The Grinch and Friends breakfast has returned to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and I got to experience the first breakfast of Universal’s 2023 holiday season!

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 reservation times are  7 AM, 7:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 7:45 AM, 8 AM, 8:15 AM, 8:30 AM, 8:45 AM,  9 AM, and 9:30 AM from November 17th through December 27th, 2023. These reservations book quickly, so if you are visiting during these dates, be sure to book your breakfast ASAP!

This year, the Grinch and Friends breakfast experience takes place at Confisco Grille at Islands of Adventure. Be sure to print your tickets first at the park ticket kiosks located outside of the park. You can also stop by Guest Services to collect your tickets, but the park ticket kiosks are super quick and easy to use to pick them up. Once you have our tickets, you’ll check in out front of Confisco Grille. You’ll want to only check in close to your reservation time otherwise they will tell you to wait off to the side of the restaurant until it’s time for you to be seated. The hostess will take your Grinch breakfast ticket from you when you arrive.

Once it’s time for you to eat, you’ll be welcomed by the singing Whos as soon as you enter! Guests will enjoy a table-service breakfast with themed food and specialty treats. This is different than other years because it is not buffet style. You will receive a menu for you to choose your main entree. While you are deciding, you will receive an “appetizer” with croissants, muffins, and then a bowl of fruit. Your main entree has a few different options to choose from.

The Grinchmas Menu Includes:

The Grinch’s Green Eggs and Ham

Mayor Augustus’ Biscuits and Gravy

Martha May’s Chicken and Waffles

Max’s Smoked Brisket Skillet Hash

Cindy Lou Who’s Belgian Waffles

Betty Lou Who’s Power Bowl

Lou Lou WHo’s Breakfast Sandwich

There is a Little Whos menu where you can choose 3 items for the list:

Scrambled Eggs

Green Eggs

Belgian Waffle

Sliced Roast Ham

Roasted Potatoes

Fried Chicken

Biscuits and Gravy

Beverages include coffee, juice, and soda.

Once you are finished with your entree, you will receive a plate of different Grinch-themed desserts including Max’s dog treats, and the Grinch’s heart.

As you are eating, some of the local Whos will make their way around to your table as they talk and sing Christmas carols. It was such a fun character experience with all of them and I’m so happy I got to join in on the fun. The Grinch does not come around to each table. I actually preferred it this way because you don’t have to stay long after your breakfast if you are still waiting for him to come by. You will meet him at the end of your dining experience.

Grinch Meet and Greet

Once you are finished eating, your waiter will give you a Grinch postcard. This is what you will take to redeem your photo/meet and greet experience with the Grinch.  When you get to the character location at the front of Confisco’s, you will get a hole punch in your card. This shows you have had your meet and greet with The Grinch. The Grinch will be waiting in a  separate area so that way you can get your photos and videos with him once you are eating. He does not come around like in the years prior. I actually preferred it this way. We didn’t have to wait long to meet him and got to spend more time with him. No one else was waiting to meet him while we were there, so he took this time to talk with us. I feel like before he would have to move quickly to get around to all the tables and this way he could spend as much time as we wanted until the next group arrived.

Tickets are $58.99 plus tax per adult (Ages 10+). Tickets are  $32.99 per child plus tax (Ages 3-9). It’s important to note that the price does not include admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. A separate theme park admission is required and for the same date as the breakfast. Advance reservations are required and must be made at least 24 hours prior to arriving in order to book your breakfast time on your selected date.

Overall Review

I have read and heard a lot of negative feedback about this experience- Confisco’s wasn’t as heavily decorated for the holidays, the price was much higher for a 1-entree meet and greet, the food wasn’t that great, etc. However, I didn’t really experience any of this. I like a table service meal. I did like being able to try multiple food options with the buffet, but I really liked that a ton of people weren’t up walking around constantly and you didn’t have to wait for the Grinch so you could spend a lot of time with him at the end. I do think they could have added more characters to see/meet like year’s past, but you are ultimately paying for an easy way to meet the Grinch without waiting in an hour-long line. If you hate waiting in lines and want to get in the park early to start your day by meeting the Grinch, I definitely recommend it!

While all breakfast times with the Grinch are almost sold out for 2023, there is plenty of time to book your vacation to Universal for next year! Let’s get you booked so that way when the breakfast is available for 2024, we can get it added ASAP! You won’t want to miss it!