Hello and welcome to my 2026 Princess Half Marathon Weekend coverage! Today we’ll be discussing our pre-10K meal at Maria & Enzo’s. Read all the posts in this report here. Onward!
Forget race challenges; every runDisney race weekend comes complete with the Italian Restaurant Challenge. We all want to carb load before our races with pasta, and we snap up those restaurant reservations quick.
Add to that the need to eat early on race night (lights out at 8pm!…ish) and that in-park options are ineligible when not everyone in your party has a ticket, and it can be tough to score the perfect pre-race meal reservation.
Which is how, despite my (literally) lukewarm feelings on it, we wound up taking another stab at Maria & Enzo’s.
WHAT IS MARIA & ENZO’S?
Maria & Enzo’s is an Italian(!) table service restaurant found in The Landing area of Disney Springs. It’s themed to a converted airport terminal, with aviation- and travel-inspiring decor to match. The main dining area is enormous, although there is a semi-private room tucked away near the bathrooms.
The ambience isn’t exactly designed for its kid appeal, but I wouldn’t call Maria & Enzo’s adult-oriented. It’s too cavernous to be reasonably deemed intimate. Photographic evidence from my previous venture here suggests that the do dim the lights later in the evening.
I wouldn’t say the restaurant is child-friendly in the same way, say, a character meal is, but unless your kid is causing a major ruckus no one’s going to a notice a bit of noise.
WHY ARE YOU HISTORICALLY LUKEWARM ON MARIA & ENZO’S?
Because the food was lukewarm.
Kidding! I mean not kidding! Because the first time we tried Maria & Enzo’s, the food was lukewarm. It also came out CRAZY fast. Like suspiciously fast. Like I ultimately came away with the impression that all the dishes have been pre-made and are just sitting around under heat lamps waiting to be served. Do I know this to be true? I do not; I’ve never been in their kitchen. But all the clues were there.
Nevertheless, Maria & Enzo’s was a good pre-race pasta bet, especially from our Disney Springs-adjacent position at Saratoga Springs. It was time to give them a second chance.
WELL, DID THE FOOD DO ITS CARB-LOADING JOB?
While I normally go with the safe choice of spaghetti and meatballs before, well, every race, I decided to branch out a tiny bit this time with the ravioli al formaggi. The description advertised fresh egg pasta alongside cheese, pomodoro, pecorina, and basil pesto. I’m a sucker for fresh pasta, so I took a shot.
And once again, our food arrived CRAZY fast. I mean like less than ten minutes between ordering and digging in. Yes, all five of our different entrees. My pasta was warm, but I wouldn’t call it hot. Hmmm.
At any rate, the cheese ravioli was pretty good. Nothing that set me on fire, but if you’re in the mood for cheese ravioli, this will do the trick. It’s not a big portion, which was fine with me; I don’t like a large meal before races anyway. Larger appetites may wish to look elsewhere.
Speaking of which – when we dined here in 2023, we received bread service. It arrived after our entrees, but we did receive it. This time we did not. Not sure if bread is now by request only or if bread is no longer included with dinner.
This being a pre-race meal, we didn’t consume any alcohol. Still, Maria & Enzo’s has a reasonably unique drink menu if that’s something you’re into.
SO WHAT THIS PLACE PERFECT FOR PRE-RACE DINNER?
Okay, having thought about it, I have realized that what I initially labeled a liability at Maria & Enzo’s is actually its greatest strength… IF, and only if, you are running a race in the morning.
Why? Because when you have a race in the morning, you’re not looking for a leisurely meal. You want pasta, and then you want to go to bed. Nobody’s trying to stretch out the evening. You want your food, your check, and the way out. While I have not abandoned my conspiracy theory that Maria & Enzo’s is nothing more than eight heat lamps in a trench coat, I have to admit that in this very specific instance I appreciated the efficient service.
SHOULD YOU MAKE A RESERVATION AT MARIA & ENZO’S?
I’m still not 100% sold on Maria & Enzo’s. Nonetheless, I would 100% recommend it to any runDisney runners who get anxious about the time, and here I am specifically thinking of bedtime. Want decent food fast and not too worried about a relaxed vibe? Maria & Enzo’s might be just right for you.
For just about any other instance, though, I’d instead direct you to their sister restaurant, Enzo’s Hideaway. I personally preferred it, but your mileage may vary – and during a race weekend, your mileage is the only mileage that matters!
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!