The best breakfast at EPCOT, Walt Disney World

By Helen Wright

If you’re planning on heading to the Parks early and looking for the best places to grab breakfast at EPCOT, you’re in good company. Known by many as the foodiest of all the Walt Disney World parks, EPCOT also happens to be my favourite park to eat at in the morning. Thanks to the international restaurants around World Showcase Lagoon and the range of options to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding breakfast in EPCOT, but where you decide to eat can sometimes depend on what you have planned for the day.

Cover photo: きうこ

Early morning Epcot Breakfast

Some people avoid having breakfast at EPCOT because the park is so big, it can feel a bit overwhelming – especially first thing in the morning. However, EPCOT is the perfect place to have breakfast. The park is so beautiful, especially in the morning when the sun has just risen and the morning dew is in the air. It’s also a great way to see the EPCOT park before it starts getting much busier (around lunchtime) and you might even get a jump on some of most popular rides (Frozen Ever After, Soarin’ and Cosmic Rewind) by being at the park for opening time.

Below is a list of the best places to have breakfast at Epcot, with a bit of advice to help you decide which style of Epcot Breakfast is best for you:

The best places to have breakfast at EPCOT

There is a range of places to have breakfast in Epcot, but first a quick reminder that park reservations are now required to enter Walt Disney World parks each day, so if you choose an EPCOT breakfast venue that is inside the park, you will need a park reservation and valid admission for EPCOT on that date for each person in your party aged 3+.

1. Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie

Where: France Pavilion
Reservation required: No

This quaint bakery is one of my favourite places to grab a snack at any time of the day, but picking up an EPCOT breakfast here is a good shout. They have a range of tasty bakery options, ham and cheese croissants ($7) and my kids’ favourite, chocolate brioche ($5). Plus, quality coffee and even some English Breakfast hot tea – despite being in the France Pavilion.

Les Halles Boulangerie is especially good if you are entering EPCOT from the back entrance / International Gateway entrance from the Skyliner or Disney’s Boardwalk, as you will pass the France Pavilion as you make your way into the park and onto World Showcase. Since the majority of guests enter EPCOT from the main entrance, you will find Les Halles Boulangerie is quieter than the quick-service counters at the front of the park – and the food is better! Win, win. (They also sell excellent Mimosas, but I am not sure you can get them at breakfast time!)

2. Kringla Bakeri Og Café

Where: Norway Pavilion
Reservation required: No

One of the most popular attractions at EPCOT is Frozen Ever After, a family boat ride situated in the Norway pavilion. The ride is based on the story of Elsa, Anna and Olaf from Disney’s Frozen and features famous music from the film. Due to its popularity, Frozen Ever After often requires a long wait in the standby line, so some guests plan to ‘rope drop’ the attraction (get there as soon as it opens). If you are entering EPCOT from the back entrance, it is WELL worth getting to Frozen Ever After first thing to beat the crowds. It takes a good 20-minutes to walk to the Norway Pavilion from the front of the park, so you’ll have a good advantage.

The Kringla Bakeri Og Café is next door to the Frozen Ever After attraction, making it the ideal place to get some breakfast in Epcot, either before or after the ride. The quick-service counter is a traditional Norwegian café, serving specialties such as kringla sweet pretzels, $6.29, sweet lefse flatbread, $3.29, or the famous ‘school bread’ (a custard-filled bun), $4.49.

Kringla Bakeri usually opens when the park does, but also serves lunch (and beer) later on in the day.

3. La Cantina de san Angel

Where: Mexico Pavilion
Reservation required: No

La Cantina is possibly the most underrated place to have breakfast at EPCOT. Not that many guests realise this Mexican cantina is even open in the morning, since breakfast here isn’t listed on Disney’s website at all, strangely. Take advantage of this insider secret by going for an EPCOT breakfast that is tastier and more filling than anything else on offer at park-opening.

The quick-service counter has an outdoor terrace on the World Showcase Lagoon, which is the perfect place to sit and eat in the morning (especially if you like tasty food). Choose from Mexican favourites such as chilaquiles con huevos (egg tortillas), $8.75, Scrambled eggs with chorizo (Tamal verde con huevos), $8.75, and the super filling bap with scrambled eggs, chorizo, cheese, salad and guacamole is awesome for $9.95 (Pambazo de chorizo con huevo). There is also a kids option of scrambled eggs with potatoes, cheese and fruit for $6,

The Mexico Pavilion happens to be next door to the Norway Pavilion, so if you did manage an early morning ride on Frozen Ever After, you can head next door and turn up the heat. Breakfast is served until 11am.

Connections Café

breakfast-at-epcot-connections — The NEW Connections Café (Image: Disney/EPCOT)

Where: The NEW World Celebration Neighbourhood
Reservation required: No

The Connections Eatery is a brand-new dining location at EPCOT, which opened in May 2022 in the new World Celebration neighbourhood. The futuristic food joint has a quick-service eatery on one side serving lunch and dinner menus (open from 11am) and a café/ pastry shop on the other side which is open all day, including for breakfast in Epcot.

And, heads up – this cool café also happens to be right next door to brand new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This means it’s a top spot to wait for your virtual line notification or Lightning Lane slot, as well as a place for non-riders to refresh and replenish while others in their party ride the epic new coaster.

Got a sweet tooth? Try the Liege Waffle (Brioche Dough with Pearl Sugar, Strawberries, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Sauce), $5.29. Sweet-as.

4. The Skyliner

disney-skyliner — Breakfast with a view of Paris (Image: Helen Wright)

Where: The sky above EPCOT
Reservation required: No

Okay, stay with us here. We know the Skyliner doesn’t serve food, but often guests headed to EPCOT in the morning are there to rope drop the popular attractions, seek character interactions or just want to enjoy the park before the larger crowds begin to arrive. With this in mind, you might not want to waste time stopping for breakfast in Epcot when you can pick something up on the way and eat it with an impressive view of the park instead.

The Skyliner leaves from various locations across the Disney resort, including Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation hotels. If you are staying at a location served by the Skyliner, why not pick up coffee and a Danish, croissant or egg muffin at your resort counter and have your Epcot breakfast on route to the park?

5. Akershus Royal Banquet – Character breakfast at EPCOT

disney clothes for kids disney world outfits — Princess hugs for breakfast (Image: Jennifer Borget)

THIS RESTAURANT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. SEE DISNEYWORLD.CO.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION

Where: Norway Pavilion (Character Dining)
Reservation required: Yes

Akershus Royal Banquet is the restaurant where you will find the insanely popular Princess Storybook Dining. This is a set menu, character experience where you can dine for breakfast, lunch and dinner with the Disney Princesses. The Princesses you will usually see at the royal banquet are Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora and Ariel. The restaurant is themed as a medieval castle and while you enjoy an American (eggs and bacon) or Norwegian (meat, fish and cheese) breakfast, the Disney Princesses mingle with guests, sign autographs and pose for pictures. Set breakfast is $53 (adult), $34 (children aged 3-9).

Akershus Royal Banquet and Princess Storybook Dining has been suspended since Covid-19 closures. Click here for any updates or changes, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news.

6. Garden Grill

Where: The Land Paviion (Character Dining)
Reservation required: Yes

GARDEN GRILL IS CURRENTLY NOT TAKING BOOKINGS FOR BREAKFAST AT EPCOT, JUST LUNCH AND DINNER. CLICK HERE FOR ANY NEWS OR UPDATES

Garden Grill, which is found in The Land Pavilion is one of the most fun places to have breakfast in Epcot because the entire restaurant rotates as you eat! Yes, as you fill up on Mickey waffles, breakfast potatoes and cinnamon buns, the restaurant moves slowly meaning you have a different view every time you look up from your plate.

At Garden Grill Restaurant, you can also meet Chip, Dale and their Disney pals as they parade through the restaurant for a bit of mealtime magic. Menu is fixed-price (Adults $42, Children aged 3-9 $27) and reservations are essential.

FUN FACT: many of the veggies are grown in EPCOT’s own Living with the Land greenhouses. Pretty cool, eh?

7. Sunshine Seasons

Where: The Land Pavilion
Reservation required: No

This food court-style dining location isn’t my favourite place to have breakfast at Epcot because it’s usually really busy and all the tables are indoors. In Florida, I try to eat outside in the morning, where possible, to enjoy the cooler air before the sun comes up and it becomes hot, hot hot! However, many people do head to this location for a morning snack because it has a great range of options, including many healthy choices such as fruit cups, muesli and yoghurt cups. It’s also in a central location, right in the middle of the park, so convenient for pretty much any attraction you plan to head to after.

Sunshine Seasons is next door to Soarin’, one of Epcot’s best rides and another popular attraction where the standby line can build up throughout the day. If you want to try and get on Soarin’ or Test Track (which is opposite) early on, this is the best place to grab breakfast at Epcot before you do.

Great places to get breakfast at EPCOT, just outside the park:

8. Chef Mickey’s

chef mickeys character dining — Party atmosphere at Chef Mickey’s (Image: Helen Wright)

Where: Disney’s Contemporary Hotel
Reservation required: Yes

This dining experience is possibly one of the most popular breakfast restaurants at Walt Disney World. Classic American breakfasts are served family-style (sharing plates and baskets) as Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Daisy mingle with guests, pose for photos and sign autographs. Whilst this is not strictly a breakfast in EPCOT Park, Disney’s Contemporary Hotel is one of the EPCOT resort hotels, so it’s a very short monorail ride to the park after you’ve eaten. What’s even more fun, is that the monorail travels directly through the hotel and you can see them passing by from the Chef Mickey’s restaurant. I LOVED this when I was a kid.

The menu is a fixed-price Character breakfast ($42 for adults, $27 for children aged 3-9). Two of my favourite things on the menu at Chef Mickey’s for breakfast have to be the beef brisket and the Banana Bread French Toast with Espresso-Mascarpone Cream, Toasted Bananas and Chocolate Crumbles – so indulgent! Just don’t ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind straight afterwards…

TOP TIP: You can also see Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom from the window of Chef Mickey. Camera at the ready!

GOOD TO KNOW: Chef Mickey’s is very popular with visitors and reservations get booked up almost immediately once they become available. You can make a Disney dining reservation 60 days in advance online or via the My Disney Experience app. Disney Resort hotel guests can make reservations 60 days in advance for their entire stay at Walt Disney World.

9. Trattoria al Forno

Where: Disney’s Boardwalk
Reservation required: Yes

Trattoria al Forno is another restaurant that isn’t strictly inside EPCOT for breakfast, but is located in Disney’s Boardwalk area, which is walking distance to the back entrance (by the Skyliner). The thing about Trattoria al Forno is that the food is REALLY good, so it’s worth spending a leisurely morning eating here and enjoying your meal before a day at the parks. This is especially so if you plan to stay for the nighttime spectacular at EPCOT (Harmonious) or the fireworks at Magic Kingdom Park (Disney Enchantment). Staying late means you can start a bit later in the morning too and take advantage with a brilliant breakfast.

My breakfast at Trattoria al Forno was my favourite morning meal during our last visit to Walt Disney World. I had the Caprese Omelet, $17, (mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and breakfast potatoes served with bacon). It is on the expensive side, but so good and HUGE! I didn’t feel hungry again until almost dinner time!

Some guests may know Trattoria al Forno as a Character breakfast location for the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast. Due to Covid-19, this character experience is currently not being offered at Trattoria al Forno. Check back here for regular updates.

GOOD TO KNOW: You may see other blogs sending you to Traveler’s Cafe at EPCOT for breakfast, but this Starbucks Coffee Shop has now closed permanently. Guests can get Starbucks Coffee at the new Connections Cafe.

Brekkie is the best meal of the day. We hope you enjoy your breakfast at EPCOT!