What are the best hotel restaurants for breakfast at Disney World?
Well, let me tell you! I’ve eaten A LOT of breakfast at Disney World. One of my favorite things to do is take a day off and visit a resort in the morning. We’ll grab some good food then explore the serene Deluxe Resorts. It’s the perfect way to experience a fancy resort if you’re not staying there.
Disney World has a ton of hotels and tons of restaurants located at each one. So, what’s the best resort to visit for the most important meal of the day? Let’s narrow it down to five table service choices that many guests believe are the best in terms of food and atmosphere!
I left out character dining options for a few reasons. Character dining is currently very limited at Disney World due to health and safety reasons. Only a few restaurants are offering character meals and the experience has changed greatly. Also, Character dining tends to serve a younger demographic and I like to find places that fit most people’s wants and needs. (Adults love Disney too, you see!)
Enough chit chat! Let’s eat!
The Wave…of American Flavors
Here’s the deal. The Wave used to offer a BOMB buffet. Kids and adults would pay a flat fee then load up on as many Mickey waffles as they want. It was a fantastic way to get a big bang for your buck. It’s also located a short walk from the Magic Kingdom. Eating at The Wave meant you could park at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, stuff yourself with bacon, then skip to the theme park without care.
Buffets aren’t currently a thing at Disney World right now. (Again, for health and safety reasons.) Other restaurants are offering all-you-care-to-enjoy meals by having guests order from their server. The Wave isn’t offering this option so the menu has changed a bit.
The closest thing they have right is The Wave Feast. This comes with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, one Mickey waffle, and one serving of Egg’s Benedict. This was easily shareable and cost us $20. The price and serving aren’t too bad and we left satisfied. However, since the buffet option has been put on hold, this restaurant can be a little hit or miss.
The restaurant still has the fantastic perk of being so close to the Magic Kingdom. That alone may make the trip worth it. Although, there are other restaurants located near the park that you might want to consider. (We’ll get to those in a bit!)
Olivia’s Cafe
Olivia’s is a place you may want to visit on a non-park or rest day. It’s located inside Disney’s Old Key West Resort so it’s not a short jog to any of the theme parks. (They do offer boats to Disney Springs which can be a fun addition to your day!) This is a really chill place to visit for breakfast and it’s one of the few places that offer brunch. You can’t do much better than having a cozy brunch or breakfast at one of the most beautiful resorts at Disney World!
The setting is very “Florida” as it’s inspired by the Keys with bright colors and lush foliage. The thing that keeps the foodies coming is the innovative menu. You can sip on an over-the-top
Loaded Key West Bloody Mary complete with shrimp and a big piece of bacon. Or, opt for a classic mimosa. Oh, and I guess you can eat here too. The Banana Bread French Toast is basically dessert for breakfast. While the famous Conch Fritters are a crispy-fried seafood take on hush puppies.
The food? Good. The environment? Real nice. I’d absolutely hit this place up again in the future. Maybe I’ll take the boat to Disney Springs after a lazy brunch. Sounds lovely, right?
Trattoria al Forno
Trattoria is a cozy little spot located on Disney’s BoardWalk within walking distance of EPCOT. You should give the BoardWalk a visit whether you decide to eat at the restaurant or not! It’s quiet, quaint, and pristine. It’s this picture-perfect shopping and dining center that’s super low-key. Located on the BoardWalk is Trattoria al Forno and it’s a great place to consider for breakfast.
The restaurant was a character dining experience featuring Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, and more. The restaurant reopened with limited dining and nixed the characters for the time being. (We’ll have to wait and see if they make a return.) In the meantime, you can enjoy a nice meal in the cozy dining room or outdoor patio.
Before closing, you could choose to sit outside or at a separate dining area if you didn’t care about the characters. We always choose the patio because you get to enjoy the BoardWalk ambiance and have a view of the lake.
The food has some Italian influences so it’s not your typical eggs and bacon. It’s eggs and bacon with marinara sauce. Kidding! Well, sort of. I had an Italian Omelet that came topped with parmesan cheese, greens, and marinara sauce. I loved the Italian take on the omelet. Also, the Poached Eggs were a great choice because they come with some yummy focaccia bread and creamy polenta. The food tastes fresh and the ingredients are tasty!
The ambiance is really why this restaurant is so great. Some of my greatest memories are sitting on the outdoor patio listening to the birds and sipping coffee.
I’ll admit many BoardWalk experiences are temporarily closed so it’s not quite the happening place it used to be. Still, having breakfast then visiting the BoardWalk and surrounding resorts can be pretty dang peaceful. You can even take a free ride on the Disney Skyliner or walk to EPCOT.
P.S. You can also visit the BoardWalk Bakery if you’re not in the mood for a full sit-down meal. The bakery creates fresh baked goods in the morning. They have this ooey-gooey grilled cheese that’s freakin’ fantastic.
Kona Cafe
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is located along the monorail track at the Magic Kingdom. (Much like the Contemporary Resort.) The resort is a tropical oasis complete with a sandy beach and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re on island time. After breakfast, you can take a short monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom.
Inside, you’ll find some of the best dining options at Disney World. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (currently closed) serves some of the best tiki cocktails. And, Pineapple Lanai is ALL about Dole Whip. You can walk up to the window, order a pineapple soft serve and eat it right on the beach.
Many people love ‘Ohana because it’s character dining and has some really rockin’ food. It was always very busy and a bit of a madhouse. ‘Ohana is currently closed but there’s another place worth visiting. The serene restaurant located just steps from ‘Ohana is called Kona Cafe. It’s way more chill and you still get the option of some divine Disney dishes with a side of Polynesian vibes.
It’s here you’ll find the world-famous Tonga Toast. The “toast” is a huge piece of sweet bread stuffed with cinnamon and bananas. The bread is deep-fried then coated with sugar and cinnamon. It’s like French Toast but enormous and 100 times better.
You’ll also find the Liliko’i Juice at Kona Cafe. This is basically POG (pineapple, orange, guava) juice that you can find at grocery stores. Some of the cocktails at Kona use Liliko’i as the base then the juice is paired with rum or mixers. These cocktails are some of my favorite at Disney World. They are extra sweet, fruity, and a great way to wake you up!
You can ask your server to put your cocktail or coffee in a to-go cup on your way out too!
Grand Floridian Cafe
Ready for the grand finale? One of the most popular restaurants for breakfast is the Grand Floridian Cafe. The theming is low-key with some early 19th-century flair. The atmosphere is bright with surrounding windows that give you that early morning “breakfast” feel. Do you catch my drift? If not, here’s a video review of the Grand Floridian Cafe!
The food is what makes guests want to return again. You start with fresh biscuits and a side of special Orange Blossom Honey Butter. It’s sweet with a little orange zest. So good!
The restaurant serves an epic Chicken and Waffles entree that I often dream about. The Mickey waffle is huge and fresh. The chicken breasts are really large and crusted with corn flakes. The corn flakes make it a little sweeter and add a delightful crunch.
The cafe’s real attraction are the Eggs Benedict. Prior to closing, they would serve a “flight” of Benedicts topped with various ingredients. They only have two options for toppings at the moment so the flight is unavailable. You can still get the standard version or the Lobster Benedict. (Our server offered to give us a “flight” with the two options.) The lobster is divine and I recommend trying it out if you’re a seafood person!
After breakfast, take a leisurely stroll among the beautifully manicured lawns or take in the view of Seven Seas Lagoon. The resort is just a short monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom so you can plan your morning accordingly. Also, a new pathway connecting the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian just opened up! Stuff yourself with waffles then take a beautiful walk to the theme park.
Eating at a nearby resort will cut down on your travel time and you’ll arrive full of good food! The hotels located along the monorail track are popular because it makes your morning commute to the Magic Kingdom so much easier. Usually, you have to park, walk to the ferry or monorail, and be transported to the front gate. I’ll also give a shoutout to Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. You can take a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom here too. Plus, the restaurant is fun, interactive, and the hearty menu is good.
Of course, you don’t need an excuse to eat at a resort restaurant. Many of the resorts are worth a visit and you get the bonus of eating some great food too!
The Best Places to Eat Breakfast in the Magic Kingdom
Did I miss your favorite breakfast spot? Drop your favorite Disney World restaurant in the comments below!
