Breakfast at Grand Californian

[TashK]

Hi, our trip to DLR is next month. Family has handled our bookings so we are finding it hard to get some answers.
1. So Story Tellers opens at 7am? Do we need to make a booking for the breakfast buffet if we are staying there?
2. We have EM on 5 of the days that we are staying. What is the best way to handle breakfast but still be lined up by 7.15-7.30am?
3. We are big protein, fat breakfast eaters but do not eat bread, grains etc. e.g bacon, eggs any suggestions on whee to go for this? A buffet is usually a good option but timing seems that we will not have time until mid morning?

 

[cruisehopeful]

There can be a long line at Storytellers. You can walk up right when it opens and get in. If you wait a half hour or longer, they will take your name and give you a beeper. We ate there in March. I had walked by right after opening and saw there was no wait. I went to my room to get my kids and came back about 15 minutes later and there was a wait. They gave us the beeper and said it would be 30 - 40 minutes. We went to get coffee and hot cocoa in Hearthstone and our beeper went off within 10 minutes.

I can't help you with the other questions, but you can look at all the menus/hours online and probably find something that will work for you.

 

[5forMickey]

You might want to try White Water Snacks if you are looking for something quick. The buffet at Storytellers is a character dining experience and I don't think your going to want to pay and wait that long if you are just looking for something quick. Our family likes to just have a quick snack at the club level (protein bars) before we head out and then wait until after we have done some rides before eating breakfast. We typically book Carnation Station for around 10:00 or there are some places in both parks that offer a light breakfast.

 

[rentayenta]

I would make a reservation at Storyteller's. Every time we have been there its been crowded.

I like the Whitewater Snacks suggestion too. You could also do room service. Thats a fun option for early mornings.

Allearsnet.com has a good list of menus.

Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel has a nice breakfast menu but not sure you'd make the MMs if you choose that option but they do have steak and eggs.

Carnation Cafe (another sit down but inside Disneyland) has a great breakfast if you are wanting something more leisurely.

 

[GatorChris]

Breakfast at Storytellers includes characters. So you'll be paying for the buffet with characters when all you want is some eggs and bacon. Unless you DO want to be there for the characters. If that's the case, you'll be spending about an hour while you're there as you wait for each of them to come by the table. There's probably no way to eat here AND be in a good position in line for EMH. But that's ok. Sometimes it's nice to have a nice start with with some characters that you wouldn't meet at the parks anyway.

 

[tlovesdis]

I'd eat something in my room (protein bar, yogurt, etc...), hit up rides, then have breakfast in the park. In DL you can get a pretty good protein type breakfast at Rancho del Zocalo and Carnation Cafe. In DCA you can get eggs and bacon at Flo's.

Not much opens up early enough to actually eat before EE/MM.

 

[Geemo]

Besides GCH's White Water Shack, we'll also go to DTD Starbucks

You might want to have a few things in the room for a quick start in the morning at EE.
We do this and book a late morning dining reservation.

 

[jammyjam25]

Breakfast options before 7am are slim. We typically grab a breakfast sandwich or small snack from Starbucks in DTD and eat while waiting in line for EMH to begin, then sit down for a "real" breakfast somewhere around 9:30-10:00am at Flo's or Jolly Holiday or Carnation Café.

Storyteller's is a character dining experience and not included in any kind of booking at the Grand. You'd have to make separate reservations (approximately $35-$40 per person) and expect to spend around 1-hour dining and meeting characters. Might be fun for one day but definitely not for breakfast every morning of your stay.

 

[ParkHopper1]

I am the same as you...prefer more proteins and less carbs and breads for breakfast.

Storytellers and PCH Grill across the street at PPH both have great buffet options, but as others mentioned they are Character Dining experiences that you will want advance reservations for. It is not like a typical hotel breakfast restaurant or lounge.

My other go-to breakfast is Starbucks in DTD...I start off with their Chicken Skewers, Thai Chicken Wraps (cold case) or Fruit and Cheese Plate with a cold brew and I am a happy camper. None of those food items are available at the in park Starbucks.

 

[4Siamese]

We usually do Storytellers once a trip.

The food is very good and character interactions are good in our experience. Like all buffets though your mileage may vary on value from what and how much you want/like to eat.

As has been said you are looking at at least 1 hr time wise so if you are really wanting to be ready for rope drop then it may not be the best option.

 

[meggles]

For those early mornings, try Starbucks in DTD (get a breakfast sandwich, double egg, double sausage/bacon, sans bread) or Jazz Kitchen express or La Brea Bakery also have eggs, breakfast meat, etc.

 

[rentayenta]

You can order off the menu at Storyteller's for breakfast too; the buffet is optional not that it takes less time or anything.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

You can order off the menu at Storyteller's for breakfast too; the buffet is optional not that it takes less time or anything.

I believe I read somewhere (probably these boards) that a la carte ordering has been discontinued at the Storyteller's breakfast. It is now buffet only.

 

[rentayenta]

I believe I read somewhere (probably these boards) that a la carte ordering has been discontinued at the Storyteller's breakfast. It is now buffet only.

Boo! That makes me sad. But of course we'll still partake.

 

[TashK]

Wow thank you for all of the quick responses. That was exactly the info I was looking for.
I have been reading the dining super threads and trying to sort it out. I think I read in the dining link that WWS's has a buffet but then searching other threads it seems more of a CS cafe type option?

I Will explore the room service option. The Kids will want beignets from DTD but if DH and I could share a plate of bacon & eggs, just to gets us through to mid morning.

With Starbucks I couldn't see many options without carbs but I'll try the suggestion above with the sandwich without bread. Can I order it that way?
I have visions of us using the Starbucks app & breezing through the process to Maingate. Maybe not realistic?

 

[tlovesdis]

White Water Snacks is definitely not a buffet! It's like a mini cafeteria! You can order a few things off the menu, then they have things in a cold section (like at 7-11) and cereal and stuff like that.

You can do mobile ordering on SB app for the DTD locations, but not the ones in the park, so yes you could stroll in and get your coffee, but you will still need to wait in line at the gates!

 

[meggles]

With Starbucks I couldn't see many options without carbs but I'll try the suggestion above with the sandwich without bread. Can I order it that way?
I have visions of us using the Starbucks app & breezing through the process to Maingate. Maybe not realistic?

I'd try to order it without the English muffin and see if they let you. Either that or just deconstruct it. I've done that plenty of times for my picky kids.

White water snacks/La brea bakery/ jazz kitchen will likely have more options.

 

[TashK]

Perfect, thank you.

 

[tlovesdis]

I'm pretty sure the only places open before 7am in DTD are Jamba Juice and Starbucks. Most of the places open at 8, at least in my experience.

 

[AustinTink]

We have a light snack from Whitewater Snacks while waiting in the line to enter DCA from the GCH. Two of us line up while the other runs for supplies. After making the most of early entry we have a leisurely breakfast in the parks. Carnation Cafe and Minnie's are both great. We always do Storyteller's on the day we check out from the Grand. That way we can take our time without having to worry about entering the parks. We eat, take lots of pics with the characters and then head to the airport. It's always our last bit of Disney magic before we head back home.