The Best Breakfast at the Disney World Resorts
Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day (and the most delicious). So, if you hope to enjoy a hearty breakfast at Walt Disney World, look no further than your resort.
This article discusses where to find the best Disney Resort breakfasts. We’ll look at everything from buffets to character dining at the resorts. We’ve also included our top two choices for inexpensive breakfasts at quick-service restaurants.
Most of the locations listed will require dining reservations. However, breakfast reservations are fairly simple to acquire since many guests visit the theme parks first thing in the morning. You, too, might plan to visit the parks first thing. So, we usually recommend planning one to two leisurely resort breakfasts during your vacation.
Sometimes, it’s nice to enjoy a few breakfasts at the hotels toward the end of your trip when energy is waning. Before we moved to the area, we almost always enjoyed breakfast at our resort on the last day of our trip. Another option is to plan breakfast reservations for the mornings after you’ve been in the parks late. If you stayed at Magic Kingdom until midnight, you’ll probably not want to rope-drop a park the next day.
Of course, resort guests might want to visit the theme parks first thing in the morning for early theme park benefits. You might do a few rides before the park crowds and then visit a nearby resort for a late breakfast or brunch. You’ll want to ensure your breakfast reservation is close enough that it’s worth the hassle of leaving and returning.
List of the Best Breakfast at Disney World Hotels
Below, we’ve ranked what we consider to be the best breakfast restaurants at Disney World’s Resorts.
- Boma, Flavors of Africa
- Topolino’s Terrace
- Primo Piatto
- Ale and Compass
- Grand Floridian Cafe
- Kona Cafe
- Capt. Cook’s
- Steakhouse 71
- Whispering Canyon Cafe
- Olivia’s Cafe
These restaurants are our top choices based on our dining experiences. We have an entire list of Disney Resort Hotel Restaurants if you want to preview every option.
#1 Boma, Flavors of Africa
If you say breakfast, I say Boma. Boma, Flavors of Africa, is our top choice for breakfast among the Disney Resort Hotels. This fabulous breakfast buffet sits on the lower level of Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. They are open daily for breakfast and dinner.
I will be the first to admit that I’m not a fan of buffets. However, I will make the exception for breakfast at Boma any day of the week. It’s truly the best breakfast at Walt Disney World. Nothing compares.
Why? The buffet has upwards of 75 items available. There’s something for everyone, including breakfast staples like bacon, sausage, oatmeal, biscuits, and fruits. Mickey waffles are in abundance, too!
Then there is the whole “flavors of Africa” part. Serious foodies will love the unique dishes like turkey bobotie, Western African sweet plantains, ham with Boma mustard, and watermelon salad with mint and pistachios. If that’s not enough, items like Boma bread pudding, sticky buns, and other delicious carbohydrates add to the mix.
The bottom line is that Boma is an excellent choice, and visiting the Animal Kingdom Lodge is an extra perk. So why not make this your best breakfast at Disney World?
Related: Boma, Flavors of Africa Breakfast Review
#2 Topolino’s Terrace
Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast a la Art is our second choice for the best breakfast at Disney World. This character dining experience is located on the top floor of Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Guests can meet four classic characters representing their artistic sides during this breakfast. Those characters include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck. The characters dance through the restaurant at various times throughout the meal. They’ll also take turns visiting your table and posing for photos.
Other than the character interaction, the main reason we love Topolino’s Terrace is the quality of the food. Most character meals are known for serving generic items comparable to what you could get at a value resort food court.
Topolino’s is among the most expensive character meals. The restaurant offers a prix fixe menu with a basket of pastries, a choice of beverage, and an entree selection. Disney’s policy used to be that you could order a second entree if desired. However, we’ve heard this option is no longer available, which is disappointing considering the price.
On our last visit, I ordered the quiche, and my son had a Mickey waffle with a side of bacon. We also ordered the fruit platter entree to share between us as a second entree. It was the best character breakfast we’ve experienced to date.
Related: Breakfast a la Art Review at Topolino’s Terrace
#3 Primo Piatto
While we’re at Disney’s Riviera, you’ll want to be aware of a less expensive restaurant worthy of being on our best breakfast list. Primo Piatto is the quick-service dining option at the Riviera, and it’s better than good.
This restaurant tops our list of the best resort quick service at Disney World. We dine at this quick-service location more than any other, and that’s by no means an exaggeration.
Primo Piatto has an elevated menu with reasonable prices, takes mobile orders, and offers plenty of places to dine inside or out. We always end up here for breakfast and dinner when we stay at a Skyliner resort. Sometimes, we’ll even take the Skyliner from Epcot to have lunch here.
For breakfast, I almost always order the lemon blueberry pancakes that come with a choice of a side. I recently enjoyed these by the lake one morning and was all the better for it. What will you have?
Related: Primo Piatto Review at Disney’s Riviera
#4 Ale and Compass
We often enjoy a table-service breakfast at Ale and Compass. Like Primo Piatto, Ale and Compass is our most frequented table-service restaurant. It sits a few feet off the lobby of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.
At this hotel restaurant, you can expect quality food, friendly service, and reasonable prices for breakfast. Breakfast costs $15.00 to $25.00 per person, depending on your order.
Additionally, this restaurant has an option where you can enjoy the buffet, one entree, and a select breakfast for a reasonable price. The buffet has simple offerings that serve as an appetizer to the main course. The buffet usually has fruits, yogurt, charcuterie, and biscuits with gravy.
We also like to mobile order a late breakfast from Ale and Compass and enjoy it at the pool while staying at the resort. We did this nearly every day of our week-long trip a few months ago. Our favorite entrees include the chocolate waffles and the blueberry pancakes.
The chocolate waffles are a true guilty pleasure. But I think that’s what most of us are looking for when it comes to enjoying the best breakfast at Disney World.
Related: Ale and Compass Breakfast Review
#5 Grand Floridian Cafe
Our next breakfast spot offers the opportunity to enjoy a meal at Disney’s flagship resort, the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This charming restaurant serves an extended breakfast that lasts through lunch. So, if you visit at lunchtime, you can choose between the lunch or breakfast menu.
Grand Floridian Cafe is good no matter what time you eat there. However, we love to schedule a meal between breakfast and lunch. It’s nice to be able to sleep after a long night out and still be able to enjoy a late breakfast.
We’ve had pretty much everything on the menu over the years and have few complaints. Some of my favorite breakfasts have been steak and eggs, where I substituted the eggs for their delicious cheesy hashbrown casserole. I also love their avocado toast, and for a guilty pleasure, the chicken and waffles are a homerun.
If you aren’t staying at the Grand Floridian, plan a meal here on a resort day or when you plan to visit Magic Kingdom since it’s nearby. Or you can always take transportation from the resort to whatever park you’re headed to after you finish.
Related: Disney’s Grand Floridian Cafe Breakfast Review
#6 Kona Cafe
Kona Cafe is another excellent option for breakfast at the Walt Disney World Resorts. You can skip the ‘Ohana character breakfast and head straight to Kona Cafe. Don’t get me wrong. We like ‘Ohana, but the food quality is pretty generic.
Kona Cafe is on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Kona’s menu offers well-known items like Tonga Toast and Macadamia Nut Pancakes. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting hungry already just thinking about the pancakes.
Preview Kona Cafe Menu with Prices
#7 Capt. Cook’s
Those wanting a delicious yet budget-friendly breakfast will want to consider Capt. Cook’s, which is on the lower level of the Great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian. This location has an indoor dining area and an outside patio offering views of Magic Kingdom in the distance.
We prefer to eat outside here, but the dining room has a fun vibe if the weather isn’t great. You might enjoy items like Tonga Toast or a breakfast flatbread for breakfast.
Related: Capt. Cook’s Review
#8 Steakhouse 71
Steakhouse 71 is another restaurant we consider to be one of the best breakfast locations at Disney World. Formerly The Wave, this table service restaurant is a few steps off the lobby of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Since this location opened, we’ve enjoyed multiple breakfasts at Steakhouse 71, and everything has been great. I love their pancakes, and they have a seasonal pancake offering that changes throughout the year. So there’s always a reason to return. If you love grits, you’ll want to try a side of the cheddar bacon ones. But they are so rich, be prepared for possible heartburn!
Related: Steakhouse 71 Breakfast Review
#9 Whispering Canyon Cafe
Next on our list of best hotel breakfasts is Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. You can expect a hearty meal and loads of shenanigans at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It’s the kind of restaurant where the servers double as actors of sorts.
Be warned: You might get put in jail if you ask for ketchup! And remember to mind your manners—or don’t.
As far as the food goes, that’s usually our main reason for dining here. Of course, we’re always looking for an excuse to visit the Wilderness Lodge.
Over the years, we’ve had a variety of items for breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe. But the main event is the all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet-type meals with a heapin’ portion of food. For example, my last breakfast skillet had several meats, eggs, and biscuits with gravy on the side.
If somehow you run out of food or want more of a favorite item, don’t worry. They’ll gladly bring you as many refills as your heart desires.
Related: Whispering Canyon Cafe Review
#10 Olivia’s Cafe
Lastly, Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West has become one of our favorite hidden gems in recent years. While we wouldn’t necessarily go out of our way to eat here on a first visit, this is an excellent spot for breakfast, brunch, or lunch if you want to see the resort.
This location serves brunch daily until 2:00 p.m. We’ve had a variety of menu items, including pancakes, grits, and a few other brunch items. Those grits are something you could write home about.
Related: Olivia’s Cafe Review
Final Thoughts on the Best Breakfasts at Disney’s Resorts
We hope this article gave you an idea of where to enjoy the best breakfasts at Disney’s Resorts. It’s hard to go wrong with a classic order of Mickey Waffles.
But if something more adventurous is calling your name, head straight to Boma, and don’t look back! Just remember to allow plenty of time to enjoy the meal—there’s so much food!
Are you planning a vacation and want to learn more about the Walt Disney World Resorts? Try these other popular articles:
- Disney World Resort Reviews
- Best Table Service Restaurants at the Disney Resorts
- The Top Disney Resorts to Tour at Christmas
- Best Pools at the Disney World Resorts
- The Best Deluxe Resorts at Disney World
Not sure whether or not to stay at a Disney World Resort? You might like to read this article: The Benefits of Staying at a Disney World Resort. Or you can browse our list of the best off-site resorts near Disney World.
In the Comments
Have you tried breakfast at any of these restaurants at Disney World? Which one do you think is the best? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us. We value your opinion and enjoy learning what our readers think. Your thoughts provide valuable insight and help guide us in the right direction.
