Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch: A Can’t Miss Character Dining Experience
Planning character dining experiences at Walt Disney World Resort is as important as Fast Pass+ planning for many Guests. With so many choices, deciding when and where to plan a character meal can be overwhelming. It’s hard to go wrong anywhere, but by far one of my family’s favorite character meals is the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch. Head to ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for the only character meal with Lilo and Stitch. Take advantage of the delicious all-you-can-eat breakfast while you enjoy views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Cinderella Castle in the distance.
Here are my top 5 reasons (and tips!) why this is a can’t miss character dining experience.
Delicious All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast
I am just going to admit it now – I could eat this breakfast every day of my life. There is nothing about this breakfast we did not love. It is served family-style at your table so there’s really no reason to ever get up and leave this glorious breakfast.
Let’s start with the beverages. The tropical juice, also known as P.O.G. juice, is a refreshing blend of pineapple, orange and guava juices. They serve it in small glasses, but it is possible to ask for a larger glass. I would have asked for the entire pitcher if that would not have seemed weird. And for the adults? Can’t go wrong with Kona coffee. Thankfully they did leave the carafe of coffee with me. I may, or may not, have had it refilled.
Two of My Favorite Things at the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
Breakfast is served with fresh fruit, a welcome healthy way to start our day. I’m fairly sure we had at least two plates of raspberries, cantaloupe and honeydew melon, which made this momma very happy.
Fresh Fruit at the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
Next up – the breakfast skillet. It’s like everything you love about breakfast all piled high in one place. Scrambled eggs (Hua Paka), island-style fried potatoes with scallions and carmelized onions (Hala Kahiki), Hawaiian pork sausages and smoked bacon (Pua’a), biscuits, and…..wait for it…..Mickey AND Stitch waffles. Yep, not just Mickey waffles but Stitch waffles. Several fights may have erupted over who got what waffle, but thankfully this is an all-you-can-eat breakfast. More waffles were brought out to us and waffle peace was maintained at our table.
Breakfast Skillet at Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
Last, but certainly not least, is the warm fresh bread served with breakfast. This is the kind of bread you dream about days after you have eaten it. Endless baskets of soft melt in your mouth iced cinnamon raisin bread and luscious Hawaiian bread with pineapple and coconut. I could easily make an entire meal out of just this bread and a pot of the Kona coffee.
Warm Bread Service at Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
TIP: Breakfast runs from 7:30 am to noon. Book this breakfast on a day when you aren’t planning to rope drop a park, for a later reservation. Make this meal one of your big meals of the day, so that at most you only need a snack at lunch. This will save you money on food costs and time during the day. We had a 10:20 am reservation. We were so full by the time we left we did not need to eat again until dinner later that evening.
Unique Character Experience and Interaction
If you have a Disney Tween like I do, likely Stitch is his or her favorite character. There are only three places at Walt Disney World Resort where you can meet Stitch: Magic Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, and this breakfast. And yes, we have waited in line at Magic Kingdom to meet Stitch and get an out-of-this-world photo with Main Street U.S.A. as our backdrop. This character experience was so much more relaxed. We were able to enjoy our warm fresh bread and fresh fruit while waiting for Stitch to visit our table, and then take a little extra time getting autographs and snapping a picture.
Meeting Stitch at the Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo & Stitch
There was even time for a special hug.
Getting a Hug from Stitch at the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
This breakfast also is the only place to meet Lilo other than Typhoon Lagoon. We still watch reruns of Lilo & Stitch at our house so meeting Lilo in person was a special part of our morning.
Meeting Lilo at the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
In addition you can meet the main man himself, Mickey Mouse, and his best pal, Pluto, both appropriately sporting their Hawaiian wear for this tropical inspired breakfast.
Meeting Mickey Mouse at the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
Meeting Pluto at the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
At various times during breakfast, the characters lead children around the dining room in the ‘Ohana Family Parade. Everyone gets a maraca and a chance to dance with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey Mouse and Pluto.
TIP: There are PhotoPass photographers with Stitch and Mickey Mouse, so if you have purchased Memory Maker or have an annual pass, be sure to take advantage of this photo opportunity. If you don’t have Memory Maker, you can still access and download your photos for a fee. Have your camera ready for photo opportunities with Lilo and Pluto. The Cast Member “Cousin” serving our table was happy to help with photos, because here, we’re all family!
Stunning Views Over Seven Seas Lagoon
Unfortunately it was raining the day we visited ‘Ohana for breakfast, but the rain couldn’t completely damper that special feeling you get looking out over Seven Seas Lagoon with Cinderella Castle in the distance. Not many character dining experiences come with such a spectacular and magical view. The dining room is open with windows all around, and it is easy to move about and take in the view.
View Outside Window at the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
TIP: When you check in for your reservation, ask for a table by the window looking out over Seven Seas Lagoon. It’s not always a guarantee that you will get your request, but especially if you don’t mind waiting a little longer, you may get a table with a fantastic view. At the very least, ask for a table in the main dining area which is surrounded by windows and is very light and bright.
Tropical Setting and Theming of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
The great Ceremonial House where ‘Ohana is located is an attraction in and of itself, as is the rest of the resort. We love to just visit the resort and walk around to soak up the Polynesian atmosphere as we imagine ourselves escaping to a tropical paradise.
Lobby of great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
View of great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
TIP: Plan to arrive early or stay after breakfast to spend some time exploring this one of a kind resort. Walk outside the Ceremonial House towards the beach and check out the Lava Pool, with a towering volcano and water slide. You can shop at two specialty shops, including an area dedicated to pin trading. Don’t forget to stop at the front desk on your way out and pick up a complimentary lei!
PROXIMITY TO MAGIC KINGDOM AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND TICKET CENTER/EPCOT
The Resort Monorail stops at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort just feet away from ‘Ohana on its way to Magic Kingdom. The Transportation and Ticket Center is within a short walking distance of the great Ceremonial House. It is incredibly easy to get to any of the parks from this restaurant, either by monorail or bus from the Ticket and Transportation Center.
TIP: If you plan to visit the parks after breakfast, plan this character dining experience on a day when Magic Kingdom is open late. Sleep in, have a later breakfast, and then take a short monorail ride over to Magic Kingdom to enjoy the rest of your day. You will be well rested and well fed to enjoy a day at Magic Kingdom Park!
Breakfast at the Best Friend’s Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch is $18.00 for kids 3 – 9 years old, and $30.00 for adults and kids 10 and older. You can book reservations online here or by calling 1-407-939-5277.
