Today I have a real treat for you— we are going to go over everything you need to know about Afternoon Tea at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Step back in time as Walt Disney World takes you on a tour of what it’s like to do high tea in the most magical place on Earth. It’s a British-style experience with even a Mrs. Potts Tea experience for your little ones.
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Origin of Afternoon Tea
The purpose of afternoon tea is to help stimulate hunger in anticipation of the evening meal. It was originally brought over to Britain from Portugal’s Catherine of Braganza who married King Charles II in 1662.
Join me and Lauren of OutDoorsyDiva.com within the walls of the Garden View Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, as we indulge in the relaxing ambiance of an era long since passed.
Listen to Our Afternoon Tea Adventure Below on Episode 47!
What to Know About Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian Resort
The Garden View Lounge is located on the first floor in the main lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa with the tea room experience that happens each day from 12 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
While enjoying some of the best garden views at the Grand Floridian, around 3:00 p.m. each day, you’ll be treated to lovely music of the Grand Floridian Lobby Pianist. Each day you’ll hear classic Disney tunes that enhance the elegant experience of afternoon tea in Orlando.
What’s the cost for Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian?
The price for this charming Garden View Room tea experience averages about $35 per person, to $75 per person depending on if you add any additional options.
5 Tips to Make the Most of Afternoon Tea
- Book Your Reservation ASAP – Reservations are tough to get here because it’s small, but keep trying every day until you snag that timeslot.
- Don’t Miss Cinderella’s Processional – While enjoying high tea, be sure to catch Cinderella and Prince Charming walking through the lobby for their enchanted waltz.
- Use the Cozies to Keep Your Tea Warm – This will be the velvet-based covering that you’ll place on top of your teapot.
- Recreate Your Own Afternoon Tea Experience at Home – Go to your local grocery store and choose unique cheeses and teas for your private foodie journey.
- Dress for the Occasion – It’s not mandatory, but it does add a little bit of magic to your high tea adventure.
Afternoon Tea Grand Floridian Menu and Prices
The Berkshire Tea – $150 for Two
- First Course: Mote Marine Siberian Sturgeon North American Caviar with Traditional Accompaniments
- Second Course: Medley of Finger Sandwiches Accompanied with Selected Fruit, Imported Cheeses, and Lavosh
- Third Course: A Traditional Buttery Scone with Jam Tart and Accompaniments. Plus, Your Choice of Dessert (Mousse-filled Swan, French Macaroon, Chocolate Covered Strawberries or Fresh-cut Strawberries with Whipped Cream, or Seasonal English Trifle)
Add Two (2) Glasses of Champagne to take your total up to $184.
The Cheshire Tea – $50 per Person
- First Course: Medley of Finger Sandwiches Accompanied with Selected Fruit, Imported Cheeses, and Lavosh
- Second Course: A Traditional Buttery Scone with Jam Tart and Accompaniments
- Third Course: Choice of Dessert (Mousse-filled Swan, French Macaroon, Chocolate Covered Strawberries or Fresh-cut Strawberries with Whipped Cream, or Seasonal English Trifle)
Add a Glass of Champagne to take your total to $67 per person.
The Bedfordshire Tea – $35 Per Person
- First Course: Medley of Finger Sandwiches Accompanied with Selected Fruit, Imported Cheeses, and Lavosh
- Second Course: A Traditional Buttery Scone with Jam Tart and Accompaniments
- Third Course: Choice of Dessert (Mousse-filled Swan, French Macaroon, Chocolate Covered Strawberries or Fresh-cut Strawberries with Whipped Cream, or Seasonal English Trifle)
Add a Glass of Champagne to take your total to $52 per person.
Mrs. Potts Tea – $23.79 Per Guest Ages 3-9
- First Course: Assorted Tea Sandwiches including Tuna Salad, Ham and Cheese, and Peanut Butter & Jelly on White Bread.
- Second Course: Jam Tart and Delicate House-made Pastries
The Garden View Room Tea Selections
You can view the selections of tea below. Be mindful that the offerings change often due to the season.
We got the Enchanted Forest Tea which was described as having a taste similar to a forest of fruits with raspberry, strawberry and blueberry, with a rich creamy vanilla to compliment the depth of this black China tea.
The other tea chosen was the Apple & Elderflower Tea which was described on the menu as a juicy apple, delicate elderflower and light Sencha-green tea, infused with the quintessential orchard flavors for a light and refreshing taste.
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The Garden View Room Afternoon Tea Review
We ended up going with the Cheshire option. It just made sense for what we wanted for our high tea adventure.
And yes, I did feel fancy with my Sunday brunch outfit as I got ready to taste delicate teas.
Lauren choice the Enchanted Forest Tea and I got the Apple Elderflower Tea which was fruity and a highly aromatic, light white tea.
So, I trusted Lauren’s lead and dove right in!
Because of my cozy, my tea stayed at a perfect temperature and strength as the afternoon tea experience progressed.
Cheese and Fruit Course
We were given raisins on the vine, pineapples, and pear along with jelly and cheese. The cheese and the tea complimented each other.
I did appreciate the fresh, perfectly ripened fruit which only enhanced the flavor of my tea.
Be sure to taste your tea once your palate has some fruit. You’ll end up doing your happy dance just as I did mine.
During the cheese and fruit course, the fig jelly was the winner!
All you’ll need to do is add a little bit of the fig jelly to your pear since the pear is not as sweet as you think. By adding the jelly to the pear, it creates a combination of lovely flavors of lightly sweet with a hit of bitterness.
Overall the cheese with the sage was my favorite of this course. It was creamy, yet mild with a hint of fresh sage.
Finger Sandwiches
For this course we were given an array of finger sandwiches, which were my highlight of the afternoon. The Tantalizing Cucumber had crunchy slices of cucumber with cream cheese.
Next was the Traditional Egg Salad Sandwich.
It tasted like something so familiar, but different at the same time. I enjoyed the creaminess of the egg salad with its hint of sweetness too.
The Poached Pear Sandwich was placed in between Gorgonzola cream cheese and topped off with fire roasted tomatoes. It was a little intimidating at first, but I tried it anyway.
I wasn’t a fan of the pear flavor, but the gorgonzola cream cheese bread definitely made up for it.
My Onion Tart was slightly sweet and definitely a savory pie. It ended up being one of my top dishes of the day.
Up next was the Sweet Curry Chicken.
I saved this savory dish for last because it was my most anticipated dish. And like I expected, it did not disappoint.
I’m a huge curry fan and I was happy to know that it wasn’t too overpowering. The sweet hint in the chicken salad filling completed the dish.
Scones
We were then served a Buttery Scone with double cream lemon curd. The bread was light which allowed the lemon curd to shine.
The Buttery Scone was then followed by a Strawberry Jam treat which was served within a delicious tart. It was sort of like a pop tart, but a sophisticated one.
Dessert
For dessert we had the Mousse Filled Swan an absolutely incredible pasty, some French Macaroons that were too sweet for me, and Chocolate Covered Strawberries that were just right.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, everything went well with the tea I selected. It may seem like it will not be a lot of food, but I left the Garden View Tea Room very satisfied.
My favorite aspect of the adventure was the feeling I got sitting in the bright, quaint room. The pianist playing in the background and Cinderella walking by totally added to the wonderful ambiance.
The total cost for our Afternoon Tea dining experience cost a little over $100 with tax and tip for two people. Although this is a unique experience at Disney, the price was still a little steep to me.
I enjoyed my time and am glad I got to knock this one off my Disney World bucket list.
Overall the Afternoon Tea Experience was way more than I expected. It was so much fun and such a different experience to have a Walt Disney world.
Is Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian Worth It?
Absolutely!
This is definitely a place you want to go to celebrate something special. Especially if you’re in the company of great people!
The tea was phenomenal and the Cheshire Tea Experience left me quite satisfied.
I give this restaurant a 4 out of 5 stars!
I hope you enjoyed listening to me and Lauren taste our way through traditional afternoon tea.
So, let me know if you’ve ever thought about experiencing afternoon tea at Disney’s Garden View Tea Room inside the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa?
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Planning a trip soon? If so, read the Disney Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
NikkyJ