wow, I seem to be in the minority here about the character breakfasts.
The hotels are open to the general public, ie locals and general public can access them without paying for a park ticket.
I deeply resented the fact that I had paid for a park ticket, yet anyone could walk into the hotels and meet the characters. Meeting the characters is a main part of the Disney experience, but when they were at the hotel breakfasts it was like a big 2 fingers to the those of us who paid for park tickets. I'm sure the locals thought it was a great thing, oh lets go to the hotels during breakfast time and meet the characters for free, any day we want to!!
Now though, with the characters moved to the park during EMH , its back to being what it was originally meant to be, an exclusive for hotel guests who make the effort to be in the park for EMH.