I love a good brunch! Usually, I splurge for brunch in some of the best neighborhoods in Orlando, but sometimes I like to use it as an excuse to head to Disney World. What can I say? It’s a perk of being an Orlando local! Today I’m sharing a Grand Floridan Cafe brunch review.
We went on Saturday morning over a holiday weekend, so we were sure to get a reservation. I’m not sure if the reservation was necessary since they were seating walk-ups, but it did help us get parking at the Grand Floridian.
So what did I think of my brunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe? What did I try? Was the Grand Floridian Cafe worth the cost? Let’s answer these questions and more in the full Disney dining review.
Visiting the Grand Floridian
If you’ve never been to the Grand Floridian, I highly recommend you make a trip on your next Disney stay. As a local, it’s one of my favorite hotels to hang out in on the Monorail loop.
When you’re visiting the Grand Floridian, you have a few options for transportation. Unless you’re a hotel guest, you’ll most likely need a dining reservation to park on property unless you go at an off time.
Otherwise, you can always take Disney’s transportation. You can take a Minnie Van, or just a Disney bus or monorail. You can get to the Grand Floridian from any of the Disney World parks, and also from Disney Springs.
Dining at the Grand Floridian
There are a few dining options at the Grand Floridian to choose from, many of which are my favorite. For high-end dining, you can’t beat Victoria and Alberts. Of course, you’ll also need to be ready to spend $200+ per meal and you’ll need a reservation 6 months in advance.
If you’d rather do something a bit less pricey (understandable), Citricos and Narcoosees are a great choice for upscale, sit-down dining. For character dining, there’s 1900 Park Fare, a buffet for the whole family. Finally, for budget eats, Gasparilla Island Grill offers quick-service favorites.
A good happy medium between upscale table service and quick service is the Grand Floridian Cafe. The Grand Floridian Cafe is relatively affordable as far as sit-down dining goes at Disney World. You can find meals between $12 – $24, many of which are fan favorites.
Brunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe
Now to the good stuff! Brunch is only offered at the Grand Floridian Cafe on the weekends, and it runs from 7 am until 2 pm. They serve both the breakfast and lunch menu at this time, as well as some special drink offerings like mimosas. Yum!
Ambiance at the Grand Floridian Cafe
The Grand Floridian Cafe isn’t particularly spectacular in terms of style. It’s decorated with Victorian photographs, painting, and dated furniture, which I think it intentional. There was nothing exciting in the way it was designed, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The real appeal of this space is the large, open windows overlooking the grounds. It might have just been the morning light, but it was very airy and fresh in there. It felt like the perfect start to the morning.
Customer Service
All of the service we had at the Grand Floridian Cafe was great. The check-in was a little slow since the hostess was training, but that’s understandable, especially on a busy Saturday morning.
Our waitress assisted us quickly, provided great recommendations, and she made it easy to make substitutions. No complaints about the service!
Drinks and Starters
We were going “all out” for our brunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe, so my partner and I tried two drinks. He got the Grand Mimosa which was champagne, orange juice, and a splash of Grand Marnier. It cost $12.50 which is pricey for a mimosa, but we’re at Disney so I’m not surprised. It was a big glass, and it was really tasty.
Since I’m not a morning drinker, I opted for my favorite: coffee. I got a classic latte ($4.50) and it was really good. It wasn’t anything fancy, but I prefer that. There were latte customization options as well, but I kept it simple.
I was surprised when the waitress brought us a starter. An appetizer for brunch? Not really something I expected, but it was welcome none-the-less. There were fresh biscuits and butter for the table, and they were super yummy. I only let myself eat one though so I didn’t spoil my meal!
Our Brunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe
It didn’t take too long for our food to come out, and I was starving by now so this was good timing. I ordered a classic: Mickey waffles! They have Mickey waffles on the “adult” menu as well as the kid’s menu, and I loved having this option.
The Mickey waffle is $15, and it’s served with either bacon or sausage. I’m vegetarian, so I asked about a substitute and they easily swapped out the meat for fresh fruit. The waffle itself was served with a dusting of powdered sugar, and it was deliciously crunchy in all the right ways.
I do have to admit that $15 for a Mickey waffle and a bowl of fruit is a bit steep, but again it’s pretty on-par for Disney prices. Either way, I really enjoyed my meal and was stuffed by the end, especially after the biscuits.
My partner got what the waitress recommended, the eggs Benedict flight. The flight is $19 and it comes with all three of the eggs Benedict they serve a classic Benedict, chorizo benedict, and lobster Benedict. All of this comes with a side of tomato salad.
I didn’t try this because I don’t eat meat, but it looked delicious. My partner said he liked the lobster Benedict the best, followed closely by the chorizo. He’d highly recommend it!
Should You Have Brunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe?
We loved our brunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe! It was a bit of a splurge, but not unreasonable. Everything we enjoyed was delicious, and it was such a great way to spend a morning at the Grand Floridian.
If you want to try dining at the Grand Floridan, I think the Grand Floridian Cafe brunch is a great way to do it. You can try a bit of the lunch and breakfast, and what could be better than that?
Are you interested in more dining experiences in Disney World? Check out this post on the most unique dining at Disney World.
Have you tried the Grand Floridian Cafe brunch? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
