Silly Question: Do you have to eat at Garden Grill Breakfast?

[Gillbob316]

Is it okay to just order drinks at Garden Grill Breakfast? Or do you have to get the $30 All-You Can Eat Breakfast?

Backstory:

My friend and I are going to Epcot in Sept, and we decided we wanted to book a cheap, small breakfast before the park opens, because on our last trip we did so at the Magic Kingdom and enjoyed getting a jump on the day in an empty park. Seemed like a no-brainer to do it again.

Garden Grill was the only place available before park open (8:10), and the price range given on Disney's website was $15-$30 per adult, so we booked it.

Came to find out after booking their only real menu option (as far as food goes) is the $30 all-you-can eat family style breakfast, which left me feeling duped, as I assumed with a range of $15-$30, we'd be able to ya'know... get something around $15. The only 3 things on their menu seem to be: The $30 breakfast, A Mimosa, and A Bloody Mary.

So now I'm second guessing things.

It's not that paying a little more for a Disney meal is out of the question to me on a normal day, but being that this is during the food and wine festivel, we really don't want to fill up on all-you-can-eat. So paying $30 a piece for a pile of food we'd rather not be eating before Food & Wine in the first place seems a bit silly. (Not to mention my friend is Vegan, so her options would be limited at that)

But as far as early ADRs at Epcot, it's basically this or nothing so close to Sept. And like I said, we wanted to have an early ADR, so we'd... like to keep it.

TLDR VERSION:

So long story short: I was wondering if it's okay to show up to this ADR and skip the all-you-can-eat breakfast? Can we just order a couple Mimosas, Maybe Meet Mickey, and be on our way? Or is the breakfast buffet somewhat mandatory when you book a table?

Should we keep the ADR and show up? Would ordering just drinks be acceptable? Should we keep the ADR, skip out on it, wander an empty Future World and eat the $10 fee? Should we cancel the ADR? I can't decide. We'd really like to keep the early morning ADR entry, but really didn't want to spend lots of time and money or eat a pile of food, so I'm just trying to get more info and weigh our options.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I believe you will be charged the full amount regardless of what you do/do not eat. My understanding is that the information on the website that shows $15-$30 is child's price and adult price.

 

[jon18uk]

The ranges shown are generic category's not specifics for each restaurant. It's like all the value resorts being grouped as values but Art of Animation is more expensive.

I'm pretty certain if it is family style dining then you get the meal or don't go in the restaurant. If you really don't want the food offered then cancel the ADR and got to Starbucks or Mexico or France for a quick service breakfast.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

I believe you will be charged the full amount regardless of what you do/do not eat. My understanding is that the information on the website that shows $15-$30 is child's price and adult price.

Is this a day when park opening is at 9? What do you plan to do in Future World for an hour when nothing is open?

 

[smiths02]

What are you wanting to do in the park? If you want to do Soarin' or TT...regular rope drop should be fine. No one can ride it until park open anyhow. If you want to ride Frozen...being at the Land probably won't get you a big jump on the crowd

 

[My3TXGirls]

You will be charged for your meal, no drinks only. You are paying for the characters. You aren't allowed to 'wander' around in a park before it's opened. There are CM to hold you in a certain spot until the park opens.

 

[Gillbob316]

Is this a day when park opening is at 9? What do you plan to do in Future World for an hour when nothing is open?

Yes park opening is at 9.

I have no idea what we'd do in Future World for an hour with nothing open! Haha. That's why I'm seeking advice.

I've only ever done an early morning ADR at MK. We ate at Cinderella's Royal table. Beforehand, we took pictures and enjoyed an empty mainstreet. Afterward, we got a head start toward rides. It was nice. Like I said, it's not that I mind overpaying for a Disney meal... IF I plan to eat. But this is a bit different. We were seeking the same at Epcot, but due to Food and Wine, we aren't looking to eat a whole lot. I've never done it at Epcot and really don't know what to expect, that's why I'm asking questions.

Like I said, originally we were just looking for a small, semi-affordable breakfast, that we could show up to, probably eat quickly, then maybe wander down to Soarin, or start making our way to FEA to hopefully meet or beat the rope drop crowd. This place said "$15 to $34.99 per adult" so it seemed a good choice. It wasn't until after booking that I learned "$15 to $34.99" was really just $29.99.

We don't really want a big breakfast. If we paid $30, I doubt we'd eat our money's worth (or worse yet, we WOULD eat our money's worth, then regret it later in world showcase during food and wine). We'd still like to get a jump on the day if at all possible, but I'm not completely clear on... if we could just enter the park, never show up to the restaurant and wander, or if there would even be any point in it.

Trying to decide what to do while there's still time to decide what to do, know what I mean?

 

[gtpoohbear]

Well they won't force feed you..so you don't technically have to eat. But you will have to pay, as it is family style, same rules as a buffet.

The early ADR might get you in the Soarin' line a little ahead of the crowd, but not a huge advantage over RD.

ETA: if you enter the park, and never show, you will be charged $10 each. And you will be very limited as to where you can go. I did it once (go ahead and throw the stones, lol!) It was useful and worth it to us at the time. Up to you if it is in your case.

 

[smiths02]

Yes park opening is at 9.

I have no idea what we'd do in Future World for an hour with nothing open! Haha. That's why I'm seeking advice.

Like I said, originally we were just looking for a small, semi-affordable breakfast, that we could show up to, probably eat quickly, then maybe wander down to Soarin, or start making our way to FEA to hopefully meet or beat the rope drop crowd. This place said "$15 to $34.99 per adult" so it seemed a good choice. It wasn't until after booking that I learned "$15 to $34.99" was really just $29.99.

We don't really want a big breakfast. If we paid $30, I doubt we'd eat our money's worth (or worse yet, we WOULD eat our money's worth, then regret it later in world showcase during food and wine). We'd still like to get a jump on the day if at all possible, but I'm not completely clear on... if we could just enter the park, never show up to the restaurant and wander, or if there would even be any point in it.

Trying to decide what to do while there's still time to decide what to do, know what I mean?

Actually eating at Garden Grill will give you a slight advantage at Soarin', but I don't think that it is worth it if you don't want the breakfast. I don't think you'll get an advantage at Frozen, because I don't think they will let you wander into world showcase without an ADR at Akershus. Maybe someone can confirm.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

Actually eating at Garden Grill will give you a slight advantage at Soarin', but I don't think that it is worth it if you don't want the breakfast. I don't think you'll get an advantage at Frozen, because I don't think they will let you wander into world showcase without an ADR at Akershus. Maybe someone can confirm.

Norway opens at 9 even when WS opens at 11, but OP wouldn't be able to get into the area early without an Akershus ADR. If they were waiting at the barrier exactly at 9, there would probably be an advantage there, even over IG guests. Is it an advantage worth $20? That's up to OP.

@gtpoohbear (Kidding. Makes no difference to me what someone else does with their ADR!)

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Beyond the $10 per person no-show fee, not showing for a PPO ADR is a jerk move for several reasons:

• Someone who wanted to actually eat and meet the characters will have been prevented from booking it.
• The server sees no part of that $10pp, and is left with an empty table (no such thing as a walk-up fill-in PPO) and no tip.
• Disney see people pulling this (it's becoming common at Akershus) and will make all PPO pre-pay, which may pose a challenge for some families.

There is no PPO at Epcot that is "cheap." Show up for rope drop, rope drop something, then hit Les Halles for a pastry.

 

[cassie58]

I think with the thought process you are having, it probably makes more sense to cancel, and just get there extra early for RD so you can be at the head of the line to hit Soarin or head to FEA. The only other PPO brft would be Akershus to be near FEA, but more expensive and hard to get anyway.

 

[supersnoop]

$0-$15 = $
$15 - $35 = $$
$35 - $60 = $$$
$60+ = $$$$

Those are the categories, and each restaurant is in a category. Their price is in that range, not the other way around.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

you will be charged the full amount regardless of what you do/do not eat

1) YES.
2) Since this is a character meal, you pay, whether you eat of not.
3) If you try to "SHARE" a meal, each person pays the full price (for their age group).

 

[sharonabe]

but due to Food and Wine, we aren't looking to eat a whole lot.

I don't know. I think having a big breakfast at 8:00 could be the perfect meal for a F&W day. The booths open at 11:00 and stay open until some time right before Illuminations. Even with a big breakfast, I bet you're hungry again by 1:00 or so and can start sampling from the booths. You won't want another big meal, but sampling every hour or so means you might actually be able to enjoy more.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't know. I think having a big breakfast at 8:00 could be the perfect meal for a F&W day. The booths open at 11:00 and stay open until some time right before Illuminations. Even with a big breakfast, I bet you're hungry again by 1:00 or so and can start sampling from the booths. You won't want another big meal, but sampling every hour or so means you might actually be able to enjoy more.

YES.


Have you seen Rusty's price thread here?

"Garden Grill: (incl tax, excl tip)
bfast . . . [as of?] 10/02/2016 Adult: $31.95, Child: $19.17"

 

[kandb]

Just cancel the adr and get to the park at rope drop.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would pay the price, enjoy breakfast and the characters, and then hit Soarin after breakfast. The World Showcase opens at 11:00, so you will have 2 full hours in FW before heading over to WS. I think it can be a good idea to have a filling breakfast before F&W, you are ot so apt to be starving when you begin touring, and can pick and choose what you want from there.