Review: Disney restaurant is decorated for Christmas and has Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles

It’s that most wonderful time of the year again!

While our Jewish friends celebrate Hanukkah from Dec. 7-15, many other friends are making preparations for upcoming winter holidays such as Christmas, Kwanzaa and HumanLight.

Those with children in their lives are doing everything they can to rein in the kids’ bubbling excitement while still working hard to keep cherished holiday traditions alive. Our young family was a Disney fan group and, as I look back, I wonder if we really kept the Disney character breakfast tradition alive more for us adults than for the kids.

Here on the Treasure Coast, we can get a little slice of that Disney experience without ever leaving town. Wind & Waves Grill at Disney’s Vero Beach resort is open to all for breakfast or dinner and the hotel is currently decorated to the nines. Gracing the lobby is a sparkling Christmas tree over 30 feet tall and balconies and halls are decked with holly, garland and tinsel galore. 

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At Wind & Waves Grill in Disney's Vero Beach resort, the breadbasket has a flaky croissant, fresh muffin, homestyle biscuit and cinnamon roll.
At Wind & Waves Grill in Disney's Vero Beach resort, the breadbasket has a flaky croissant, fresh muffin, homestyle biscuit and cinnamon roll.

After taking pictures in front of the tree, we three holiday-loving adults made the most of the opportunity to take in the beauty and magic of the holiday as we "dined Disney" for breakfast, which is not just Micky Mouse waffles.

We shared a breakfast breadbasket ($10). After portioning the large, sweet, gooey cinnamon roll three ways, we didn’t even have to fight over the goodies. A flaky croissant, fresh muffin and a tall, homestyle biscuit came with the cinnamon roll, so there were plenty of enticing pastries for all.

My sister always makes excellent choices. She had the Mediterranean skillet ($14), a delicious plant-based scramble with artichokes, mushrooms and spinach served with toasted plant-based pita.

At Wind & Waves Grill in Disney's Vero Beach resort, enjoy your customized, made-to-order omelet any way you like it.
At Wind & Waves Grill in Disney's Vero Beach resort, enjoy your customized, made-to-order omelet any way you like it.

Always wanting to customize his choices, my husband had a create-your-own-omelet ($14) made just for him with spinach, ham and cheddar cheese. He chose home fries over the grits and a biscuit over toast. What a guy!

But I believe my choice was the best of all. A frittata ($13) was baked with roasted chicken, red peppers, mushrooms, potatoes and spinach and double-topped with a layer of sweetly caramelized onions and a layer of cornbread crumbles. It rested in a pool of mushroom gravy. The best, right? Add a side of bacon ($5.50) and what more could you desire?

Disney characters, you ask? Unfortunately, there are no Disney characters, but I am told they may be coming back to the Vero Beach resort in the near future. Keep your fingers and toes crossed!

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Wind & Waves Grill will have a Christmas brunch buffet from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 25. The buffet will feature items such as chicken and those famous Mickey waffles, roasted leg of lamb, made-to-order omelets, biscuits and sausage gravy and lots more. Reservations can be made online at Open Table, or by stopping by the hotel front desk or restaurant podium. The cost is $40 for adults and $20 for children ages nine and younger.

At Wind & Waves Grill in Disney's Vero Beach resort,
At Wind & Waves Grill in Disney's Vero Beach resort,

Wind & Waves Grill

  • Cuisine: American

  • Address: Disney Vero Beach Resort, 9250 Island Grove Terrace, Vero Beach

  • Phone: 407-939-5277

  • Hours: Open daily; breakfast is from 8-11 a.m. and dinner is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

  • Alcohol: Full bar

  • Online: Website, Facebook

  • Reservations: OpenTable

Maribeth Renne dines anonymously at the expense of TCPalm for #WhatToDoIn772. Contact her at maribeth.d.renne@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Restaurant review: Breakfast at Wind & Waves Grill Disney Vero Beach