Orlando Informer: Where can I eat breakfast before visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
I am going to Universal Orlando first thing in the morning to Harry Potter. Is there somewhere I can eat breakfast?
These days, if you are heading to Universal Orlando to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, it is incredibly important that you get there early. Throughout spring break and the summer, that area of Islands of Adventure can reach capacity easily within an hour of park opening. From that point, you need to get a reservation ticket with a return time if you wish to get into Hogsmeade Village. And if you arrive after 10 a.m.? Well, let’s just say you will certainly have plenty of time to enjoy the other attractions at Islands of Adventure.
But you are smart. You are planning to get your family to Universal Orlando by 8 a.m. so you’ll have plenty of time to get in line at the turnstiles before the general public is let in at 9 a.m. So what about breakfast? If you weren’t able to grab anything at your hotel, here are your options at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk:
Pastamore Restorante & Market
Pastamore is splint into two halves. One half of the restaurant is full-service and only open for dinner. The other half, which is the part you see as you walk just past the escalator in CityWalk, is their marketplace. It is quick serve, and it opens bright and early for guest on the go.
They offer a small selection of breakfast meals and a la carte items. The meals include a Scrambled Egg Breakfast with a croissant, eggs, potatoes, and your choice of bacon or sausage. It comes with coffee, tea, soda, or orange juice. It is $4.99 for the kids and $6.99 for the adults. They also serve a Breakfast Pizza with “assorted breakfast meats” or vegetables, which is $3.29 per slice. I recently tried the Vegetable Breakfast Pizza, and I was pleasantly surprised. For three bucks its was big slice of pizza piled high with scrambled eggs and veggies. They also have an assortment of pastries, yogurt, and fruit.
Cinnabon
Located right across the walkway from Pastamore is Cinnabon. If you’re looking for a more decadent way to start your morning, Cinnabon serves up their world-famous “original” Cinnabons fresh out of the oven each morning. They also have a few other pastie options, such as their Cinnabox Stix, and Seattle’s Best Coffee to drink. Items are $3 to $4 a piece.
Starbucks
Did you know that there is a stand-alone Starbucks at CityWalk? There is, and it’s located on the second level of CityWalk, right by the top of the escalator. Since this is a full-size Starbucks, they offer all the good stuff you’d find at your regular Starbucks, including everyone’s favorite coffee drinks and a wide assortment of bakery items.
The Starbucks at CityWalk also has a very cozy arrangement of tables, chairs, and couches inside. However, don’t get too comfortable, because you need to get in line for Harry Potter
Pastamore, Cinnabon, and Starbucks open at 8 a.m. You can learn more about them and the other CityWalk lunch and dinner venues on Universal Orlando’s website. Please note that Universal Orlando’s website doesn’t show breakfast hours for Pastamore.
See the complete Breakfast at CityWalk photo gallery on the OrlandoInformer.com Facebook page.
What is this I’ve heard about breakfast at Three Broomsticks?
Breakfast is also served at Three Broomsticks, the quick-service restaurant located inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But this breakfast requires a reservation, and it can only be arranged as part of an official Wizarding World of Harry Potter vacation package through Universal. If you are not familiar with this option, it is absolutely worth exploring. Why? Because not only do you get a breakfast one morning at Three Broomsticks, you also get early park admission, allowing you to enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for a full hour each morning before the general public gets in. You can learn more about Early Park Admission and the other guaranteed ways to beat the crowds at Harry Potter on my website.
Keep in mind that breakfast at Three Broomsticks is a “themed breakfast,” not a character breakfast. This means you get to have your breakfast meal inside Three Broomsticks, which is a beautiful restaurant, but the experience is no different than it is for lunch or dinner (other than the food, of course).
• Dan Hatfield is an Orlando enthusiast, vacation planning specialist, local blogger, and full-time student at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He runs OrlandoInformer.com, a site dedicated to providing practical knowledge and insider tips about a wide range of Orlando vacation activities. You can reach Dan via his website, on Twitter at @OrlandoInformer, or at [email protected].
