If you’re thinking about splurging on any of Disneyland’s character dining experiences, read this first.

Disneyland offers four (five, if you can both of Storyteller Cafe’s offerings separately!) character dining experiences, and as a parent who’s taken her child to every one of them, I can confidently say they’re all amazing. But each one is slightly different, even if the concept is similar across all of the different restaurants. 

One of Disneyland’s character dining experiences in particular stands out among the rest: Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures. This meal, which features a lineup of Disney’s most beloved princesses, takes place at Napa Rose. It’s unlike any other character meal at Disneyland – and after experiencing it once for myself, it’s now one I always skip.

What is Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures?

Belle is one of the staples in Disneyland Park and at Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures. Photo by Regan Wong

Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures is a princess-themed character dining experience at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa. The meal, which is typically offered for breakfast and brunch service on select days of the week, features a rotating cast of different Disney Princesses.

Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures takes place inside one of Disneyland Resort’s most upscale restaurants: Napa Rose. Here, diners typically enjoy a Fine/Signature Dining meal – but when the character breakfast takes place, the format takes a slightly different form. Guests enjoy shareable starters, an individual main course, and shareable desserts, plus beverages (though select beverages, like alcoholic ones, come at an extra cost).

During the meal, guests can visit with a roster of princesses, each offering one-on-one interactions and photo opportunities. For example, guests can enjoy storytime with Belle, chat with Princess Tiana, or learn warrior poses with Mulan. Though the princesses can vary, guests usually meet quite a few characters during this lengthy dining experience. 

Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures is Crazy Expensive

The number one reason I always avoid Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures isn’t the princesses – I do have a son who isn’t a big princess enthusiast, but he is usually in awe of the princesses and their glittering, gorgeous attire. It’s the per-person price tag.

While most Disneyland character dining experiences cost anywhere from $30 to $40 per person for kids and $50 to $70 per person for adults, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures is far more expensive. 

In fact, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures costs $142 per person – and that’s the price for kids and adults.

In my opinion, that’s an awful lot of money to spend on a single character meal. And since these experiences are typically meant for the whole family to enjoys, odds are you aren’t going to pay for just one person; you’ll want to include the whole family, which can really drive the cost up. 

Oh, and if you want to order any extras during the meal, like wine or mimosas? Those aren’t included in the $142-per-person price.

Yes, It’s a Cool Experience – But It’s Not for Everyone

Don’t get me wrong: When it comes to extra-special character meals, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures is incredible. As a lifelong Disney Princess fan myself, it makes for a unique experience that can’t be had elsewhere. The one-on-one opportunities to chat with princesses are very special, and little ones who are big princess fans will adore it.

But for parents who want a combination of value for their money and that good ol’ Disney magic, this meal is tough to swallow. It’s absolutely a splurge, one that’s difficult for families to enjoy if they’re on a budget.

For my family in particular, this character meal doesn’t deliver enough value for its price. My son isn’t interested in spending one-on-one time with the princesses – so though I’ve enjoyed it myself as an adult, it’s not something I’d spend money on again for all of us to try. Since he’s a bigger fan of Mickey, we get more value (and better memories) out of Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet.

But, for some guests, splurging on Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures may be a great option.

Who Will Enjoy Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures?

• Disney Princess fans of all ages
• Guests who are celebrating special occasions
• Guests who want more individualized, one-on-one character encounters
• Guests who want more than a drop-by from characters during the meal

Who Should Skip Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures?

• Guests on a budget who want to try a character dining experience
• Guests or families who aren’t big princess fans
• Guests who want more variety in the characters they’ll meet
• Anyone who wants value over a one-of-a-kind experience

Disneyland’s Other Character Dining Experiences Offer Better Value for Your Money

Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park offers a lot of value. Photo by Danny Shuster

Ultimately, if you’re looking for value, I recommend skipping Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures. This very expensive character meal is exclusive, but it’s not necessarily the best option at Disneyland.

In fact, as a parent who’s experienced every one of the resort’s character meals with a toddler in tow, I’d argue that other character dining experiences offer more. If your child is a big princess fan, then this meal may be the best. But if your child loves a lot of different Disney characters, you can enjoy some one-of-a-kind meals with characters for a much more reasonable price during your Disneyland visit.

For example, Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park is the only character meal that takes place inside one of Disneyland’s theme parks. I love that it’s an option that features Disney’s first theme park as the backdrop (and for its more affordable price, you also get to enjoy the great food at Plaza Inn!). 

I also personally love Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast at Storyteller’s Cafe because of the seasonal changes offered. Visit during fall, the holidays, or other times of the year, and you can catch a version that includes Mickey, Minnie, and others in special limited-time attire – and the food here is always excellent, especially for its price.

Ultimately, I recommend weighing your budget with the characters your child values most. Odds are Mickey himself will always be a winner. And in that case, odds are a cheaper character meal than Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures will be just the experience your child wants.