With regards to breakfast at Walt Disney World, our normal philosophy has been don’t trouble. Most eating places are overpriced and the meals is sub-par, which is why we’ve been sturdy advocates of lodge grocery supply and getting ready wholesome, cheap in-room meals within the morning. (Up to date October 12, 2024.)
We’ve additionally been anti-Ale & Compass Restaurant, which we derided in our unique assessment shortly after the reimagining debuted attributable to uninteresting decor and solely so-so meals. Nonetheless, we’ve been again 5 instances since then ‘for enjoyable’ at lunch or dinner, and have had excellent to nice meals. It ought to most likely go with out saying, however we wouldn’t revisit any restaurant that we didn’t take pleasure in 5 instances for enjoyable.
We went so many instances largely as a result of it’s a simple ADR and an excellent restaurant to do with buddies or household–handy and fairly priced. Our new capsule assessment of Ale & Compass for lunch and dinner is that it’s typically an excellent possibility for frequent guests or locals, however nonetheless not beneficial for Walt Disney World first-timers. The theme of the restaurant nonetheless bores us to sleep, however the meals is sweet!
In any case, it is a assessment of breakfast, and never lunch or dinner. Breakfast at Ale & Compass is a large hit for us and has been for years. Since initially publishing this assessment, we’ve returned a few instances for nearly the identical orders. This boils down to some issues: lack of higher choices, worth for cash, and flat-out loving a trio of menu objects.
With that stated, we do wish to draw your consideration to 1 various that also exists (for now) as of Late 2024: Trattoria al Forno. That is situated throughout Crescent Lake at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. This was beforehand house to the Bon Voyage Journey Character Breakfast, which has nonetheless not returned (and would possibly by no means come again, at this level). Whereas we cherished that character meal, the common breakfast menu is incredible and fairly priced–considerably much like Ale & Compass (minus the buffet add-on).
Try our Trattoria al Forno breakfast assessment for extra. (Observe that the primary half of that publish is in regards to the return of characters, so scroll about midway by for meals ideas.) Only a fast plug for that as a substitute–now on with the Ale & Compass assessment!
For starters, Ale & Compass Restaurant not has a restricted menu and its breakfast buffet has returned after being gone for practically two years. It’s not the one buffet that’s again at Disney’s Yacht & Seashore Membership Resorts, as Minnie’s Seashore Bash Character Breakfast additionally has returned.
These be a part of Yachtsman Steakhouse, Crew’s Cup Lounge, Seashores & Cream, and each different eating location at Seashore Membership in working as regular as soon as once more. There are nonetheless some Walt Disney World eating places which can be working with considerably scaled again menus, however fortunately, that’s not the case with any of those spots at Yacht & Seashore Membership.
Right here’s a take a look at what we love about Ale & Compass for breakfast…
Our first time doing breakfast at Ale & Compass was fully by probability. As famous above, we weren’t eager on our dinner right here, and deliberate on writing the restaurant off for the foreseeable future consequently. Nonetheless, we discovered ourselves staying at BoardWalk Inn, with none groceries for breakfast or Advance Eating Reservations for one of many different eating places.
Nothing else had walk-up availability, which means the choices have been mainly this, BoardWalk Bakery (now Deli), or ready till World Showcase opened in a few hours. In perusing the menu, Ale & Compass had a couple of choices that have been solely barely costlier than a counter service breakfast, so we determined to roll the cube on it…
Sarah ordered the Darkish Chocolate Waffles: “Dried Cherry Compote, Espresso-Mascarpone Cream, Chocolate Shavings, and a alternative of Bacon or Sausage.”
These have been a fan-favorite on the previous Captain’s Grille, however have been conspicuously absent when the situation reopened as Ale & Compass. All the pieces about these waffles was excellent–simply the correct quantity of chocolate taste, a wealthy and creamy espresso mascarpone to steadiness them out, and tart dried cherry compote because the literal cherry on prime. Overlook Mickey waffles–these are the very best waffles at Walt Disney World, bar none.
I ordered the Salted Caramel-Apple French Toast with bacon. That is mainly an apple sandwich between two slices of french toast, and drizzled with salted caramel and topped with buttery crumble. The sandwich is just like the mullet of breakfasts: wholesome enterprise within the heart, blissfully decadent social gathering on the surface.
The sandwich and mullet are completely inapt comparisons; you may’t truly eat this like a sandwich and it’s not disgusting like a mullet. On the contrary, it’s incredible–on par with the Darkish Chocolate Waffles, which ought to actually say one thing. The purpose I’m making an attempt as an example is that it’s a considerably balanced breakfast possibility, and never only a sugary dessert on the breakfast menu.
All the entrees include a alternative of bacon, sausage, or contemporary fruit.
We ordered bacon and sausage since we have been already getting ample servings of fruit in our very wholesome entrees. The sausage right here is the undisputed champ, as these plump house-made patties are completely scrumptious–and offered good steadiness to our sugary primary dishes. Don’t mess with the bacon–get the sausage.
These are our two primary suggestions proper now, as a few our different favorites have been faraway from the breakfast menu at Ale & Compass. We’re additionally interested by different new menu objects just like the Blueberry-Bacon Pancakes, Crab Cake Benedict, Breakfast Flatbread, and Breakfast Protein Bowl. We must always most likely attempt a few these the subsequent time we dine right here, however it’s powerful to deviate from the tried-and-true.
On a constructive observe, the breakfast buffet can be again at Ale & Compass Restaurant…
This buffet shouldn’t be a fully-fledged providing like these at different Walt Disney World eating places.
As an alternative, it consists of: “Seasonal Fruit, Assorted Yogurt Parfaits, Smoked Salmon with Accompaniment, Assorted Breakfast Pastries, Home-made Granola, Bagels, Parker Home Rolls, Artisanal Cheeses, Charcuterie, Smoked Trout Dip, Assorted Spreads, Jellies, Preserves, Oatmeal with Conventional Garnishes, Biscuits and Gravy.”
As of Late 2024, the breakfast buffet prices $25 and consists of one entree.
The good transfer is thus selecting one of many costlier entrees, just like the $20 Shrimp and White Cheddar Grits or the $20 Breakfast Protein Bowl, and including it to that. For these meals, you’re solely paying $5 additional for the buffet.
The objects we advocate are inexpensive, so the cost-difference between them and the buffet is bigger. With that stated, the breakfast buffet additionally features a drink–so should you have been going to order a espresso, there’s little or no value distinction between the buffet and a la carte.
We’ve since accomplished precisely that, returning to Ale & Compass and ordering costlier entrees (once we did it, we bought the skirt steak sandwich, however that’s not at the moment on the breakfast menu) and grazing from the breakfast buffet. For just a few {dollars} additional, it was a incredible possibility–we left so stuffed that we didn’t must eat lunch that day.
Although it price extra, that arguably matches with the angle of this text, which is the most effective worth breakfast at Walt Disney World. I’d say breakfast is a fairly nice worth should you’re not consuming once more till dinner!
Total, for round $30 (whole, not every), we had among the best breakfasts we’ve ever had at Walt Disney World for any value. Having the ability to walk-up and be instantly seated in a half-full restaurant just about negates all of our earlier complaints in regards to the theme, too. (Though I nonetheless actually want Disney would discover a method to give this restaurant some character.) All issues thought-about, it’s powerful to argue with breakfast at Ale & Compass should you order properly–that is the most effective bang in your buck breakfast at Walt Disney World.
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Your Ideas
Have you ever accomplished breakfast at Ale & Compass? What did you consider it? Did you do the buffet? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
