Disney announced the Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will reopen after six years on March 19 with a new menu and Alice in Wonderland-inspired theming.
Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience
Reservations for the Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience will be available as of February 19. The tea room has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown Walt Disney World Resort in early 2020. Its reopening is the final phase of the Grand Floridian lobby reimagining.
The lounge has “new touches” from Alice in Wonderland and will offer small bites and a selection of teas. There are options for both adults and kids.
Beverages
Disney collaborated with Twinings to hand-select premium tea blends for the experience. The Twinings Loose Leaf Tea Selections include special flavors and classics like London Strand Breakfast and Spicy Chai, as well as more unique flavor combinations like Orangery of Lady Grey — a unique black tea featuring bright, orange notes that is exclusive to Walt Disney World. The Nutty Chocolate Flavoured Assam black tea has smooth chocolate and roasted hazelnut flavors. The Blackcurrant and Lavender herbal tea is a caffeine-free option.
Expertly trained cast members will guide guests through the process of selecting tea. Guests will then able to create a customized tea and choose an aromatic designed to accompany the tea, which is is added during the steeping process.
There are two signature tea-based cocktails. The Mint Tulip features Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Whiskey, Twinings Refreshers Peach Mango Tea Instant Beverage, and mint. The Mar-TEA-ni is Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Twinings Earl Grey Tea, lemon, and honey.
Non-alcoholic specialty teas include the Curiosi-TEA with Twinings Refreshers Strawberry Raspberry Herbal Tea Instant Beverage and a touch of shimmering magic. The This Way, That Way is made with Twinings Refreshers Peach Mango Tea Herbal Tea Instant Beverage and mint.
There will also be champagne and sparkling wines.
Food Items
There are sweet and savory options for the tea experience. The Orange-Cranberry Scone comes with traditional accoutrements.
A three-tiered tower of treats includes these savory options:
- Curried Chicken Salad Playing Card Tart: Savory curried chicken salad filling topped with cherry gelée
- Footman’s Feast: Wonderland Salmon Crisp with a salmon rillette on a miso brown butter crisp
- Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich: A traditional egg salad on beet bread
- Caterpillar Cucumber Roll: A delicious combination with butterfly pea-infused cream cheese and cucumbers on pumpernickel
The sweets are:
- The Matcha Mad Hatter: Sponge cake with apricot jam and yuzu buttercream
- Tea Party Tart: Vanilla tart, coffee custard, and chantilly cream
- Flamingo Croquet Choux filled with passion fruit cream and a raspberry crunch
- Painting the Rose: Earl Grey-flavored teacake painted tableside
There’s a plant-based afternoon tea selection, too.
Guests can add the enhancements of a Seasonal Cheese Selection or Royal Osetra Caviar with Mini Chive Biscuits and Traditional Accompaniments.
The Children’s Afternoon Tea features savory minis like the Queen of Hearts Cheese Toastie, a Fanciful Turkey Wrap, and a Sunflower Seed Butter and Jelly Bun. For dessert, kids can enjoy the Cheshire Cat Raspberry Macaron, the Chocolate Brownie Branch, and the vanilla White Rabbit Cupcake.
Are you excited to return to the Garden View Lounge? Let us know on social media.
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