REVIEW: The New “Wave Feast” is Almost Better Than the Breakfast Buffet at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Matthew Soberman

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REVIEW: The New “Wave Feast” is Almost Better Than the Breakfast Buffet at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Among the many changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to Walt Disney World has been the suspension of the buffets across property, with several reopening as family-style dining. But thankfully, The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, has found a way to bring back favorites from its breakfast buffet in a new entrée, “The Wave Feast.”

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If you’re like us, much of the allure of a buffet is that you have the opportunity to try lots of different dishes, many of which you probably wouldn’t order on their own. (Of course, the ability to make another visit to the buffet line and get more of your favorites is also a big selling point.) Making its debut today, this menu selection aims to bring the variety of the buffet to a platter in this time of COVID. 

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Our server shared that many guests were asking about the fan-favorite buffet breakfast, and when it might return. As to when the buffet may return, no one knows, so in the interim, the chefs decided to create a massive platter containing “many of the favorites from the buffet.” 

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This platter has almost everything a diner could want from the buffet… with one major exception! You get scrambled eggs, three strips of bacon, three sausage links, an egg Benedict, breakfast potatoes, a Mickey waffle, the amazing bacon-cheddar grits, and a bowl of fruit. What is conspicuously absent, however, is the signature dish of restaurant: the sweet potato pancakes. (Yes, they’re called “signature” on the menu!) The pancakes are available in a separate entrée.

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While all of this is very good, the omission of one of the greatest breakfast items at all of Walt Disney World from this platter is almost unforgivable. Although we do love Mickey waffles, they certainly could have included the pancakes in place of the waffle. Or, better yet, instead of the breakfast potatoes. While the breakfast potatoes are good, they pale in comparison to the other starchy sides here.

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On many occasions when ordering eggs or an omelet, we would always ask to substitute the grits for the breakfast potatoes. Even if you hate grits or have never had them, we recommend you try these. They completely changed our thinking on grits. In any case, this is a valiant effort to provide guests with almost everything they could want in a breakfast at The Wave. At the price point of $20.00, it’s an amazing value and plenty of food. In our ideal scenario, I’d have a dining companion who was willing to share the Feast and an order of the sweet potato pancakes. That would be the best way to recreate all of the favorites from the buffet.

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We wouldn’t hesitate to order this again. All of the items were fresh and delicious. That in itself makes this platter better than the buffet, since we’ve experienced lukewarm and slightly dry Eggs Benedict, grits, and Mickey Waffles on the buffet. We’ve seen this in other restaurants as well. The one that immediately comes to mind is Biergarten in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion, where the family style platters brought to the table were so much better than the buffet.

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Our only other complaint about this meal, which is not specific to The Wave but applies to almost all on-property restaurants that changed from buffets to family-style service due to the pandemic, is that your beverage is no longer included in the price. That adds $3-4 to the price of the meal, so when comparing the value of the buffet to a plated option, that’s a big difference. Still, for the price, you can satisfy many of your buffet cravings for a reasonable amount.

Will you be trying out this new breakfast option? Share your thoughts in the comments!

2 thoughts on “REVIEW: The New “Wave Feast” is Almost Better Than the Breakfast Buffet at Disney’s Contemporary Resort”

  1. Staying a the Contemporary in December and if this is still the deal we will definitely give it a shot at least one time!

  2. It looks great, but who wants to eat a gigantic meal like that and walk around the parks? C’ mon man and I’m sure it’s overpriced!

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