Garden View Tea Room solo

[tammilynne]

Hello everyone!

Just found out yesterday I will be going to Disney World in July and I am beyond excited! I have been on 3 previous trips with my husband and 2 boys! We have done Star Wars week-ends and all the things boys love. I loved every minute but - This time I am going solo, kind of Some friends are going for work and know I love Disney and asked me to tag along - They will be in conferences during the day so I will be free to do whatever I choose - I have made 2 Reservations so far --

Be Our Guest @11:05 on my MK day and Garden View Tea Room @12:35 later in the week --

I have been looking at the boards and blogs but asking for help on Tea Room -- Best I can tell you order a "package" which comes with 3 courses and tea? Is that correct?

 

[noahdove]

You will get a menu for Garden View Tea and there are a few "packages" so to speak.
I usually get the Bedfordshire Tea and when I take young Princesses, they select
Mrs. Potts tea. I love it and everyone that I have taken there has totally enjoyed it.
If you want menu items, go to www.allearsnet.com and you can find menus and
prices for all dining in Disney World.. Good luck and enjoy...

 

[Ensusieasm]

Hello everyone!

Just found out yesterday I will be going to Disney World in July and I am beyond excited! I have been on 3 previous trips with my husband and 2 boys! We have done Star Wars week-ends and all the things boys love. I loved every minute but - This time I am going solo, kind of Some friends are going for work and know I love Disney and asked me to tag along - They will be in conferences during the day so I will be free to do whatever I choose - I have made 2 Reservations so far --

Be Our Guest @11:05 on my MK day and Garden View Tea Room @12:35 later in the week --

I have been looking at the boards and blogs but asking for help on Tea Room -- Best I can tell you order a "package" which comes with 3 courses and tea? Is that correct?

Yes, you do have to order a "package". You can't just order a pot of tea and a pastry. The cheapest tea "package" was 30 dollars last year. You get a pot of tea, tiny sandwiches, a scone and a berry jam tart, then your choice of two tiny pastries or a bowl of trifle. There are pricier "packages" that come with a glass of champagne, etc. I really enjoyed my solo tea. It was lovely.

 

[tammilynne]

thanks noahdove & Ensusieasm! that helps!!

 

[fauntleroy1953]

We have done the Tea 3X and will be doing number 4 end of August. We love it. Order your tea/ food package according to how hungry you are. Be warned that it may not sound like a lot, but those little sandwiches ,cheeses and spreads add up. It's a lovely atmosphere and great food. Once,we saw the Cinderella coach with footmen go past on their way to the wedding pavilion ( or possibly on their way back). It was magical. Afterwards,you can mosey around the shops on the first and second floors and people watch in the lobby while listening to either piano music or their band,depending on the time of day. Just a relaxing afternoon....

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Afternoon Tea at Grand Floridian: (*rev 01/14/2016*)
. . . food price value: D
. . . food quality: C
. . . food quantity per serving: B
. . . food prep speed: C
. . . food selection: D
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: A
. . . eatery atmosphere: B
. . . eatery convenience: C
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: C
. . . character interaction: n/a
.
Our Recommendations:
. . . appys:... n/a
. . . entree:.. Derbyshire Tea
. . . dessert:. n/a
.
NOTE1: The "Tea" is in a gracious atmosphere overlooking the pool and gardens of the Grand Floridian. A relaxing way to put a civilized break into your hectic park day. A negative for the true tea aficionado, is they serve only Orange Pekoe (OP) grade for non-green tea. Reservations
are almost a must. Casual "park attire" is fine, or you can "dress up".
You order packages. Anyone can order any package; except being no alcohol for the underage drinkers. Plan upon 1½-2 hours if you do it right and enjoy a relaxing respite. It may sound "stuffy" or "uppity", but not really. It's just people in a quite and sedate atmosphere. Hours: 2:00pm-5:00pm, except December when hours are 1:00pm-5:00pm. Now, you guys/dudes don't get discouraged or feel out of place (well, at
least not TOO much). There are other gents that get-roped-into-going (I mean join). Actually, it is a pleasant experience for us dudes. After all, look at all the Englishmen that do it. OK so not the best example, but you WILL enjoy it.
.
NOTE2: This is not up to the par of either High Tea or the Afternoon Tea, but it is a good way to spend an afternoon. As an FYI, High Tea and Afternoon Tea are different. "High Tea" is a later-afternoon event with more food, including meats. Also note that the "clotted cream" isn't, and they charge for additional pots of tea. Yeah, I know, it it pretty cheap and cheesy. I actually prefer the Tea at Waldorf Astoria on property and it's less expensive than the WDW Tea, even for the better selections. We enjoyed "Tea" at The Savoy and The Claridge's. The GF Tea does not rise to the quality of either. Take a cab to The Waldorf on property; better pricing, better teas, better service.
.
NOTE3: No longer can you order ala carte. You MUST order a package. With package, you may add ala carte items. It seems lots of folks came and did not spend a lot of money. They would just do ala carte. In fact, some simply ordered tea and nothing to eat, or just a few pastries. Disney is in the biz of big revenue, hence the change. Dollars-per-chair-per-hour. The Afternoon Tea is not on the Disney Dining Plan. No sharing of plates to reduce the price per-person.
Sample ala carte items (subject to change):
. . . British Cheese Plate $14.50
. . . Gentlemen's Tea Platter (berries, cheese) $12.00
. . . Assorted Tea Sandwich Plate (five sandwiches) $10.00
. . . English Blue Stilton Cheese $8.50
. . . Strawberries & Cream $6.95
. . . English Triffle $6.95
. . . Scones with Devonshire Cream $3.50
. . . Jam Tarts $3.50
.
NOTE4: Disney changed the menu and prices, again. The prices are now OUTRAGEOUS; maybe the famous PT Barnum was put in charge of the menu & pricing. The prices are ridiculously high. I have taken The WDW Tea off my recommended list. We do not expect to return to it soon. I have taken The WDW Tea off my recommended list for guests who come to my desk.

 

[tammilynne]

We have done the Tea 3X and will be doing number 4 end of August. We love it. Order your tea/ food package according to how hungry you are. Be warned that it may not sound like a lot, but those little sandwiches ,cheeses and spreads add up. It's a lovely atmosphere and great food. Once,we saw the Cinderella coach with footmen go past on their way to the wedding pavilion ( or possibly on their way back). It was magical. Afterwards,you can mosey around the shops on the first and second floors and people watch in the lobby while listening to either piano music or their band,depending on the time of day. Just a relaxing afternoon....

Thanks for the response! So looking forward to this now

 

[tammilynne]

Thank you "TheRustyScupper"
Very detailed review!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Thank you "TheRustyScupper"
Very detailed review!!

1) Prego.
2) But, you do not have to address me formally.
3) You can just use my first name, "The".

 

[loves to dive]

I go every time I go to Disney and I go twice a year. I love the atmosphere and while it is expensive it subs as one if not two meals for me so it's worth the money. Last time I couldn't eat everything, just took a bite of the pastry at the end and couldn't finish my whole pot of tea. They have changed how the bring it, now they bring everything out at once instead of bringing it to you in courses, which is odd but I still enjoyed it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

They have changed how the bring it, now they bring everything out at once instead of bringing it to you in courses, which is odd

1) NOT odd.
2) The faster you get everything, the faster you get out and the table "turns".
. . . serving in courses slows the time it takes you to sit-eat-talk-enjoy
. . . and, money/revenue/profit is lost if the table does not empty and get another paying guest ("table turns")
3) Again, Disney does what is good for them and not for the guest.

 

[automaticsoap]

They have changed how the bring it, now they bring everything out at once instead of bringing it to you in courses, which is odd but I still enjoyed it.

They must have adjusted it again. Just had afternoon tea today, and they served my first course (sandwiches) alone first. After I was finished, the second and third courses (scone and dessert) were served together on a tiered tray.

 

[Ensusieasm]

They must have adjusted it again. Just had afternoon tea today, and they served my first course (sandwiches) alone first. After I was finished, the second and third courses (scone and dessert) were served together on a tiered tray.

Oooh! A tiered tray! Sounds nice!

 

[loves to dive]

They must have adjusted it again. Just had afternoon tea today, and they served my first course (sandwiches) alone first. After I was finished, the second and third courses (scone and dessert) were served together on a tiered tray.

Good to know, I prefer it that way. I'll be back in Sept. and will be having tea then so let's hope they keep it that way.