Breakfast at the Grand Californian

[pixarmom]

We're WDW vets staying at the Grand Californian for the first time this August!

At WDW, we usually have breakfast items in our room and just eat something quick before heading out to rope drop each morning. Most of the gift shops or counter service places at WDW deluxe resorts have milk, juice, donuts, fruit, etc. so we buy these items when we arrive and keep them in our room fridge.

So at DL, we are doing the Chip and Dale breakfast and going to DCA rope drop at 10am - highly unusual for our family to do a full breakfast, but we think lining up for the 10am rope drop is our best bet for getting onto TSM with the least amount of wait time. The other morning, we want to get to DLR's MM at 7am - so we'd like to just get breakfast items for our room at GCH, like we do at WDW. Does Whitewater Snacks or the gift shop have the types of items? If so, I'm guessing that we should buy them the night before - is that right?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

we love chip & dale's breakfast! and do the same thing you are doing... we eat an 8:00 breakfast, and then use the special entrance into DCA at 9:30 and go do Soarin before the park officially opens, and then head straight to TSMM...

As for breakfast items in your room, you will probably want to buy them the night before--unless you do room service... most everything isn't open till 7, and dtd stuff opens later than that... I want to say 7:30 or 8 even... but I will say that room service portions are enormous, and we ask for delivery right at 7, and have never had them be late... and dd and I can easily share 1 breakfast, and they are pretty reasonable!

 

[Homemom]

Here's the menu for Whitewater Snacks from Allears. In addition, they have other things that you can grab out of a case like muffins and cinnamon rolls, etc.

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_wws.htm

 

[jessicaerv]

Another option is to buy groceries online from Safeway and have them delivered the night before so they are ready and waiting in the morning.

 

[mdsd8700]

Another option is to buy groceries online from Safeway and have them delivered the night before so they are ready and waiting in the morning.

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit....

We are staying at GCV next month for the first time. In WDW we usually have Garden Grocer delivery our breakfast items and snacks. You mention Safeway here so they must do the same thing. Would you recommend them? You mention online, do you know the link and what is the delivery charge? Thanks for any info you can give.

 

[jessicaerv]

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit....

We are staying at GCV next month for the first time. In WDW we usually have Garden Grocer delivery our breakfast items and snacks. You mention Safeway here so they must do the same thing. Would you recommend them? You mention online, do you know the link and what is the delivery charge? Thanks for any info you can give.

Oh boy. Apparently the grocer is Von's, not Safeway (although they might deliver as well). I haven't actually ever used either service, so I can't speak to whether or not I would recommend them. If you do a thread search for grocery delivery there are quite a few that pop up. Here is one:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2434605&highlight=safeway


ETA: Good luck, and if you do have groceries delivered, let us all know how it went!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Oh boy. Apparently the grocer is Von's, not Safeway (although they might deliver as well).

Safeway and Vons are the same thing... we've used them for delivery to both DLH and GCH... I read a thread recently that there have been issues with delivery to PPH and DLH because neither hotel has proper refrigeration for deliveries--so you have to be there when the gorceries are delivered. GCH has refrigeration--and sounds to be more lenient (probably because of the villas) in allowing grocery delivery even if you are not in your room when they arrive... there is a delivery charge, but it is pretty easy to find a 1st delivery free code online!

 

[dalepool]

For the type of foods you have listed ,the minit mart type stores are located across street from DL/CA and should have most of those items. The best store I have found is located just past the Candy Cane Inn. Hope this helps.

Patty

 

[pixarmom]

Here's the menu for Whitewater Snacks from Allears. In addition, they have other things that you can grab out of a case like muffins and cinnamon rolls, etc.

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_wws.htm

First, thanks to everyone for the helpful responses!! And mommy2princessabby, we're really looking forward to our Chip and Dale breakfast and I really appreciate hearing that you love it! Our boys love Chip and Dale, but never want to "waste" park time eating a full breakfast. So when I told them DCA doesn't open until 10 they were happy that it all fit together.

Also, I checked allears and wdwinfo menus for Whitewater Snacks before posting, but my concern was that they are not going to be open early enough, so that we can grab muffins, etc., eat them, and be walking out of the room by 6:30am. So that's why I was wondering about pre-packaged items that aren't on the menus (like at WDW.) Or does Whitewater snacks have all of these menu breakfast items pre-packaged and/or available to buy the night before?

 

[hjgaus]

We're WDW vets staying at the Grand Californian for the first time this August!

At WDW, we usually have breakfast items in our room and just eat something quick before heading out to rope drop each morning. Most of the gift shops or counter service places at WDW deluxe resorts have milk, juice, donuts, fruit, etc. so we buy these items when we arrive and keep them in our room fridge.

So at DL, we are doing the Chip and Dale breakfast and going to DCA rope drop at 10am - highly unusual for our family to do a full breakfast, but we think lining up for the 10am rope drop is our best bet for getting onto TSM with the least amount of wait time. The other morning, we want to get to DLR's MM at 7am - so we'd like to just get breakfast items for our room at GCH, like we do at WDW. Does Whitewater Snacks or the gift shop have the types of items? If so, I'm guessing that we should buy them the night before - is that right?

The La Brea Bakery in Downtown Disney is open for breakfast either sit down or grab n go pastries,coffee etc... It's right next to the entrance of DL and CA (the bag check before ticket window area) We've done this twice and still make rope drop.

Beach Club Villas 2008
Villas at Grand California 2009
Wishing for Aulani for 2012

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

The La Brea Bakery in Downtown Disney is open for breakfast either sit down or grab n go pastries,coffee etc... It's right next to the entrance of DL and CA (the bag check before ticket window area) We've done this twice and still make rope drop.

I wouldn't bet on this... unless DL isn't opening until 9 am... when we've been there for an 8 am opening, and needed to be in line at 7:30, they were just opening at 7:30... not sure if this is always the case, but we didn't have enough time to get anything there... We did pickup items the night before for the next day though!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

First, thanks to everyone for the helpful responses!! And mommy2princessabby, we're really looking forward to our Chip and Dale breakfast and I really appreciate hearing that you love it! Our boys love Chip and Dale, but never want to "waste" park time eating a full breakfast. So when I told them DCA doesn't open until 10 they were happy that it all fit together.

My daughter is a big fan of the bears!! At C&D's we've seen Chip & Dale of course, but also: Balou, Kenai, Koda, & Brer Bear... as well as Turk & Pluto... lots of characters!

 

[blackjackdelta]

We're WDW vets staying at the Grand Californian for the first time this August!

At WDW, we usually have breakfast items in our room and just eat something quick before heading out to rope drop each morning. Most of the gift shops or counter service places at WDW deluxe resorts have milk, juice, donuts, fruit, etc. so we buy these items when we arrive and keep them in our room fridge.

So at DL, we are doing the Chip and Dale breakfast and going to DCA rope drop at 10am - highly unusual for our family to do a full breakfast, but we think lining up for the 10am rope drop is our best bet for getting onto TSM with the least amount of wait time. The other morning, we want to get to DLR's MM at 7am - so we'd like to just get breakfast items for our room at GCH, like we do at WDW. Does Whitewater Snacks or the gift shop have the types of items? If so, I'm guessing that we should buy them the night before - is that right?

You must be going really late in August for the park to open at 1000.

Jack

 

[Hound 109]

We're WDW vets staying at the Grand Californian for the first time this August!

Have you read Hydroguy's tip thread for WDW Vets yet?

A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599


At WDW, we usually have breakfast items in our room and just eat something quick before heading out to rope drop each morning. Most of the gift shops or counter service places at WDW deluxe resorts have milk, juice, donuts, fruit, etc. so we buy these items when we arrive and keep them in our room fridge.

Might also want to look into Room Service Breakfast. A meal for one fills two people up (& comes with juice or milk AND coffee)

So at DL, we are doing the Chip and Dale breakfast and going to DCA rope drop at 10am - highly unusual for our family to do a full breakfast, but we think lining up for the 10am rope drop is our best bet for getting onto TSM with the least amount of wait time.

As others have mentioned, better still would be to use the GCH entrance into DCA to get a jump on folks coming thru the DCA main gate.

The other morning, we want to get to DLR's It's DL....DLR is the entire resort. MM at 7am - so we'd like to just get breakfast items for our room at GCH, like we do at WDW.

Am i reading this correctly? Are you only there two nights? (Which nights? How many days?) And you're NOT planning on entering DL at opening both days????

Does Whitewater Snacks or the gift shop have the types of items?

Not at 6am....which is why i mention room service above.

If so, I'm guessing that we should buy them the night before - is that right?

You might want to consider park hopping each day since the GCH is a short walk to BOTH parks....& DL will open 2 hours (or more) earlier than DCA....the MOST IMPORTANT 2 hours of the day...btw.

Are you coming from the east coast? The time change would be your friend for early rising. Have fun at Walt's Park.

 

[mdsd8700]

Thanks to jessicaerv and Mommy2PrincessAbby for the tips about the grocery store delivery. I do remember reading the threads about grocery delivery being an issue at the DL hotel, hopefully as was mentioned not a big deal at Grand Californian due to the villas. I can understand the refridgeration issue, but I have never been given a problem when staying at WDW with grocery delivery even in a standard room. I will definately check out the link given and search for the coupon code for delivery as well. It is so much easier to have everything waiting for me then to have to stop somewhere, but that is just a matter of perference for us. Thanks again.

 

[ScooterL]

Also, I checked allears and wdwinfo menus for Whitewater Snacks before posting, but my concern was that they are not going to be open early enough, so that we can grab muffins, etc., eat them, and be walking out of the room by 6:30am. So that's why I was wondering about pre-packaged items that aren't on the menus (like at WDW.) Or does Whitewater snacks have all of these menu breakfast items pre-packaged and/or available to buy the night before?

I wouldn't bet on WWS having much of a selection of muffins and other fresh-baked goods the night before - things like that tend to be pretty picked over by the end of the day. You'll find things like grab and go cereal bowls, milk, juice, packaged English muffins and bagels, and I think they have boxed doughnuts, too. You can also get fresh fruit (both whole and sliced) and yogurt - all of the rooms at the GC have refrigerators so keeping stuff like that overnight wouldn't be a problem. There's peanut butter and containers of cream cheese as I recall. I always bring some ziplock bags with me so that if I get muffins or cookies or something I can keep them in a bag overnight so they don't get stale/dry.

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks, Hound!

Yes - read Hydroguy's great tips many times! And I know you can't remember everyone you have helped, but you answered some of my earlier questions about DL, too - thank you!

Yes - just two nights. We have three boys (ages pre-school to pre-teen) and we vacation in Newport Beach annually. I've been going to Newport each year since childhood, but my last DL visit was almost 30 years ago. So this year, we added two nights to the beginning of our Newport Beach trip. August 21-23. Our flight arrives the morning of the 21st. Not sure on a plan for that day, as we are arriving and checking in between 11am and noon. Our kids are huge Pixar fans (as you can see,) and our older boys love ToT and think they will love California Screamin, so I think we'll spend most time in DCA.

Our first full day is the 22nd - we're starting at DL for MM (and I'm only guessing that will be at 7am, based on the hours that are already posted for the rest of the summer - 8-12 every single day.) But I'm just guessing at the times - it's a tough adjustment from WDW schedules coming out months in advance!

And for the 23rd, I think we need a morning to be ready (at the GCH entrance to DCA) to get to TSM - our pre-schooler's favorite ride. With no fastpasses for TSM, we assumed that was the only way to do it with minimal wait. And if we get three boys into DL at 8am that morning, I'm concerned about getting them out and back to the GCH entrance early enough to have a good shot at TSM.

We are ready to hop, but I have to say I'm a little intimidated by the reports of DL at night and especially once the AP blockout starts to lift.

But we are new at this - I appreciate any additional advice!

 

[pixarmom]

I wouldn't bet on WWS having much of a selection of muffins and other fresh-baked goods the night before - things like that tend to be pretty picked over by the end of the day. You'll find things like grab and go cereal bowls, milk, juice, packaged English muffins and bagels, and I think they have boxed doughnuts, too. You can also get fresh fruit (both whole and sliced) and yogurt - all of the rooms at the GC have refrigerators so keeping stuff like that overnight wouldn't be a problem. There's peanut butter and containers of cream cheese as I recall. I always bring some ziplock bags with me so that if I get muffins or cookies or something I can keep them in a bag overnight so they don't get stale/dry.

Perfect - thank you!

 

[pixarmom]

You must be going really late in August for the park to open at 1000.

Jack

August 21-23, but the Disney website has posted 10-10 for DCA every day over the summer up to August 18, so I was just guessing. But does that not sound right?

 

[farmfresh]

No that sounds right. But there have been some changes with WOC. Just keep checking.

But most impt - when the park hours say 10, they do let you in at 9.30 to ride Soarin', and to let GCH people queue for FPs for WOC.

Have fun!