Plaza Inn late breakfast

[ewasilau]

During past trips to WDW (we are planning our first trip to DLR), our family always liked to do the late-morning character breakfast (usually 11:30 or just before) - that way we could arrive early, take advantage of the morning hours to ride on rides, and then get to eat a big, late breakfast that would carry us through to dinner (ok, maybe with a snack involved!). I just made a reservation at Plaza Inn for 10:40 on our chosen day (week after Easter) but we are only able to do a 3-day visit, so park/ride time needs to be maximized. Seems that 10:40 is the latest we can eat. Will we still be able to get a few rides in? What time will the park open? Is there a lunch meal after breakfast? We will get rushed out and/or get the last bits of old food that's been sitting out?

Would love some input on this plan!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Week after Easter Disneyland should be open 8 AM - midnight each day, so you will have time to get rides in before your breakfast reservation. I have only done Plaza Inn with 7:10 AM reservation on early entry day, so I can't say what it will be like at that later hour.

Plaza Inn switches over to counter service for lunch and dinner. I think lunchtime begins at noon there.

 

[SMD]

Most people who do the late reservation report that they don't get the full character rotation. If you want to do a late character breakfast you might be better off doing it at one of the hotels on a non-park day.

 

[sherilaine]

We have done the very first time slot as well and have had a great experience. This trip we are actually doing a 10AM breakfast instead as we want to do a few rides rather than have an early breakfast. I have heard that anything later than around 10 could have mixed reviews - as the last reservation is at 10:40. Now we are not that concerned about seeing every character as we've met them over and over already, and my kids are pretty good at taking matters into their own hands and going and asking to see characters if we are nearing our time to leave - but if this is your very first character meal, I'd consider booking an earlier time slot to make sure you get a great experience.

 

[MikeRx]

We've done 10:30 or 10:40 each time and have never had a real problem with seeing all of the characters. On one or two occasions we had to ask a handler to make sure a certain character stopped by before they closed for breakfast and they were quick to accommodate. I know others have had a problem, but we've been lucky. We have another 10:30a scheduled for March and can't wait! We typically do our Plaza breakfast on a MM day (7 or 8 am entry depending on season) so we get in early and use the golden morning hours to our advantage then have the relaxing breakfast with 8-12 of our closest character friends!
Mike

 

[Winnowill]

We did a 10:30 and saw everyone. It was great, actually, because the restaurant emptied out to the point where there were just a few families there, so the characters spent LOTS of time with us. We started the morning at DCA (they had MM, but we weren't eligible - DCA opened for us at 8:00 am) and did TSMM, RSR (with FP), and Screamin' twice, plus had a caricature of my daughter done before we went over to DL for our breakfast. So yeah - there's plenty of time to do stuff.

 

[Number Six]

I got a late breakfast there once and also had no trouble seeing all the characters while we ate. actually as we were leaving my daughter managed to get a picture with almost all of them together (pooh ran off) just before they left. chip, dale, hook, tigger, Minnie, and eeyore we were very lucky

 

[ewasilau]

Thanks for all of the input - it's sounding very positive. We've done character meals before but not since our last WDW visit 2.5 years ago. Kids are excited but will likely be ok if they miss one character . . . they won't really know which ones to expect anyway. Maybe we will move it just a little to 10:20/10:30 just to be safe, though I do dread the increased crowds that we will encounter when we walk out of there either way! One has to eat though - and it's not a Disney trip without a character meal!

 

[PRomano]

What time does lunch start? If you have a late breakfast when do they kick you out? I like to take my time and enjoy

 

[sherilaine]

What time does lunch start? If you have a late breakfast when do they kick you out? I like to take my time and enjoy

All character meals are supposed to allow for 90 minutes to complete your meal and have a full character experience. However I think that if you book the final breakfast booking of 10:40 you are likely going to be expected to clear out by noon. Our experience is that an hour spent at Minnie's should be more than sufficient!

 

[agamble]

I believe they begin cleaning up at 11:30. You can call the dine line and ask for specifics. They told us when we planned our late breakfast at Storytellers, which also switches to a non-character lunch.

 

[Diszona]

I believe they begin cleaning up at 11:30. You can call the dine line and ask for specifics. They told us when we planned our late breakfast at Storytellers, which also switches to a non-character lunch.

Yeah, if I recall correctly when we had a late breakfast they were pretty prompt about switching over the food. However, we saw all the characters (13 in total) even while breakfast was being cleared out. I would recommend to anyone doing a late breakfast to make sure you don't hesitate to get your food, what you want might not be there if you wait too late.

 

[AZMermaid]

We had a late breakfast three years ago. Horrible. We waited 45+ minutes to have NO characters come by. We were sat outside, all by ourselves near the bushes. We saw character after character (probably 6) go on the porch and then go backstage. When we finally complained, 3 came by and then everyone from inside sent their kids out to get autographs and stuff so we were kind of pushed aside and rushed through (my kids were 10 months and 2.5). It was a terrible experience and we will probably never go to Minnie's again. IF we ever do (due to reading about people seeing a dozen characters), we will 1) go before 9:00, 2) refuse to sit outside and 3) speak up much sooner if we get skipped by more than one character. But everytime I read about 10+ characters, it still makes my blood boil. If we had not spoken up, I don't think we ever even would have seen the three we did see. We were there for 80-90 minutes.

 

[calilou]

We've eaten at Minnie's Breakfast many many times, have gone early before park opening and at the last reservation around 10:40. Weve sat inside, on the patio and in the courtyard. We've done it with reservations and without. We've always had good experiences, and if I have felt characters have missed us on the rare occasion I talk to a CM and they've always done their best to have the character stop by. If I had to pick one spot to ask to be seated it would be inside just because it's pretty in there and I do think characters are most certain to hit all tables inside. I have never felt rushed as they change over to lunch. It's a great experience!

 

[PRomano]

I think I booked for 10:10 so that seems like a good time

 

[PRomano]

I think 10:10 should be fine then, thanks for the information