The second best thing about waking up and knowing you’re headed to Disneyland is knowing where you’re getting breakfast before you start your big day of fun!

Are you grabbing a quick Starbucks coffee to save time or maybe you want to splurge on a character breakfast? Whatever your strategy may be, you might be feeling overwhelmed by all your options in Disneyland Resort, and we’re here to help you out! Here’s our list of the BEST breakfast options in Disneyland.

Classic

You can’t really get more classic than a Mickey-shaped Waffle from Carnation Cafe, a table-service restaurant in Disneyland Park! You can order it served with applewood-smoked bacon or smoked sausage for $15.

And speaking of classics, Carnation Cafe has existed in Disneyland Park (albeit it was originally an ice cream parlor) since it opened in 1955, so you’ll also be dining in a piece of Disneyland history!

Check out a recent review of Carnation Cafe here!

If you prefer pancakes over waffles, get a Mickey-shaped Pancake from Red Rose Taverne in Disneyland Park! You don’t need a reservation to dine here and you get the pancake, a serving of berry compote, and your choice of hickory-smoked bacon or sausage for $9.49.

Red Rose Taverne also accepts Mobile Order, which makes it easy to grab your breakfast quickly — so you can spend more time on your favorite rides!

Read our most recent review of Red Rose Taverne here.

Savory

Okay, hear us out! Corn dogs might not sound like the ideal breakfast item to you but trust us when we say that Corn Dog Castle’s breakfast item is worth a try! The Breakfast Sausage and Egg Corn Dog is made with sausage and egg and topped with powdered sugar and raspberry jelly for $9.99. It also comes with your choice of a Cutie or a small bag of chips for $9.99.

This dish is served until 12PM and it’s a quick breakfast on the go option — plus it’s a small portion, which is good for people who aren’t looking for a huge breakfast before riding a bunch of rides. You can find Corn Dog Castle in Disney California Adventure.

Click here for our recent Corn Dog Castle review!

But if a breakfast sandwich sounds good to you, the Egg Bacon Croissant from Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe in Disneyland Park is both tasty and unique! It’s a flaky croissant filled with egg, bacon, cheese, and hollandaise sauce, which makes it quite a filling dish.

You can order just the sandwich itself for $8.99 or add a serving of fruit for $10.99. This is another restaurant that accepts Mobile Order, so if you’re looking for a quick but filling breakfast, this is a good option.

Find out more about Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe here!

Sweet

Let’s switch gears and look at some sweet breakfast options! Tangaroa Toast from Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill in Disneyland Hotel is a delicious breakfast treat you may have never had before. It’s brick toast served with citrus custard, guava syrup, whipped cream, and toasted coconut for $15. It’s also served with bacon!

Tangaroa Terrace is a quick service spot that’s easy for guests of the Disneyland Hotel to visit, and this dish is majorly shareable. If you’re in the mood for breakfast with a Polynesian flair, give Tangaroa Toast a try!

Click here to see our original review of Tangaroa Toast!

It’s hard to find anymore more delicious than Beignets from Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express in Downtown Disney. They’re available at the counter service location of Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and you can find both classic beignets as well as special variations.

Get a small order of four Original New Orleans Beignets for $9.99, a large order of six for $12.99, and even a family size order of 10 for $15.99. They’re easy to grab on your way through Downtown Disney into the parks, and you can also share them with everyone in your group! Just be careful not to get powdered sugar all over yourself.

Read our review of Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express Beignets here!

Over in Disneyland Park, the Vanilla & Maple Monkey Bread from River Belle Terrace is a total must-try for all fans of breakfast sweets. It’s served with vanilla ice cream, lemon glaze, and berries for $9.

Just keep in mind that this is a very sweet breakfast dish, and you do need a reservation to eat at River Belle Terrace so this is not exactly the fastest breakfast option. But if you like to take your time at breakfast and start your day with a big meal, River Belle Terrace is a great choice!

Here’s a recent review of breakfast at River Belle Terrace!

Characters

Now let’s talk about characters! At the Plaza Inn in Disneyland Park, the Minnie & Friends — Breakfast in the Park buffet gets you all kinds of classic breakfast menu items like Mickey Waffles, cereal, fruit, eggs, meats, pastries, and more. There are also MINNIE Waffles!

While you dine, you can visit with characters like Pluto, Chip, Dale, Daisy, Minnie, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger, and it costs $41 per adult and $24 per child to get your fill of the buffet and start your day with a full stomach!

Check out our first look at the Plaza Inn character breakfast!

Goofy’s Kitchen is another character dining option in the Disneyland Hotel, where you can fill yourself up on classic breakfast items like Mickey Mouse Pancakes or go for unique options, like Goofy’s Famous Peanut Butter Pizza. While you dine, enjoy visiting with characters such as Pluto, Chip, Dale, Minnie, and of course — Goofy!

You don’t need a park ticket to dine at Goofy’s Kitchen but you do need a reservation, and it might set you back a bit at $85 per adult and $35 per child.

Learn more about Goofy’s Kitchen here!

Mickey’s Tales of Adventure at Storytellers Cafe is another character dining option, with this spot located at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. This breakfast meal is served as a buffet for $49 per adult and $29 per child, complete with tableside visits from Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, and Dale — who are dressed for adventure.

You can enjoy classic breakfast eats like eggs, bacon, and sausage, along with Mickey Waffles and plenty more!

Check out our experience at Mickey’s Tales of Adventure here!

Fancy

If you want to go REALLY fancy with character dining, the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose in the Grand Californian is more than just a meal — it’s also an experience. But at $125 per person for both adults AND children, it’s a pricey experience.

Breakfast is a three-course meal alongside interactions with Disney Princesses, and kids also get to take home some swag, like a drawstring bag. If you have a Disney Princess-loving kiddo, this might be worth the splurge.

Read more about this pricey Disney Princess experience here!

Stay tuned to DFB for more meal ideas in Disneyland and Disney World!

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What’s your favorite breakfast place in Disneyland? Tell us in the comments!