Disney dining is a lifestyle!

Disney World vacation planning is a way of life for some people. From getting sought-after reservations to finding the best planning tips, and determining your ultimate Disney World packing list, Disney vacation planning can be hard. That’s why we want to share why you should stop booking breakfast reservations for your trip! 

Now we know what you’re thinking, DFB is telling us to skip out on Disney food? Well, stick with us for this one! While we love dining in Disney World, it does have its drawbacks. Here are the factors to consider BEFORE you book that breakfast reservation!

Missing Out On Time In The Parks

The first reason not to book a breakfast reservation is you miss out on prime time in the park! Rope dropping in Disney World is another essential part of a lot of people’s Disney vacations.

If you aren’t familiar with the term, rope dropping is when people arrive at the parks before they open to be the first in some of the most popular lines in Disney World. A successful rope drop at the parks can save you tons of time in lines at some of the most popular rides. You can learn what we think you should rope drop here.

Unfortunately, a lot of Disney breakfast reservations cut into the precious park time that could be used in a different way. As the park crowds grow throughout the day, lines might become long enough that you have to pick and choose between your Disney World favorites. If you skip the breakfast reservations, though, you might be able to get more done on those busy days! 

However, missing out on valuable park time isn’t the only reason to skip these reservations!

Learn About The Latest Dining Reservations Update Here

Standard Menu Items

Another reason we think you should skip out on breakfast reservations is that a lot of the menu items are standard breakfast food you can grab at quick service locations. While we might love a visit with Chef Mickey, we can admit a lot of the food you’re going to eat at Chef Mickey’s is pretty standard.

You can grab items like tater tots, sausage links, eggs, and even Mickey waffles at the quick service location at your Disney resort, so we often don’t feel like a reservation is necessary to get those Disney staples.

Of course, there are some specialty items you can’t grab at quick service restaurants, like POG juice, but overall if you’re craving Mickey waffles, save some time and money and go to a quick service before the parks open.

Why It’s Easier Than Ever To Eat At Disney’s Most Popular Restaurant

It’s Expensive

As we stated before, a lot of the food you can grab at those fancy breakfast reservations can be found in other spots around Disney World. That being said, it’s oftentimes hard to justify those prices.

A lot of the breakfast reservations in Disney World are character dining options — which means there is going to be a nice little price increase. Character dining options like Chef Mickey’s, Cape May Cafe, and ‘Ohana can be some of the more expensive dining options when it comes to breakfast. Without a substantial increase in food quality, we don’t think they’re always worth your money.

While we love character dining, if that’s not a priority for you, we highly recommend skipping the character breakfast. However, all of that being said, there are some reasons you should book a breakfast reservation! 

Find The Best Restaurants In Disney World Here

Why You Should Book Breakfast

While there are definitely times you should skip out on dining reservations, there are times you’re gonna want to grab that Cinderella’s Royal Table spot. First, if your breakfast reservation is inside a theme park, you can actually get into the parks earlier! If you’re lucky, you can grab a reservation that’s so early in the morning, the parks aren’t even open yet. 

This gives you early access to the parks and you can experience it with almost no one else — which can be really special! (How does a castle pic on an empty Main Street, U.S.A. sound?) Another reason you might want to book a breakfast reservation is character breakfast dining is cheaper than a character meal at dinner. 

For example, Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom costs $79 per adult for dinner and $47 per child for dinner. If you go to breakfast, Cinderella’s Royal Table costs $65 per adult and $39 per child. The princesses make their rounds greeting guests during breakfast and dinner, so if you’re only going for the experience and not the food, you might want to go for breakfast. 

23 Disney World Restaurants To Visit in 2023

Don’t Forget Brunch

If you’re still not 100% on what to do, don’t forget that brunch is always an option, too! For example, if you grab the latest breakfast reservation available, you can usually get food from BOTH breakfast and lunch — which might please larger groups, especially if you want different types of food. 

Going for brunch means you can pay breakfast prices for a big meal, so you might be able to save some money over doing three meals in the parks. (Plus if you go to Steakhouse 71 for a late breakfast, you can order a Stack Burger to-go for lunch. This might not matter to anyone but us.)

Overall, we think it’s time you start skipping out on those breakfast reservations! However, if you want a mickey waffle and a hug from Chef Mickey? We get that, too. Don’t forget to keep following DFB for all of your Disney dining tips and tricks!

Learn How Early You Can Book Your Advanced Dining Reservation Here

Which Disney dining spot is your favorite? Tell us in the comments!