There are several character dining options at the Disneyland Resort. Find out WHY I feel like the Plaza Inn is the BEST breakfast experience in this post! Plus I’ll share tips for getting dining reservations! The first reason “Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park,” at the Plaza Inn is my favorite is because it’s located inside the Disneyland Park. The other character dining locations are at nearby Disneyland hotels. While these other character dining experiences are great, I feel like they are best for your non-park days. They are perfect for like your arrival or departure day. You can eat breakfast or dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland hotel. And there are two options located inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet at Storytellers Cafe and Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose.
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Favorite Character dining
My favorite breakfast character dining location is the Plaza Inn located in Disneyland at the end of Main Street.
I feel like this dining experience is better than the others because you’re inside Disneyland. It’s magical and you get all the feels of being on Main Street plus you can even see the castle if you choose to dine outside. You can eat inside the restaurant or outside. The restaurant is decorated in an elegant Victorian style. 
Breakfast buffet
The character dining experience is only offered in the morning for breakfast until 11 a.m. Characters are only out during breakfast. If you book a dining reservation in the morning you WILL see characters as part of your experience. If you go here for lunch or dinner you will NOT see characters so keep that in mind when booking your reservation. More about how to get a reservation further down. This dining experience is a breakfast buffet with a large variety of options.
Help yourself as many times as you’d like. They serve Minnie shaped waffles, pancakes, sausage, bacon, made to order omelets, muffins, cereal, hash browns, french toast, scrambled eggs, toast, biscuits and gravy, Mickey shaped waffles with bananas foster sauce on the side, fruit, yogurt, granola, pastries, oatmeal, milk, juice, soda and more! Add new to the buffet fried chicken to eat with your waffles. You won’t leave hungry and there’s something for everyone. Pricing is as follows for adults $41 and children $24 per person. Also you can apply your Magic Key discount.
Characters you can meet at the Plaza Inn
There is one character I can guarantee you will meet at the Plaza Inn and that’s Minnie Mouse. Before you even head into the restaurant you get a photo with her. There is a PhotoPass photographer there who will take your photo. The PhotoPass photo is included with your dining fee.
Also at Christmas time Minnie is in her adorable Christmas outfit as seen below.
Before the parks closed these characters were at The Plaza Inn… Eeyore, Captain Hook, Max, Rafiki, Ghepeto, Chip, Dale, Tigger and/or the Fairy Godmother. A good mix of characters and some rare ones that you will only find at this dining experience. These exact characters are subject to change and not guaranteed. And this is where a change has taken place in the characters that are out at breakfast now. When I was there in September these are the characters that came out.. Pluto, Daisy, Winnie the Pooh, Chip, Dale, Tigger, Suzy and Perla from Cinderella. 
Benefits of character dining (looks a little different now see the update)
The characters come to your table while you eat. If you have a child who really loves meeting the characters you are able to meet so many in a short amount of time. You can get autographs and photos without waiting in a long line. Character dining is another great option for getting lots of signatures in one place. UPDATE – Since the parks reopened character interaction does NOT include signatures or close interaction with them. So keep that in mind. The characters parade around about every 20 minutes. They will come back through and pause for a quick selfie, but no autographs or time with the characters.
Why I prefer character dining at the Plaza Inn?
The biggest benefit is you are inside the park. You don’t have to leave the park in order to have your dining experience like the other options that are at nearby Disneyland Resort hotels. You can’t beat the views of the castle when you eat outside. Plus I love the rare characters that you can only meet at this location. The food is fantastic! And lastly the option to dine here before the park even opens. More about this option below.
Pro tip! (unavailable at this time)
Make reservations 60 days out. The best days to dine at the Plaza Inn are on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday before the park opens. If you call 60 days prior to your visit you can ask them for the earliest dining reservation on one of those days. Ask them when the park opens and make your reservation for 50 minutes before the park opens. The reason I say to do this on a T, Th or Sat is because those are the days when Disneyland hosts Magic Morning. Normally only guests with Magic Morning can get in one hour before the park opens. But if you have a dining reservation for a time before the park opens you can enter a special line and get in early too. Look above the turnstiles for the correct line to enter early dining reservations. This early reservation allows you early access into the park, not for rides, but you can sneak a castle photo with nobody in it. Then you have time to eat breakfast and be ready for rope drop! Note since the parks have reopened this option is NOT available to book before the park opens at this time. I will let you know when this changes back.
How to make a reservation at the Plaza Inn
Advanced reservations are recommended. A limited number of reservations may be available same-day at the Plaza Inn, subject to availability. To make a dining reservation you can go into the app under dining, or call 714-781-DINE or visit the Disneyland website. If you’re having trouble getting the date you want to go then sign up for free dining alerts here from Mouse Dining.
Oh and don’t forget to pick up your complimentary button as a fun souvenir as seen above.
