We are the ultimate Disney fans and have a great love for Disneyland. Our oldest daughter has grown up visiting the park and like my own childhood, some of her most favorite summer vacations and milestones including birthdays and special holidays are celebrated there. Our youngest daughter is just two years old and our most recent visit to Disneyland was the most fun because she was so excited about everything. Every attraction and character encounter was magical. We stayed at the Paradise Pier resort for two nights and had two full days at Disneyland and California Adventure before moving on to our timeshare week at the Carlsbad Inn. Reservations for Disneyland Character Dining at the Plaza Inn for breakfast were extra special because it had us in the park as the gates opened for a full day of fun. My Disneyland Character Dining Plaza Inn Tips include making reservations for the earliest breakfast slot to avoid a wait and having many character experiences in the dining room that feels exclusive to your family.
The last time we dined at the Plaza Inn was when we were the Disneyland Diamond Days Sweepstakes Winner and won the daily VIP experience. Prior to that it was celebrating a birthday in Disneyland when our now eight year old daughter turned four. We’ve had many character dining experiences over the past 10+ years but have always loved the Plaza Inn because of the location in Disneyland. The early start in the park with our breakfast reservation at 7:10 am was intimidating with children but ended up being an excellent decision. Advance reservations are available only during breakfast. Seating for lunch and dinner is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tip #1
Make advanced reservations for the earliest breakfast time (7:10 weekends, 8:10 weekdays).
By having the first reservation time, there was no wait and we walked right into the Plaza Inn.
Tip #2
Avoid the Disneyland main gate entrance and use the “Character Breakfast” gate instead.
The entrance gates to Disneyland have long lines well before the park opens. Because you have the first reservation for character dining at the Plaza Inn, you will be lining up before the gates are open. Do not line up in the general admission lines. Instead, use the gate labeled “Character Breakfast” directly to the left of the main gates.
Tip #3
Use the Disney PhotoPass and allow the photographers to take your family photos.
Take advantage of the Disney photographers already set up for the best family photos. Otherwise you’ll get wrapped up in the fun and forget to jump behind the camera yourself. At a minimum, make sure you’re handing over your camera to the photographers so you’ll have a few on your family memory card too.
The earliest reservation gave us plenty of extra time with the characters. Little sister was spoiled with so many encounters and had the entire restaurant dining room to run from favorite to favorite. She was so excited when she spotted Eeyore across the room. They hugged, made a breakfast plate together and even sat for a minute sharing Mickey waffles.
Tip #4
Be prepared to eat!
The breakfast buffet has many choices so definitely arrive hungry. French toast, Mickey waffles, pastries, all American options (scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, bacon, biscuits & gravy) and an omelet bar provide something for everyone.
With breakfast on the table, the characters continued to stroll by.
Little sister shared a sweet kiss on the cheek with the Fairy Godmother.
The chipmunks, Cinderella’s mice, Captain Hook, Rafiki and so many more characters came by to say hello.
Tip #5
Take an excessive amount of photos.
I’ll be printing all of our Disneyland character dining Plaza Inn photos for an album because little sister loves looking at herself in pictures and we will cherish these as our daughters continue to grow.
We all had our favorites but the yummy Mickey waffles and watching my girls so excited with the characters were the best part of my day.
Make your reservation for breakfast at the Plaza Inn online or call Disney dining at (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463.
Which characters would your children be most excited to see?
Oh yes, always make a reservation – or be prepared to wait a good long while. Awesome tips!
totally agree it is so important to be prepared when going to disneyland and when going out to eat its important.
This looks like such a fun time! Going early and making a reservation is a great idea to miss the crowds and avoid lining up with kids! Also always love the mickey waffles! So dang cute!
These are great tips for families who would like to experience this! I think it’s really important to come in early! That way the kids have much more time with their favorite characters!
We love, love love the photopass! It was so fun to come back to the room and look for what photos were captured during the day!
The kids and I make sure that we get up early for this one every time we’re going to visit Disney! The earlier the better especially since there aren’t much people around and your kids can take advantage of all the photo ops!
I have never been to Disneyland before but I have always wanted to go so it was really useful to know that I should come in early so that I could spend time with my favourite characters. Someone make my dreams happen pretty please LOL x
I love character dining at Disney. It really makes the whole experience that much more special. We do at least one character meal every time we go to Disney World. I would love to go to Disneyland one day
Disney is a very happy place and even if you are sad, this place has something very very special about it. I just love being there even as an adult.
I can not wait to go back to Disney! Finding places to eat can be so hard and I love that you have shared this.
The Plaza Inn is our favorite dinner spot and favorite character experience. I can not wait for the youngest to get over his fear of characters. We have so many fabulous shots like yours with Aiden when he was barely a year old. And amazing to be in the park and early, it feels almost forbidden walking down a barren Main Street.
We have not been to Disney Land, but have been to several character breakfasts at Disney World! I think my favorite is at Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort.
Wow! Those photos are truly lovely and I’m sure that you and your family had so much fun. Those tips are really helpful!
These are great tips! I can’t wait to take my kids to Disneyworld next year. I’m sure they will love it as much as I did when I was younger.
Great tips. I’ve never done this, and can’t think of a time I will, but you never know…my son is now 8 but he does want to go back though.
The pics of your little one cuddling with Eeyore (I have no clue how to spell) are so cute. That looks like a great time. I live about an hour from Disneyland but never go. But that would definitely be different if I had kids. I remember Disney World from when I was little and lived in Florida and it was so magical.
We haven’t ever taken our kids here but I am dying to . It’s on my bucket list of places to go as a family and I will definitely remember all of these tips!@
we had to skip the character breakfast on our first disneyland trip this year, but i really hope that we are able to go next time!
Such great tips! I would love to take my family to Disney, and be able to experience everything it has to offer including the Character dining plaza how fun! – Jeanine
I feel like getting to places early is so key to reducing stress. It’s extra true here with that Character Breakfast Only entrance gate—amazing!!
Disneyland is so much fun, but I’ve never been with my kids. I bet they would love it!
These are such great tips! I want to take my little cousins one day!!
We dined with Disney Characters once, and my kids loved it. You are right – take lots of photos!
The Plaza Inn also has some of the best GLUTEN FREE waffles I’ve ever had. If you’re eating gluten free, it’s a great place for a delicious meal. Great post 🙂
What a fun experience! You can easily get so caught up in everything at Disney but these dining experiences are a must from a character perspective.
Great tips. We’re going next month with our three littles. The character breakfast is definitely on our list.