Mary Poppin's Tea: Help! Help!

[tiglet]

Hello! New to boards.

Could someone please help me understand how to do the Mary Poppins tea thing? I don't understand the English customs (with the straining and everything). I've only used bags, not loose tea.

Thank you.

 

[teri]

You might want to post this question over on our Community Board or even the United Kingdom DIS Community Board.

 

[tiggerpoo]

We are also doing this tea- Don't they still do this in Disneyland??

Tiglet, I'm not sure of tea straining either but I'm sure someone here can help us?

 

[Michelle]

Don't worry about how to strain your tea at the Merry Poppins Tea, they will give you instructions if needed. It's not a formal high tea, it is mostly a character interaction experience with refreshments. Enjoy!

 

[teri]

Yeah, but Michelle, we want to look elegant and refined when we go.

 

[rgoble5972]

The tea straining thing is really very easy. The strainer rests over the mouth of your cup. You simply pour the tea into the strainer and the tea runs out the bottom of the strainer and into your cup, with the strainer catching the tea leaves. You then remove the strainer and your cup of tea is ready to go. The only thing you need to watch for is to not get your cup too full--it is sometimes hard to tell how full you are getting the cup with the strainer across the mouth of it.

We did the Practically Perfect Tea in December and had a great time. Here is the write-up I put in my trip report:

We arrived breathless at the Paradise Pier hotel and were directed upstairs for tea. They were just beginning to seat guests for the 3:00 tea. The room was beautifully furnished with antique tables, chairs, couches and china cabinets. There were also a few white wicker pieces. All of the tables were already set for tea with various floral patterns of china and silver. We noticed that there were many more children at this tea than the one Paula and I had done at the Grand Floridian at WDW in May. There were three groups there for birthday parties.

We were seated at our table which was already set with a plate of scones with sweet cream and raspberry jam each. The CM came over and took our order for tea (Darjeeling all around) and soon brought out individual teapots for each of us. I was very impressed with the nerves of steel that these CM's must have to let these tiny little kids, some not more than four years old, pour their own "tea" out of real china pots into real china cups. There were a few spills, but nothing was broken.

After a few minutes Mary Poppins arrived wearing her coat, hat, and scarf and carrying her umbrella and carpetbag. She sang "Spoonful of Sugar," said a few words, and then disappeared into the kitchen to get some tea. The CM playing Mary was wonderful. She had a lovely British accent and singing voice and never broke character. We laughed at how practical and truly "Mary Poppins-like" she was as she bossed around the CM's that were serving, clapping her hand together and saying "spit-spot!"

After a short while, Mary came back out and made her way around the room to each table. She introduced herself, talked a while, and posed for pictures with everyone. She praised Wes for being such a good sport in coming to tea with us. While Mary was going around the room, the CM's brought out plates of finger sandwiches (ham and provolone on white bread, turkey and mango salad on white bread, chicken salad on wheat, and cucumber and watercress on a sea-shell shaped roll--all with the crusts cut off, thank you very much) and a bowl of cream of mushroom soup. The soup was delicious and the sandwiches were all very good. The turkey and mango was my favorite.

At one point, Paula obviously became possessed by Frank (see our experience at the Grand Floridian tea in my May, 2001 trip report) and poured her tea into her cup without using the tea strainer and so ended up with a cup full of tea leaves. Frank would have been so proud.

After Mary had gone around the room she sang "Chim Chiminee" complete with broom and speck of soot on her nose then quickly left to change clothes while everyone ate. When Mary came back she was dressed in her white dress, hat and boots and spoke a minute about the children telling her to be sure to "bring sweets." On cue, the CM's came out with plates of sweets for everyone (an apple tart, a Mickey Mouse shaped cookie with apricot and raspberry jam, and a white chocolate bar in the shape of a tea pot with "Practically Perfect Tea" written on it).

Mary then invited each table up one at a time to dress up in hats and feather boas (top hats for the men) and have their picture made with her by the Christmas tree. We were the first table to go and then we settled back down to eat our sweets. We enjoyed watching Mary interact with all of the guests. Quite a few of the little girls were wearing their princess dresses--Snow White, Cinderella, Belle,etc. Mary was placing several children on a couch so they could get their picture taken and she addressed one of the little girls as "Belle." The girl asked how Mary knew she was Belle and Mary replied, "My dear, your picture is on your dress!" Perfectly practical and completely in character.

We decided that it's a good thing tea has caffiene in it, otherwise we would all be asleep at the table--it has a very calming effect. The CM's brought around the checks ($82.50 including gratuity/$22.50 per person) and then Mary sang "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and had us all sing along. Then it was time for Mary and us to go.

We left for the Grand Californian very full and very sleepy. On the way across the street I saw a yellow and red fire hydrant that for a moment looked exactly like Winnie the Pooh. Great! Now I'm hallucinating. I wonder what they put in that tea. One piece of advice--never drink four cups and tea and then try to walk anywhere without first going to the bathroom! It was a very close call getting back to the room!

Anyway, we had a great time so don't worry about it--just go and have fun!

 

[teri]

Thank you for that neat description, Robin!

 

[tiglet]

rgoble:

Thank you so much; that's exactly the answer I was looking for!! This sounds like a lot of fun; now I can't wait to go! I'm so glad it isn't ultra-formal I enjoyed reading your trip report excerpt. I knew there would be somebody here who could help me!

Thanks again!