Buffets at Walt Disney World - Episode 177 of The Disney Exchange Podcast

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave, and me, Nick

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I'm going to be honest. I have no idea what was discussed early on in the show since I was working.
When I finally got an opportunity to join in, Lisa and Dave were talking buffets at Walt Disney World.

I tried to be involved as much as possible, but my work vehicle is incredibly noisy, so I apologize for what will likely be somewhat distracting. To make things even more interesting, Lisa had some internet connectivity issues. We apologize for that as well.

Hang in there though, please, as I am sure it is a great show. Right?

The Wheel of Distiny topic this week: What is the one thing you are looking forward to the most in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios?

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Episode 88 of The Disney Exchange- Breakfast at Walt Disney World

 Nick and his wife Barbie at Cap May Cafe

Podcast: Play in new window | Download 

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave, and me, Nick. 

Note:
This weeks show starts off with some technical issues on Lisa's end and the pandemonium doesn't let up pretty much until the end of the show. Yep, another smoothly produced episode of The Exchange! Enjoy!

Lisa does some shout outs and talks about the various versions of Spaceship Earth when we lose her for awhile.

Dave and I, discuss various rumors floating around the interwebs, including but not limited to the closing of The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the change of Stitch's Great Escape at the Magic Kingdom to a Wreck it Ralph themed attraction, and the changing or Ellen's Energy Adventure in Epcot to a Guardians of the Galaxy ride, which I think is unlikely as Universal owns the rights to Marvel characters for use in theme park attractions east of the Mississippi.

Lisa rejoins us just in time to discuss breakfast at Walt Disney World. We share a couple of suggestions before going on to share options for the most important meal of the day at all of the parks as wells as the resorts and Disney Springs.

Breakfast at Be Our Guest!

Dave asked me to mention breakfast at the Garden Grill in Epcot's Land Pavilion, which we forgot to mention on the show.

The Wheel of Distiny: Do you get or have you ever gotten the Disney vacation planning DVDs/Videos?

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Thanks for listening to The Disney Exchange Podcast!

The Accidental Breakfast With Donald Duck and Friends

By Nick

Sometimes, mistakes are made.

On my last trip to Walt Disney World I woke up early one morning under the impression that it was an Extra Magic Hour morning at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I don't know why. Maybe I dreamed it. Maybe because it was the last day of my trip, and I was in a "returning to reality" funk?

Regardless, I got on a bus at 720am from The Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, and arrived at about 735am. I guess I should have guessed something was amiss when I was the only person on the bus, but I didn't, until I got to the front entrance and noticed there were only a few Cast Members and guests milling about!

I realized my mistake, and was contemplating just going back to the Lodge when I noticed people checking in at the entrance to go into the park early for breakfast at Tusker House.

"Hmmm," I thought, "I'm hungry." So I approached the CM holding an electronic tablet and asked if there was any possibility of a free table for a solo diner. She very politely explained I could check availability via the My Disney Experience app. I immediately searched and discovered there was indeed an opening. At 10:30am.

I told the CM this and she said to go ahead and book it, and she'd let me go ahead early, and that I would just need to tell the folks over at the Tusker House that she said it was ok!

When I arrived at Tusker, they had just opened, I explained the situation and within just a few minutes, I was being seated.

*Please note, I don't know that this would work for a larger party, or even a single, as the Cast Member who assisted me may have just taken pity on me (I did give her my "boo boo face"), and would hate to be responsible for you not having similar results!

 I love the look and feel of Tusker!

Let's take a look at the food!

I went up and got my first plate and was just finishing when Donald stopped by. His Cast Member buddy was happy to take my photo with him, and all his friends as they came by.

I finished at about 5 minutes to 9am and took a stroll to Kilimanjaro Safaris, which was just opening!

If you love breakfast buffets like me, want to get photos with the characters in a different environment and dressed in unique attire, and want to get a jump on park opening, I highly recommend getting an early ADR at Tusker House!

The Cape May Cafe Breakfast Buffet

By Nick 

I love food, so naturally, I love a buffet. I also love characters, and like to "collect" them, meaning I like to get photos with characters in different attire.

So, knowing this, it's kind of surprising it's taken me this long to get the Beach Club Breakfast Buffet at the Cape May Cafe, inside the Beach Club in Walt Disney World, and it wasn't even planned!

My wife, Barbie, and I checked into the Beach Club Villas for one night, October 11th, before going on a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas on the Disney Dream. Upon check in, we learned our Magical Express pick up time to take us to Cape Canaveral wasn't until 1145 am on the 12th. We discussed what we should do with our time, and decided to just have a leisurely morning, rather than going to a park. I asked if there were any ADRs available for the Cape May Cafe's Breakfast Buffet, and there were not. We were told that there likely wouldn't be a problem getting a table if we came at opening, at 730am.

So, the next morning we approached the podium at about 720am, were given a pager, and within minutes, we were seated in a nice section near the back of The Cafe.

    

Within moments of being seated, our server, Adrienne, came over and took our beverage order. She was as delightful and friendly a Cast Member as we have had the pleasure to encounter.



We were directed to the buffet, where we were told by Adrienne that the most popular items were, not surprisingly, the Mickey Waffles, Chorizo and Four Cheese Scrambled Eggs, and french toast with banana caramel sauce.



I tried a bit of all of the above mentioned, along with a few other selections. The eggs were indeed delicious, as was the french toast. And you really can't go wrong with Mickey waffles, which went really well with a strawberry sauce and whipped cream. The sausage was very good, the bacon, well, it is typical Disney buffet bacon.



I also had a bagel with smoked salmon and pastrami style smoked salmon, which was very tasty. There is also Capers, Onions, Lemons, Tomatoes to add to this if you are so inclined.



Other cold offerings include Sliced Salami, Capicola, a selection of cheeses, hard-boiled Eggs, Low-fat Cottage Cheese, Apple Sauce, Healthy Grain Fruit Salad, Diced Pineapple, Diced Cantaloupe, Diced Watermelon, Orange Slices, Grapefruit, Strawberries, Apple Walnut Spinach Salad, Low-fat Strawberry Yogurt and Low-fat Vanilla Honey Yogurt, Macerated Fresh Mixed Berries, House made Granola and assorted cereals.

Along with the hot items I mention above, there are Scrambled Eggs, Frittata, Stewed Roma Tomatoes, Breakfast Potatoes Hand-carved Glazed Ham, Seasonal Vegetables, Hollandaise Sauce, Creamy Cheddar Grits, Biscuits with Home-style Sausage Gravy, Hot Oatmeal and Hot Apple Quinoa Cereal.

Of course, what would a character buffet be without characters?

Donald, Goofy, and Minnie Mouse, ready for a swim in the nearby Stormalong Bay, make their rounds while you dine.



 

As the morning went on, the Cape May Cafe did fill up, so while we are lucky to have gotten a table easily, if this is a character buffet you would like to visit, I highly advise you make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) at 6 months out.

This article was originally posted on the Tips From the Disney Divas and Devos Blog, where Nick is a contributing writer.