You’re at the most magical place on earth – Walt Disney World – and you can’t wait to get to the parks and make your way to your favorite attractions. Wait, are you forgetting anything? Sunscreen, Magic Bands, cellphones, emergency snacks, plastic bags for electronics on wet rides, hats, all members of your party….nope, got it all. Breakfast? Yes, the most important meal of the day sometimes gets lost in the shuffle when you’re at Disney World. But often, if you make time for it, you can save on cranky attitudes and $$$ later. So, here is my Top 10 list of places to get breakfast.
1. Cinderella’s Royal Table – Yes, this can be a tough reservation to get, but if you manage it, there are some perks. First, you’ll be among the first people into Magic Kingdom before opening, and you can get those coveted pictures of Main Street and the castle without all those pesky people in the way. Second, you’ll get to see what’s inside the castle as you make your way to the restaurant. And, of course, you’ll get to meet and take pictures with the princesses. Your meal consists of pastries, and a selection of entrees, from traditional breakfast, to healthy, to fancy foods. Cost is a factor, of course, and this one’s a little pricey, but the experience is worth it.
2. Ohana – Located at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Ohana is also a breakfast experience. Food is served “family style” on platters, in baskets, and from large skillets to be shared by all, but Mickey Waffles are served separately. Breads, fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, biscuits, and P.O.G. – Passion Fruit, Orange, Guava juice are served in abundance. Visit and take pictures with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto!
3. Crystal Palace – Back inside the Magic Kingdom, again allowing for crowd-free picture-taking, is the Crystal Palace, with a traditional breakfast buffet. You’ll find pastries, fresh fruit, sausage, bacon, biscuits with sausage gravy, and made-to-order omelets. The Mickey Waffles here are at a special children’s station of the buffet, but that doesn’t mean that adults can’t enjoy them as well. My favorite part of a Crystal Palace breakfast is having a chance to visit with the characters from the Hundred Acre Wood – Pooh, Piglet, and my personal favorite, and yet elusive, character, Eeyore!
4. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Want to meet princesses at your breakfast, but couldn’t secure that reservation at the Castle? Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at Epcot may be your answer. Tucked in the Norway pavilion of Epcot’s World Showcase, this location is wonderful! You aren’t guaranteed to meet Cinderella, but there’s a good chance you’ll meet some of your favorite princesses. Traditional breakfast offerings like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and cheesy potatoes are served family style at your table, but you can also visit the cold buffet, where you’ll find fruit, cheeses, yogurt, pastries, and cold, smoked fish. Be sure to try the Lingonberry Muffin!
5. 1900 Park Fare – This Supercalifragilistic Breakfast is served up at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, buffet style. Omelets, eggs, pancakes, bagels, French toast, fresh fruit, pastries, and of course Mickey Waffles are just some of the items available. Look forward to meeting Mary Poppins, Alice, and the Mad Hatter while you dine in relaxed elegance.
6. Chef Mickey’s – If you’re looking for something a little more upbeat, Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a great choice. This can also be a difficult-to-get reservation, because this meal includes Mickey and his pals. Breakfast is a buffet including the usual breakfast favorites, eggs, omelets, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit, pastries, and yes, Mickey Waffles. A special addition here is the Krispy Kreme donut holes! If you want breakfast here, you’ll have to be sure to start working on it at 180 days out (or have your travel agent do it!). It’s loud, busy, crowded, fun, though, and you can walk right over to the Magic Kingdom when you’re finished!
7. Boma – maybe you’re not interested in a character breakfast, but just want a good meal. While the food is good at all Disney locations, there’s something different and special about Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Fresh fruit, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, hot and cold cereals, a quinoa porridge, pastries and breakfast breads, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, create-your-own omelet station, a carving station, and some special offerings like Bobotie – a kind of crustless quiche, and Pap – which is a little like grits, but fluffier, and usually served with stewed tomatoes. M&M pancakes will delight children of all ages, and you may want to wash everything down with a pot of Kenyan pressed coffee – Yum!
8. The Wave…of American Flavors – back at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, but without the characters this time, you can enjoy sustainable foods at The Wave. This is a warm, relaxing experience, with a buffet, but also entrees available. In the cold section of the buffet, you’ll find fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and salmon, as well as pastries and breads. In the hot section is biscuits and gravy, sausage and bacon, eggs, and cheese grits. Breakfast potatoes, Eggs Benedict, sweet potato pancakes, and multi-grain Mickey Waffles are also available. Entrees include omelets, Belgian waffles, French toast, and more. And this is another location that makes it easy and quick to get to the Magic Kingdom.
9. Captain’s Grille – located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, the Captain’s Grille also offers both a buffet and entrees at breakfast. Pastries, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, breakfast meats, scrambled eggs, bread pudding, fresh fruit, pancakes, French toast, and yes, Mickey Waffles, and even pats of butter imprinted with Mickey Mouse! Entrees include lemon-ricotta hotcakes, dark chocolate waffles, and a petite sirloin and quiche. There’s something here for your picky and your adventurous eaters!
10. Pizzafari – if you’d like more of a quick service option for breakfast, you might want to pop into Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom. This colorful, vibrant restaurant draws you in, and presents you with typical breakfast favorites like cold cereal and bagels, but adds a few interesting options as well. The Ancient Hot Grain Cereal may look like simple oatmeal, but it’s something more, oatmeal, barley, and quinoa with a salted caramel crumble topping. The relatively new Breakfast Croissant is multi-grain, with egg whites, spinach, and a vegetable chutney, held together by melted Provolone cheese. And while the Breakfast Burrito is not all that unusual, it is a good-sized portion of a tortilla filled with eggs, sausage, cheese, peppers, and salsa. And when you’re finished here, you’re already in Animal Kingdom, so you can head directly to the Kilimanjaro Safari – hope you get to see the lions!
Walt Disney World has so many options for eating any meal or snack. Breakfast doesn’t have to be a meal you miss while trying to get to your favorite attraction, though you may have to work diligently to get your most wanted breakfast reservation.
So those are my 10 favorite breakfast spots and experiences. What are yours? Did I miss your favorite? I’d love to know about another place I can try! Tell me in the comments.
I’m Jeri, and I’m a Disney Addict! I’m also an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel Services, the preferred travel agency of Chip and Co. and Disney Addicts. I am always happy to offer my free services to you to help make your next vacation a little more magical! And I would love nothing more than to take care of your dining reservations. Contact me for a free quote at jeri@worldofmagictravel.com.
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I’ve heard that Pizzafari is not serving breakfast anymore after Starbucks opens.
Ours too! I haven’t tried the banana bread though…have to try that next time!
I still remember having some wonderful times for breakfast over at the Beach Club Resort at Cape May Cafe, where Goofy hosted a wonderful buffet, with good food and fun times with Goofy, Minnie, Donald and, at the time, Mickey, coming by and greeting you for a fun time at the Beach Party Goofy is hosting. Also, my then-partner and I spent Christmas morning on 1994 at the Coral Reef restaurant at the Seas with Nemo and Friends (then known as the Living Seas). Had a wonderful time with the Fab Five on Christmas morning, with Mickey coming by in the full scuba gear in the aquarium. That was such a fun experience, especially on the most special holiday in the most special place in the World.
Our favorite place for breakfast is Kona at the polynesian. Its a must stop on our DWD vacation. They have the best banana bread. Reservations are a must. We often see people turned away without one.