When the Florida sun is doing its absolute worst and the lunch queues at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT are stretching into oblivion, there’s a secret escape hatch… and it involves the Disney Skyliner.
Primo Piatto, tucked into the ground level of Disney’s Riviera Resort, is one of my go-to lunch spots that I genuinely look forward to. A quick gondola ride from EPCOT or Hollywood Studios (and equally convenient if you’re staying at Pop Century or Art of Animation which are also Skyliner-connected), it makes you feel like you’ve outsmarted the crowds.
Primo Piatto is open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM, serving quick-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Because of the location, the food here is a step above your typical Value Resort quick-service fare. You can order at the counter inside, grab select items to-go (there’s also gelato and ice cream novelties in the freezer!), or Mobile Order through the My Disney Experience app before you even step off your gondola.
The Food
Primo rarely lets me down. This last visit I grabbed the Three-Cheese Panini with Prosciutto and paired it with the Creamy Tomato Soup. For 11.19, The golden, crispy-edged pressed sandwich is filled with with mozzarella, fontina, provolone, and Prosciutto between two slabs of focaccia. The outside gets this nice crunch while staying pillowy inside, fontina brings nuttiness, provolone a mild sharpness, and mozzarella ties it all together in one gooey bite.
The pre-made sandwiches are sitting in a warmer, so that mozzarella oozed out around the sides before I piled it back on!
While it’s 95 degrees with high humidity outside, that won’t stop me from ordering the tomato soup ($4.79)… no regrets. It’s creamy and savory, and comes topped with focaccia croutons and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. As long as I’ve got that primo air conditioning and a comfy booth, I’m getting this soup every single time.
Ending on a sweet note: The Riviera Signature Cookie ($4.79) is a must-have… even if you solely visit this resort for it. It’s freshly baked with dried cherries, semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, ground oats, California walnuts, toasted pistachios, and a touch of molasses. The cherries bring this subtle tartness that plays beautifully against all that chocolate, and the flake sea salt on top cuts through the richness and makes you go back for another bite. It’s really, really good.
Next time the parks have you beat, hop on the Skyliner and come here instead. You’ll eat well, cool off, and wonder why you don’t do this every trip.
