Guests visiting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s reimagined Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience won’t fall down the rabbit hole, instead enjoying an Alice in Wonderland-inspired retreat in a space reminiscent of the Queen’s beautiful gardens.
The vibrant new venue, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, opens today (March 19), offering a traditional British tea service, from bespoke teas to strong, colorful and creative snacks, enjoyed in a sun-drenched conservatory-inspired setting.
“[The building]features a style that was very popular in the early part of this century, and it’s a great fit for the Grand Floridian,” said Suzanne Zack, senior interior designer at Walt Disney Imagineering. “Throughout the space you’ll see many gorgeous details, including floral patterns, vines, and bird-studded foliage.”
The intent was to immerse guests in the garden, as evidenced by resilient murals, stained glass features of Florida-specific wrens and sparrows, and a pattern of leafy vines on the carpet.
That freshness is a big feature on the menu, as is Disney’s quirky take on the Lewis Carroll classic.
“There was a lot of great character and color and a lot of inspiration,” says chef Michel Schutte.
Savories include caterpillar cucumber rolls, which head pastry chef Alessandra Rogers describes as “stunningly beautiful”.
“The film’s iconic character, the caterpillar, has been reimagined in a beautiful cream cheese with classic cucumber slices and butterfly pea flowers. It’s on toasted pumpernickel bread with edible flowers…It’s visually appealing and very, very tasty. One of my favorites.”
Schütte’s menu, on the other hand, is Footman’s Feast, which she describes as “a salmon roulade with fresh smoked salmon and whipped cream, and beautifully seasoned.” “It sits on a miso-tinged brown butter crisp and has all the elements: savory, nutty and slightly sweet. It’s one of the most interesting things on the menu, but of course I love Chef Ali’s scones. They’re really delicious.”
Indeed, scones make a great pairing with Orangery of Lady Gray, a bright orange-scented black tea exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort.
“We also have seasonal fruit and Florida orange jams,” says tea expert Amber Trafford. “The menu that guests can experience seasonally and year-round includes elements of Florida.”
In addition to sweets and savouries, there will also be cocktail and mocktail options. They also have a very adorable, adult and Alice-themed children’s menu.
Among Rogers’ favorites are the Flamingo Croquette Choux, a “cream puff filled with passion fruit diplomat cream topped with hibiscus chantilly.”
That flower theme is here again!
“It’s a bright pink color, like a flamingo with chocolate wings,” she says. “With this menu, I’m really excited to incorporate moments from the movie into the dishes themselves, and one of my favorite parts is when the Queen of Hearts grabs a flamingo and plays croquet with the hedgehog.
“We hope that while our customers enjoy our menu, they will also be able to see some memorable moments from the movie.”
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If you go
Garden View Lounge Tea Experience: 401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
