Hello and welcome to my runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2025 trip report! I’m returning to the blow-by-blow diary format for this trip. Today we review our meal at Trattoria al Forno on Disney’s Boardwalk! Read all the posts in this report here. Onward!
For why do we runDisney but to have an excuse to try all of Disney’s Italian restaurants? What are the races for but a reason to eat pasta?
Okay, there are actually lots of reasons to runDisney and pasta consumption doesn’t even crack my top ten. Still, I wouldn’t be so determined to try all my pasta options without it! This being my lead up to the information that for our pre-Princess Half Marathon dinner, we tried Trattoria al Forno on Disney’s Boardwalk.
Follow along with the menu here.
WHAT’S TRATTORIA AL FORNO LIKE?
Picture a semi-casual, semi-rustic Italian family eatery. You got it!
I hope you have a solid picture in your head, because I somehow neglected to take a single interior picture. What am I, some kinda amateur blogger?! (Well, I’m no professional, that’s for sure. 
) Musta been so hyped about the race I lost my head. Anyway, I went ahead and stole these from Disney directly. It’s better than anything I could do.
As you can see, there’s an open kitchen and dimly lit, intimate vibe. I’m not sure I’d go so far as to call it romantic, but neither does it strike me as the sort of place that would resonate with a toddler. What do toddlers like? Character meals, I guess? Regardless, I’d call the overall vibe upscale casual.
TRATTORIA AL FORNO DOES FREE BREAD!
What is it runners need? That’s right, carbs! I am pleased to confirm that Trattoria al Forno numbers among the Disney restaurants that continue to offer complimentary bread service. It’s just a basic dinner roll, but it was well baked with a nice chew and a home-baked quality that if not accurate was at least accurately replicated.
Your bread is accompanied by spice whole garlic cloves submerged in olive oil. I am a massive garlic fan, so this was theoretically right up my alley. However, I wish the garlic cloves had been at least partially smashed so as to better infuse the olive oil, which didn’t pick up much garlic flavor by itself. Still, for a freebie I can’t complain (much).
OUR CHARCUTERIE QUEST CONTINUES
One thing about me and Becky (call us Jecky; nice to meet you!): we cannot let a charcuterie board pass us by. The description on Trattoria al Forno’s menu is pretty vague – “cured meats, cheeses, pickled garden vegetables” – but a mission is a mission so we put in an order.
I was delighted to discover upon its arrival that one of the aforementioned cheese was none other than ricotta! I adore ricotta. Not only that, but I was the only one at the table who felt that way, so after quick tastes I had the glorious pile all to myself. It wasn’t any different than ricotta you’d get at the grocery store, but that was fine with me.
Similarly the meats were nothing you couldn’t get in a deli – think salami, mortadella, prosciutto, etc. The quality was of course solid of course. There was also a slice of mozzarella and some rustic bread. The only disappointment for me was in the pickled vegetables, which lacked the sour tang and crisp bite I would expect. Still, a solid if unadventurous charcuterie plate. Alas, no honey, but I suppose one can’t have everything.
BUT SERIOUSLY, TELL ME ABOUT THE PASTA
I think we all know why I gathered us here today. You want to know how the pre-race pasta fares. Well, I’ll tell ya!
For me entree, I selected the plant-based bolognese, described on the menu as a rigatoni with slow braised wine ragu.
This was tasty! The pasta was well cooked and the bolognese did a good job replicating meat, with mild, flavorful spices and a true-to-beef texture. I took leftovers home and enjoyed them after the half.
As a pre-race meal, however, I’m not sure I made the right choice. Despite the vegan ingredients, I think it was all a bit too heavy for me. In retrospect, I might have been better off with a margarita pizza or even a salad and side of garlic bread.
Then again, I find I perform best by keeping my diet light prior to the race and then going ham on in-race fuel. That’s not the right fit for everyone, though, and if you’re someone who likes hearty fuel the night before you go the distance, the vegan bolognese might be just the ticket.
HOW DOES TRATTORIA AL FORNO RANK IN THE DISNEY ITALIAN PANTHEON?
Now that I’ve got a decent number of Disney’s Italian offerings under my belt (literally?), I’m starting to get a feel for the landscape. Trattoria al Forno is a solid option, and I would certainly rank it above Maria & Enzo’s, which I found lackluster. I preferred Enzo’s Hideaway, personally; the creme de la creme remains Topolino’s Terrace in my book. But if Trattoria al Forno is convenient to your location, I wouldn’t dissuade you from eating there.
There are still plenty of Italian restaurants at Walt Disney World to try – where should we go next? 
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!