Non-Disney Pizza delivered to your Resort
Early last year as we rested in our Disney resort room one evening, I became quite startled as something came flying under our door into the room. This told me two things: 1) I would spend the rest of the vacation wondering what else was going to come under the door. 2) There were unauthorized solicitors of some sort on the floor of my building.
We quickly rose and looked out the window to see who the culprit was, but they were long gone. I suspect they were moving fast so Disney security would not detect them on property. We then investigated what had been thrust into the room. It turned out to be a flyer for pizza delivery; somewhat crude and lackluster. We decided to hang onto it for future, longer trips when we needed a break from Disney food (don’t judge).
Later that year when we were planning for our return trip, we scheduled an evening for pizza delivery from our mystery solicitors. Then I stumbled upon a thread on one of the many Facebook groups I follow, about where to get “good” pizza when in Orlando. Many people warned about the scams of ordering from these door stuffers. It was even suggested that they are not real businesses, only people looking to get your credit card number. Well, we weren’t up for taking that chance! We threw the flyer away and did more research on where we could get reputable pizza offsite that delivered to the resorts.
Three pizzerias kept popping up in our searches: Flippers, Giordano’s, and Uno. Flippers claim to fame is brick oven pizzas, while Giordano’s and Uno specialize in Chicago style deep dish. All three also have salads, appetizers, sandwiches, and pasta. Their menus are quite extensive and all three pizzerias would easily satisfy our palates. Orlando locals have given all three good reviews. It was going to be a tough choice.
Now that we had it narrowed down to three choices based on online reviews of locals and their menus, the big question was “Does Disney allow for offsite food delivery?” I mean it seems like a silly question, but Disney puts a lot of effort into keeping your dollars in their parks and resorts. Wouldn’t that be like openly inviting competition to come in and steal what you could so easily have? Well that is exactly what it is like, but the answer is yes.
I contacted all three pizzerias in order to find out the proper procedure for ordering delivery to the resorts. Two of them, Uno and Flippers, were very friendly and more than willing to share information on how to order, payment methods, and any fees. Giordano’s however was not as forthcoming. After being transferred to three different workers on the phone I was told that they were too busy to talk. Ok, I understand. You are a business after all. However, I even contacted corporate headquarters for information and after three attempts with that, I have given up. So, even though they might have really good pizza, based on my own personal experience, I had to file them with the door stuffers.
The Face Off
Name: Flippers, Lake Buena Vista
Location: 12525 State Road 535, Orlando
Phone: 407-938-9633
Website: www.flipperspizzeria.com
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11am-midnight; Friday & Saturday 11am – 1am
What: Brick oven pizzas, salads, appetizers, calzones, sandwiches, pastas, desserts, beverages
Pizza prices: $7.29 – $23.99 (extra charges for additional toppings)
Minimum order value: None
Delivery fees: $3.50 per order plus tip for the driver
Payment methods accepted: Cash, all major Credit Cards, and traveler’s checks *If paying by credit card you will need to give the number at the time your order is placed. However, if you indicate that you will be paying by cash and change your mind when the driver arrives, you or the driver can then call back and your credit card can still be used.
How to order: By phone or online (you will need the address for the resort which you are staying)
Delivery: You must give your cell phone number at the time of order placement. The driver will call you when he is about 10 minutes away. Per Disney policy, you must meet the delivery driver in the lobby, to ensure your and the driver’s safety.
Name: Uno Pizzeria and Grill, Lake Buena Vista
Location: 12553 State Road 535, Orlando
Phone: 407-827-1212
Website: www.unos.com
Hours: Monday – Sunday 11am – 2am
What: Chicago style deep dish, flatbread, gluten free, and artisan crust pizzas, appetizers, salads, soups, chicken, steak, seafood, burgers, sandwiches, desserts, and beverages
Pizza prices: $10.49-$26.99 (extra charges for additional toppings)
Minimum order value: $15.00
Delivery fees: $3.00 per order plus tip for the driver
Payment methods accepted: Cash, all major credit cards, travelers checks, and personal checks *If paying by credit card you will need to give the number at the time your order is placed. However, if you indicate that you will be paying by cash and change your mind when the driver arrives, you or the driver can then call back and your credit card can still be used.
How to order: By phone or online (you will need the address for the resort which you are staying)
Delivery: You must give your cell phone number at the time of order placement. The driver will call you when he is about 10 minutes away. Per Disney policy, you must meet the delivery driver in the lobby, to ensure your and the driver’s safety.
The winner of the epic duel for my offsite pizza delivery order? It still remains to be seen. Both Flippers and Uno got points for friendly staff, organized and detailed online menus, and reasonable pricing. My husband loves brick oven style pies, while I love Chicago style. Next trip it will probably come down to whether or not I can smile sweetly and bat my lashes enough to get my way.
Have you ordered offsite pizza while staying at a Disney resort? What has your experience been?
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Hey Amy,
I am the general manager for two of the Giordano’s locations here in Florida. We are sorry that you didn’t have a positive experience calling one of our locations. There are three Giordanos locations near Disney and Universal Studios and the one closest to Disney, the Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee location deliver to the Disney resorts and same as the other off site companies we can only deliver to the lobby because that’s Disney’s policy for the safety of their guest. Feedback is very important to us and I appreciate that you took the time to write the review here and we will work on making sure this doesn’t happen again. We also take pride in our team and have received many compliments attesting to their knowledge & helpfulness. If you were to have a different encounter with one of our team members, we would like to know which location you called and around what week so we can correct that as soon as possible.
We would love to ship you a stuffed pizza any where in US, if you would consider giving us another chance, please let me know !
Saranda Rexhaj
Giordano’s Lake Buena Vista
407-239-8900
Thanks for the comment Saranda. Based on all the good reviews here, the next time we are in Orlando, we will have to give Giordano’s a try!
Our experience with both Uno and Flippers was very bad. Uno has no online option to deliver and Flippers online registration did not work. Calling two Uno locations confirmed that they do not deliver onto Disney property. We just gave up in frustration.
when we want pizza we go down to the resort’s QS restaurant and get however many of their flatbread pizzas as needed. We really enjoy them and usually have them a few times during a trip — as a meal, as a snack, in the QS restaurant or taken back to the room (the restaurants have nice covers for the plates if you ask).
Excellent article and informative comments. My takeaway: banish the thought of room-delivered pizza while on property and just make do with the 1,000 other dining options. 🙂
We’ve ordered from Domino’s, but again it’s one of those things where you have to call the right store to make sure they’ll actually deliver to Disney – and they can only deliver to the lobby. A long walk from a back room at Alligator Bayou to the Riverside lobby, but when pizza calls, I must answer. I ordered from Flippers once and thought it was meh. At least with Domino’s you know what you’re getting.
Giordano’s stuffed pizza is unique, delicious, and worth the wait in the restaurant. I think it’s wonderful cold, too, so I’d consider ordering it, but you’re definitely waiting for it. It’s just deep dish to the extreme.
We tried Giordano’s several years ago — 2010 — and it was a terrible experience. Took nearly 2 hours from time I ordered. Pizza was expensive, cold and it was terrible. Never again.
In my opinion and experience, Girodano’s is more of a place you visit and sit down and order pizza. Their famous deep dish pizza does take a long time to cook, (I believe at least 30-40 minutes) so if that’s what you’re ordering and they can deliver it, that hour and a half to two hour time window does sound about right. Of course, they do offer a regular crust pizza too, but I mean, if you’re eating Girodano’s, it’s all about the deep dish!
Honestly, I didn’t even know they did deliver, so I was surprised to see that some have gotten delivery options. However, it is one of my must visits when I’m down in Orlando. I eat there every other time or so. So, if you have a car, I say absolutely make a stop in. (And if you can get them to deliver…well that’s all the better! Just know going in that it will take a while.)
Mind you, Giordano’s will typically take an hour in store with nobody there. The pizza is so thick it just takes that long to cook.
We actually just tried to order pizza from Flippers and Giordano’s last week. Simply stated, it did not work. Flippers indicated that they no longer delivered to Disney resort hotels (who knows if that is accurate or if I just got the wrong person), and Giordano’s told me they could get me a pizza, but that it was going to take nearly two hours. Ended up scrapping the idea.
I have ordered from Giordano’s several times over the last few years and have had no problem getting them to deliver. ) Now I will admit that they are by no means fast. I think it has typically taken them about an hour-and-a-half (and perhaps even longer), but it gets there. They call me on my cell phone when they are a few minutes away, and I meet them down in the valet area. It’s been worth the wait…I love their stuffed pizza.
The location I have been calling is the one in Lake Buena Vista on S. Apopka Vineland Road (407-239-9800).
terribly helpful. my wife and I once decided to order a pizza, from resort room-service, and sit outside and watch the MK fireworks. we still refer to that pizza as the worst pizza we have ever eaten. truly a shock, since you’d think pizza was not that difficult to make! appreciate the tips for REAL pizza.
When staying off site on old lake Wilson rd (southwest of world drive and US192 aka irlo Bronson — this location is known as the main gate), I like to order carry out or delivery from the Papa John’s on Osceola polk county line road and old lake Wilson FL 532.
It’s Papa John’s, so you probably know what that is. But it’s not over priced like the tourist pizza hut and domino’s that cater to delivering to hotels on 192 or international drive.
That corner has a grocery store, CVS (with minute clinic and pharmacy) Chinese restaurant, liquor store, 7-11 (gas station) and a few other useful businesses.
It’s “close” to Disney, but overlooked by most tourists. So it’s not a zoo or terribly over priced.
It, however, is not really all that convenient to on site guest especially monorail resorts or WL or fort wilderness.
There’s also a new York style place that’s pricey and not that great but it’s better than national chains and definitely better than Disney’s counter service whole pizza:
Gourmeto’s Pizza
8216 World Center Drive
Orlando, FL 32821
It’s near the corner of FL 536 and FL 535. Basically if you exit WDW via the EPCOT main exit then you’d run into this strip mall. Other notable landmarks: East down the street from the Marriot Grand Cypress.
Being a Chicagoan of sorts, I’ve had plenty of Giordano’s. In Florida, it is exactly the same stuff you’d get in Chicago. UNO’s, however, in Florida is a franchise and is not the same as an UNO’s in Chicago (especially the UNO’s on Ohio st in “downtown” Chicago); So, for the best Chicago style, go with Giordano’s. But it’s not inexpensive.
So, if the point is to get pizza because you need to stretch your budget, then get in your car and drive down to the Papa John’s in Davenport. It’s regular Papa John’s prices and you can get a few large pizzas for close to $20. 10 minutes south once you’re off of Disney property.
Or the BEST stretch of your Pizza dollars: Cici’s Pizza buffet. Several locations on 192.
I have no experience getting off property pizza places deliver to a Disney resort. It’s always been somewhat suggestive that is not really an option. They would have to get through security, and then it’s questionable if they can bring it to your room.
Maybe if you have a big enough order, then it’s worthwhile. But it will also take more like 90 to 120 minutes for the delivery (not 35 or 40 minutes).
It’s too much trouble for the real pizza delivery places to deliver to WDW. They have plenty of business among the off site properties (hotels, condos, homes, etc…)
Based on reading some blogs we ordered Flippers one time we were at WDW. It was pretty decent pizza. Being from Chicago, Giordano’s would be the best tasting of all 3 companies- so might be worth the effort for pizza snobs.
We eat at Giordano’s a couple times a year during Disney trips. My wife loves it since she grew up in Chicago and they are one of the larger chains there. I haven’t had any luck with getting them to deliver. The only time I tried delivery I was sent between their 2 stores in the area with each store saying the hotel was in the other delivery area. Finally I gave up and just picked it up myself.
It is definitely worth it if you can dine-in or pick it up yourself.