[bbak30]

The Liberty Inn in America has a large counter service that would probably work.
I'm not aware of any place that will deliver.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I would also go Liberty Inn they do a wide variety of food for everybodies taste. I think this would be better than the pizzas. We have eaten there it is very nice and quick.

 

[Hopefully]

In order to get pizza at Via Napoli you would need ADR's for 25 at the same time. It is a sit down restaurant and does not do takeout we like the pizza very much and do not consider it too fancy.
Ithink Liberty Inn in American Adventure would be easier to manage

 

[sharonabe]

There's almost no way you could do Via Napoli in just an hour.

Do the girls need to stay together? There are so many QS places in World Showcase. Splitting up will get all of them more time to get what they want and eat. If all 25 go to Liberty Inn, those at the back of the line will have less time to eat.

 

[Little Monkey Mom]

Thanks for the quick responses!!!

I had not realized Via Napoli didn't do takeout -- I just assumed we could get pizzas to go & have them ready for the girls at the beginning of their lunch break.

We cannot split up -- we only have a couple of chaperones, and many of the girls are too young to be on their own.

My concern with Liberty Inn is that by the time we get 25 kids through a line (and some are fairly young & might not make choices quickly ) and seated, they might not really have enough time to eat.

I wonder if the chaperones could get pizzas from the Boardwalk Pizza Window and bring them over so they are ready at the beginning of the lunch break? They might not be very hot by that time (I know it would be a bit of a walk from the Boardwalk Pizza Window back to the Italy/America area), but I doubt the kids would care.

Otherwise, I guess the chaperones could take orders for Liberty Inn & have food waiting for the kids when they come out for their break.

 

[tobikaye]

Is there any way that you could pack their lunches and take them with them? It might not be ideal, but it would save some much needed time. If their are other dancers than just your group in the workshop, then that means even more people trying to get lunch at the same time.

If you do decide to have the chaperones order and then have the food ready for the dance team, know that most locations do not have individual containers for the food, but use trays. That would be a lot of trays for a small number of people to carry.

Now, that being said, I do think that Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in France might have packaging for items such as for carry out. I know that before they moved, this was the case as we did get items to go there before. You might want to bring some bags that you could put the items in to carry and then meet your team.

 

[tomatecerise]

Sunshine seasons it's huge and you have lot of choices

 

[Anthony1971]

if you are dealing with Kids meals the choices are simple.... other meals not as much. Why not simply print the menus and ask what they want in the morning and order it before they get there. Maybe even speak with the people at the CS and see if they can make a section and have the food at a specific time.

 

[ahutton]

In that situation I would print menus and have them order in advance, and then have an adult go early and do the order in a group.

It might be worthwhile to check with group dining to see if they can set up something for the girls. Although it would certainly be more expensive than fast food, there may be options they can offer that are within the budget.

Or what about doing Germany Biergarten for lunch? They are set up to hold big groups and move quickly and have a variety of food.

 

[DJFan88]

Liberty Inn is a quick service that is used to handling crowds. I can't imagine 25 people not being able to get and eat their food in an hour. Especially if you had people who had the menu and order ahead of time and waited and grabbed tables. heck, if the show in there got out, I would imagine it could inundated real quick.

 

[DisneyMom111]

Or what about doing Germany Biergarten for lunch? They are set up to hold big groups and move quickly and have a variety of food.

I was thinking the same thing, long tables, buffet...but it is a table service, not a quick service. Not sure if they had a budget to stick to.

 

[DJFan88]

I was thinking the same thing, long tables, buffet...but it is a table service, not a quick service. Not sure if they had a budget to stick to.

Not sure because I was never there. But is an hour enough time for a table service? I suppose its a buffet so you just go and get it, but is it a definite that you get in at the right time of your ADR?

 

[wilkeliza]

I know exactly what area the girls will be in. It is backstage and it is quite possible they will not be allowed to wander. Just making sure will they have tickets? Have you asked if you will be allowed to go onstage to get lunch? Has the leader asked Disney directly about lunches? In the youth education series Disney does sometimes provide lunches if park admission is not included as the kids would have to be escorted on and off stage or made to go all the way back around. It may just be best to bring snack lunches for all the kids as they usually have a set of benches and tables set up for kids to eat at when they are in this backstage area.

edit to add: I know they are required to buy a minimum day of tickets but that usually doesn't mean they can come on and off stage with them. I know they also can only use certain entrances and exits when they are allowed to go on and off stage so it is best to ask what the team will be allowed to do during the time they are around and involved in the program.

 

[Hopefully]

I know exactly what area the girls will be in. It is backstage and it is quite possible they will not be allowed to wander. Just making sure will they have tickets? Have you asked if you will be allowed to go onstage to get lunch? Has the leader asked Disney directly about lunches? In the youth education series Disney does sometimes provide lunches if park admission is not included as the kids would have to be escorted on and off stage or made to go all the way back around. It may just be best to bring snack lunches for all the kids as they usually have a set of benches and tables set up for kids to eat at when they are in this backstage area.

I think this is vital information to find out.
Also a PP mentioned, much of Epcot is not equipped to handle takeout. This will factor heavily into your plans.

 

[Little Monkey Mom]

I know exactly what area the girls will be in. It is backstage and it is quite possible they will not be allowed to wander. Just making sure will they have tickets? Have you asked if you will be allowed to go onstage to get lunch? Has the leader asked Disney directly about lunches? In the youth education series Disney does sometimes provide lunches if park admission is not included as the kids would have to be escorted on and off stage or made to go all the way back around. It may just be best to bring snack lunches for all the kids as they usually have a set of benches and tables set up for kids to eat at when they are in this backstage area.

edit to add: I know they are required to buy a minimum day of tickets but that usually doesn't mean they can come on and off stage with them. I know they also can only use certain entrances and exits when they are allowed to go on and off stage so it is best to ask what the team will be allowed to do during the time they are around and involved in the program.

Yes, the girls have tickets & we have confirmed that they are allowed to leave the area for lunch, but must stay with their chaperones. We were originally told that we could order boxed lunches to be delivered to & eaten in the workshop area, but then were recently told that service has been discontinued & that the girls would need to eat in the park.

Perhaps the food court at the hotel we are staying at could provide boxed/sack lunches for the girls if we order in advance?

 

[Little Monkey Mom]

Biergarten is also a great idea -- not sure if it is within the budget, but I can definitely check & see!

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes, the girls have tickets & we have confirmed that they are allowed to leave the area for lunch, but must stay with their chaperones. We were originally told that we could order boxed lunches to be delivered to & eaten in the workshop area, but then were recently told that service has been discontinued & that the girls would need to eat in the park.

Perhaps the food court at the hotel we are staying at could provide boxed/sack lunches for the girls if we order in advance?

You can try. That is sad to hear that they aren't doing the boxed lunches any more. As a PP mentioned the other idea is to print off the menu of the QS in American and have them pick what they want. An adult can go order before their lunch starts and just bring it all to the girls or have them come and sit.

When is this program? If it is during the summer it may be harder but sending a few chaperons to deal with it before the break may be the best option.