Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when you've got a long day of gallivanting around the Happiest Place on Earth ahead of you. Luckily, Disneyland Park has a lot of different options for you to choose from in the morning; the best part is they are all delicious options.
Here is a quick rundown of the breakfast options for you to start your day.
Carnation Cafe
Carnation Cafe entrance. Photo by Megan Walker.
Carnation Cafe is a sit-down restaurant located in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. The breakfast here is one of, if not the, best in the park. Carnation Cafe boasts a fairly typical breakfast menu including, but not limited to, pancakes, eggs Benedict, an all-American breakfast plate, and, of course, Mickey-shaped waffles. For those who are looking for a healthier breakfast option, Carnation has you covered with fruit parfait, oatmeal, and a spinach and egg-white frittata. You can also get coffee, a latte, or good old juice to have with your breakfast. If you're looking for a nice place to sit down and enjoy a classic breakfast before starting your adventures in the park, Carnation Cafe is a fantastic option; the menu here is not expensive, but it's in the middle range of pricing in the park, which makes it a good option. Plus, you might even get lucky and have the famous and infinitely kind Chef Oscar visit your table while you dine. Advance reservations can be made, and are encouraged.
Carnation Cafe menu. Photo by Megan Walker.
Market House
Market House food offerings. Photo by Megan Walker.
The Market House, located across from Carnation Café on Main Street, U.S.A. is basically just a Starbucks with a few extra Disney Parks treats. Here you can get any of your favorite Starbucks beverages, as well as any of your favorite Starbucks food items and some special merchandise (and you can use your Starbucks card, just not to get a free drink). In addition, the Market House has Mickey cookies, including a fantastic Strawberry Shortbread Mickey Cookie. If you're not in the mood for coffee or tea, fear not, the Market House also has a large selection of bottled drinks such as sodas, juice, milk, and water. If you're in need of a Starbucks fix, or just looking for a quick grab-and-go breakfast, Market House is a great place to stop on your way into the park.
Plaza Inn
The Plaza Inn, located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. is the only character breakfast option in Disneyland itself. The theming of Plaza Inn's breakfast is Breakfast in the Park with Minnie and Friends, and there is a wide variety of characters present here. At Plaza Inn, you can find characters like Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Captain Hook, Rafiki, and the Fairy Godmother. The breakfast here is the typical Disney breakfast buffet with many different options, such as omelets, sausage, bacon, Mickey waffles, fruit, cereal, and assorted pastries. The pricing here is $30.99 for adults and $17.99 for children ages 3-9 (a souvenir photo is extra). If you're in the mood for a character breakfast, all the ones around the Disneyland Resort are great options, but Plaza Inn gives you the benefit of dining in Disneyland park, which is a lot of fun for kids of all ages, from 3 to 103. Advance reservations can be made, and are encouraged.
Plaza Inn entrance. Photo by Megan Walker.
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe food case. Photo by Megan Walker.
Jolly Holiday is consistently one of my favorite places to stop for a quick treat and it's a great, fast option in the morning for a small breakfast. Located at the end corner of Main Street, U.S.A., Jolly Holiday has a wide selection of treats and pastries such as the infamous Matterhorn Macaroon, muffins, scones, croissants, cookies, and delicious cinnamon rolls. Jolly Holiday also offers many different coffee drinks, including blended and iced coffee drinks, Abuelita, and blended fruit drinks, as well. As for the pricing, it's pretty low here as far as Disney food goes, so this is a good less-expensive option for breakfast. Additionally, an added benefit is that Jolly Holiday is generally open when Disneyland lets guests in shortly before opening, giving you the option of grabbing a quick bite and a drink before the attractions even open.
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe menu. Photo by Megan Walker.
Rancho del Zocalo
Rancho del Zocalo food preparation area. Photo by Megan Walker.
Brand new to the breakfast scene at Disneyland is Rancho del Zocalo, the Mexican restaurant located next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Replacing the breakfast at River Belle Terrace and adding some Mexican-influenced breakfast items, Rancho del Zocalo offers a fresh new take on breakfast in the park. The menu includes classic American breakfast items, like an American breakfast plate, Mickey Mouse pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and a fruit cup. As for the Mexican-inspired breakfast offerings, Rancho del Zocalo has a fajita breakfast platter, a tamale plate, chorizo and egg burrito, and chilaquiles. You can find coffee, milk, tea, and juices here, as well. Rancho del Zocalo's breakfast, though new, is a great addition to the park. With a great menu that should satisfy everyone in your group, it's nice to have another place with classic breakfast items but also something fresh and different. Though not a sit-down restaurant, expect the pricing here to be tiered more toward the middle range of pricing, as the portions are pretty generous here.
Rancho del Zocalo Breakfast Menu. Photo by Megan Walker.
Mint Julep Bar
Mint Julep Bar. Photo by Megan Walker.
Tucked away in the back corner of New Orleans Square by the train station is the Mint Julep Bar, a classic Disneyland favorite. While not necessarily classified as breakfast, especially being that it serves the same menu all day long, I'm still including it here because who doesn't want fried dough smothered in powdered sugar for breakfast every now and then? That's right, the Mint Julep Bar, although named for its infamous drink, serves up delicious, hot beignets all day, every day for your enjoyment. If you're looking for something deliciously guilty, this is the place. Get a bag of beignets, shake up the powdered sugar, and dig in. You can also pair your beignets with coffee, latte, mocha, cappuccino, or the aforementioned sweet Mint Julep.
Mint Julep Bar menu. Photo by Megan Walker.
Galactic Grill (formerly Tomorrowland Terrace)
Galactic Grill Menu. Photo by Megan Walker.
One of the newer breakfast options in Disneyland is at the former Tomorrowland Terrace, which is currently occupied by Galactic Grill as part of the Season of the Force Star Wars offerings. On the menu at Galactic Grill is an assortment of Star Wars-themed breakfast items including, Bantha Blue Milk Bread (glorified French Toast), the Lars Family Breakfast Platter, the Darth Tamale, and a fresh fruit platter. Additionally, for the kids, there is Baby Bantha Bread and a Padawan Breakfast plate. Galactic Grill offers some pretty tasty items for a less expensive price, as well as being a fun option for the novelty aspect of the food. It's important to note that Galactic Grill is supposedly a temporary overlay of Tomorrowland Terrace, with the expectation for Tomorrowland Terrace to reopen sometime in the future.
Bantha Blue Milk Bread. Photo by Megan Walker.
Darth Tamale. Photo by Megan Walker.
Disneyland offers many different options for breakfast, depending what you're in the mood for. Whether you want to sit down for a nice classic breakfast, grab a pastry and a coffee to go, or indulge in a delicious breakfast burrito, the many different restaurants scattered throughout the park have got you covered. Next time you visit Disneyland, make sure you try one or more of these options and find out which one is your favorite. Happy eating.
