Photo Flashback! Disney Breakfasts

Clockwise from top left: Mickey waffles from Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus, Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe, Mickey waffles from my kitchen (who says the fun can't follow you home?) and Mickey pancakes from Kona Cafe

Minnie Moms: Favorite Character Dining: Akershus

Today I have the honor of completing our Minnie Moms series on our favorite character dining at Walt Disney World. Please also take a look at the previous posts while you are visiting us. ~Amy

In the trip report for my girls only vacation last month, I began to tell you about our visit to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall but stopped short so I could devote an entire post to it.  And here it is.

To review, we had been looking forward to breakfast with the princesses more than anything on this vacation.  I was at Walt Disney World with my two young daughters and my best friend from college.  Nothing went according to plan since my oldest daughter had a stomach bug bad enough to land us in the Celebration Health ER.  I had cancelled our 9:30 a.m. reservation but when Tink felt better that morning, I called Disney Dining and they found a spot for us at 11:00.  A little pixie dust if we ever needed it.  We arrived at Akershus few minutes early per the standard instructions and were almost immediately escorted inside.

Tink was thrilled to meet Belle and ran over for a hug.  Minnie was a little more apprehensive even though she loves Belle at any other time.  This meal is pricey ($40+ adult, $25+ child) but a photo package is included in the cost.  We chose to have our whole group in the photo as a special souvenir but I could have opted for it to be just the little girls.  The photo package was delivered to our table during the meal.  It consisted of one 8x10 and four 4x6, all of one pose, and was presented in a lovely folder.  For larger parties, you get more poses and photos. Basically one set per four guests but I am not sure if children under three would count in that total since you don't pay for them here.  Minnie ate for free!  There is a PhotoPass code on the pictures so you can add them to your account if you'd like.

Confession time.  I actually did a happy dance in the restaurant when I realized they were still serving breakfast.  I had thought we were there for lunch.  My girls eat breakfast foods far better than anything I had seen on the lunch menu.  And as a bonus, the place was nearly empty during the switchover period.  Score!

The food at Akershus during breakfast is pretty standard but the great thing is that most of it is brought to your table family-style.  The hot food (eggs, bacon, sausage, and potato casserole) was served on a big platter and we could have requested more of any of it.  Mickey waffles are available but you have to ask for them and of course, we did.  The buffet is for the cold items and offered a nice selection of fruit, yogurt, granola, cheese, etc.  There were also several smoked or pickled fishes, several flavors of cream cheese and bagels.  We all ate plenty.  My youngest was 19 months old and seemed to care more about her Mickey waffles than she did about the princesses.  

Ah, yes, the princesses.  That's really why you dine here.  No disrespect to the lovely Norwegian Cast Members but we were here for royalty.  Belle stays in her meet and greet area at the front of the restaurant but the other princesses visit you at your table.  They were all understanding when I wanted to take a moment to pull Minnie's high chair away from the table for photos.  I hate seeing dirty dishes in my pictures.  No specific list of characters is guaranteed to appear but we met Belle, Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella (!) and Aurora.  All of them took time to chat with the girls.  When it was time for the Princess Processional, Aurora came back to our table.  Tink happily pranced around the dining room with her but Minnie wanted to stay put with us.  And since they don't want you following your child during the parade, that was really for the best.

We used a Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount.  For those on the Disney Dining Plan, this experience is one credit versus the two required to dine at Cinderella's Royal Table.  

Overall, we were thrilled with our experience here.  Quick seating, good food, and time with our favorite princesses; what's not to love!

The rest of our Minnie Moms shared their favorite Disney character dining earlier this week.  Did your top pick make the list? What is on your "must-do's"?

Magical Blogorail: Disney Breakfasts

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Red. Enjoy the ride as we share with you our favorite spots in Disney for breakfast.

The Growing Up Disney family loves breakfast and when you can combine that with Disney, all the better.

At home, we make Mickey pancakes and have three different Disney waffle irons: Cinderella, Pooh/Tigger and Mickey and friends mini waffles.  

Clean out a bottle from ketchup, pizza sauce, etc. and use it for pancake designs.

But the best Disney breakfasts are, of course, AT Walt Disney World.  We've been a Disney Vacation Club family for nearly 20 years and most often have our vacation breakfasts in our villa.  With a full kitchen at our disposal, those meals can be anything from a quick bowl of cereal to scrambled eggs for seven to sausage balls when Mom is in the mood to make them.

My mom and Aunt Suzie.  This wasn't breakfast but Mom did cook in the kitchen for this pre-wedding party.

The full kitchen in one and two bedroom villas at Old Key West.

When we want to go out for breakfast on vacation, Kona Cafe and its Tonga Toast are at the top of the list.  Even with the cult popularity of this dish, 'Ohana's character breakfast gets most of the attention at the Polynesian so we have always found mornings at Kona to be calm.  I tend to order the Tonga Toast and share it with my brother or husband, having them order something savory.  The press pot of Kona coffee is a treat but the carafe of coffee isn't too shabby either.  Tink wanted to ride a boat on our last vacation, so we took a bus from Old Key West to Magic Kingdom and boarded a boat to the Polynesian from there.  After breakfast, it's a quick monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom.

Tink enjoying a boat ride to breakfast.

Mickey pancakes from the kid's menu at Kona.  This was one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.

Tonga Toast

This was at Kona for dinner.  Tink liked the umbrella in her cup.  They didn't do this at breakfast on our recent trip but you could always ask.

The classic Disney morning meal experience is the character breakfast.  Our favorites are Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's.  I worked at Crystal Palace during College Program so it is a sentimental favorite.  Pooh and friends are my favorites so I love to begin the day with a hug from the silly ol' bear and his pals.

Our first visit to Chef Mickey's was in the early 90's, back when it was at what is now Downtown Disney Marketplace.  Our most recent visit was in 2010 for Tink's first birthday.  I wanted her to spend some time with the Mouse on her big day.  It was very busy but we got a good table and a warm birthday cupcake.  Next week, my best friend and I are taking my children to Walt Disney World for a girls' trip.  We will be kicking that trip off with a late breakfast at Chef Mickey's.

I haven't been to breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table but with two daughters, I am certain that is in our future and I'd like to wait until Granddaddy (DisneyDad) can go too.  Thankfully, that's not the only place to dine with the princesses because it is a must-do on a girls' trip.  We are all looking forward to  trying Akershus for breakfast.  I am glad that at least some of the meal is served family style.  Full buffets have the benefit of being able to get a plate in front of a wiggly child quickly, but they aren't the least bit relaxing.

Until I became a mother, I didn't totally understand the appeal of the character breakfast.  I knew it was a way to have a meal and meet characters without waiting in line.  Now I see the beauty of getting everyone up and out of the room and sitting down to a meal together before anyone needs a nap.  No matter how I try to work with my kids' current schedules, it seems that the ideal time for lunch is hard to predict.  

Using the theory above, our upcoming trip will include the two character breakfasts that I have mentioned plus a trip to Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge.  We aren't particularly in a hurry to get to the parks in the morning so we'll spend a little time exploring the resort after our meal.  I have enjoyed the restaurant's antics at dinner and think we will have fun at breakfast.  The Mickey waffles on the all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast platter should assure that my children eat well.

Be careful what you ask for at Whispering Canyon.  You might end up with a little soda or a huge one.

What is your favorite Disney breakfast?

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is My Dreams of Disney.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Growing Up Disney
2nd Stop ~ My Dreams Of Disney
3rd Stop ~ Disney Donna Kay
4th Stop ~ Colorado Mountain Mom
Final Stop ~ A World View