Breakfast in Disneyland

[Manda_Lizabeth]

This will be our first time enjoying Disneyland. WDW has breakfast options where you can enter the park before it officially opens and it just starts your morning off in such a magical way before the crowds race in. Are there any reservations that you can make for breakfast and enter the park before it opens to the public?

Otherwise any suggestions for a great breakfast (Mickey waffles!).

 

[figment_jii]

There are only two in-park breakfasts: Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn (DL) and Ariel's Grotto (DCA). On mornings where there is an EMH/MM, the first breakfast seating is about 10 minutes after EMH/MM starts and on non-EMH/MM mornings, the first breakfast seating is about 20 minutes before the park opens (this is often when they open the turnstiles to everyone and hold guests on Main Street).

Update: It looks like the Plaza Inn is pretty consistent in terms of its operations, but when I looked at Ariel's Grotto just now, those times seemed more static regardless of when the park opens (EMH or non-EMH). I can't quite figure out the pattern at Ariel's in-terms of EMH and non-EMH mornings.

 

[tlovesdis]

The only one is Minnie's Character breakfast at the Plaza Inn. On a MM day you can get in 50 minutes earlier than official park opening, but on a regular day there is no early time, the earliest is usually 10 minutes after the park opens.

 

[sherilaine]

There is no getting in before the crowds for breakfast. Even if you have the earliest booking of the day you will enter when the gates open either for MM/EMH or for regular rope drop, where everyone is allowed in about half an hour prior to park opening to then line up again at the rope. If this is the case though, they give you a button for Minnie and Friends and you are allowed to pass the rope area and go straight to the Plaza Inn which is only a few yards away from the rope anyway. I do recommend an early booking regardless though as we have found we get some great character time before the place fills up.

 

[SMD]

Update: It looks like the Plaza Inn is pretty consistent in terms of its operations, but when I looked at Ariel's Grotto just now, those times seemed more static regardless of when the park opens (EMH or non-EMH). I can't quite figure out the pattern at Ariel's in-terms of EMH and non-EMH mornings.

Were you looking next week when EMH will probably change due to the races? Maybe it will level out in a few weeks.

 

[GatorChris]

I do wish DL would be like WDW in this capacity. Going to eat at Cindy's at MK or at Akershus in Epcot is always great when you get in 30 minutes before anyone else is in the parks. It's just a cool feeling. It would also help fill up reservations for the breakfast places and give DL an extra hour of capitalism. It's a win for them and for us!

 

[figment_jii]

Were you looking next week when EMH will probably change due to the races? Maybe it will level out in a few weeks.

I saw that the race days had different hours for the parks, so I checked a few random dates at the end of January (after the race weekend). It looked like Ariel's opened at 9:00 am regardless of when DCA opened.

 

[Manda_Lizabeth]

I do wish DL would be like WDW in this capacity. Going to eat at Cindy's at MK or at Akershus in Epcot is always great when you get in 30 minutes before anyone else is in the parks. It's just a cool feeling. It would also help fill up reservations for the breakfast places and give DL an extra hour of capitalism. It's a win for them and for us!

I agree. It would be nice to head in early. We will save that for WDW then

Thanks everyone for the help! Maybe we will just hit up Jolly Holiday for breakfast then. Do a Paint the Night dinner package instead.

 

[starry_solo]

Mickey waffles are at Carnation Cafe (large) and Plaza Inn (small, buffet) inside DLR.

Outside, they are at Tangeroa Terrace (small, DLH), Whitewater Snacks (small, GCH), Storyteller's Cafe (large, GCH), and Paradise Pier Lounge (large, PPH)

In DCA, I think they are at Flo's Cafe (been a while since I've been there)

 

[SMD]

The waffles at Flo's have Mater on them. I don't think you can get Mickey waffles in DCA, unless they're at Ariel's Grotto. They have Mickey pancakes at RBT in DL and should have them at RDZ when breakfast moves there.

 

[E&Cmom]

Aren't the waffles at Flo's Mater Shaped not Mickey? It has been 3 years since I have been but mater came to mind. Lol. Going back in March hopefully so I will have to check it out again.

 

[MikeRx]

We too love the early entry at MK for breakfast and great photos, but in DL you cant get in early enough not to ruin the rope drop "golden hours". So at DL we do rope drop for the EMH or regular entry, utilize the "golden" first few hours to ride a ton of key attractions and then go to breakfast/lunch around 10:30-11am at the Carnation Café or The Plaza for the Character breakfast. We've done what everyone coming in wants to do already and settle in for a relaxing breakfast. We then go about the rest of our day enjoying the 2nd tier attractions and utilizing FastPasses for the bigger stuff. Works for us every time.

I wish WDW had the Carnation Café! It has become one of our happy places. The Dapper Dans stop across the street and sign a few songs while we enjoy our breakfast...truly relaxing. Be sure to ask if Oscar is there, he is a DL original cast member. He is gracious and has seen it all at DL, including cooking for Walt!

 

[courtneybeth]

If you want a great breakfast but not early park admission, I'd recommend Steakhouse 55 inside the Disneyland Hotel.

The 2x2x2 is amazing - french toast, eggs, and all the sides. They also do Mickey waffles and other yummies as well.

 

[Manda_Lizabeth]

Thanks everyone! this is really helpful as I have only been to Disneyland once with a friend who was more in a rush than anything. This time I am excited to finally enjoy it!

 

[ADLFAN]

Thanks everyone! this is really helpful as I have only been to Disneyland once with a friend who was more in a rush than anything. This time I am excited to finally enjoy it!

It was SO HARD for me to slow down on our first trip! I'd be power walking somewhere and my husband would kind of grab my arm and pull me back, haha!

There's just so much to see everywhere you look!

 

[chrisaman]

We too love the early entry at MK for breakfast and great photos, but in DL you cant get in early enough not to ruin the rope drop "golden hours". So at DL we do rope drop for the EMH or regular entry, utilize the "golden" first few hours to ride a ton of key attractions and then go to breakfast/lunch around 10:30-11am at the Carnation Café or The Plaza for the Character breakfast. We've done what everyone coming in wants to do already and settle in for a relaxing breakfast. We then go about the rest of our day enjoying the 2nd tier attractions and utilizing FastPasses for the bigger stuff. Works for us every time.

I wish WDW had the Carnation Café! It has become one of our happy places. The Dapper Dans stop across the street and sign a few songs while we enjoy our breakfast...truly relaxing. Be sure to ask if Oscar is there, he is a DL original cast member. He is gracious and has seen it all at DL, including cooking for Walt!

I second this persons strategy. This is exactly what we do and carnation is our favorite. Can't go wrong with this