By: Main Street Diva
If you are anything like me you love the character breakfast at Walt Disney World. Between the yummy breakfast options, Mickey waffles to be specific, and waking up early to start your day dining with your favorite characters, character breakfasts are one of the things I look forward to when on my vacation. There are many options for breakfast on Walt Disney World property such as the Whispering Canyon Café in the Wilderness Lodge, 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridan Resort, or the fairly new breakfast option at the Be Our Guest Guest restaurant in New Fantasyland, to name a few. In this article, I will be discussing and comparing the character breakfasts at Chef Mickey’s located in the Contemporary Resort and the Crystal Palace restaurant located right off of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom.
Let’s start with Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort (my personal favorite character breakfast experience). Mickey and the gang have put on their chefs hat and cooked up a delicious breakfast for you and your family and friends! In this high-priced restaurant you will have many food options on the breakfast buffet. When you walk into this fun atmosphere you have the opportunity to have your photo taken in a very cute pose. When seated you will be greeted by your waiter or waitress and given many beverage options including a wide variety of juices and coffee or tea. Start your engines and get ready to hit that that all-you-can-eat buffet! If you never had a meal at Chef Mickey’s you’re in for a real treat. This restaurant has such a large selection of breakfast dishes such as pastries, bagels, breakfast pizza, pancakes and of course everyone’s favorite, Mickey waffles! 
Once you have gotten your food you will have a visit from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. To make your experience extra magical, they will come around and take pictures with you and sign autographs. Tip: Breakfast is served here between 7 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.
Now that you have learned a bit about Chef Mickey’s let’s talk about breakfast at the Crystal Palace. This restaurant is located in the Magic Kingdom right off of Main Street USA next to Casey’s Corner.
Like Chef Mickey’s, this is a character dining experience except you will be dining with different characters. You will have the opportunity to dine with the gang from the Hundred Acre woods such as Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet and everyone’s favorite, Winnie the Pooh. I thought the Crystal Palace was a very cute place to dine and interact with some of my favorite characters. The selection for breakfast is more or less the same as Chef Mickey’s however I thought Chef Mickey’s had a little more of a selection on their breakfast buffet. One of the perks to dining there very early in the morning is that you are able to walk through the Magic Kingdom before the gates open and be one of the few people walking down Main Street USA. You can stop for pictures on your way to the Crystal Palace which is a very magical experience. Tip: Breakfast is served here between 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Both breakfast buffets have healthy options such as fruit bowls, oatmeal, healthy omelettes and more. Gluten Free? No problem, Chef Mickey and the Winnie the Pooh gang has got you covered! Your friends at both locations, along with the help of the chef, will make sure to whip you a mouth-watering breakfast that is gluten free! My mother is gluten free and the chef made her very own gluten-free Mickey waffles! Tip: When making your reservation, be sure to check off the option explaining your food allergy.
Both of these dining experiences are high priced and book fast. (Prices range from $18.00 (Kids)- $40.00 (adults)). I would suggest making your reservations to either one of these restaurants 180 days out. Both restaurants are a must try on a visit to Walt Disney World. In my opinion, out of the two restaurants, Chef Mickey wins. Let me know in the comments what your favorite character breakfast is!
