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 hugs and table visits have returned to character dining at Storytellers Café. Mickey's Tales of Adventure Breakfast and Brunch Buffet at Storytellers Café at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is one of our favorite character dining experiences at Disneyland. It offers buffet service. At brunch, it also includes table-service items you can order from your server.
We hopped by after character hugs returned to see what it was like. The meal was every bit as delicious as we remembered, and the character interactions were toadally awesome. 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. On our most recent visit, masks were not required indoors and characters could get close to guests.
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! This video is from July 2021, but hop back soon for a look at May 2022.
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 beginning at 6 a.m. 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. In fact, on our recent hotel stay, we used that park entrance at park opening to ride rides with the shortest lines during Early Entry and the first two hours of the day, then we sat down to brunch to fill our hungry bellies before relaxing at the pool for a few hours. It's all so conveniently close to each other and made for a great day. Then we hopped to Disneyland for the evening and dinner. It's all so conveniently close to each other and made for a great day. We did not have to worry about waiting in line to see characters in the park since the characters came to us at brunch!
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 other fresh beverages. 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.
Enjoy oatmeal with all the fixings and a custom omelet. 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. Once brunch time rolls around, more food comes out.
Brunch includes breakfast foods, a carving station and a rotating menu of daily lunch specials, several of which remind us of some popular items in the theme parks. Your server can bring some items on request during brunch. You can expect all the breakfast items as well as ciabatta, asparagus, salmon poke, crab cake, truffle fries and beignet bites. Menus are subject to change. The tadpoles (or adults too) will like chicken tenders, grilled cheese, cheeseburger sliders and more. Those cheeseburger sliders are our favorite burger on property, BTW! 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 circulate through the restaurant while you dine. They'll stop by your table, pose for photos and sign autographs. You can even get a hug if you like.
We had multiple characters sit down at our booth and hang out with us! Lily fed Mickey pancakes and jabbered with him awhile. Toadally fun! We had the characters pass by our table multiple times during our brunch.
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 or Goofy's Kitchen. It has a more relaxed vibe and feels less crowded.
You will serve yourself from the buffet. Once brunch rolls around at 11 a.m., you can request select items from your server. 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. Psst ... it's all about when you get seated. So even if you reserve breakfast for 10:45, if you arrive late and get seated at 11:00, you'll be charged for brunch. It's a small difference in price though. We did enjoy our brunch additions to our meal and walked out stuffed.
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.
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!
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