Kona Cafe Breakfast - is it really worth it?

[greentea]

Everyone saying the mimosas are included with the buffet at the Wave -- is that true? I can't find anything about it, and the menu says the buffet includes "Choice of Juice, Coffee, Tea, or Soft Drink"

We have never been to either, but are currently planning to go to Kona so I can try the macadamia pancakes and a mimosa float, but maybe I could squeeze in a trip to Wave another morning.

 

[brertoad]

We tried Kona breakfast one time after hearing all the hype about it. It was and still is the worst dining experience we've ever had at a Disney restaurant. I truly believe that we had a fluke morning, but it was so bad it doesn't make me want to try it again. The food was terrible and the service was terrible. I had talked this up to my DH so much about how a great of a breakfast spot it was. I left the restaurant in tears because it was so bad and I felt like such an idiot making us get up super early so we could go there before heading to the parks.

Sorry you all had a bad experience. I've been there, sometimes we have bad days, we've had a couple bad experiences at Disney.

What did you guys order? Also, was it really busy or did you just have a bad server? (There is one server at Kona we didn't like, can't remember her name though, wonder if you got her?!)

 

[DisneyHardin]

Sorry you all had a bad experience. I've been there, sometimes we have bad days, we've had a couple bad experiences at Disney.

What did you guys order? Also, was it really busy or did you just have a bad server? (There is one server at Kona we didn't like, can't remember her name though, wonder if you got her?!)

Part of our mistake was probably not ordering any of their "specialty" breakfast items. We both just ordered the breakfast platter (eggs, biscuits, meat, and potatoes). The meat was the only thing on the platter that I could eat. The eggs were practically still liquid, the biscuits were hard as hockey pucks and the potatoes were underdone.

We were in the first seating of the morning, so the restaurant was not crowded at all. There was a "regular" there eating the same time as us, and so all the servers spent all their time around his table chatting. A food runner brought our food and it was at least 20 minutes before our server came to see how everything was. By then I had eaten my bacon and that was it. I told her the rest was pretty terrible and she just sort of shrugged and said sorry. My husband ate more of his than I did, but not much. Hind sight is always 20/20, so looking back I should have made a bigger stink about the food, but I was just so embarrassed that I had talked this place up so much to my husband that I just paid the bill so we could leave. I chalked it up to a $30 mistake and we went on to the park.

 

[kimj88]

Kona was one of our worst breakfasts we had on any trip. Tables are so close together it is very uncomfortable and noisy. They messed up orders. Just not worth it.

 

[MrsDuck]

The Wave or Grand Floridian Cafe is much better.

If you're after Tonga Toast, just go to Capt. Cook's.

 

[soccermom54]

We have been going to Kona Cafe for breakfast for many years. Love the food but the service not so much the past couple of years. I guess we are creatures of habit and always order the ham & cheese omelet along with the pineapple pancakes. Then we split the omelet in half, split the pinepple pancakes in half to share. My husband and I have the most amazing breakfast topped off with Kona blend coffee. I had to ask 3 times on our last visit for a coffee refill. Husband does not want to go back but I sure do love those pineapple pancakes!

 

[juuuliebeth]

I've done Kona and Grand Floridian Cafe. Trying The Wave in August. I loved the Tonga Toast, but can't speak to the rest of the menu at Kona. And I loved the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast. Something about that Victorian setting just really worked well in the morning. I had the Citrus Pecan Pancakes and some hot tea. I sat in the back room so it was fairly quiet. A great way to start the day. Relaxed and peaceful. The pancakes were delicious as well. Highly recommend.

 

[wishuponastar1984]

It sounds like you are trying to do a TS breakfast every day which sounds like a lot of food and time dedicated to when the parks are least crowded.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

I mean, I love Kona Café. It's definitely not one of the places I've asked myself "is it worth it" because it's cheaper than most sit down places, I can easily get an ADR, and it's pretty easy to get to. There are better (fancier) breakfasts out there for sure, but if you need a breakfast that's not from Joffrey's but also not a big buffet, it's a great option. That being said, The Wave is a step above Kona. If you want a nice breakfast, go there. Or you could try the breakfast at Grand Floridian or Trail's End (but that one IS hard to get to, so keep that in mind).

 

[NYCgrrl]

If a restaurant can't do a decent breakfast it should just close down; Kona Cafe is not in that category.
Not a big breakfast eater but they understood when I said "soft scrambled eggs" and didn't shilly-shally about the terminology with me. I received nicely tender and soft curdles and none of that cooked till dead scrambled eggs frequently found at buffets.
They also didn't talk me to death and understood my "I vant to be alone" look.
Enjoyed my newspaper and breakfast; the POG juice didn't hurt either.

 

[dreamit]

The Wave or Grand Floridian Cafe is much better.

If you're after Tonga Toast, just go to Capt. Cook's.

Isn't the Tonga Toast at Captain Cook's different than that at Kona? I thought there is a difference between the toppings?

 

[NYCgrrl]

@dreamit
"Isn't the Tonga Toast at Captain Cook's different than that at Kona? I thought there is a difference between the toppings"

Yes, at Kona's, it's served with a strawberry compote, and at Capt. Cook, you have to spread it with strawberry jam or heat up the jam in the microwave to approximate the Kona version.

 

[_Kristi_]

We tried Kona for breakfast and lunch. Each experience was terribly slow. I mean....slow.....like we sent the kids to play before and after they ate because they were so tired of waiting. The food was good but I wouldn't wait that long to eat it again.