Do you know what’s better than starting your Disney World day with a delicious breakfast? It’s a trick question — the answer is practically NOTHING.

Here at DFB, it’s no secret that we love a good Disney breakfast, whether that meal is on the go or a sit-down experience with a full menu and our favorite characters. And recently, we got the chance to stop by Cape May Cafe for breakfast, where the buffet service has just returned!

Atmosphere

When we arrived for our reservation, we started by checking in on the My Disney Experience app. We were early, so we had a few minutes to stroll around the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort (can we talk about how AMAZING it smells in here?) and wait for our table to be called.

There are plenty of seats in the lobby and if you check in on the My Disney Experience app, you can sign up for text notifications when it’s your turn to be seated. However, if you prefer to be closer, you can pop a squat in the seating area next to the Cape May Cafe entrance. There are benches over here that allow you to get a peek into the restaurant. We could already smell the buffet!

And by the entrance, you’ll also find a menu with some of the more popular buffet options listed. Breakfast here is served from 7:30AM to 11:30AM, so you can stop by before you head to the parks or enjoy a later-morning brunch. The buffet menu stays the same throughout those four hours.

Once we received the text that said it was time to return, we were led to our table. When you sit down, you’re given a drink menu with adult beverage options, along with a set of silverware and a coffee mug. The table also has salt and pepper and a few different brands of sweetener — if you want any other condiments, just ask your waiter!

We started our meal with an order of POG juice, which for those of you who don’t know, is passion fruit, orange, and guava. It’s a Disney breakfast staple! Your basic beverages come with the meal since it’s a buffet, and our waiter even brought out a glass of water as a courtesy.

But enough of that, let’s talk about what we came here for — the EATS!

Buffet

The buffet service here at Cape May Cafe is $25/adult and $14/child for breakfast. Honestly, we felt like this was a far price due to the wealth of options that they have to choose from!

The buffet is located in the center of the restaurant and there are four sides to the station, each with different items — there’s really something for almost everyone. To start, one side of the buffet is completely covered in savory options. We’ve got veggies in the form of green beans and a fried-up scramble…

…your basic breakfast potatoes chopped into little cubes and fried…

…and a fun little creation made of poached eggs sitting in a hash brown cup. They’re served with a side of hollandaise sauce. (Beware when picking those little egg cups up — they were a little too big for the tongs and we almost dropped ours!)

And it wouldn’t be breakfast without eggs! You can choose between regular scrambled eggs or the slightly more exciting scrambled eggs mixed with steak, onions, and peppers.

Want to level it up yet again?! There’s a build-your-own breakfast burrito option thanks to the warm tortillas stationed right next door. If you’re feeling extra spicy, we found shredded cheese and salsa at other spots on the buffet, so you can really make it fancy!

Moving around the corner, we’ve arrived at the fruits and oats section of the buffet. There are two large pots filled with oatmeal and grits that you can dress up with fruit or cheese. (We have a preference for fruit in the oatmeal and cheese in the grits, but if you want to swap that around, you do you! We’re certainly not here to crush anyone’s breakfast mojo.)

Next up is the assortment of fresh fruit (we saw strawberries, pineapple, and grapes during our visit) along with tiny little glass jars of overnight oats. These were super cute, but more on that in a minute!

They also offered a plate of Ambrosia Salad with almonds and coconut. It’s not the prettiest thing out there, but we promise that it tastes better than it looks. If you’re a traditional yogurt kind of person, they’ve got vanilla along with house-made granola for topping.

Guests will have some bread brought to their table, but if you want something simple and straightforward, you can find classic dinner rolls on the buffet.

Next to that, there’s the carving station. We were told that the meat options here may vary, but during our visit, it was thick-sliced ham. We’re certainly not complaining about that!

Moving around the corner yet again, let’s talk about the Disney breakfast classics! It wouldn’t be a breakfast in Disney World without Mickey waffles, but Cape May Cafe offers both Mickey AND Minnie versions on the buffet.

Next to that, you’ll find the Brioche French Toast — who can say no to that?

And if you like traditional breakfast eats, they’ve got basic pancakes as well. Don’t worry, your server will bring syrup to your table!

The house-made buttermilk biscuits are smaller than regular biscuits, but that just means you can get more of them! And don’t forget to douse them thoroughly in sausage gravy.

And this side has more breakfast potatoes and scrambled eggs, plus sausage links and bacon to give you that extra boost of protein. With both of those meats plus all the eggs and the carving station, you could have a really hearty breakfast!

And finally, the last side of the buffet is home to the crêpe station — yes, you heard us correctly! Here, you can pick up fresh crêpes doused in chocolate sauce and powdered sugar.

And don’t worry, they didn’t forget about the little ones. There’s a shorter (and really adorable!) mini-buffet on one corner that has chocolate chip pancakes, tater tots, and more Mickey and Minnie waffles. They’ve even got smaller plates for smaller appetites!

Last but not least, make sure to stop by the omelet station at the front of the restaurant! If the three different types of eggs on the buffet aren’t enough to satisfy you, then you can have a chef prepare your omelet to order.

WHEW, that was a LOT! Now that we’ve fully covered the buffet, let’s dive in and talk about what we ate!

Eats

Before we hit the buffet, our server first brought us a basket of bread. What kind of bread? Well, we’re really glad you asked because Cape May Cafe is serving up Salted Caramel Bread with Vanilla Sauce!!! Oh yeah. Pinch us, we might be dreaming.

And if you want our honest opinion, it’s every bit as amazing as it sounds! It’s a little sticky because of the caramel, but it’s not too dry, pulls apart easily, and it’s topped with a cinnamon-sugar mixture that makes the top just a little bit crunchy. What a great contrast to the really soft bread!

And once you douse that thing in vanilla sauce…WOW. The sauce has the perfect amount of vanilla flavor and it’s not too sweet so it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. They really do make a beautiful pair!

Salted Caramel Bread with Vanilla Sauce (Not totally sure if this should count as breakfast ) pic.twitter.com/C8jKHU99Q0

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 15, 2022

Okay, now that we’ve stopped drooling over the bread, let’s talk about the buffet items. We made ourselves a plate with a little bit of each of the most exciting options that we had, and by the time we got back to our table, our mouths were watering.

To start, we kicked the meal off right with a Minnie waffle — smothered in syrup, of course. You can’t really go wrong here with such a classic item. It was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and while the flavor isn’t too complex, it’s a real crowd-pleaser.

Next up we tried the mini crêpes. They’re pretty small, which is perfectly fine if you’re enjoying them amongst other buffet items. They were incredibly chewy and didn’t have a whole lot of flavor. The chocolate sauce was a little overwhelming and had a somewhat bitter aftertaste, so this didn’t end up being one of our favorite things that we tried.

Remember when we said we’d talk more about those overnight oats later? Well, here we are! They’re topped with blueberry, blackberry, and a strawberry sauce that seeps down into the oats as you eat them. The fruit was sweet and a great addition to the mild oats. We really enjoyed the texture of these — they were mushy in just the right way. (That’s not a sentence we ever thought we’d say!)

The ham from the carving station was one of the items we weren’t overly enthused to try, but it was way more impressive than we expected. It’s nice to have a break from the same-old bacon and sausage breakfast game, and this ham had the perfect amount of salt and the perfect amount of moisture to bring out that flavor that we were hoping for. Sometimes you get dry and over salted meats at Disney World, but that was certainly not the case here!

If we could make one recommendation, we would suggest getting your ham when they put a fresh slab out on the carving station. The first time we grabbed some, it was down to the end of the piece. However, a Cast Member brought a plate with freshly cut pieces after we sat back down, and those were the best of the bunch! (Also, aren’t Disney Cast Members wonderful?!)

The breakfast potatoes weren’t anything particularly special. By the time we got around to eating them, they weren’t fresh anymore, which meant that they were a little soggy. A little extra salt on them would’ve been nice, but they had a good flavor otherwise thanks to the other ingredients mixed in the scramble.

And speaking of scramble, let’s talk about that steak and egg scramble! THIS was one of the best things we ate at Cape May, and we totally weren’t expecting it! It’s just eggs scrambled with steak, onions, and peppers, but it was cooked perfectly with fluffy eggs, just enough seasoning, and deliciously fresh ingredients. We actually ended up cleaning this one completely off our plate.

The buttermilk biscuit with gravy was a tad on the disappointing side. The texture of the biscuit was somehow both dry and sticky at the same time. However, adding the gravy on top definitely made it a little better because that sausage flavor was prominent and the consistency of the gravy was juuuuust right. We probably would’ve liked this one more when the biscuit was hot and fresh!

The poached egg on top of the potato hash cup was one of the things we were most intrigued to try, but unfortunately, we made the mistake of eating it last. It wasn’t fresh off the grill when we picked it up from the buffet, and by the time we ate our other items, it had cooled to a stagnant room temperature. We tried to look past it, but sadly the temperature wasn’t the only issue. Both the egg and the potatoes underneath needed some seasoning. If you try this one, we recommend getting one from a hot batch, eating it right away, and maybe topping it with the hollandaise sauce for a little extra oomph.

And to wrap it up for dessert, what about the Ambrosia salad with almonds and coconut? Based on looks alone, this isn’t the prettiest flower in the garden, but it sure was one of the tastiest things we tried! The whipped cream and fruit combo was just sweet enough to satisfy that dessert craving without having a weird sugary aftertaste. The fruit used (we noticed pineapple, blueberries, and mandarin oranges) was all incredibly fresh. Just note that it might be different fruit options when you visit. We almost went back for a second scoop!

After all that breakfast food, we’re feeling pretty carbo-loaded. But honestly, in the BEST possible way!

Nosh or Not?

Start your day by filling up at Cape May Cafe if…

• You’re looking for an affordable meal with a LOT of food. This is much cheaper than some other buffet options and more affordable than character meals, but there are so many items to choose from and it’s all you can eat!
• You’ve got a group with varying tastes. If you’ve got a bunch of people in your party with different preferences, this should appease almost everyone. There are options for healthy eaters, meat lovers, and even breakfast purists. It’s a real crowd-pleaser!
• You’re staying nearby or want breakfast before your EPCOT visit. If you’re staying in the EPCOT/Hollywood Studios resort area, this is a great choice that won’t take long to get to. You could also schedule an early breakfast here and then walk over to EPCOT to enter through International Gateway.

Skip Cape May Cafe in favor of other eats if…

• You want a fast meal. Because this is a buffet, it’s likely going to take a little longer than other meals that you may visit during your trip. If you want to just pop in and grab something on your way to a park, this may not be the meal for you.
• You’re looking for something extra special. While many of the options were very delicious, this probably won’t make the list of meals that you absolutely HAVE to try. There aren’t any characters or special features at the restaurant at this time, so it’s really just a breakfast buffet. (Which is great if that’s what you’re looking for!)
• You’re not staying anywhere nearby and you’re going to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom. If you’re not staying close to (or at) Disney’s Beach Club Resort and you’re trying to fit in this breakfast before at day at one of the “Kingdoms,” this may mess up your plans. It works out well if you can eat breakfast and then hop on over to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, but it’s not particularly close to the other parks.

Overall

So let’s break it down! First of all, this meal is a pretty good deal at $25 for adults, considering there are so many different options on the buffet. You can really take your time and try several different items, and depending on your tastes, you could go heavy on the carbs, eat the classic breakfast, try something healthy, or do a completely carnivorous meal. It’s up to you!

Is it the BEST breakfast we’ve ever eaten at Disney World? Definitely not. However, there were some really standout items on the menu, like the Salted Caramel Bread, the Steak and Egg Scramble, the ham, and the Ambrosia. (We would probably recommend this restaurant to you for that bread alone!) This meal is a great way to fill up on the classics while getting to try a few unique options at the same time. If you don’t like it, no biggie — just get something else on the buffet!

Before the pandemic, Cape May Cafe was home to characters at breakfast. As of this review, characters haven’t returned, so there isn’t much that’s truly unique about this restaurant right now. But that could change before your visit, so check our newsletter for the most up to date content. If you’re staying nearby in the EPCOT resort area, it’s definitely a convenient and delicious option. It’s definitely a must-try for buffet lovers, but until they bring back the characters (which we seriously hope they do!), you don’t necessarily need to go out of your way to stop by Cape May Cafe on your next trip.

Click Here to Read Our Review of the Breakfast Buffet at Boma!

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Have you ever been to Cape May Cafe? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

The post REVIEW: One of Disney World’s Cheapest Breakfast Buffets Is BACK first appeared on the disney food blog.