Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park at the Plaza Inn

If you want to experience all aspects of Disney magic whilst you are visiting Disneyland California, then you really must do at least one Disneyland breakfast.

There are several amazing California Disneyland breakfasts available, including the Donald Duck Breakfast at the Paradise Pier Hotel, Mickey’s Tales of Adventure and the Princess Breakfast at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, and Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel – however we think it would be hard to beat the Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park – which happens right inside Disneyland at the Plaza Inn.

Location Location Location!

This Disney breakfast is the only one to actually take place inside Disneyland. Hosted in the historic Plaza Inn restaurant, an original landmark of Disneyland Park, this location simply can’t be beat. If that wasn’t enough Disney magic, this Disney breakfast experience is made all the more special by it’s views of the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty castle!

Before you go – don’t forget these essential items!

Essential items to take along with you to your Minnie and Friends Disneyland breakfast are your camera (of course!) and a Disney Autograph book, which you can purchase from most Disneyland gift shops. Your Disneyland Autograph Book will become one of your child’s most treasured Disney souvenirs. My girls page through their autograph books in wonder. If I had a dollar for every time Brooke or Samantha exclaimed, “I can’t believe we filled up our autograph books!”, I’d be a rich mum! Each Disney character has their own, very special autograph style – and it’s absolutely charming watching them sign your child’s book as they look on in awe.

What is the Minnie & Friends Breakfast like?

This wonderful Disney breakfast was truly magical. My girls and I absolutely loved every moment. Whilst it’s truly a thrill to come across Disney character circulating outside in the Disneyland theme park itself, it’s here at the Minnie & Friends breakfast that you will be given the opportunity to spend quality time with almost every Disney pal you can think of will come to you!

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Take advantage of our free Wise travel money card offer to save the AUD$10 card fee here.

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You have the opportunity to get photographs, hug, high five and generally hang out with all your Disney favourites – from the fabulous Minnie Mouse to Eeyore and even Chip and Dale, you’ll be starstruck with this very special Disneyland experience. With character after character dropping by our breakfast table to sign autographs, hug and pose for photographs, we all agreed this was one of our favourite times at Disneyland – and given how much we adored every aspect of Disneyland, that’s really saying something!

What is on the menu at a Disneyland Breakfast?

An expansive all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast is laid out for all to enjoy – with lots of special Disneyland themed foods too, of course! From all your standard hot breakfast or continental breakfast regulars such as bacon and eggs, to the essential Mickey Mouse waffles, you will be well set-up and ready to hit the Park afterwards!

You can even add a Mickey ears cake to your Disney breakfast reservation if you like!

Are Disneyland breakfasts just for kids or families?

No way! Whilst Disneyland breakfast are every child’s dream, and of course Disneyland breakfasts are very popular with families,  you will also see adults of all ages, be they singles, young to elderly couples and groups of adults without a child to be seen. People of all ages love Disneyland!

How do I book a Disneyland Character Breakfast?

You will need a valid ticket for entrance into Disneyland, and so access the Plaza Inn. Reservations for the Minnie & Friends Disney characters breakfast are highly recommended, however if there is availability you can attend without a prior booking (You will need to pay for the character breakfast experience if you are a walk-in).

Any Disney fan is going to absolutely adore this special Disneyland breakfast, and it really adds further wow-factory to your special Disney California family holiday. Don’t miss the Minnie & Friends Breakfast at the Plaza Inn at Disneyland!

To book a table, or find out more about the Minnie & Friends Disneyland breakfast, go to the official Disneyland Park website here

Where to stay in Anaheim

Whilst visiting Disneyland Resort in Anaheim we stayed in the Anaheim Marriot Suites, in Garden Grove.

Located only minutes from the Disneyland Resort attractions, this elegant full-service hotel is the perfect base for your Disneyland family holiday.

To book your Anaheim Marriot Suites or find out more, go to their official website here.

Read all about the three exciting California destinations we visited here!

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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Here’s my 2020 day-by-day California family holiday diary of what we did, where we went & how to do it!

Our one week California family holiday diary

Looking for a one week California road trip instead? Watch our YouTube California Road Trip video playlist here.

Day 1 – January 29

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In February of 2020 we took a trip from Sydney, Australia to the USA with Visit California to experience three different Californian destinations. We found that an incredible USA family vacation awaits where you can travel from theme parks to snow and back again to the sunny beaches of California – all within the same American state – and in the space of just one week!

Famous for its amazing beaches, theme parks and year-round warm temperatures, there’s a whole Californian winter wonderland that is just waiting to be explored! California makes a fantastic family holiday destination any time of year, but travelling during the Californian winter offers several big advantages that you may not have thought of.

Not only are there less crowds at tourist attractions and theme parks during winter, California winter holidays also happen to be less expensive due to the lower, off-peak season demand. This stretches your all-important family vacation dollar further! Year-round sunny weather means you can still have your beach holiday and add on a side trip to the mountains for some skiing too. These are just a few of the many advantages of visiting California during winter.

Watch our complete California trip in 5 minutes video!

Planes, trains and automobiles – or buses! Our California trip had it all. Watch our 5 minute video of what’s possible on an Australian family holiday to California here!

Of course there is so much more to see of California that just three locations as you can see in our video, however these particular Californian towns and cities are all stand-out holiday destinations – feature-packed with stunning sights and amazing attractions.

So without further ado, here are three amazing Californian winter holiday destinations we know you’re going to love just as much as we did!

Destination 1: Anaheim, California – home of Disneyland Resort

A family trip to California just wouldn’t be the same without visiting at The Happiest Place On Earth – Disneyland Resort!

Disneyland Resort is located in the Californian city of Anaheim, a 45 minute drive from Los Angeles.

Made up of two incredible theme parks, Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park, as well as the Downtown Disney District – plus the official Disney hotels – Disneyland Resort is an essential part of any USA family holiday.

One of the best things about Disney Resort is that even if you’ve been there before, it’s constantly changing. There are always new rides being added, new entertainment to enjoy and features to see. It’s what keeps Disney fans coming back year after year!

Disneyland Park, California

Disneyland Park, California is THE Disneyland where the Disney magic was first created by Walt Disney in 1955. It’s here you’ll find all the famous, original rides – plus some fantastic new attractions, such as the new Disneyland world, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

Read and watch videos of our Disneyland Park and the new Star Wars world experiences here!

Read our tips on what to see and do at Disneyland Park here!

Disney California Adventure Park

Disney California Adventure Park is an exciting theme park encompassing 8 different lands full of wonderful experiences and thrilling rides.  Some of the famous Disney rides you’ll find here are the Incredicoaster roller coaster, the iconic Mickey Mouse head Ferris wheel and Cars Land – a faithful recreation of the fictional town of Radiator Springs.

Read our tips on what to see and do at Disney California Adventure Park here!

Downtown Disney District

Downtown Disney District is a shopping, restaurant and entertainment precinct located between the two Disneyland Resort theme parks.

You don’t need a ticket to Disneyland to visit Downtown Disney, which means you can access this area whenever you like for a bit of shopping or a great meal.

With live music and entertainment as you eat, Downtown Disney is a great place to sit back and soak up the Disney atmosphere – setting the scene perfectly for all the Disney magic to come!

Cali trip tip! At Downtown Disney we recommend the Black Tap Anaheim restaurant – it’s a great place to grab a delicious American craft burger and wash it down with some of the most elaborate milk shakes you’ll ever see!

Visit Anaheim

Whilst Disneyland is a huge attraction, there’s much more to Anaheim than just Disneyland! Find out what other things there are to do and see in Anaheim, California here!

Where to stay in Anaheim

Whilst in Anaheim we stayed in the Anaheim Marriot Suites, in Garden Grove.

Located only minutes from the Disneyland Resort attractions, this elegant full-service hotel is the perfect base for your Disneyland family holiday.

Find out more about our Anaheim Marriot Suites stay here.

Destination 2: Mammoth Mountain, California

To pack even more into your California winter holiday, all you need to do – is just add snow!

Just one hour’s flight hop from LAX – or half a day’s road-trip – you’ll find California’s Mammoth Mountain ski resort.

From sun to snow holiday in just a day, it doesn’t get any easier or more convenient to enjoy the best of both worlds on your family holiday. Simply jump on a quick flight to Mammoth Lakes – and get skiing!

Mammoth Mountain ski resort

At Mammoth Mountain you’ll find a huge range of family snow fun!

The skiing at Mammoth is world-class with a huge network of ski trails and lifts to explore – plus ski lessons and great snow quality for all skiing levels.

But Mammoth isn’t just about the skiing – there’s a whole range of snow activities, traditions and fun on offer!

Read more about our adventures at Mammoth Mountain here!

Where to stay at Mammoth Mountain

Whilst at Mammoth Lakes, we stayed at The Village Lodge Mammoth – a luxurious hotel set in a beautiful village complex, boasting year-round entertainment and superior shopping and dining.

The Village also has its own direct-access gondola to the skiing trails of Mammoth Mountain. This is the perfect place to base yourself for your snow holiday at Mammoth!

You can read more about The Village Lodge hotel at Mammoth here.

Destination 3: Santa Monica

After all the winter fun of Mammoth, it was time to take advantage of that sunny Californian beach weather and head back to the coast – and gorgeous Santa Monica!

Conveniently located just 25 minute’s drive from LAX and 45 minute’s drive from the Disneyland theme parks, Santa Monica is a beautiful, family-friendly city.

It’s here you’ll find a miles of stunning sandy Californian beaches, fun entertainment and fabulous food and shopping – making it a wonderful all-round family holiday destination.

The iconic Santa Monica Pier takes pride of place on this sweeping coastline with its resident fun fair and iconic big wheel. Nestled beneath the Pier you’ll also find the Santa Monica Aquarium, plus several shops and restaurants lining the Pier boardwalk. A favourite tourist photo spot is at the Pier sign proclaiming it the “end of Route 66”, the famous American road trip route which snakes across the USA.

From year-round surfing lessons to skateboarding, or enjoying a family bike ride along the miles of paved bike paths, Santa Monica truly has something for everyone.

You can read all about our adventures in Santa Monica here.

Where to stay in Santa Monica

Whilst in Santa Monica we stayed at the stunning Shore Hotel.

The Shore Hotel is located directly opposite the famous Santa Monica Pier neon archway sign, and backs onto the main shopping precinct.

A truly green hotel, The Shore Hotel prides itself on being an eco-conscious, environmentally sustainable hotel.

You can read about our stay at the Shore Hotel here.

Book your 2021 family California holiday adventure now!

A winter California holiday truly is a very clever choice for your Australian family.

With exciting theme parks and world-class ski resorts only a short flight away from the mild winter climes of the beautiful California coast, you really do get to enjoy the best of all holiday worlds.

California is an incredibly beautiful, exciting and fun destination for the whole family. Why not book your own Californian family adventure now?

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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Any Disneyland Resort holiday requires several days to experience the full Disneyland magic, so Anaheim is the perfect place to stay during your time visiting Disneyland once it reopens. However there’s a lot more to see in Anaheim in addition to the Disneyland theme parks! We spent some time exploring the downtown city centre, and found there’s a lot to see and do in Anaheim!

Downtown Anaheim

Anaheim’s historical city centre offers the Anaheim Packing District with its bustling markets and exciting eateries, plus fascinating museums, avenues of  and its famous, graceful architecture.

It’s here you’ll find the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Centre, plus numerous other historic galleries, restaurants and cafes. Adorned with elegant architecture and rows of statuesque palm trees, Downtown Anaheim is a beautiful area to visit and explore.

Anaheim Farmers markets

The weekly Farmers markets are a great place to spend some time. Both locals and tourists alike enjoy these colourful, family friendly street markets. Live entertainment gives the markets a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. There’s plenty of fresh produce and food stalls to sample, and of course lots of fun fashion bargains to be found. This is the perfect place to nab that unique California souvenir!

Okayama Kobo Bakery and Café

A little piece of Japan right in the middle of Downtown Anaheim, we loved visiting the Okayama Kobo Bakery and Café. This unique bakery specialises in authentic Japanese-style pastry treats – even the wheat flour is shipped from Japan!

We had lots of fun taking part in an Okayama Kobo Bakery and Café’s Emoji workshop, where we decorated our own pastries – then ate them, of course! This beautiful bakery is the perfect place to stop for a delicious lunch in the café, or grab a convenient takeaway.

Anaheim has a lot to offer visitors

This is just a taste of all the fun and interesting things to see and do in Anaheim. There’s so much more – Knotts Berry Farm, the Oak Canyon Nature Centre, Angel Stadium…be sure not to miss out. Venture beyond Disneyland during your stay – I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Where to stay in Anaheim

Whilst in Anaheim we stayed in the Anaheim Marriot Suites, in Garden Grove. Located only minutes from the Disneyland Resort attractions, this elegant full-service hotel is the perfect base for your Disneyland and Anaheim family holiday needs. Find out more about this convenient and elegant Anaheim hotel here.

Find out more about Anaheim

To find out more about the exciting city of Anaheim, go to the Visit Anaheim official website here.

Find out more about booking your Australian family holiday to Anaheim, California at Visit California

Read all about the three exciting California destinations we visited in 2020 here!

This article is meant to inspired travel to California once it is safe to do to. The attractions and experiences featured in this article may be temporarily unavailable due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Please consult official travel resources and individual businesses to confirm future plans.

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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We were invited to try out the new Captain Cook Cruises Sydney Harbour Gold Series recently.

This is a memorable way to spoil that special someone in your life!

Sit back together and relax as you explore Sydney Harbour, feasting on course after course of sumptuous dishes.

A Captain Cook dinner cruise also makes the perfect family or girls night out – or of course a romantic couple dinner cruise!

Watch the Captain Cook Cruises video

To see what a Captain Cook cruise Gold class dining experience is like, watch our video here…

Gold & Platinum Penfolds Dinner

The new Captain Cook Cruises Gold Penfolds Dinner and Platinum Penfolds Dinner are about to launch for 2020.

Premium Captain Cook Cruises feature delicious Australian fare.

This is elegant Sydney dining at its best, as you enjoy a magnificent 6-course a la carte menu set against the backdrop of the beautiful Sydney Harbour.

Captain Cook Gold Cruises celebrate a perfect partnership with Australia’s finest food and wine producers.

Each Gold and Platinum Penfolds dinner cruise includes a superior plate-matched Penfolds wine selection, along with a six course degustation menu, tailored for each cruise. Wine selections include the classic St Henri Shiraz.

Guests enjoy superior upper-floor harbour views, live music and attentive gold-standard service.

The first departure of the 2020 Gold and Platinum Penfold series start late September 2020 and continue into 2021.

Why not book your own Gold or Platinum dinner cruise, or one of Captain Cook’s numerous other luxury lunch and dinner cruises? In addition, Captain Cook Cruises offer exciting whale watching cruises during the winter months.

For further details, go to the Captain Cook Cruises official website here.

If you enjoyed reading this article or found it useful, please consider sharing it on Facebook, or leaving a comment below – thank you!

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The Let’s Go Mum family were invited guests of Captain Cook Cruises.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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We were invited to try out the new Captain Cook Cruises Sydney Harbour Gold Lunch Series lunch recently.

Mummas – this is a beautiful way to spoil yourself – you deserve this!

Sit back and relax as you explore Sydney Harbour, feasting on course after course of sumptuous food.

This would also make the perfect girls day out, or perhaps a romantic couple experience!

Watch the Captain Cook Cruises video

No time to read? You can view our Captain Cook cruises Gold class lunch experience here…

Paddock and Claw 6 course dining

The theme of our Gold Lunch and Drinks cruise was “Paddock and Claw”, featuring delicious Australian shellfish seafood and beef.

This is elegant Sydney dining at its best, as you enjoy a magnificent 6-course a la carte menu set against the backdrop of the beautiful Sydney Harbour.

Captain Cook Gold Cruises celebrate a perfect partnership with Australia’s finest food and wine producers.

Each cruise also includes a superior beverage selection, along with a six course seasonal menu, tailored for each cruise.

The first departure of the 2020 Gold Lunch series is themed “Harbour Spice”, featuring Asian cuisine, ale and rice on Sunday 23rd February 2020.

Find out more and book your own Gold Lunch cruise now at the Captain Cook Cruises official website here.

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The Let’s Go Mum family were invited guests of Captain Cook Cruises.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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Normally when you go looking for a family restaurant on holidays you need to compromise on choice, taste and atmosphere. Not so in Tomamu! Hoshino Resorts Tomamu restaurants are family-friendly and a foodies delight! Here is a list of our favourite Tomamu family restaurants.

Top family-friendly Tomamu Restaurants – from breakfast to dinner!

Tomamu breakfast restaurant options

You can get a great family breakfast at many of the larger Tomamu restaurants, but we had one stand-out favourite…

Risonare Platinum

Breakfast was a real treat every morning while we were staying at the Hoshino Resorts Risonare hotel. We loved eating at the Risonare Platinum restaurant. The views from the 32nd floor are to die-for as you dine on every type of breakfast food you could imagine. Fresh fruit, yoghurts, scrambled eggs and sausages – even Corn Flakes! All the Australian favourites are here, but be sure to try the delicious Chef-made Corn Miso Ramen!

Tip – arrive early or you may have to wait to be seated

Tomamu lunch restaurant options

Lunch choices are numerous throughout the Tomamu ski resort. They range from small cafes to big restaurants. Here are our top picks of Tomamu restaurants we visited for lunch.

The Green Kitchen

The Green Kitchen is a great café to visit before or after you’ve been having fun at the Gao Outdoor Activity Centre next door. If your kids like to play in the snow, they can do just outside the restaurant windows. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, and the food and service is great.

Tip – don’t miss the spectacular crab pasta dish, which is delivered complete with the crab shell on top!

The Beachside Café

The Beachside Café at Mina Mina Beach wave pool is a beautiful place to eat, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful snowy landscape. They offer some great menu choices, including family favourites such as spaghetti bolognese and egg noodles. This is the perfect place to have a meal after your swim, when the kids are at their most ravenous!

Bistarai Bistarai

There are some good eateries located in the downstairs food hall at the Tomamu Resort Centre. We tried out Bistarai Bistarai, an Indian/Nepalese cafe. Their Cheese Naans and Hokkaido Lassie drinks (a yoghurt iced drink) were absolutely delicious! This is the perfect spot to grab a quick bite to eat when you have been skiing or snow-sledding your hearts out on the Unkai Gondola sled and ski runs.

Tomamu dinner restaurant options

Dinner at Tomamu is a highlight of the day, as there are so many fabulous restaurant choices. Luckily, you’ll work off all those delicious extra calories on the ski slopes, so eat up! Here are our favourites, including the two major  family buffet restaurants in Tomamu.

The Buffet Dining hal restaurant

The Buffet Dining hal restaurant is located at the Hotel Alpha, a five minute shuttle bus ride away from the Risonare or walk from The Towers through. This restaurant specialises in seafood and has some truly scrumptious Japanese food on offer. Soft drinks are included on tap. The  Ice Village is located a short walk from this restaurant, so you can even watch the Ice Village fireworks from your table. Finish off your meal with a cloud dessert – an ice cream delight, topped with fairy floss!

Tip – make sure you make a reservation, as the Buffet Dining hal restaurant is very popular, particularly on weekends.

The Forest Restaurant Nininupuri

The Forest Restaurant Nininupuri is another very popular buffet restaurant, but there’s no need to book. You can walk here in just minutes via a covered walkway from both Risonare and The Towers. Named for it’s massive glass windows surrounded by stunning green-lit forest, this is a spectacular place to eat. The focus here is on Chef-created meat dishes, but there is also a huge array of different foods available. From Macaroni and Cheese to noodle dishes and tiny dessert cakes, there’s a lot of variety. The kids loved the chocolate fondue fountain for dessert, and soft drinks are included on-tap.

The restaurant district of “Hotalu Street”

The restaurant district of “Hotalu Street” is located between the two tower resorts of Risonare and The Tower. The only ski in-ski out shopping precinct in Japan, Hotalu Street is host to several specialised eateries – we visited the Turkino Café.

Tukino Café

After a long day of skiing, we popped in to the Tukino café and bar for extraordinarily good hamburgers and chips. They also do some outstanding parfaits and coffee here. Laze around on the huge foam block benches and chat whilst you eat, then wander outside and back along the enclosed walkway to Risonare or The Tower to collapse into bed in a food coma!

To plan your own Hoshino Resorts Tomamu family winter holiday to try out these fantastic restaurants and more, book your accommodation or find out more please go to the official website here.

Perhaps we’ve missed one! Do you have a favourite Tomamu restaurant? Tell us in the comments below…

All information and prices are correct as at March 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu including many of the restaurants in this article, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

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The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is currently offering some wonderful Disney experiences for the family.

A magical Disney Beauty and the Beast experience

The Sofitel Sydney Beauty and the Beast High Tea is a dreamy Disney delight! This special Disney-Sofitel collaboration has resulted in the transformation of the entire hotel lobby into a magical Beauty and the Beast world.

Bunches of red roses are everywhere. TV screens feature Beauty and the Beast scenes. A stunning Belle gown replica is on display in a giant glass case, and there is even a “Belle’s Reading Corner” – a cosy area to sit in a comfy arm chair and read your favourite Disney story book.

The Beauty and the Beast High Tea

The High Tea itself is held in the Soiree, located just inside the hotel, next to the main front entrance. We were warmly welcomed upon arrival, and shown to our elegant table.

Our table was situated next to floor-to-ceiling windows, which gave us a fascinating view of the bustling city outside. Nearby another mother and daughter were also enjoying some special time together, sharing a Beauty and the Beast High Tea.

The beautifully set table was completely charming – a delicate gold runner stretched the length of the table. Red napkins rolled into the shape of roses were tucked into gold-gilt, whimsical tea cups and saucers.  A red rose encapsulated within a glass dome rested on a pile of leather-bound books – inspired by the Beauty and the Beast movie. We almost expected Belle to appear and pull up an arm chair!

The service was indulgently attentive – orders were taken for our choice of beverage. The girls chose hot chocolates and soon these, and a coffee for mum, were on the way. We were being thoroughly spoiled – and we loved it!

The drinks arrived, and then a three-tiered cake plate was presented, loaded with an abundance of scrumptious delicacies. The girls could hardly believe their eyes – was all this truly for us?! They were thrilled!

A very helpful wait-staff attendant described each delectable treat to us, and then we tucked-in. All of them tasted just as gorgeous as they looked.

Here is a short video to show you what our Beauty and the Beast High Tea was like…

There were warm scones, savoury tarts, and Angus beef and salmon sandwiches to start with. Then we moved up a tier into the sweetest of yummy treats. Cheese cake morsels, cream-puffs, strawberry tarts and macaroons. Pink and red, some even topped with gold flake, soon disappeared – popped into the mouths of little girls.

There was so much variety and number of savouries and cakes. We all summarily disposed of such a lot, yet somehow there was still a respectable amount left over!

We chatted, giggled, nibbled and sipped, watching the world go by. It was a lovely, pleasant time to share together as a family.

What a magical Beauty and the Beast High Tea experience we had with Sofitel Sydney!

You don’t need to end your Disney adventure here – why not delight your family and make a weekend of it? Read about our next fun Sofitel Sydney Disney experience – the Disney Family Fun Package here.

Sofitel Sydney Beauty and the Beast High Tea useful info

We experienced a Beauty and the Beast High Tea
Priced at *$69 per adult and *$29 per child, including a Beauty and the Beast activity set.

*All prices are correct as at April 2017

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
61-101 Phillip Street Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2000
Tel: +61 (02) 9228 9188
Fax: +61 (02) 9228 9133

Parking is available beneath the hotel at an additional cost.

You’ll find more information at the official Sofitel Sydney Wentworth website here

The Let’s Go Mum family were hosted as invited guests of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. As always, all opinions are our own.

Do you have any little Disney fans at your house? Tell us in the comments below…

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McDonalds Family Restaurant

Breakfast – Maccas – location-location-location!

Looking straight across the road at the iconic Surfers Paradise sign, this popular golden arches fast food joint has tables on the footpath outside and panoramic windows inside to enjoy that gorgeous Surfers Paradise beach view. It also happens to have the best breakfast pancakes in town – or at least the cheapest ones!

It’s crazy-busy here of course due to the fact that this restaurant is located smack-bang in the middle of Surfers, however with the help of the new McDonald’s self-service consoles you don’t even have to stand in line anymore – just Paywave and wait. The food delivery time is furious and fast, and the food is kid-friendly and served piping hot. Plus you don’t have to worry about your noisy toddlers disturbing diners, because everyone else has ’em here too!

Breakfast prices start at $1 for a hash brown, pancakes around $4, and the rest-of-day menu gives you a complete hamburger meal for around $8.

Open 24 hours, so be as early as you like – this McDonalds family restaurant is located at 1 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise.

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar

Lunch – Max Brenner Chocolate Bar – surely it’s everyone’s fantasy to drown themselves in chocolate….here is your chance!

Just a two minute walk from the main shopping Mall area, the Max Brenner Chocolate Bar is only slightly off the beaten track.

We were only passing by here on our way to lunch when we made the rash holiday decision to skip lunch altogether and go straight to dessert. Good decision!

Upon ordering our chocolate crepes, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate shots and – oh, chocolate everything, lets face it – we were met with an apologetic “There’s a ten minute wait at the moment – is that okay?”. I stared dumbly at the patient waitress, blinking a couple of times before giving myself a mental shake – ten minutes? Where we come from, that’s positively meteoric! I assured her that that was just fine, and sure enough, the food arrived in even less time than that.

The staff at Max Brenner are super friendly and great with kids. Come here for dessert, or even your main if you can stand the impending medical ramifications (Waiter – may I have chocolate on my double-chocolate chocolate with a side of chocolate, please?”)

If you like to save chocolate for your actual dessert (you kill-joy, you!), there’s always the option of grabbing your main meal from the stone’s-throw-away Clock Hotel restaurant. They do great family-budget meals, have al-fresco dining – plus you get to watch the cute clock display on the hour – bonus!

But remember, if you need to justify your holiday meal choices, chocolate never killed anyone, and strawberries on the side constitutes one of your daily serves of fruit…well, pretty-much anyhow. Enjoy!

Prices start at around $4.50 for a cupcake, crepes are around $20.

Located 3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise.

Hooters

Dinner – Hooters – we kid you not, Hooters may be a sports bar, but it is also happens to be a great family restaurant!

Perched at the edge of the main Surfer’s Paradise precinct on the Gold Coast Highway, you’re not likely to stumble across this restaurant if you’re just strolling about, so check out its location on your smart phone sat nav map before you go.

Hooters is a busy restaurant as you might expect, however surprisingly its patrons are primarily made up of holidaying young families and other random tourists. The attractive waitresses double as the entertainment, dressed in the obligatory tight t-shirts and shorts (nothing worse than you would see on the footpath everyday in Surfers).

The staff are all very forgiving of noisy children running about, and the waitresses get the kids up and involved in any fun – even dancing the Conga right along with them! The resulting atmosphere is one of hilarity and laughter – the perfect ingredients for a top family night out. Sure, the service time and ordering accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, but the food is divine (no, really – it’s good) and the entertainment aspect of girls dancing on tables and embarrassing birthday victims more than makes up for it.

Free parking is available in the underground Mantra carpark located directly underneath the restaurant.

Prices are moderate to high, with a plate of ribs costing $40 upwards, but there are plenty of $20 burger choices too.

Located at 2893 Gold Coast Hwy, Surfers Paradise

All prices are correct for September 2015

Have you visited any of these family restaurants? Perhaps you’ve had a great experience elsewhere in Surfers Paradise? We’d love to know! Tell us about it in the comments below…

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