Surf's Up Breakfast?

[flyingdumbo127]

Editing to simplify this post I would appreciate opinions on how Surf's Up compares to Plaza Inn breakfast. I have always enjoyed Minnie's breakfast both in food and experience. I shared last year my first breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. Dining at the Plaza Inn has such a neat ambience that lends to the feel of dining with Minnie--I realize part of this could be because it is inside Disneyland Park. Goofy's, to me, could have been any buffet restaurant with a few Disney characters thrown in. How does Surf's Up compare?

Food-wise, I prefer the simpler more plain offerings at Minnie's than I did Goofy's.

Finally, I have never been to PPH. Is it a long walk from the Esplanade?

Thanks so much. Merry (early) Christmas to all!

 

[egritz]

Food is fine, simple like Plaza Inn.
Fewer Characters at Plaza Inn, but every half hour or so there is a dance party, usually it is just Stitch, but sometimes other characters join in the fun.
PPH isn't too far from DTD

We NEVER go to Goofy's (too many poor experiences with characters there), and we ALWAYS go to Plaza Inn.....we usually go to Surf's Up on our departure day as one little bit of fun.....this year we are changing it up and doing the Santa Breakfast at Catal instead....but I considered doing Surf's Up on a park day because we enjoy it a lot!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you, Egrtiz, very much. I am sorry to hear you have had many disappointing Goofy's experiences As I have posted above (and in greater detail last year), I was most disappointed that truly I could have been dining at a local breakfast buffet restaurant, not much of any Disney immersion feel to it for me. Sure a few characters came by but unlike Minnie's, there seemed absolutely no rhyme or reason to their sporadic coming and going. I have to admit to not really being much into Stitch but that is cute he dances--is the music (I am guessing must accompany) loud? I pray that Stitch's dancing brings many kids extra smiles. One last question, I have read on here that at Plaza Inn, Minnie now greets you before you go inside. Does Mickey do likewise at Surf's Up?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I have only done Surf's Up so can't compare to others, but we loved it! Only four characters (for us it was Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Stitch) but they came around several times each. Maybe we got lucky because we booked the tail end of breakfast and it was pretty dead in there but at one point Minnie played with my son one-on-one for like 10 minutes, playing peek-a-boo and making him laugh. I seriously cried, it was so precious. Every 20 or 30 minutes there is a dance party where all the characters go to the front and dance to a Beach Boys song with all the kids. It's sooooooo adorable! Beach Boys is actually playing at all times and I am a huge Beach Boys fan so that was a bonus for me. I ended up with tons of photos and tons of videos and we just had the best experience. I thought the food was pretty good for a buffet (as a general rule I don't love buffets). Plenty of variety and options for kids and adults.

 

[GatorChris]

We just did Surf's Up two weeks ago. We did a late breakfast before we went home. The breakfast is all you can eat and is pretty basic. You can make your own omelette, and the biscuits&gravy is really good. The bad part is there's only 4 characters that you meet here. I kinda feel gyped about that. But the big positive is Mickey Mouse is one of them. Others are Minnie, Daisy, and Stitch. Stitch is always a ton of fun! Daisy loves to talk about Donald. And at one point, Minnie asked me to do a slow dance while it was kinda slow.

The dance party's are fun because it's surf music, and it gives the breakfast a really fun feel. You'll like it, for sure.

 

[Malcon10t]

We usually get Pluto in addition to Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Stitch. When we have been there at least 3 characters are out for the dance party. We've also had Goofy there a few times. It is my preference for a character meal, next to Storytellers. I like the biscuits and gravy.

 

[Meriweather]

Haven't been to Plaza. We did the character breakfast on departure day, so earlier than park opening.
DGD loved Surf's Up. It wasn't very crowded and lots of time with the characters.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you everyone very much! So it sounds like the Stitch may be the only character who isn't (I don't think he is) at Minnie's? It is cool though both Mickey and Minnie are at Surf's Up. I don't think Mickey has ever come to Minnie's breakfast though, of course, he should!

 

[Malcon10t]

Thank you everyone very much! So it sounds like the Stitch may be the only character who isn't (I don't think he is) at Minnie's? It is cool though both Mickey and Minnie are at Surf's Up. I don't think Mickey has ever come to Minnie's breakfast though, of course, he should!

Mickey and Stitch are both only at Surf's Up. Does Daisy appear at Minnies? I haven't seen her there.

 

[egritz]

One last question, I have read on here that at Plaza Inn, Minnie now greets you before you go inside. Does Mickey do likewise at Surf's Up?

Yes, you meet Mickey at the very beginning and a photopass photographer is there to take a picture (with both their and your camera). Then the other 4 characters come by your table for visits. I can't think of a single time at least one of the characters didn't stop by multiple times.
I sure hope Minnie is back to greeting guests at Plaza Inn before they go in, I miss that (and feel it is dumb that she stopped doing that)

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Malcon10t, now that you asked, I don't remember for sure if Daisy is at Minnie's...I know Minnie, Pooh, Tigger, Goofy's son Max, Eyeore, Hook, Fairy from Cinderella are there....maybe I made up about Daisy, if so, sorry!

Egritz, I had read on the Disboards that Minnie now greeted folks when you went in. I thought that was a wonderful addition. I have not done Plaza Inn breakfast in a good year and at that time, she was not doing that.

 

[Malcon10t]

Malcon10t, now that you asked, I don't remember for sure if Daisy is at Minnie's...I know Minnie, Pooh, Tigger, Goofy's son Max, Eyeore, Hook, Fairy from Cinderella are there....maybe I made up about Daisy, if so, sorry!

A couple trips ago to Plaza Inn aka Minnies, in 90 mins, we saw Hook and Eyeore. Another trip, we saw Max, Hook, and Pluto. So, I stopped going there. 5 trips, and only 2 were decent. More often than not, we see only 2-3 characters, so we head to Surf's Up or Storytellers.