Enchanted Rose, the new lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Walt Disney World, is now in soft opening. During soft openings, cast members work out kinks, and operating hours may vary from what they will normally be after the lounge is fully open.
Enchanted Rose is located on the second floor where Mizner’s Lounge and Commander Porter’s used to be, and includes touches and callbacks throughout the space to Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast.
The new lounge is divided into four areas: the Ballroom, the Garden Room, the Garden Patio, and the Library. Let’s take a tour of each space, one at a time. Each of the four spaces share a color story of varying shades of blue, green, purple, and gold. A bit of black is thrown in for good measure. Surfaces featuring wood and marble are also found throughout the lounge.
The Ballroom. Clad in mid and dark tones of cornflower and navy, this space is elegant without being stuffy. The paneling on the wall is accented with gold floral motifs.
The windows that lined Commander Porter’s have remained, and the light streaming in prevents the space from being too dark. The showpiece, of course, is the chandelier. While the final version of the chandelier is somewhat different from what was shown in the preview artist’s rendering, it no less beautiful. The chandelier is meant to echo the lines of Belle’s ballgown. Each spiral piece of cut glass is suspended individually; it is simply stunning, and casts a warm glow around the room.
The arms of the barstools in the Ballroom are wrapped in a cream and black velveteen damask print, and the bar is wrapped in wood with floral flourishes. I cannot over emphasize the beauty of this space.
The Garden Room. This space is just to the right of the Ballroom, and is a somewhat quieter spot. The manager that I spoke with explained that this space represents the forest that separated the Beast’s castle from the nearby village. Green is introduced into the lounge’s palette here, and the result is a room that is warm and spacious. The ceiling panels are outlined with ambient lighting, a large mural lines one wall, and a wall of windows and doors leading out to the Garden Patio lines the other.
The Garden Patio. The patio is filled with comfy chairs and has ample space to share a drink with friends. The patio has beautiful views of Seven Seas Lagoon, and the manager mentioned that, in the evening, guests on the patio will have a great view of the Electrical Water Pageant.
This space also overlooks the Alice in Wonderland-themed water play area and the Disney Vacation Club Villas. When the weather cools off in the winter, the patio will be outfitted with heaters to keep patrons warm and toasty.
The Library. Any lounge dedicated to Beauty and the Beast has to have a Library, doesn’t it? This space is located to the left of the Ballroom, and is well appointed and sophisticated. This room features tables that can accommodate larger groups. The tables are flanked by chairs that feature rose patterned fabric.
Drapery panels hang from the ceiling, and help to divide the space into seating nooks. You’ll see more hints at the live action Beauty and the Beast in this room than in the others.
The enchanted rose sits atop the mantel of a faux candle-filled fireplace. The rose, along with the numerous classical pieces, adds whimsy and warmth to the area.
There are baroque touches everywhere you turn in this space.
Who wouldn’t want to sit here at the end of a long day of touring the parks? Do you see a familiar clock sitting on that shelf to the right?
Mrs. Potts sits on a shelf in the Library near a book filled with fairy tales.
Some of the chairs and stools in the Library, and in the seating area just outside of the lounge, are clad in embroidered gold and purple velveteen. Do you spy Lumière sitting on the shelf? I appreciate that this space pays homage to the film without being too overt.
The seating area outside the lounge echoes the space inside.
The Enchanted Rose is now in soft opening, and will celebrate its official grand opening on Tuesday, October 8th at 1pm. Please stop by, and then drop your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to know what you thought of the new space.
