Grand Floridian Cafe Brunch Review
Grand Floridian Cafe, located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is a table service restaurant that offers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner options to guests. It's been several years since Brandon and I ate at Grand Floridian Cafe. We recently decided to make a last minute late lunch because the restaurant offers breakfast food (aka brunch) until nearly 2 p.m. daily. I had a total breakfast food craving and the brunch offerings gave us a chance to get breakfast or lunch depending on what we were interested in.
*This gluten free dining experience took place in March 2021. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.
Brunch at Grand Floridian Cafe
Grand Floridian Cafe, located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is a table service restaurant that offers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner options to guests. It's been several years since Brandon and I ate at Grand Floridian Cafe. We recently decided to make a last minute late lunch because the restaurant offers breakfast food (aka brunch) until nearly 2 p.m. daily. I had a total breakfast food craving and the brunch offerings gave us a chance to get breakfast or lunch depending on what we were interested in.
COVID-19 & Reopening Notes
On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed for lunch at 2 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We were able to use online check-in during our visit, which worked great.
The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. We were actually asked to wait outside versus inside before our table was ready to ensure social distancing. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. The restaurant also currently offers some temporary outdoor dining, if you prefer to eat only outdoors at this time. We actually had a choice of seat location when we did online check-in that included no preference, booth, window, or outdoors. This may change overtime, so be sure to speak with a cast member directly if you have specific preferences.
As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, Riviera Resort, and Wilderness Lodge Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.
Atmosphere
The Grand Floridian Cafe offers a bit of Victorian charm in a more relaxed and casual setting. It is located on the main floor of the resort and has beautiful views of the resort's lawn area.
Grand Floridian Cafe - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
As you can see, the restaurant has lots of windows which offer pleasant views.
Grand Floridian Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The restaurant's interior itself is surprisingly bigger than one would expect. I always forget that it's fairly long and sprawling. We were seated at a table near one of the windows in a dining room area that is fairly quiet. There are a lot of different seating styles too from booths, to large tables for big parties, to smaller tables near the windows. And, of course, the Victorian decor is ever present on the wallpaper, in the carpet, and curtains. You almost expect the turn-of-the-century John from the Carousel of Progress to be dining in the restaurant too!
The Food
Like most Disney owned restaurants, the Grand Floridian Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. On this visit, we were not given a paper menu but were directed to the mobile app where the allergy-friendly menu was listed.
In addition to the allergy-friendly menu, you can always speak to a chef directly for additional questions you might have about options or special diets safety. On this visit, we chose to order directly from the allergy-friendly menu as we were ordering pretty standard breakfast fare.
Grand Floridian Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For my breakfast entree, I chose the Eggs Benedict which was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. This dish does contain dairy and cannot be modified, so if you're dairy free, you'll want to consider other breakfast dishes.
Overall, I liked the Eggs Benedict but didn't love it. The dish had indicated that it came with a gluten free English muffin. But, the restaurant seemed to have some supply issues, so mine came served on gluten free bread. While the flavors were all just OK, I was glad that this is an option for gluten free guests. Of course, I may just be spoiled by the excellent GF Eggs Benedict served on the Disney Cruise Line ships which I get every cruise.
The side dish of a tomato salad was quite nice and refreshing. The red onion was a bit sharp and spicy and mixed well with the sweet tomatoes and peppery arugula. I believe they also use this mix on the Avocado Toast which would be pretty amazing in my opinion. Generally, I would order this entree again, but I would probably order something different on our next visit.
Grand Floridian Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon ordered the classic Steak & Eggs. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. They were also made safe for chicken & turkey and cabbage allergies too. But, it's important to note that the dairy free options on the allergy-friendly menu are regular breakfast potatoes, not the cheesy potatoes shown in this photo. Brandon was able to get those potatoes instead since they were safe for his special dietary needs.
Like me, Brandon liked his entree but didn't love it. He said the steak was cooked well and that the eggs were tasty. His favorite part of the entree by far were the cheesy potatoes. If you can have these, they are highly recommended by Brandon!
Grand Floridian Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Because I hadn't had pancakes in a while, Brandon and I decided to split the allergy-friendly pancakes. These were marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. They can also be made vegan by omitting the bacon or sausage side dish.
Both Brandon and I really loved the pancakes. And, it was the favorite part of our meal (besides the cheesy potatoes, which Brandon also raved about). The restaurant is currently using Bloomfield Farms gluten free & allergy-friendly pancakes and waffle mix. I've had this at Topolino's Terrace, and I really like the mix a lot. This is a definite must-order again dish! I am hoping that next time we go that they'll have more of their standard pancake & waffle toppings that they usually have but were not available on this visit due to supply issues.
If you want to get more information about our visit to Tiffins, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.
Overall
We both enjoyed our meal at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Our only negative from the visit is that the service was incredibly slow despite having very few guests dining at the time that we visited. However, we both generally enjoyed our meal and had a few food highlights that we loved -- the allergy-friendly pancakes for both of us and the cheesy potatoes for Brandon. While we probably won't be back for a while, we both like that this restaurant serves breakfast food until 2 p.m. everyday which is great if you're craving breakfast but don't want to visit during the earlier parts of the day.
Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe for brunch? What did you think of the special diets offerings?
Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian
*This dining experience took place in June 2018.
Breakfast at Grand Floridian Cafe
The Grand Floridian Cafe located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is one of those table service locations on Disney property that I have had hit or miss experiences with. It's been a while since I had been for breakfast, and when my family was staying at the Grand Floridian DVC rooms for the weekend, it seemed like the perfect time to enjoy a meal there again.
Atmosphere
Of all the Grand Floridian Resort table service restaurants, the Grand Floridian Cafe is the most relaxed and laid back, in my opinion. It's great for a casual meal.
I somehow managed to forget to take a photo of the entrance, so here is a photo from a dinner experience we had there. As you can see from the lighting in both this photo and the one from our breakfast, you can see how the lighting and look and feel of the restaurant really change depending on the time of day.
I personally prefer breakfast here, where the restaurant really brightens up. There's plenty of seating, and I always forget how big this restaurant really is.
The Food
The Grand Floridian Cafe does carry an allergy-friendly breakfast and lunch menu. Yes, breakfast AND lunch. This actually threw me for a bit of a loop upon being seated, but I am always on board with brunch. If you're just there at breakfast, you'll want to take a look at the breakfast only options. Or, if you're there for lunchtime, feel free to order up some breakfast!Guests can also speak to a chef at any time during their meal, and I would definitely recommend this if you have questions.
After we ordered, our server brought me some Deanna's Gluten Free and Dairy Free Rolls, which was a nice touch since the rest of the group was enjoying complimentary biscuits before our entrees arrived. You can also ask for some dairy free / vegan buttery spread for them too.
For my main entree, I ordered the Grand Breakfast with Two Eggs served with Bacon, Sausage, and Allergy-Friendly Breakfast Potatoes. I asked for Turkey Sausage instead of regular sausage. This entree was safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. Overall, I liked this entree but didn't love it. The breakfast potatoes were a little too peppery for my taste. But, everything in general was tasty and filling.I do miss the days when this entree used to also include a complimentary glass of juice too. That was the first thing I noticed when I looked at the updated menu.
Because I love pancakes and allergy-friendly Mickey waffles, I had to ask about ordering a side. I have had the seasonal pancakes in the past that had an orange cranberry sauce and asked if that was still an option. Our server noted that they don't offer it right now but that they could make a modified version. So, I asked if I could get that as a side.The Allergy-Friendly Pancakes are safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies, but because I ordered it with the seasonal modification, it was not nut free, as it contained pecans. In addition to the pecans, it also had slices of oranges on it too. I was also able to get dairy free / vegan buttery spread and 100% pure maple syrup.
Since this is a seasonal item, they did not seem to have all the normal components of the dish, but that didn't stop me from enjoying them. The combination of the oranges and pecans and maple syrup was oh so good. The pancakes tasted like they were made with Bob's Red Mill Pancake & Waffle Mix, and while they were a little on the dry side, a ton of maple syrup help fix that easily!One note about pricing. I ordered these as a side, and they ended up being $7 in total, which is pretty pricey for a side of pancakes or waffles. I do that quite often, and they are usually around $4-$5. My server did tell me that it was because I had the pecans which saw a $2 upcharge. Yikes! Next time, for cost purposes, I would actually order the pancakes as an entree and get some eggs as a side, which seemed much more cost-effective. Still, these were so delicious, that they were totally worth the splurge.
Overall
While I have had some hit or miss experiences with the Grand Floridian Cafe, this visit was a hit due to the seasonal pancakes I ordered. This was a total winner, and I wouldn't hesitate to order them again. In fact, I may have to go back again soon, just to order these. They were that good!Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast? What did you enjoy when you dined there?
Grand Floridian Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian
*This dining experience took place in May 2017.
Dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe
The Grand Floridian Cafe, located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is a table service restaurant that offers sandwiches, steaks, pasta, and other entrees for dinner. Admittedly, I've only ever dined at the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast, so Brandon and I decided recently to check it out for dinner. We were both craving something substantial but not something too fancy or pricey, so off to the Grand Floridian Cafe we went.
Atmosphere
The Grand Floridian Cafe is located inside the 1st floor of the Grand Floridian Resort. It's tucked away in a small corner and, like the resort, has a turn of the century Victorian theme to it.You'll notice the theme quickly, with the floral wallpaper and paintings to the ruffled curtains and elaborate tables and chairs.
I prefer to be seated tucked away in one of the restaurant corners, but we were seated in the middle of the restaurant when we visited.
Thankfully, it wasn't too crowded, so we didn't feel like we were stuck in the hustle and bustle of it all. I've been there for breakfast when it's been swamped, but I've also enjoyed a leisurely quiet breakfast too, so I think it really depends on the time you go.
The Food
Since I had never been for dinner before, I made sure to check out the Allergy Friendly Dinner Menu on my site before we went along with the updated one when we arrived. I will say that the menu was sorely lacking in options (especially dairy free ones, if you are dairy free), but I always recommend speaking to a chef whenever you dine at a restaurant to talk about options and customization. I always find that dairy free is usually an easy modification when you ask.
First up, we were brought bread service. Brandon got regular bread, while I got the Deanna's Gluten Free rolls, which I love. I have had a hard time finding these lately, so it was a welcome treat to have these. These rolls are gluten free, dairy free, and cover many other special dietary needs too.I'm not gonna lie, I gobbled these up quickly. Pro Tip: If you ask, Grand Floridian Cafe does carry Earth Balance vegan buttery spread for a dairy free alternative.
Brandon is always a huge fan of cheese plates, and now that I'm including dairy back into my diet, I am a fan of them too. Brandon ordered a Cheese Plate (which can be made gluten free upon request), and I have to admit, this was our least favorite cheese plate we've ever tried at Disney.The cheese plate consisted of a wedge of Brie and 3 cheddar cheeses. The cheddar cheeses were not that different from each other, making it a very poorly balanced cheese plate. One actually reminded me of Kraft processed cheese. The accompaniments were nice, but nothing fancy.There was also a huge gap missing on the plate, from what we figured was bread. I was surprised that they didn't offer to bring Brandon bread on the side (which they usually do) so that he can have that part of the cheese plate. Overall, we found this cheese plate to be just...meh. It was good, so far as cheese is always good, but just boring and not that amazing. We'd skip this one on the next visit.
Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures has raved about the lobster burger at the Grand Floridian Cafe. And, with this in mind, I was hoping to try it out. Sadly, when I asked about it, I was told it was no longer gluten free. They would not bring the chef out, but I was relayed that they could make me burger with a plain piece of lobster on it. I decided to pass. I like lobster and burgers as much as the next, but I couldn't justify getting charged for the full lobster burger and getting a very poor version of it.I opted to order the Artisanal Burger with bacon and cheddar on it. This was made gluten free by serving it on a gluten free bun. It can also be made dairy free by removing the cheese.
I did have to request condiments, which were brought to be after a fairly lengthy wait (even though I asked for them when I ordered the burger).
Overall, I thought the burger was fine, but really nothing special. They actually over-cooked the burger, and it was pretty dry. If I hadn't had cheese on it, I think it would have been pretty unappetizing. Thankfully, condiments and extra toppings can help salvage a poorly cooked burger.The French Fries were really good, but they are the same basic fries you can get pretty much everywhere -- including many quick service locations.
Overall
After our dining experience, we actually will skip Grand Floridian Cafe for a while. We were both underwhelmed by the food quality and the service at the restaurant was very poor. The restaurant wasn't busy, but we waited a very long time between courses. Add in that the chef would not come out to speak to me (a Disney rarity), and it's just not someplace we'd make a special visit to go to. It's a shame because I think it has a lot of great potential -- it's just not well executed. Brandon also found that his non-gluten free meal was equally underwhelming too. If we go again, it would probably be for breakfast instead.Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What did you think of the options there?
Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
*This dining experience took place in February 2015.
The Grand Floridian Cafe located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has become one of my regular breakfast rotation options when dining at Disney World. It isn't my favorite table service location on Disney property by any means (that honor is reserved for exceptional places like Boma and the newly re-imagined Kouzzina now open as Trattoria al Forno), but it provides a really solid breakfast in a quiet atmosphere that's very conveniently located to the Magic Kingdom. Good breakfast + near Magic Kingdom is a win win in my Disney touring book.On this particular occasion, I was dining at the Grand Floridian Cafe right after running the Enchanted 10K during the Princess Half Marathon race weekend. It was a super chilly morning in the low 40s, and between the race and the cold I was ready for a hot meal (and hot beverage).I almost always order the exact same thing when I dine for breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe -- the American with eggs of some type (this time scrambled), breakfast potatoes, and bacon. Sometimes I order allergy Mickey waffles in place of toast and other times I get toast with non-dairy butter. Today, it was all about the carb loading Mickey waffles!I asked the chef if they could make the seasonal waffle offering which was served with a cranberry pecan citrus maple syrup. I'd heard rave reviews about it and wanted to check it out. The chef said she'd check as the syrup might contain dairy. She followed back up at our table and said that I was safe to consume the syrup. *Note: I was told by other guests that they were told that the syrup was not safe to consume at the time they visited. Because of the seasonal nature this may or may not be true depending on when you visit Grand Floridian Cafe. Always double-check with a chef to confirm the status of sauces and/or syrups.
My entree was delicious as usual. I asked for only bacon but received a mix of sausage and bacon. I'm not a big sausage person so I only took a few bites. The bacon, on the other hand, was thick-cut and delicious. If you want to avoid the standard Disney bacon, this is another location to add to your list to visit. One nice addition to the entree was a side of arugula salad tossed in a light vinaigrette. This was a great touch to the breakfast with it's mild but peppery taste.
It's a good thing I had just run a 10K and was both hungry and had expended some calories. This was a huge meal. I anticipated getting 2 allergy Mickey waffles but I was presented with 4. (I ended up sharing with my family). The cranberry pecan citrus maple syrup was delicious but very sweet. I ended up mixing a combination of the specialty syrup and plain maple syrup. I don't think I could have eaten the whole thing if I'd ordered it solely because of the sweetness. Still, it was a delicious option that I'm glad I tried.Overall, I enjoyed my breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe. They consistently provide a solid breakfast entree in a fairly quiet setting (it's definitely not the bustling chaos that is 1900 Park Fare!). It made for a nice option post-race.Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What was your favorite dish?
Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian
*This dining experience took place in June 2014.
Disney's Grand Flordian Cafe is one of those locations at Disney that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. I almost expect the animatronics from Carousel of Progress to be here celebrating Valentine's Day during the turn-of-the-century. If you're looking for a little bit more of an upscale breakfast with a quieter atmosphere, breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe is the way to go.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for breakfast before heading to the Magic Kingdom. It makes for a convenient stop before entering the park. My breakfast reservation was early - 8:15 a.m., as I had Fastpass+ reservations for the newly opened Mine Train ride in New Fantasyland. With such an early breakfast, let's just say it was very quiet. In fact, there were very few of us in the back half of the restaurant.
The chef greeted me to go over the options, and I knew more or less what I already wanted - the American which comes traditionally with: Two Eggs served with Biscuits, Bacon, Sausage and Breakfast Potatoes and a choice of Juice. For $13.99 it's a decent bargain with the juice included.I decided to go for apple juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, breakfast potatoes (made differently as the regular version contains dairy), and instead of toast or Mickey waffles, I asked for steamed asparagus. I don't know why, but I seem to always want asparagus when I go to the Grand Floridian Cafe.When I got my entree, there was a bit of a mix-up, as I was served dairy filled hashbrowns. And weirdly enough, it had the allergy pick right in the middle of them. I know enough about the potatoes there to know they had dairy in them, but this is just a reminder to be vigilant about your food orders. Because the hashbrowns were all on the same plate as the rest of the meal, the chef needed to completely remake everything which did take a wee bit of time.
Once I got my entree, I was ready to dig in. I needed to fuel up for that Mine Train ride! The eggs, bacon, and asparagus were great as were the hashbrowns. I have to say, maybe it's just the turkey sausage at Disney but I've decided I'm not a fan. It seems like every time I order it, it's dry and not that tasty. Next time I will just go for the bacon instead of the turkey sausage. 
As you can see by the decor, this is a lovely and bright restaurant. Because it was so quiet it made for a very enjoyable and relaxing meal.Overall, I would give this a 6 out 10 for this experience.Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What do you like to order here for breakfast?
Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian
*This dining experience took place in December 2013.
Disney's Grand Floridian Cafe offers guests a chance to enjoy a refined meal in a casual setting. Located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, it's one of the few locations in the resort that offers an affordable a la carte meal. One of my favorite meals here is the low-key breakfast. Guests with special diets will be treated to a variety of breakfast staples, including the allergy friendly Mickey waffles found on property.On this particular visit, I dined here for a late breakfast at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (see a recap HERE). It has been a while since I visited the Grand Floridian Cafe, but I knew I wanted to get something pretty standard. Eggs, maybe some Mickey waffles, nothing too fancy. But what I love about this place isn't necessarily the food (which is good) but the atmosphere. It always seems really calm and relaxing in here. It never seems super busy and it's a bit removed, which I like. It's certainly crazy busy like 1900 Park Fare!
I opted to get eggs over-easy, hashbrowns (which were yummy), and bacon. The chef was extra generous with the bacon on this visit! All of these were good. I wouldn't say anything spectacular, but still good nonetheless.
The chef was also generous with the bread too--three slices! I asked for Earth Balance vegan margarine but instead he gave me Smart Balance. It is vegan (and incidentally also owned by the same company that owns Earth Balance), but I'm really not a fan. I prefer Earth Balance all the way.
Overall, I like the Grand Floridian Cafe. It provides a solid meal in a charming restaurant. I really enjoy getting a nice seat by the windows and looking out at the Grand Floridian grounds.I'd give this particular visit a 7 out of 10. It's nothing fancy, even though the restaurant has a certain fanciness about it, but the food is solid. The chefs seem willing to make me potatoes which doesn't always happen at some restaurants, and the breakfast was tasty overall. Next time I'd like to see if they can make their cranberry orange pecan pancakes sauce gluten & dairy free for the allergy Mickey waffles. The sauce/topping looked amazing!Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What do you like to order there?
Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian
The Grand Floridian Cafe is nestled in the back of the Grand Floridian's main building. We thought it might be a nice calm breakfast as an alternative from the busy character meals, like 1900 Park Fare. It proved to be a lovely breakfast, with a very calm vibe. It was a nice leisurely meal.Upon arrival, we were greeted by the chef, who essentially asked me what I wanted. That day my Crohn's was flaring quite badly, so I wanted something very calm and mild. No bacon or sausage for me, even if I wanted them! I loved the idea of eggs Benedict, but obviously having hollaindaise sauce is out of the question. But I ended up deciding to get scrambled eggs, steamed asparagus, and potatoes. The chef told me they would have to make the potatoes from scratch b/c the regular breakfast potatoes were not safe, so it was going to take a while, which was fine. While waiting, we enjoyed a Tropical Splash juice, which was extremely good. Loved the strawberry on the side!
