GF Afternoon Tea and desserts from TS

[WUVmyDISNEY]

Hi everyone! Has anyone done the afternoon tea at the GF? Are ADr's required for this? I have really been thinking about trying this out on our way back to the Poly at our afternoon break time.

Also, can you go to a table service restaurant and just order dessert? I wanted to try one of the desserts from Kona Cafe but was not interested in dining there on this trip. Can you get take out desserts from here or must you dine in? thanks...

 

[aribelle]

Oh yes, the Tea at GF is heavenly. So relaxing, so delicious and so graceful....can you say that about food and drink?

I would strongly recommend that you make an ADR....it is a small space and can book up fast. We really wanted to go at the first sitting (2pm), but it was not high enough on my long list when I called at 180 days.....we ended up at 3:50. I have called 3 or 4 times a week hoping to change this time and it's not budging. I think word has gotten out!

I can't answer on the take out dessert specifically from Kona....but I can say that I have read repeatedly about people on the dining plan not having room for dessert and the server packs it up for them to take with them. If they have the ability to do that, it would stand to reason that they have the boxes for a reason. And besides....I'm fairly sure that the server would be happier if you took you dessert only meal to go.......rather than tying up a table that they could get a full tip from.

Couldn't find a direct phone number for Kona, but call Polynesian: 407-824-2000 ask them to put you through to Kona and ask!

 

[dsnygirl2006]

I HIGHLY recommend the Tea, OMG, it was the highlight of my trip last year, we got an ADR this year (yes you need to make a ressie) for 3:40, the live music starts playing in the lobby at 4:00 and its so wonderful, I love to eat, drink tea and listen to the band, its just an AMAZING experience....you will LOVE it!!!

Here are a few pics from our tea last year, I liked it so much I went back a 2nd time during our trip last year.....

 

[aribelle]

the live music starts playing in the lobby at 4:00 and its so wonderful,

Could you tell me more about this.....our ADR is very close to 4pm (not my first choice, but I have yet to be able to change the time). The girls and I love to sit and chat and enjoy our tea.....BACKGROUND music would be fine, but is this live music such that conversation in the tea room is now almost shouted or not happening? All I can remember in the lobby was a piano....is the live music you speak of more than that? Would it be different because of the Christmas season?

I was almost resigned to our later time for tea, but now I'm worried that it might ruin the mood we enjoyed so much last time.

 

[dsnygirl2006]

Could you tell me more about this.....our ADR is very close to 4pm (not my first choice, but I have yet to be able to change the time). The girls and I love to sit and chat and enjoy our tea.....BACKGROUND music would be fine, but is this live music such that conversation in the tea room is now almost shouted or not happening? All I can remember in the lobby was a piano....is the live music you speak of more than that? Would it be different because of the Christmas season?

I was almost resigned to our later time for tea, but now I'm worried that it might ruin the mood we enjoyed so much last time.

Oh no its not loud enough that you have to shout at each other at all, its just like background music, its an orchestra and they play kind of like big band music, it just makes you feel like you have gone back in time, it just fits right in with everything

 

[aribelle]

Oh no its not loud enough that you have to shout at each other at all, its just like background music, its an orchestra and they play kind of like big band music, it just makes you feel like you have gone back in time, it just fits right in with everything

Whew, thank you. I think I was imagining Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers, lol. We stopped and listened to the piano player our last visit and that was wonderful....it was a bit loud but we were sitting right near him after all. What you describe sounds perfectly suited to tea time!

 

[ElizabethB]

Take out used to be easy from any WDW restaurant. It's impossible now, due to Disney Dining Plan. The restaurants are far too busy to deal with take out -- which I've been told many times.

I have to fight them tooth and nail every time I want to take out breakfast from a specific restaurant near where we like to stay, which restaurant shall remain nameless. They do everything possible to discourage it.

They make me sit down, order from the menu, pack it up with the waitress as if I were simply taking the part of the meal I couldn't finish. All this, just to make sure the waitress gets her tip! I'd tip her three times as much if she'd just pack it up and bring it to me.

So, in my experience, take out is impossible from WDW restaurants since the advent of the DDP.

 

[gismo1554]

Hi everyone! Has anyone done the afternoon tea at the GF? Are ADr's required for this? I have really been thinking about trying this out on our way back to the Poly at our afternoon break time.

Also, can you go to a table service restaurant and just order dessert? I wanted to try one of the desserts from Kona Cafe but was not interested in dining there on this trip. Can you get take out desserts from here or must you dine in? thanks...

As said Afternoon tea is fantastic

With Take-out it is discouraged now as the restaurants are more busy due to Disning plan. Does the coffee shop attached to Kona not serve the desserts?

Also if going in and getting it packed up you will have to wait for a table.

 

[shyjade]

As said Afternoon tea is fantastic

With Take-out it is discouraged now as the restaurants are more busy due to Disning plan. Does the coffee shop attached to Kona not serve the desserts?

Also if going in and getting it packed up you will have to wait for a table.

The coffee shop next to Kona only serves coffee in the mornings, and it's now a Sushi bar later in the day.

As for take-out dessert from Kona, just beware...last year we stayed at the Poly and at the end of our meal, I asked for my dessert to be packed up "to go" so I could take it back to the room to eat (server knew we were staying at the Poly). I got back to the room, tucked DD into bed and sat down to eat my dessert (15 minutes after leaving Kona) only to find the dessert, which was supposed to be served warm (so the chocolate center would be liquidy) was fridge-cold (never heated). It was like chewing on a hard block of thick, cold chocolate. Ugh! Certainly not the dessert I would've received in the restaurant!

I learned my lesson the hard way...order it to be delivered to the table and THEN request a to-go box!

 

[Aimeedyan]

The tea is lovely and yes you need reservations. The pianist has always been in the lobby when we dined but it just was background noise.

You can try to have just dessert at a Disney restaurant, they will be much happier to do this when they are not crammed with people. Getting things to go is nearly impossible now.

 

[MickeyNicki]

The GF tea is incredible, yes you do need ressies as it fills up quick. Tons of pics in my March/April review

 

[Lavender_Blue]

Is there a menu online I can look at for the GF tea?

It's topics like these that make me so excited I found this board! I love that there's so much to do here in Disney.

 

[shyjade]

Yes, on allears.net

 

[Lavender_Blue]

After looking on what the DIS site says and Allears I still haven't figured out what they mean by "pastries." What sort of pastries do they have?

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

Thanks for that number Aribelle! I definately will do afternoon tea--if I can get a ADR! I tried already and they can not accomodate the 3 of us at one table. I am going to call back of course, but maybe I should have taken the one at 2 different tables with the hopes of all sitting together anyway? I won't want to do this if we can't all sit together.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

Ok--I went ahead and booked it anyway. They booked 2 tables for 2 but said they can't guarantee that the tables will be together. Do you think I should have waited to see if a table for 3 came available or just take my chances at check in at the GF for the tea? Would they try to accomodate us and put us together anyway do ya think?? Thanks!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Ok--I went ahead and booked it anyway. They booked 2 tables for 2 but said they can't guarantee that the tables will be together. Do you think I should have waited to see if a table for 3 came available or just take my chances at check in at the GF for the tea? Would they try to accomodate us and put us together anyway do ya think?? Thanks!

I think keeping it as is would be the best choice and call back on occasion to see if a larger table opens up. If not, go a little early and tell the hostess that you are traveling together and would like to sit together if at all possible.

 

[MickeyNicki]

After looking on what the DIS site says and Allears I still haven't figured out what they mean by "pastries." What sort of pastries do they have?

I have a pic of the platter of pastries in my April link

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Oh, I'm glad I read this thread; DH's at a conference in October and I booked the tea for myself. I plan to take a book and have a nice afternoon to myself.

 

[clhcpaca]

Oh, I'm glad I read this thread; DH's at a conference in October and I booked the tea for myself. I plan to take a book and have a nice afternoon to myself.

I've gone twice by myself (with a book) and have an ADR for September. I've also gone with DD and DGD (ages 9 & 7). It is a very enjoyable experience all times.

Cindy