The Grinch is officially taking breakfast reservations, and the booking page is live. Universal Orlando has opened reservations for the 2026 Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast at Islands of Adventure. It’s a sit-down meal at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous in Seuss Landing, where you can visit the Grinch and meet his Who friends. And yes, you get to do all of that while someone else makes the pancakes. That’s my kind of holiday magic.
Breakfast runs from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with seatings from 8 AM to 12:15 PM. Seatings are offered Wednesday through Sunday, with select Mondays and Tuesdays added around Thanksgiving and Christmas, so if you’re building a trip around this one, check your exact date on the booking page before anything else.
Now, the part you came for. Here’s what the booking page shows: Adults (ages 10 and up) start at $64.99 per person, plus tax. Children (ages 3 to 9) are $38.99 per person, plus tax.
That’s about $6 more per person than last year, when adults started at $58.99 and kids at $32.99. Not a jaw-dropper on its own, but if you’re feeding a family of five, the Grinch is stealing a little more than Christmas this year. Separate theme park admission is required too, so factor that in when you’re budgeting.
What do you get for your money? Each guest gets a pastry and fruit starter, one plated entrée and one non-alcoholic drink. Last year’s lineup leaned festive and a little fancy, with dishes like chilaquiles verdes, a vegan rancheros tostada and Lou Lou Who’s Breakfast Sandwich for the grown-ups, plus pancakes, waffles and scrambled eggs on the kids’ side. Early listings for this year point to a refreshed menu, with items like ricotta pancakes and French toast with pistachio cream cheese popping up. It’s worth checking Universal’s booking page for the current menu before you lock in a day.
The kid-friendly angle is the real selling point here. Meeting a character at a table, with food in front of you, is a very different experience from waiting in a long outdoor line with a little one who’s already running low on patience. Breakfast gives your family a built-in seat, a built-in meal, and a built-in Grinch. If you have a Dr. Seuss fan in your house, or a kid who thinks the Grinch is hilarious instead of scary (they exist, I promise), this is a fun way to start a day at Islands of Adventure.
Capacity is limited, so if you have specific dates in mind, don’t wait around. Pick the day, grab your park tickets for the same day, and lock it in.
Planning a trip around it? We love our travel partners at Adventure Awaits Travel Company. Their trip planning is free; they’ll save you hours of research, and they’ll find the best value for your dates, so you can spend less time planning and more time on the fun part.
My Take
I’ll be honest: nobody is going to love a price increase, and $64.99 per adult is real money. But for a sit-down, all-in breakfast with a pastry starter, an entrée, a drink, and time with the Grinch and the Whos, it’s a solid way to make a holiday park day feel special, especially for families with young kids. If your crew would rather spend that money on rides and snacks, no judgment, there’s plenty of Christmas fun to go around. But if the Grinch is the main event for your family, this is the cozy, no-line way to do it. Book early, bring the festive outfits, and let the kiddos run the show.
Planning a Universal holidays trip?
Keep Theme Park Scope bookmarked. We’re sharing every holiday date, price change and booking opening as it happens, so you can plan your trip with the latest details before the Grinch gets there first. Come back often and tell us in the comments if the Grinch Breakfast is on your list this year!
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