Imagine starting your day in Disneyland Resort with a royal feast filled with fairytale-worthy dishes and drinks and surrounded by some of your favorite Disney Princesses. Sounds pretty magical, right? Well, that’s exactly what you get during the enchanting Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures character meal at Napa Rose in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
So, how much is this princess breakfast at Disneyland? (Spoiler alert: It isn’t cheap!) Which Disney Princesses can you see? How do you make a reservation? And, most importantly, is this princess dining experience worth it? We’ll dig into all of these questions and more in this regal Disneyland character dining guide. Now, bring your tiaras and a healthy appetite and let’s dive in!
A Royal Introduction to Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures
If you’re like us, there’s nothing quite as magical as beginning a day at the Disney theme parks with a sprinkle of pixie dust, especially if there are Disney Princesses involved. Of course, the best (and certainly most delicious) way to do that is with a Disney character breakfast.
Although there are a few different character breakfast options with Disney Princesses at Disney World, guests visiting the Disneyland Resort, unfortunately, don’t have the luxury of being spoiled for choice. The only character dining experience with Disney Princesses available to guests on a Disneyland vacation is Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures. In fact, this is the only character meal at Disneyland Resort—whether breakfast, lunch or dinner—with Disney Princesses in attendance. So, if you or your children can’t get enough of the likes of Cinderella, Belle and Ariel, then we highly recommend that you try to fit the Disneyland princess breakfast into your visit.
Going to the Disneyland Princess Breakfast
Already reaching for your autograph book? Before you fire up the Disneyland app to make your reservation, here are some things you need to know about the Disneyland princess breakfast.
Where is Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures?
This isn’t just any breakfast—it’s an immersive experience that takes place within the sophisticated confines of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the elegant Napa Rose restaurant. Similar to the Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World, the Grand Californian is Disneyland’s flagship hotel, offering deluxe accommodations and amenities like Tenaya Stone Spa, three dazzling pools with private cabanas and an array of dining options, including a refined signature restaurant.
That brings us to Napa Rose restaurant, which plays host to Princess Breakfast Adventures. As a fine dining establishment, the Napa Rose princess breakfast offers a more elevated meal experience that’s perfect for this royal rendezvous. As you might imagine, that also means it comes with a princely price tag to match (we’ll get to that in a bit), so be sure to set your expectations accordingly.
Getting to Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is basically located between Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure Park. So, you’ll want to factor this into your plans for the day, particularly when it comes to parking. Although the cost of the Napa Rose princess breakfast is steep, the price of admission includes five hours of free valet parking with validation.
After that five-hour period, however, you will be charged ($35 for the first hour if self-parking and $65 for the first hour if valet parking, followed by an additional $10 per hour after that for both valet and self-parking). Maximum charges for the day are $75 for self-parking and $135 for valet. Needless to say, if you don’t want to shell out the cost of what would basically be a whole other meal, be sure to be back in time so you can move your car appropriately.
Is there a dress code at Napa Rose?
Although guests are expected to dress appropriately for dinner at Napa Rose (i.e., no tank tops, cutoff shorts or swimwear allowed), there isn’t a required dress code for the Disneyland princess breakfast.
When is Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures?
Unsurprisingly, participating in this fairytale dining experience requires some preparation when planning your visit to Disneyland. Princess Breakfast Adventures is only offered in the mornings on Thursday through Monday, running from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
How much does it cost to have breakfast with the Disney Princesses at Disneyland?
Princess Breakfast Adventures costs $125 per person for kids and adults alike, not including tax or gratuity. As we mentioned earlier, that is decidedly not cheap or even what we’d call affordable. For those traveling on a budget, this will likely be more than you are willing to spend, especially since it’s a good deal more than the other character dining experiences at Disneyland.
Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet, also at the Grand Californian Hotel in Storytellers Cafe, and Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel each cost $49 per adult and $29 per child for their morning character meal. (Brunch at Storytellers Cafe and dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen are only slightly more expensive at $51 and $55 per adult, respectively.) Meanwhile, the other Disneyland character breakfast, Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park at the Plaza Inn in Disneyland Park, is even less at only $41 for an adult and $24 for a child—and it boasts views of Sleeping Beauty Castle, to boot. Needless to say, if you’re hoping to see Disney characters during at least one meal and you don’t mind if they’re wearing a crown, then you’re probably going to be better off going with one of the other character dining options instead.
How do I book the Disneyland princess breakfast?
Due to the popularity of the princesses and, as a result, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, advance dining reservations are highly encouraged. You can secure your Disneyland princess breakfast table up to 60 days ahead of time through either the Disneyland app or website. Although there may be some same-day spots, these will be subject to availability and should not be relied upon.
What to Expect at Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures
Alright, you’ve made your reservation for your Disney princess breakfast adventure. What can you expect for your enchanting morning meal? Here’s everything you can look forward to during this storybook start to your day.
What’s included with the Disneyland princess breakfast?
Along with the fairytale-like setting and all the princesses, your regal character breakfast features three delightful courses of scrumptious morning favorites, several of them inspired by various Disney tales (Mickey waffles and princess-themed cake pops, anyone?), premium interactions with several iconic characters and even some royal swag. These gifts, along with the plentiful opportunities for hobnobbing with Disney royalty, are what set the Napa Rose princess breakfast apart from the other Disneyland character dining options (and necessitate the comparatively high cost of admission).
In past years, the souvenirs have included things like a Swarovski crystal princess necklace or a sword and shield set (kids’ choice) and an autograph book, while more recently, they’ve been handing out Princess Breakfast Adventures celebration buttons and string backpacks instead. A substantial downgrade, in our opinion, especially given the $125 per person price tag. However, it’s only really a letdown if you have been to the Disneyland princess breakfast in the past (or you’re just finding out in this article—in which case, just forget we ever said anything).
Napa Rose Princess Breakfast Menu
As we just mentioned, this fairytale character meal comes with a sumptuous three-course breakfast. So, if you want to get your money’s worth, then you’ll definitely want to show up hungry. The first course consists of a tower of pastries and other appetizers, like mini lobster rolls, breakfast parfaits layered with coconut chia pudding and fruit, a vanilla bun and a sweet-meets-savory open-face ham and cheese sandwich slathered with cranberry cream cheese. If you don’t want any of the complimentary non-alcoholic drinks that are included in your meal (coffee, juice, tea, milk or soda), you can also choose from a menu of “Royal Morning Libations” like mocktails, cocktails or sparkling wine.
The second course of the Napa Rose princess breakfast is served buffet style, with plenty of options for adults and children alike. Visiting princesses and princes of all ages can return to the buffet as many times as they like. Here you’ll find items such as princess and Mickey waffles, an assortment of breakfast meats (think classics like bacon and sausage as well as more brunch-y selections like roasted nueske pork belly and shrimp with dipping sauce), mini mac & cheese servings, fruit salad and (for those who prefer things served on a stick) fruit skewers, roasted veggies and the perfect scrambled eggs.
Lastly, the dessert course (served tableside) offers a sweet, storybook-inspired conclusion to the Disneyland princess breakfast, with regal offerings like chocolate princess cake pops, Ariel sea shell macarons, Pocahontas peanut butter mousse (complete with a chocolate feather) and Mulan-themed strawberry honey sorbet crowned with Pop Rocks and cotton candy. Don’t worry if you can’t finish off everything in the dessert course. With the exception of Mulan’s Firecracker Sorbet, all of your leftover treats can be packaged up in a to-go box for you to enjoy later.
What princesses are at the Disneyland princess breakfast?
Alright, let’s talk about the reason you’re even going to Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures to begin with: the Disney Princesses. Throughout the meal, you’ll be invited to meet whichever princesses are visiting for the day. The lineup isn’t set in stone and can vary from day to day, so keep this in mind if you have your heart set on someone in particular.
During this time, you can chat it up with whoever is in attendance, get autographs and, of course, pose for photos. You may even be able to enjoy some storytime with Belle or get fighting lessons from Mulan. The rotation changes roughly every 20 minutes, so you should be able to fit in around six or seven princesses or so by the time your meal is through. Characters who have been known to appear at the Napa Rose princess breakfast include Mulan, Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella, Aurora, Rapunzel, Ariel, Tiana and Pocahontas. But, you never know who might pop up!
Is Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures worth it?
So, that brings us to our next question. Is Disney princess dining worth it? It really depends on which characters you want to see and your budget. If the princesses aren’t an absolute must, then you’re probably better off going with a different character breakfast instead. If cost is an issue but you don’t want to miss out on coming face to face with Disney royalty, then skip the princess breakfast and go see your favorites during storytelling at Royal Theatre or do a meet-and-greet at Royal Hall instead.
That all being said, if money isn’t an object and you want a next-level character interaction with several Disney Princesses, then we think the Napa Rose princess breakfast is worth it. Not only is the interaction time and quality second to none, but the food is also better than what you can get at the other character meals. At the very least, it’s a worthwhile option for a birthday celebration or other special event when you’re looking to splurge a little.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Regal Princess Dining Experience
Hoping to maximize your time and money? Here are some suggestions to help you make the most of your princess breakfast experience.
Make Your Reservation Early
As we stated earlier, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures is an incredibly in-demand character dining experience. So, if this is something that is an absolute must for your vacation, then you definitely need to book your reservation as soon as possible. Dining reservations open up 60 days in advance and can be made through the Disneyland app or website.
Don’t Forget Your Camera and Autograph Book
As they say, pics or it didn’t happen. If you’re spending $125 per person to rub elbows with the likes of Princess Aurora and Princess Jasmine, then you’re definitely going to want to have photographic evidence of the encounter. While some princesses will have a Disney PhotoPass photographer with them to snap group shots, others will be riding solo. So, you’ll need to be prepared with your own phone or camera if you want to commemorate the experience.
If you’re an especially big fan of a certain princess, you may even want to consider bringing a creative alternative for her to sign in lieu of (or in addition to) an autograph book. For example, while a storybook would be a great option for Belle, a frying pan would be a perfect (and hilarious) choice for Rapunzel.
Strike Up a Conversation
Don’t just take a picture, snag a signature and head back to your table for another lobster roll. (You can bring those leftover cake pops with you, remember?) Take advantage of this time to chat it up with the princesses and make your experience even more memorable. After all, one of the best parts about meeting these kinds of characters is that they’re able to have an actual conversation, not just glorified charades.
Not sure what to talk about? Ask Cinderella about her most recent date night with Prince Charming, talk to Princess Tiana about her top tips for making a mean gumbo or find out if Ariel has any dinglehopper recommendations for creating voluminous hair. The easiest place to start is always their story. They’re princesses! Of course, their favorite topic of conversation is themselves. (Sorry, ladies!) Whatever you end up chatting about, we’re sure that it will be a conversation to remember.
Consider Dressing Up or a Royal Makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Before
If all else fails, you can always show up in costume (or, for adults, as close as you can get to it while still being within Disneyland guidelines). Book your little princess or princess a fairytale transformation at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Or, for those who like getting creative, try your hand at DisneyBounding. Not only will you give the princesses something to talk about, but you’ll also be ready for your big moment in front of the camera.
Take Advantage of the Grand Californian’s Exclusive Entrance to California Adventure Park
Since you’re already in the Grand Californian, take this opportunity to bypass the line at the main gate and walk right into California Adventure instead. While it might be tempting to go to Disneyland Park instead (that is the theme park that all of the princesses call home, after all), resist the urge and go with the less obvious choice. Since you’re already spending a ton to do the Napa Rose princess breakfast in the first place, you might as well maximize your investment and use the VIP entrance, especially since you’ll save some precious time.
Well, folks, that brings our guide to Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures to an end. Have you ever been to the Napa Rose princess breakfast? Let us know in the comments! Then, learn how you can offset the cost of admission and save on your next vacation with our discount Disneyland tickets.
