We love any excuse we can find to take a break from the crowds at Walt Disney World. So when we discovered Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian many years ago, we were hooked! Not only did it get us away from the crowds, but was also a nice break from the heat, the rain, and the craziness that can come with a Disney vacation. After our first time having tea in the Garden View Tea Room, we make it a point to enjoy afternoon tea whenever we can!
What is the Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian?
Pretty much every day an Afternoon Tea is held in the Garden View Lounge. And if you’re looking for a nice view, a quiet chat, and little things to nibble while you sip tea then this is the place for you.
Where is Tea at the Grand Floridian?
If not parking at the Grand Floridian, you can snag the Resort Monorail from Magic Kingdom to get to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. The Garden View Tea Room is located on the first floor at the back of the lobby. This little conservatory room is small but very easy to find. If you’re coming in from the monorail, you’ll want to head downstairs and it’s easy to find from there! Just look for Mrs. Potts and Chip on the floor.
What Time is Tea at the Garden View Tea Room?
Tea at the Garden View Tea Room is available from 12 pm- 4 pm Daily at the Grand Floridian. And starting at 3 pm, you can hear beautiful live music being played in the lobby!
How Much does Afternoon Tea at Disney Cost?
Anywhere from 35 dollars per person to 185 dollars per person depending on what you choose! Of course, the higher range includes caviar and champagne. But never fear, the 35 dollar tea is usually just perfect. And if you’re bringing the kids, you can grab a kid-sized tea for 24 dollars. See all the details below.
Do You Need a Reservation for the Garden View Tea Room?
Reservations are Highly Recommended if you want to have afternoon tea at the Garden View Tea Room. And absolutely ESSENTIAL during busier times of the year. Since having tea is often not only for little princesses, but also bachelorettes, wedding parties, and all manner of special occasions, reservations can be hard to come by. So, we recommend booking as soon as you know you want to have tea at the Grand Floridian!
How Long Does Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Lounge Take?
Plan to spend at least one hour on tea. Tea is meant to be leisurely and for us, it actually is enough food that it replaces a meal; so be sure to plan for enough time to actually enjoy it! Besides, anytime spent at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, is always time well spent. So, while the tea itself may only take a little over an hour, be sure to check out the lobby, the Lace Wall, the gift shops, Basin, and the grounds. You can even head to Gasparilla Island Grill for all the new snacks at Walt Disney World before you leave.
Disney’s Afternoon Tea Menu
While the menu for the Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea does change from time to time, it generally offers the same food items. Tea selections will change based on season but currently, the menu offers 3 different selections for adults and a Mrs. Potts Tea for little ones. All tea experiences include finger sandwiches, scones, and dessert, along with a pot of tea of your choice. Since the menu does change, there is no published menu on the Walt Disney World website, but we are sharing our pictures of the menu from our last trip there so you can get an idea of what they offer.
What Tea Do they Serve at the Garden View Lounge?
- The Berkshire: $150 for two to share
- The Cheshire Tea: $50 per guest
- The Bedfordshire Tea: $35 per guest
- Mrs. Potts Tea: $23.79 per guest
What Food do They Serve at the Garden View Lounge for Tea?
- Finger Sandwiches
- Scone with Accompaniments
- Choice of Desserts
For the Ultimate Tea Experience, you can go opt for an upgrade to champagne and caviar or cheeses and fruits! Want to take your prince or princess to Afternoon Tea but not sure if they’ll actually enjoy tea? No worries! Smaller guests can get chocolate milk in place of hot tea if desired with kid-friendly finger sandwiches and pastries.
What is the Cost of Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian?
Again the menu does change frequently, however, at the time of writing this post, your tea experience can be as expensive as $184 for two to share or as inexpensive as $35 per guest. And the Mrs. Potts Tea will generally run you around $24.
When is the Best Time to Have an Afternoon Tea at Disney?
Frankly, we recommend tea any ‘ol time you need it! Often at Walt Disney World there is so much rushing around like a crazy person that we find we really, really, need to feel a little slower, a little pampered, and a little less crazy. There is nothing tea can’t fix. Add in tiny sandwiches and desserts and you’re golden. For us, we book tea on our full Magic Kingdom day. That way we can stay close to the action without battling the crowds. This has worked well for us on days we attend the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party when we know it’s going to be a late-night and need a break before heading back into the chaos. We also love tea to celebrate all special occasions. The Garden View Tea Room is perfect for bridal parties, mom and daughter days, or a Disney girls trip.
Why we Love Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room
We love Tea at the Garden View Tea Room because even though we might be sweaty, tired, or stressed out (all of which can happen on a trip to Walt Disney World!) having afternoon tea gives us a reason to stop. To stop running to our next ride, to stop worrying about getting the perfect picture, and to stop trying to fit more in than we can ever get done. Experiences like Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room are the things that make Walt Disney World feel more like a vacation to us. And less like an obligation to accomplish more than humanly possible in a magical vacation. We highly recommend Tea at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa!
Would love to do this but we are gluten-free. I know Disney is great about accommodating that, do you know if they have an option for gluten-free treats at tea?
Hey Keri!. They don’t have a gluten free menu, BUT you can mention that you are gluten free and they will go over the treats they can make you.