Is the Magic Kingdom Park Lacking Breakfast Options?

The Magic Kingdom Park has always had some issues regarding its restaurant offerings. Many Guests (including us) constantly lament the fact that the park lacks a healthy number of good sit-down restaurants (even though the new Be Our Guest restaurant partially helped in this case, but that is definitely not enough, especially when compared to Epcot's offerings). That said, we have heard of very few people complaining about the breakfast offerings of the park. Today we will take a few minutes to consider this topic.

First of all, the Magic Kingdom Park has the Main Street Bakery, which offers a quite acceptable selection of pastries and other Starbucks products. In addition to that, there's the Crystal Palace, which offers a breakfast buffet, but it is also expensive. That is exactly what one of our Readers pointed out in a letter that he personally wrote and e-mailed to the Walt Disney World Resort (he also shared it with us). We will call him Mr. Parker:

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From: Mr. Parker

Subject: Breakfast Options at Magic Kingdom Park

Date: December 11, 2013 10:29:22 AM EST

To: wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Good Wednesday morning! I hope this email finds you well. I visited the Walt Disney World Resort this past Thursday through Saturday and ran into what I consider to be a major issue on Saturday at Magic Kingdom.

First let me provide you with some of my background, only so that you will realize that this email is not so much a complaint as it is a strong request for action. I have been to Walt Disney World over 25 times, and i'm only 32 years old. I have been to every Disney Park in the world, including Au'lani. I am a Disney Vacation Club member. But, probably the most interesting thing, I"m an Annual Passholder at Disneyland and not WDW, even though I live in South Carolina. One of the key reasons for this, the quality at Disneyland has far exceeded the quality at Disney World in recent years.  

Now, on to my experience this Saturday. I wanted to visit the park with a friend [...]. In order to enjoy the park a bit as well, we arrived just before opening. I should note, on this instance, I was not in a Disney resort, but rather a Fairfield Inn close to the property. We arrived to the park around 9 [a.m.] and I wanted to grab breakfast. With the crowds [...], a Starbucks breakfast sandwich was not an option. Our first stop was The Plaza Restaurant. They were not open. Next was Tomorrowland Terrace. They were not open. Next, Cosmic Ray's. They were not open. Next, The Friar's Nook. They were not open. All I wanted was a simple breakfast of bacon and eggs. Something substantial to hold me over to lunch. By now you get the picture, I wasn't having much luck. I stopped to ask multiple cast members, one suggested I go to The Crystal Palace. That breakfast would cost me $30 and I would have to wait since I didn't have a reservation. Another cast member suggested I leave the park and go to one of the resorts. At this point I had already spent 45 minutes of my time and my friends time at the park in search of a substantial meal.  

After an hour of looking for an open restaurant that served a basic, substantial breakfast with no luck, I stopped at Gaston's for a warm cinnamon roll. Two important things. One, this is not a substantial meal and is not a great way to start the day. Second, the cinnamon roll was cold. I went all over the park to find approximately 15 locations closed. Out of the few that were open, two were table service, The Crystal Palace and Cinderella's Royal Table. Both of these came at a very expensive price tag and the possibility of not getting seated at all. My other options were baked goods, such as a waffle or cinnamon roll, or fruit.  

I would like to make the case for why Magic Kingdom should have at least one or two locations open serving breakfast. One key point to note, I understand that Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Park are two very separate entities, but Disneyland does this right in every way. They have the Carnation Cafe open for breakfast and other locations throughout the park. They serve items as simple as bacon and eggs all the way to wonderful egg dishes and fruit & yogurt parfaits.  

#1: Many people rush to get out the door so that they can make the most of their Magic Kingdom experience. Often times they miss breakfast, only to get to the park hungry. Remember, a lot of people do not stay on Disney property. (I had a Cast Member point out to me that most people dine at their resort before heading to the park.)

#2: This is a missed revenue opportunity. On every visit I've made to Disneyland Park the restaurants that serve breakfast are always quite busy. If it's open, people will spend money.

#3: 15 locations closed until approximately 11 a.m. What kind of message does this send to the first time park visitor? Heck, what kind of message does this send to the park visitor who is coming for their 26th time? It told me that the park was slow. There was no energy and it felt quite boring. There's a major loss of kinetic energy when that many places are not open.  

#4: Bacon & eggs, fruit & yogurt parfaits, simple egg dishes, Mickey shaped waffles & pancakes are all quite easy dishes to make. It wouldn't take much to do this.  

I know that this won't happen overnight or maybe not in the next few weeks. But I will say that if on my next visit to Magic Kingdom I can't get a substantial breakfast I will be disheartened yet again with the quality and effort being put into Walt Disney World. I know, as a loyal visitor, that opening places such as The Plaza Restaurant and Pecos Bill, and maybe even The Diamond Horseshoe for breakfast would not only make the park money but it would be a welcomed option to guests.  

Thanks for reading.  Hopefully this will make it to management that will see the missed opportunity.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Parker

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So, what do you think about this topic? Now, we are sure that many of our Readers will have stayed at one of the many Disney Resorts (or hotel hotels in the area), all of which usually have quite a few breakfast offerings (like it was stated in the letter). That being said, would you like to see at least a few more places offering breakfast in the parks?