Top 5 Favorite Disneyland Breakfast Spots

Breakfast is, hands down, my favorite meal of the day. Eggs, pretty much any way you want to prepare them, are my fave. Also, it's the only meal where it's acceptable to eat donuts, so automatic win right there. By the way, why are there no donuts at Disneyland? So many delicious treats to be found, but no mouse-shaped donuts anywhere... Someone needs to get on that, just sayin'. 

Anyway, my favorite Disneyland breakfast spots are actually the only ones I've tried in recent years. There are many more places on my Disney breakfast bucket list that I intend to try before my season pass expires at the end of the year. Then I may have to update this list ;)

So here we go, in no particular order:

1. Pacific Wharf Cafe in Disney California Adventure - aka Boudin Bakery (based out of San Francisco, if you're familiar with them). The stand-out star of Boudin Bakery is their sourdough bread bowl, which is what I had, filled with scrambled eggs. I LOVE bread, and I could only finish about half of that bowl, so I'm thinking next time I'll probably just stick with the croissant breakfast sandwich. At only $6 for this whole plate (which also comes with bacon, but I subbed extra fruit), this was very cheap by any standards, but especially in Disneyland.

2. Brunch at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Resort is a must-try at least once for anyone with kids old enough to recognize their favorite Disney characters. We took Ez when he was about 18 months, and he was not at all impressed by the larger-than-life-sized animals wandering around while he was trying to eat. In fact, just the opposite. He was terrified of them. However, given his more recent obsession with Mickey Mouse, I think he'd love the experience now. Aside from Ez's terror, the brunch spread is delicious. They've got an omelet bar, a salad bar, a whole section dedicated to dessert, pastas, pizza - including pb&j pizza, which I was a fan of, and much more. Since my mom treated us, I'm not sure exactly how much one adult meal costs, but the site gives a range of $30 - $60, and I'm guessing it's more on the high end of that range. Also, you've gotta plan ahead and make reservations because the wait can get crazy here.

3. Pastries at the Jolly Holiday Bakery on Main Street in Disneyland - Joe and I go here about half the time we go to Disneyland (ie - a lot!) expressly for the cinnamon rolls. True, they have cinnamon rolls all over the park, but for some reason this is our go-to spot. The location is perfect to sit and relax and catch glimpses of any parades that might be going on. Also, they have a much more extensive coffee selection than a lot of other breakfast places at the park, which is a definite plus. The only downside is that, other than quiches, their breakfast options are pretty much limited to pastries. I never consider cinnamon rolls a downside, but for people trying to start their day off healthy, this probably isn't the best choice. I think the cinnamon roll is a little over $5, but it's pretty huge. Joe and I always split one. Definitely one of my fave treats - at Disneyland or anywhere!

4. Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney - This was our breakfast choice from our most recent trip. I've never eaten there before, but I know Courtney and her family over at Sweet Turtle Soup consider them a fave whenever they go to Disney World so I've been wanting to try them out for awhile. The only problem is that they tend to have huge lines at dinner time. Thankfully, this was not the case at breakfast, even on a Sunday, and there was plenty of seating available. Joe and I both got egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, which also come with what they call "breakfast sauce." It tasted slightly mustardy, which neither Joe or I are usually a fan of, but we both agreed it was delicious. We also split a muffin, and Ez stuck with his usual: fruit. All that plus 3 drinks came out to $22 - very cheap for the three of us to eat out, especially at D-land.

5. River Belle Terrace in Frontierland - apparently the food here was so good I forgot to take pictures, which is saying a lot coming from me! I remember I was trying to be good that day, and stuck with eggs, fruit, and potatoes, but what I really wanted was the cinnamon roll french toast. Obviously, since I'm still thinking about that french toast, we're gonna have to go back and settle this pregnant mama's cravings. The other thing I really like about River Belle is they have a kid's fruit plate which comes with a bran muffin and yogurt for only $5.50. Considering a cup of fruit normally costs $5 - $6 at Disneyland, that's actually a really good deal. And since I have a kid who just wants to live off of fruit, this probably ranks as Ez's top breakfast choice. At about $8 - $9 per breakfast, this is slightly pricier compared to other options, but I'd say that's about what you'd expect at Disneyland. Also, the views of the boats on the river are a nice way to start your morning.

Bonus favorite: Cheese Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans. Technically I can't count this as a breakfast spot, because they're only open for lunch and dinner, but their cheese Monte Cristo is basically like a cheese filled donut served with berry jam. It also ranks as top 5 most delicious foods at Disneyland (in my opinion), so if you're up for a late breakfast/brunch, definitely go here! Or go for dinner. Just definitely go try one of the Monte Cristos. Trust me. One is enough for two people, although while you're there you pretty much have to try the garlic fries too, so make sure to save room. Looking at this photo, I'm actually sad that I wasn't hungry enough to eat here last time we went. #preggoproblems 

Other breakfast spots I want to try:
- Carnation Cafe at Disneyland on Main Street: A little pricier at $10 - $15 for adults, but I've never eaten here and they've got a somewhat "fancier" menu - with a spinach frittata and eggs benedict, so it'd be nice to try out at least once.
- Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Express: They had me at "breakfast burrito". Of course, while I'm there, I'll have to sample the "French Toast Dippers" - which are actually beignets covered in cinnamon & sugar. That's probably the closest thing to a donut in Disneyland, so I'll take it! Prices are in the $6 - $9 range, so pretty reasonable.
- Flo's V8 Cafe: This is mostly for Ez's benefit, since it's in Cars Land. The food is typical American Diner stuff, but the Brioche French Toast with caramel sauce and bananas definitely sounds worth sampling. $8-$9 price range.
- Plaza Inn at Disneyland on Main Street: At about $30, this is a cheaper option for dining with characters compared with Goofy's Kitchen. It's buffet style as well, although I think the menu looks less extensive compared with Goofy's Kitchen. Still, it's a great location for checking out everything going on at Main Street while you dine.

What's your favorite Disney breakfast spot? What did I leave off my list and what do I need to try? 

I'll leave you with a few pictures from our most recent Disney trip: