Come Sit with Us at The Garden View Lounge for a Spot of Tea

Around the Disney Parks Blog office, we trade bags of Twinings like baseball cards and hotly debate the correct way to pronounce “bergamot.” A quiet herbal tea is the perfect pause in our busy publishing days, and a caffeinated cuppa makes posts like this possible.

So, it would be an understatement to say we were excited to review the new The Garden View Lounge — Tea Experience at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Down the rabbit hole and into a teacup, you’re invited to pull up a chair with me and Laura on behalf of Disney Eats. Our elegant table awaits, with Alice In Wonderland-inspired whimsy and, why yes, plenty of tea and scones.

Don’t worry, we’ll get to the scones. But first, we took our seats at a table set with delicate floral teacups and saucers. The carpeted lounge felt intimate and refined, layered with muted fabrics, polished wood, and classic Victorian-inspired details that reflect the resort’s timeless elegance.

Natural light filled the space, pouring in through windows that framed sweeping views of flowering gardens and swaying palms just outside. And just like at the Mad Tea Party, Laura and I eventually switched seats to enjoy the view (and photogenic lighting).

Our gracious server, Rola, greeted us as she poured warm rose water over two tablets in a little bowl. Suddenly, they sprouted in a very Wonderland way into a pair of hand towels! The warmth on our hands and soft floral scent was a small but thoughtful gesture that set the tone for an intentional and welcoming teatime.

As we explored the menu, we were guided through a selection of eight Twinings teas, right at our table. A sample sniff of each loose-leaf tea was presented, allowing us to smell and explore before choosing.

I selected the Blackcurrant & Lavender tea, drawn to its deep berry aroma with gentle floral notes. Laura, who has an eye for the unique, chose the Orangery of Lady Grey. In the U.S., this blend is exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort with bright citrus notes layered over a refined black tea base.

Our individual teapots arrived shortly after, each prepared specifically for our selections. As my tea was poured, the steam rose gently, carrying the scent of blackcurrant and lavender across the table. Having a pot to myself allowed me to sip at my own pace, returning to it throughout our afternoon without ever feeling rushed.

Along with the tea came warm Orange-Cranberry Scones, served with butter, Devonshire cream, and preserves.

The scones were dense and indulgent. Rola let us know that we were welcome to request another scone during our tea service, and once our teapots were finished, we could ask to refresh our tea, included as part of the experience.

Soon, Rola brought the afternoon tea tower to the ceremony of our ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs.’

Its three tiers offered a gradual journey through savory and sweet selections, but first, there was business to attend to. Rola proclaimed that there was a problem with our roses on the topmost tier: They weren’t red!

She quickly fixed them up with a liberal pouring of rose sauce. Now we were safe from the scrutiny of the Queen of Hearts and ready to dive in.

The bottom tier of our tea tower featured rich herbal flavors in two savory selections. Note that a plant-based selection is also on The Garden View Lounge — Tea Experience menu, along with a Children’s Afternoon Tea serving, and other extras like a cheese plate, caviar, and specialty drinks.

The Curried Chicken Salad Playing Card Tart featured savory curried chicken salad topped with cherry gelée. Big fans of curry, Laura and I agreed that this was our favorite of every bite on the tower. The flaky tart was the perfect vessel for this tender curry treat with the cherry gelée hearts adding just a bit of sweetness.

Next, the Footman’s Feast: Wonderland Salmon Crisp packed a bold salmon rillette on an interesting miso brown butter crisp. I was new to this flavor combination, with the brown butter sweetness mixing well with the salmon on top.

Laura loved the Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich with egg salad on beet bread. The playful coloring on the bread was so delightful and again this was an addition to the tower that will leave you feeling full.

The Caterpillar Cucumber Roll was the one I was excited about. Since my early days imagining fancy tea parties, cucumbers and cream cheese were on the dream menu. The butterfly pea flower-infused cream cheese added a bit of color and fantasy to a roll that was perfectly balanced; soft flavors of the crisp cucumber and the tang of the pumpernickel bread.

The top tier was dedicated entirely to desserts and pastries, each one beautifully presented. Nods to Alice in Wonderland mingled in the elegance of traditional afternoon tea.

I love both flamingos and croquet, so I went for the Flamingo Croquet Choux first. This puff was soft yet still crispy on the outside. The passion fruit cream filling and a raspberry crunch gave a fruit flavor that was impressive but not overpowering.

The Matcha Mad Hatter is a good one to slice open to view the layers. Inside, we discovered a soft sponge cake with apricot jam and yuzu buttercream atop a piece of solid chocolate. The fruity flavors were perfect to blend with the gentle matcha cake.

We sampled Painting the Rose next. I thought the Earl Grey-flavored teacake worked well with the rose buttercream and rose sauce on top. If you like a vibrant rose flavor, this is your treat.

Our final toast was made via the Tea Party Tart. We plucked the tiny teacups from the top, then enjoyed the gentle sweetness of the coffee custard and Chantilly cream.

Laura was quite finished after we conquered the tower, but I asked for another scone. As the final cups of tea were poured, a very special guest popped by to say hello.

“So happy to be here today for the reopening of this fabulous restaurant with great food!” The gregarious Mr. Stephen Twining is the tenth generation of the famous tea family; his father, Sam Twining, was at EPCOT on October 1, 1982, to welcome guests to The Tea Caddy in the UK Pavilion for the first time. For fans of tea, this was like meeting [insert your favorite sports star here].

Stephen is tall, British, and quick to laugh. He was delighted to join today’s tea party and encouraged us to try his favorite bites on the tea tower (he really likes the Cucumber Roll). I asked Stephen about his favorite tea blends, and he said he usually reaches for an English Breakfast in the morning and a refreshing green tea for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Laura, curiouser and curiouser, asked Mr. Twining perhaps the most iconic question: “How do you take your tea?”

“Depends on which tea,” Stephen suggested a splash of milk in the Orangery of Lady Grey or an English Breakfast. “But for green teas and herbals, just as they come.” I’ll be freely recounting this moment over tea for the next twenty years.

Filled to the brim with tea and whimsy, we soon departed to continue our day at Disney. The Garden View Lounge — Tea Experience is an ideal option if you want to slow down your Walt Disney World Resort visit and savor every moment and flavor that comes across the table.

You can check availability and reserve your seat online at the official Walt Disney World site. For anyone seeking a refined break filled with beautiful views, exceptional teas, and a sense of timeless Disney hospitality, this is an experience worth sitting down for.