Is Garden Grill’s Character Breakfast Worth It?
The “Magical or Tragical” series offers up my group’s opinion on some of the offerings at Disney World. Pros and Cons, Dustless Pixie-style.
Unlike Epcot’s World Showcase area, Future World doesn’t have as many tasty places to have a sit down meal.
There are only two Table Service restaurants in Epcot‘s Future World. (A new space themed restaurant is slated to open next to “Mission Space” which will bring the total to three). With the “Electric Umbrella” closing soon, Quick Service dining, with ample seating, is dwindling down to just “Sunshine Seasons”. The remainder of dining locations are just a handful of snack carts.
Recently, we found ourselves planning an Epcot day that didn’t involve a pressing need for an early morning rope drop. Diehard rope droppers, this threw us for a loop. Generally, we don’t like to waste our precious time at Disney World sleeping in. Our strategy tends to be early mornings, resort rest in the afternoon and evenings back at the parks. What to do? Breaking with tradition, we decided to give a Table Service breakfast a try. We usually just grab coffee and a pastry or breakfast sandwich in the mornings. This was new territory for us.
A big breakfast really fit into our plans and our Disney Dining Plan strategy.
However, our options were limited at Epcot in the morning. Previously, we had a terrible experience at “Sunshine Seasons”, so that was off the table. (That’s a review for another day.) We didn’t feel like hiking over to the World Showcase for Norwegian or French pastries. None of us were particularly interested in a breakfast with Princesses either.
We decided to give “Garden Grill’s Chip ‘n Dale Harvest Feast” breakfast a try.
Garden Grill is not an eatery that we had on our Disney dining bucket list. However, I had read a lot of good things about the food and the low key character interaction. We needed a great way to fill us up until our dinner plans later that day. Feeling peckish before dinner? There would also be exotic snacks to choose from when World Showcase opened up in the afternoon. It would also position us for pre and post breakfast “Soarin’” rides. Let’s face it, I can never ride that enough times.
Garden Grill is located inside “The Land” Pavilion at Epcot’s Future World.
If you have experienced “Living with the Land”, Garden Grill may already be familiar to you. Guests get a glimpse of it as the boats float behind and below this dining location. The restaurant slowly rotates, affording views of The Land’s atrium as well as “Living with the Land” scenery. Produce from the greenhouses inside the ride even show up in your meal. It’s a great way to learn about where food comes from. A pre or post breakfast ride might be in order here, particularly if you have younger kids.
We made an Advance Dining Reservation.
However, there were plenty of tables open and we were there the week before Easter week. Don’t be afraid to request one of the semicircular booths on the outer rim of the restaurant. That seating affords a better view as you rotate past the scenery. If it’s busy, you may have to wait a bit longer for a requested booth. It’s worth it if you have the time.
It’s not a super big restaurant so it doesn’t get as loud and crazy as some of the bigger dining locations at Disney World. The tables are set with “hidden” Mickeys, which is a nice touch.
The meal is “all you care to enjoy” and is served family style.
No need to order anything but the beverages. This is one of many locations on property that serves that heavenly pineapple, orange, guava (POG) juice blend. Admittedly, this is a big plus for me. Love that stuff.
First to the table is a large bowl of fruit and a skillet overflowing with warm, ooey gooey cinnamon rolls. This arrives pretty quickly which is perfect for younger kids who have a harder time waiting. It gives them, and constantly starving teenagers, something to snack on before the main course.
Okay. I love a good warm cinnamon roll. Unfortunately I have found some others in the parks to be a little on the dry side. (One exception has been the Colossal Cinnamon Roll at Kusafiri in Animal Kingdom). Happy to announce that Garden Grill’s were DELICIOUS. Pillow-y on the inside, just slightly crispy on the outside, and smothered in icing. Honestly, the POG juice, coffee, guilt free fruit, and gooey cinnamon roll, are enough. I think that we all would have been sufficiently fueled until late afternoon, however…
Another skillet full of goodness arrives, but thankfully, not immediately after the “first course”. This one has scrambled eggs, crispy tater tots, sausage, bacon and the ubiquitous Mickey Waffles.
This is the first location that we have had warmed chocolate hazelnut sauce to put on the waffles. Is this sauce served elsewhere on property? Feel free to let me know! Since we don’t generally partake in Table Service breakfasts at Disney, it was a first for us and an excellent addition to the waffle condiments.
The initial servings of food were more than enough for two adults and one bottomless teenaged boy. More food can be requested, though, as this is an “all you care to enjoy” situation. Maybe just wait a little before hopping on “Soarin”, “Test Track” or “Mission Space”. Just use the 30 minutes before swimming rule.
Mickey (all dressed up in his best farmer duds), Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale all pay a visit to your table.
I’m not a big fan of character meals. I may become one if more are handled like Garden Grill’s. Chip and Dale, Pluto and Mickey Mouse do the rounds during the meal but don’t linger or seem awkwardly timed. The interactions were sweet and some of the best that I have had on property to be honest. Each of the characters stopped at our booth twice. The first time for photos and the second time as a quick goodbye.
For younger kids who have trouble waiting in line, this meal could be worth avoiding the park meet and greet hassle. Everyone gets to sit down in the AC, eat some yummy food, enjoy the passing scenery and interact with characters. The kids at the booth next to us were able to meet, get autographs and pictures with ease. Another bonus with those outer rim booths? It’s much easier to take pictures without other guests showing up in the background.
It’s a pretty good value with the Disney Dining Plan.
Like everything else at Disney World, it ain’t cheap. Prices vary with the season. For around $40 per adult (around $20 kids under 10) it’s a pretty good value on the Disney Dining Plan. A lot of tasty food, an interesting view and non-intrusive character interaction, were definitely worth the one Table Service credit for us.
The prices are the same for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have heard really good things about the lunch/dinner as well. If your group aren’t necessarily fans of a big breakfast, you might want to check that out. Lunch and Dinner share the same menu and are served “all you care to eat” family style as well.
Garden Grill offers a very solid Disney experience.
Obviously, Epcot’s World Showcase has a lot more dining choices, but don’t discount Garden Grill when you are planning. If you and yours are fans of old school original Disney characters and Mickey waffles, this might be right up your alley.
Apparently, it is totally acceptable to teenagers as well.
For more information, check out the Epcot section of our Dining by Park.
