REVIEW: The Grinch and Friends Character Breakfast at Universal Orlando Resort– Is It Worth It?
During the holiday season at Universal Orlando Resort, you can enjoy a sit-down meal with the Grinch, and some of the local Who's from Whoville. This is a specially ticketed dining experience — last year, it was in a brand new location! During the Grinch Breakfast, you get to try Grinch themed foods like green eggs and ham, Martha May's chicken and waffles, Max dog treats and more! 
Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast Overview
The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast took place last year on select dates from Nov. 17 through Dec. 29, 2023. This year, the breakfast is at Confisco’s Grille because Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous is currently closed for renovations. This is where this breakfast usually takes place. Breakfast reservations typically book quickly, so keep that in mind when planning out your holiday trip to Universal Orlando. This year, breakfast reservation times include seatings at 7 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 9 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.. Plan for this experience to last between 60 to 90 minutes start to finish. Note— You must purchase your tickets in advance. You’ll need to make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance, and walk-ins are not accepted. Separate theme park admission is required for the same date as the breakfast. If you need to add or remove someone in your party, call Guest Services ASAP.Reservations can be made by calling 407-224-3663 when 2024 dates become available.
How Much is the Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast at Universal?
The Grinch Character Breakfast at Universal Orlando costs $58.99 per adult (ages 10+) and $32.99 per child (ages 3-9). It includes 1 entree, a non-alcoholic beverage, and dessert. 
This year it’s NOT buffet style like in years past.
Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast Experience
Plan to arrive about 15 minutes prior to your reservation time to check in with the host outside. When you first enter into Islands of Adventure, head to Confisco Grille. While on the main entrance pathway, it’s on your right. (Right before you’d head right to enter Suess Landing). Before you check-in at the podium, make sure you have printed out your tickets or pick them up at one of the Will Call kiosks outside the main entrance of the park.
As you eat, some of the local Whos make their way around to your table as they talk and sing Christmas carols. The Grinch does not come around to each table. This was a nice because you don’t have to sit and stay long after your breakfast if you’re still waiting for him to come by. You will actually meet him at the end of your dining experience in his own little meet and greet area.
What Characters Do You Meet at the Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast?
You’ll meet the Grinch after you finish eating your breakfast. Depending on where your table is, you may catch i’m periodically walking by as he leaves to “Take Max out". Wink, wink. The local Whos of Whoville walk around the tables and during breakfast. They sing, dance, sometimes sit at your table, etc. I noticed we were able to meet 5 different Whos. Pictures+ selfies are okay to take inside.
Pictured: @MammothClub’s Molly and Alan taking a selfie with the local Who’s
Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast Menu
This year, the Character Breakfast includes 1 plated entrée, a non-alcoholic beverage and a dessert. In years past, the Grinch breakfast was buffet style. Once it’s time to eat, you're welcomed by the singing Whos as soon as you enter! You will receive a menu for you to choose your main entree. While you're deciding you get 2 starts plates: Assorted fruit plate for the tablePineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc.
Assorted plate of mini muffins and croissants for the table
Grinch Breakfast Menu Includes:
The Grinch’s Green Eggs & HamMayor Augustus’ Biscuits & GravyMartha May’s Chicken and WafflesCindy Lou Who’s Belgian WafflesBetty Lou Who’s Power BowlLou Lou WHo’s Breakfast SandwichMax’s Smoked Brisket Skillet HashSmoked brisket, poached eggs, crispy potatoes, poblano peppers, and sriracha Hollandaise sauce.
There’s a Little Whos menu where you can choose 3 items:
Scrambled EggsGreen EggsBelgian WaffleSliced Roast HamRoasted PotatoesFried ChickenBiscuits & Gravy
Beverages include:
CoffeeSodaJuiceGrinch Punch: Pineapple juice, lime juice, and green apple flavoring. It was very tart and sweet
I went with Martha May’s Chicken and Waffles this time! The fried chicken was good, but the waffles were just okay. A little on the dry side. They come with a really yummy "Hot Honey drizzle" that was much needed. Our table actually asked for a side of the honey drizzle. After drenching my chicken and waffles in the drizzle, it was banging. Don't let the "Hot" scare you. The honey wasn't hot at ALL. I give this dish a 6/10.
For those with littles, there’s a Grinch themed coloring sheet they can doodle on during the breakfast!
Once you’ve finished the entree, you get a plate of themed desserts including:
Grinch CookiesMax’s dog treatsGrinch’s heart brownies
Grinch Meet and Greet
After you finish. your breakfast, you're given a Grinch postcard. This is what you will take to redeem your photo/meet and greet experience with the Grinch. You'll head to line up to meet The Grinch. 
The Grinch hangs out in a separate area, that way you can get your video and photos with him once you are done eating. The Grinch does NOT go around table to table like in previous years.
When you get to the Grinch meet and greet spot located at the front of Confisco’s, you will get a hole punch in your postcard. Our group didn’t have to wait very long to meet him. I think we waited maybe 15 minutes? It seems the earlier reservation time, the shorter the line tends to be. I also feel like we got to spend more time with him here than I did during Universal's Holiday Tour. Since I am really awkward with character meet and greets, I REALLY liked that no one else was waiting behind us waiting to meet him while we were in there.
Is The Grinch Character Breakfast Worth It in 2023?
If you want the easiest and least stressful way meet the Grinch, I highly recommend doing this breakfast. The interaction with the Grinch and the Who characters makes it all worth the money. While this experience is an additional expense, the only way to interact with him for free is at the meet-and-greet location at Honk Honkers in Seuss Landing. There, you have to join the standby line on the day of your visit (s). The free meet- and -greet in Seuss Landing has had wait times posted at 180-300 minutes almost every park day! It even hits capacity same days by 3-5pm.
Overall, it's a really fun experience, and the Grinch really does spend a lot of time with each group/family. It's done in a relaxed, stress free environment. No heat or weather factors to deal with like you do waiting outside in the normal standby line. For me, it's totally worth budgeting extra to do year after year if you love the Grinch!Things to Consider Before Booking the Grinch and Friends Character Breakfast
The price for the Grinch Breakfast does NOT include admission to Universal Islands of Adventure park. You have to have a separate theme park ticket for the same date as the Grinch breakfast.
