Disney Ends Decades-Old Mickey Waffles Tradition, Effective Next Week

If you were hoping to pick up a waffle at one Disney park, we have some bad news.

No Disney vacation is complete without a Mickey-shaped snack of some description. Over the years, Disney parks across the globe have branched out to the likes of Mickey-shaped pizzas, pretzels, beignets, and even eggs (shoutout to Tokyo Disney Resort, whose Mickey yolks will forever leave us baffled).

A yellow bowl filled with Mickey Mouse-shaped beignets sprinkled with powdered sugar, accompanied by chocolate, vanilla, and berry dipping sauces. In the background, there are two plates holding assorted donuts decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles. — Credit: Disney

But for many, nothing can beat the crispy, delicious simplicity of a Mickey waffle.

Available everywhere from Disneyland Resort to Disneyland Paris (although one location did ditch the waffles back in 2021) to Hong Kong Disneyland, these waffles have generated a fanbase nearly as passionate as those for classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world.” At one park, however, this fanbase has grown so big that the demand for waffles is causing operational issues necessitating some major changes.

A white plate holds four waffles shaped like a popular cartoon mouse character, along with three crispy strips of bacon. In the background, there's a small white container with syrup. The table has a green surface. — Credit: Disney

Disney Park Implements Operational Changes After Waffles Grow Too Popular

Tokyo Disneyland’s Great American Waffle Co. – where Mickey waffles are freshly cooked by cast members and served with whipped cream and fruit in each ear – is so popular that lines for a “quick” breakfast or lunchtime snack often outpace those for actual rides.

(For context, on our visit to Tokyo Disneyland in May, we genuinely waited 50 minutes for a waffle versus just 20 minutes for Splash Mountain.)

Mickey Mouse-shaped sign on the exterior of Great American Waffle Co. at Tokyo Disneyland — Credit: Tokyo Disney Resort

Due to its location in the uppermost corner, just to the left of World Bazaar (the park’s version of Main Street, U.S.A.), these crowds can prove pretty cumbersome to those trying to navigate to their first attractions of the day. Now, the lines have grown so out of control that the park is changing how guests order their sweet treat.

From November 1, guests can no longer simply get in line for a waffle.

Instead, anyone hoping to place an order for Great American Waffle Co. must do so via mobile order on the Tokyo Disney Resort app.

Female guests eat outside Great American Waffle Co. at Tokyo Disneyland — Credit: Tokyo Disney Resort

Of course, this provides an obstacle to many guests. While the Tokyo Disney Resort app is easier to navigate for non-Japanese speakers than it once was, it’s still relatively glitchy, and often has trouble accepting international bank cards.

We experienced multiple issues with the app earlier this year, with our card mysteriously disappearing from the app and refusing to be re-added. We were also unable to link Tokyo Disneyland tickets purchased from Klook to the app, meaning we were unable to place any mobile orders or purchase Disney Premier Access for popular attractions once inside the park.

Waffles in waffle maker at Great American Waffle Co. at Tokyo Disneyland — Credit: Tokyo Disney Resort

Hopefully, Tokyo Disney Resort can iron out these issues as it expands mobile ordering. Guests can already use the system at locations across Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea — including Café Orleans, Hungry Bear Restaurant, Royal Banquet of Arendelle, and The Snuggly Duckling — but if more spots shift to mobile-only, the glitches will need fixing.

Have you ever visited Tokyo Disneyland?