Storytellers Cafe reservations and alerts

What makes Storytellers Cafe special

Storytellers Cafe sits off the Grand Californian’s lobby, in a room built around California storytelling with murals running the length of it.

Disney characters work the room during breakfast in seasonal outfits, which change through the year and are a large part of the draw for regulars.

The room is large by character-dining standards, which is why it takes bookings a smaller dining room could not. That helps your odds without making it easy.

Characters come to brunch and dinner as well, so an evening table still includes them.

Storytellers Cafe prices and hours in 2026

Disney’s 2026 menus price the buffet per person before tax and tip, with children’s prices for ages 3 to 9:

• Breakfast: $72 adults, $41 children
• Brunch: $77 adults, $41 children
• Dinner: $86 adults, $46 children
• Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026: Brunch at the usual price, dinner $96 adults and $46 children

The restaurant is open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. A party of 8 or more has a 20% gratuity added to the bill automatically.

What’s on the Storytellers Cafe buffet

Breakfast brings Mickey waffles with maple syrup, seasonal French toast, scrambled eggs, quiche, bacon and sausage, an oatmeal bar, pastries and fruit.

Brunch adds omelets and eggs cooked to order, a carving station, Caesar salad and soup, plus mac and cheese and chicken tenders.

Dinner centers on a carving station and brick oven pizza, with garlic mashed potatoes, cheese and charcuterie, salads and soup, and seasonal bread pudding to finish. Disney lists only part of each buffet, and the dishes change with the season.

Seasonal character meals in 2026

Every meal here runs a seasonal theme, and the characters dress for it:

• Mickey’s Autumn Adventures breakfast and brunch, August 21 to November 15, 2026: Mickey and friends in fall outfits
• Clarabelle’s Enchanted Halloween Dinner, through October 31, 2026: Clarabelle Cow hosts, and guests are invited to dress as forest friends
• Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party breakfast and brunch, November 16, 2026 to January 3, 2027: Daisy Duck and friends in holiday pajamas
• Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast dinner, November 16, 2026 to January 3, 2027: Mickey Mouse, Scrooge McDuck and friends

On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, Mickey and Scrooge McDuck host brunch and dinner with a harvest menu.

Why tables are hard to get

Character breakfasts concentrate demand into a narrow window, and this is one of two at the Grand Californian.

It draws hotel guests and day visitors alike, and because it is the more affordable of the two character breakfasts here, it absorbs demand that misses the other.

Timing within the morning matters too. The first and last seatings turn over more often than the middle of service, when families with young children tend to book.

Good to know before you book

It is inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, so park admission is not required. Character appearances run at breakfast, brunch and dinner.

Children must be with an adult 18 or older for the whole meal, and all the seating is indoors.

Booking holds a credit card, and Disney charges a per-person fee for a no-show or a cancellation outside its policy.

It is also one of the restaurants selling the World of Color Dining Package, which adds reserved viewing for the nighttime show in the park next door.

How to catch a cancellation

Breakfast tables come back through the week as trips get rearranged. Set an alert above with your dates and party size and we will email and text you the moment one opens.

The other character breakfast here, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, is harder still and worth watching alongside it.

See How to get Disneyland character dining reservations.