We frogs are big fans of character dining — it combines two of our favorite things, after all! There's something to be said for fueling up on scrumptious food while also greeting your favorite pals. And oh hoppy day — character dining has returned to Disneyland Resort, with even more choices to reopen over the next few months! The first location to reopen was Mickey's Tales of Adventure Breakfast and Brunch Buffet at Storytellers Café at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. It reopened July 22 with buffet service. We hopped by to see what it was like. Sure, some things are different these days, but a lot is still the same (and every bit as delicious as we remembered!). Here is what character dining at Storytellers Café is like right now in terms of food and character interactions.

Mickey's Tales of Adventure Breakfast and Brunch Buffet Character Dining at Storytellers Café

Keep in mind that things change quickly at Disneyland Resort these days while Disneyland is still in its reopening phases. Our Disneyland reopening post has all the details you need to know about visiting now. As things return to normal, the situation may evolve, so keep hopping back for the latest news.

Check the face covering policy at Disneyland Resort before your visit, as a face covering may be mandatory indoors. Policies change frequently, so we keep our mask policy post up to date with the latest news.

Tad filmed our dining experience so you can get a sense of the action when it comes to the character interactions and yummy food at this location — take a peek!

Planning for Character Dining at Mickey's Tales of Adventure

You’ll want to make a reservation for breakfast any day of the week (or brunch Friday through Sunday) since dinner at this restaurant does not have characters. You may reserve dining up to 60 days in advance of your visit. These days, dining reservations fill up quickly. If you do not see any times, keep checking back because reservations get released at different times of the day. As the date approaches, you might be able to pick up someone else's cancellation, so do not lose hope! If you still cannot secure a reservation, you may be able to join the Walk-Up List on the day of your visit. There is a button on the Storytellers' page in the Disneyland app for joining the Walk-Up List.

Arriving at the Hotel and Restaurant

This restaurant is located inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. If you are not staying on property or within walking distance and are driving to the Grand Californian, pull on up to the valet. You get three hours of complimentary valet parking with validation. (Remember to get your ticket validated at the restaurant check-in stand.)

The restaurant is located near the main pool entrance and is just around the corner from the hotel's direct entrance to Disney California Adventure. When you check-in, collect your complimentary button and let them know if you are celebrating any special occasions. You’ll be shown to your table. You pay at the end, and tax and gratuity are added to the bill. Be sure to show your server any discounts such as Magic Key before you pay.

Food at Storytellers Café

The breakfast choices generally match the other Disneyland character dining buffets, but this breakfast is a little more high-end than some of the other buffets, with some choices unique to this location. You can enjoy muffins, croissants, fruit, a charcuterie platter, smoked salmon and a bagel, and agua fresca or breakfast milk in a bag to start. The tadpoles loved the Froot Loop milk. Main dishes include scrambled eggs, an egg white frittata (with spinach, tomato and basil), eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage, pancakes, Mickey waffles, French toast with berries and whipped cream, chilaquiles, carved meats and breakfast potatoes with Impossible meat.

You can request your server to bring a vanilla yogurt parfait, oatmeal with all the fixings, milk for cereal and a custom omelet to your table. Juices, coffee and soft drinks are included, as well. Special coffee drinks, specialty beverages and alcoholic beverages — such as the ultimate bloody mary, mimosa, bellini or raspberry champagne — cost extra.

Brunch includes breakfast foods as well as a rotating menu of daily lunch specials, several of which remind us of some popular items in the theme parks. You can expect avocado toast on ciabatta, asparagus, salmon poke, shawarma chicken skewer with pita, Impossible meatballs, crab cake, truffle fries and beignet bites. The tadpoles will like chicken tenders, grilled cheese, cheeseburger sliders and more. You may enjoy as much as you like at breakfast and brunch so come with a hungry belly!

Characters at Storytellers Café

The food is great, but it's the characters you came for, right? You can expect to meet Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Chip 'n' Dale at this character meal, although characters are subject to change, except for Mickey. He's a sure thing! After all, it's Mickey's Tales of Adventure. The characters are dressed for adventure — Mickey is ready with all of his outdoor gear. Character interactions are a little different nowadays. At this time, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Chip 'n' Dale parade through the restaurant about every 20 minutes. You'll hear music and see them coming, so get your cameras ready. They'll pass by your table, wave and blow kisses several times while they are circulating.

When the characters are out, they pass each table multiple times, but they do not really stop. It can be challenging to take a still pic of them, but if you pose it and time it just right as they are coming by, you might be able to capture a distanced photo or selfie. If you want to preserve the memory, we recommend a short video instead. It can be hard to catch them on camera, but if you see them coming, move quickly and frame your shot. In one brunch, we caught the crew parading around about five times!

Prices, Dining Times and Service at Storytellers Café

It's a little more refined to dine here in the cozy Craftsman-style dining room than, say, Plaza Inn for character dining at this time, because you have a cloth napkin, silverware (instead of walking over to dispensers to get a paper napkin and plastic fork like at Plaza Inn) and a server to bring your drinks in glasses. (At Plaza Inn, you collect your own beverages in disposable cups.)  You'll find a few bagged drinks at the buffet.

You will serve yourself from the buffet, but you can request select items from your server such as made-to-order omelets, vanilla yogurt parfaits, oatmeal with all the fixings and milk for cereal. At Plaza Inn, the cast members put the buffet food on your plate, and while we appreciate fewer hands touching the serving utensils, we'd rather use hand sanitizer and choose yet another Mickey waffle without feeling self-conscious about it.

Breakfast (daily) runs $49 for an adult and $29 per child (ages 3 to 9), plus tax and gratuity. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. until 10:55 a.m. On brunch days, brunch food comes out from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The last breakfast seating on brunch days is 10:55 a.m. Brunch is $51 per adult and $29 per child, plus tax and gratuity.

Tips for Attending Mickey's Tales of Adventure Buffet

Follow these tips to make the most of your visit:

• Make a reservation 60 days in advance.
• Allow yourself plenty of time to arrive, enjoy the hotel lobby and dine.
• Bring a camera.
• Request a seat that is not in the corner, facing the wall, so you can see the characters coming.
• If you have a later breakfast seating on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you will still have access to breakfast foods, but you might get to experience the brunch foods, as well.
• Alert the server and host to any food allergies or preferences.
• Bring hand sanitizer to clean hands at the table before digging in after a trip to the buffet.

Do you have any questions about Mickey's Tales of Adventure character dining at Storytellers Café? Please let us know in the comments below. If you are looking to stay at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, you can save some green when you book through Undercover Tourist. We also sell discount Disneyland Resort theme park tickets. Ribbit!

Related: The Ins and Outs of Disneyland Dining Reservations

Hoppy planning!