Care for a spot of tea? The Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience is officially reopening at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on March 19th, marking the return of afternoon tea to this elegant space after years of closure since the 2020 shutdown. Set those calendars: reservations will open on February 19th.
This refreshed tea service adds subtle inspiration from Alice in Wonderland while keeping the classic Grand Floridian atmosphere intact. The experience is designed for adults and children alike, making it an easy choice for families, celebrations, or anyone looking for a calm, sit-down break from the parks.
New Garden View Tea Lounge Menu
Tea Selection & Beverages
Tea is the centerpiece of the experience, featuring premium Twinings loose-leaf blends. Guests select their tea with guidance from trained Cast Members, then personalize it with aromatics added during the steeping process.
Twinings Loose-Leaf Tea Options include:
- London Strand Breakfast
- Spicy Chai
- Orangery of Lady Grey (exclusive to Walt Disney World, with citrus notes)
- Nutty Chocolate Flavoured Assam (chocolate and roasted hazelnut flavors)
- Blackcurrant and Lavender herbal tea (caffeine-free)
Tea-Based Cocktails:
- Mint Tulip: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Whiskey, Twinings Refreshers Peach Mango Tea, and mint
- Mar-TEA-ni: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Twinings Earl Grey Tea, lemon, and honey
Non-Alcoholic Specialty Beverages:
- Curiosi-TEA: Twinings Refreshers Strawberry Raspberry Herbal Tea with shimmering accents
- This Way, That Way: Twinings Refreshers Peach Mango Herbal Tea with mint
Champagne and sparkling wines are also available.
Food Offerings
The food service begins with a freshly baked scone before moving on to a traditional three-tier presentation.
Scone Course:
- Orange-Cranberry Scone with traditional accompaniments
Savory Selections (served on a 3-tier tower):
- Curried Chicken Salad Playing Card Tart with cherry gelée
- Footman’s Feast: Salmon rillette on a miso brown butter crisp
- Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich on beet bread
- Caterpillar Cucumber Roll with butterfly pea-infused cream cheese on pumpernickel
Sweet Selections (served on a 3-tier tower):
- The Matcha Mad Hatter: Matcha sponge cake with apricot jam and yuzu buttercream
- Tea Party Tart: Vanilla tart with coffee custard and chantilly cream
- Flamingo Croquet Choux filled with passion fruit cream and raspberry crunch
- Painting the Rose: Earl Grey-flavored teacake painted tableside
A plant-based afternoon tea option is also available.
Enhancements
Optional add-ons include:
- Seasonal Cheese Selection
- Royal Osetra Caviar with mini chive biscuits and traditional accompaniments
Children’s Afternoon Tea
Younger guests have their own menu featuring smaller portions and themed bites.
Savory:
- Queen of Hearts Cheese Toastie
- Fanciful Turkey Wrap
- Sunflower Seed Butter and Jelly Bun
Desserts:
- Cheshire Cat Raspberry Macaron
- Chocolate Brownie Branch
- Vanilla White Rabbit Cupcake
The return of afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge brings back a long-missed Grand Floridian tradition, now with a playful Wonderland twist that feels fresh without losing the charm that made it special in the first place. Will you be making a reservation for your own tea party?
