Tell Me Your GF Afternoon Tea Experiences please!!!

[DisneeMommee]

 

[GrimGrinningVal]

I absolutely LOVED the afternoon tea at GF. My mom and I enjoyed this for the first time last march, and had so much fun we can't wait to go again! We ordered the Buckingham Palace tea service - the first course of sandwiches were my fav! We had: cucumber & watercress, egg salad (my fav), shrimp salad, chicken salad, poached pear with gryere cheese, and a sweet onion tart. Second course was the scone with devonshire cream, jam, and a raspberry tart - all to die for! Third course was dessert; my mom chose some snacks from a tray, while I had the strawberries and cream. For the tea mom enjoyed the Princess Breakfast hot tea, and I had the Cassis ice tea. Will try to scan some pics; everything was so pretty, from the room to the china.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I've done the tea several times. It is a favorite of ours (it's not on the Dining Plan if anyone is wondering).

I have had my husband and another male friend join me at various times. They both really enjoyed it as well.

Yes, you can get the teas iced. I often do this on warm days.
You can get anything ala carte...pastries, scones etc.
You can get a to go box for leftovers so I don't see a problem with a box for scones, etc. Don't forget to ask for some extra jars of jam!

We usually have one person get the tea that includes the sandwiches and scones and pastry. The other person gets the tea alone and then adds the cheese and fruit platter and we share. LOVE the cheese platter and fresh fruit!!!
We tend to lounge there for a very long time and have never been rushed. They even bring us extra crackers and fruit to share sometimes if they see us enjoying a particular thing.

Tips: when you get the scones, ask for whipped cream and strawberry jam on the side. The whipped cream is not usually there. You have to request it.

Ask for Angela as your server....she will treat you very well...she's been a CM for a long time and knows lots of tips for all over the World. She is super friendly and chatty if you like that (we do). She also will load you up with over-flowing plates!
We never need dinner after going to this in the late afternoon.

I recommend booking the latest time. It pretty much will take the place of dinner (cost is similar to dinner). And, if you would like to linger, you can stay after when they are no longer seating people and just sip your tea for hours.

If you can't finish your tea (since they give you an entire pot), ask for a to go cup and you can take it with you to enjoy.

The Tea Room sells some of their one of a kind tea blends. I purchased a can of the princess tea on my last visit. It is $19.99 for a can of the tea. It is all hand blended and FRESH. The tea is usually less than 2 weeks old so Angela said it will last at home for over a year. It may seem pricey, but an entire french press (quart) of tea can be made with 1 1/2 teaspoons of their fresh tea leaves.

The teas that are sold in the gift shops are NOT the same thing. Eventhough some of them have the same names (like the mad hatter), they are not the same. They are made by a different company. The Garden room teas are made by a company called 'T'.

 

[SunnieRN]

Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!

Thank you everyone for even MORE great advice! I am glad to hear they let you bring leftover tea and pastries with you! The sammies sound great and so do the scones with devonshire cream!

The tea sounds like a wonderful idea, in a canister to bring home! It would be like a bit of WDW on a daily basis. I can see me buying a tea press pot now. lol! Jeanieblue114 thank you for the cast member advice also!! I will ask for her if she is there!

Thank you everyone and GrimGrinningVal, I would LOVE to see some pictures!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

When are you going to WDW next? You would be more than welcome to join us, and you don't even have to pay our way!!

Thanks for the offer, boy I sure could have used nice hot tea this Feb, it was 40 during the day!

Beaslyboo - you can have tea all by yourself. On our last Disney visit, it was just a couple of our boys and myself. They went out on the water sprites while I had a delightful afternoon sipping tea and watching them zip around the lake. I keep a tea journal, so I recorded comments and thoughts. Some of the other guests commented that I could join them, but I enjoy a moment of peace in my busy life. I had no problem sipping tea alone.

A nice quiet time to yourself, what a nice idea!

Sounds like a plan!

 

[brewcrew]

I have never been there so now I have to go after reading everyone's reviews. I can always count on my fellow disers to give me great information!

 

[TimeforMe]

Does anyone know if this can be booked online or do you have to call?

 

[Lisa75]

Does anyone know if this can be booked online or do you have to call?

You have to call for this one.

 

[Minnie]

We had a very poor experience at the tea and will not return

It was one of the only very negative food allergy experiences that I have had at WDW

 

[SunnieRN]

We had a very poor experience at the tea and will not return

It was one of the only very negative food allergy experiences that I have had at WDW

I'm sorry to hear you had allergy issues. They can be quite dangerous! Usually Disney is over the top careful about allergies.

 

[disneyag]

I'd love to do this with my DD13. Is there a dress code for this, or can one just show up in their "park clothes"?

 

[SunnieRN]

I'd love to do this with my DD13. Is there a dress code for this, or can one just show up in their "park clothes"?

Park clothes are fine, from my understanding. I have heard the dress varies from shorts/tshirts, to a nicer, more formal dress. The review said that they felt comfortable coming straight from the park. Have a wonderful time!

 

[disneyag]

Thanks, SunnieRN--I'm going to call now to book it!

 

[katt95]

This is a great tea, expecially on a hot summer afternoon. I am doing it again in June with my teen age daughter, sister in law, and mother in law. We normally get the Buckingham Palace. I love the house blend of tea. Very good for black tea drinkers. I do not like the flavored teas unlike the rest of my party. Scones are the best!!!! Enjoy!!!!

 

[SunnieRN]

Thanks, SunnieRN--I'm going to call now to book it!

Have fun!!

Thank you Katt!! I not only want to have scones, but want to bring some to my daughter and grandsons as she booked the tea for me!

 

[sanapunk]

I've been several times with a good friend, enough that the wait staff recognizes us! I ordered the Buckingham palace tea the first time, because I didn't know what to expect. Now I usually order the scones,jam tart, pound cake, and my FAVORITE tea is the nobo whole fruit! Soo yummy and fruity.

My most memorable experience was going on Halloween in costume!

cute holiday themed cakes!

As someone else already mentioned, ask for Angela or Patricia! We've always had lovely service from these two ladies

 

[tessa67]

Well I'm bummed! I've wanted to try this for the last umpteen years and not a single member of my family or friends will do this with me! I've even offered to pay! You all make it sound so wonderful!

Oh My!!! You take your sweet self there and enjoy some solo time with a good book!!!

I have never heard of this experience before, I am so excited to try it in December with my DD3.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

We had a very poor experience at the tea and will not return

It was one of the only very negative food allergy experiences that I have had at WDW

OMG Minnie, may I ask what happened?
I was super excited about going here, but DD is allergic to peanuts, I have read that they can accommodate it (but they do serve PBnJ). SO sorry for your experience, now I am second guessing making the ressies.

 

[boldlyreal]

We did the tea two weeks ago and loved it! My DH, two DS 17 and 15 and our DD, we all had different teas.
Me-Eros loved it didn't even need to seeten it
DH- Russian Earl Grey
DS1- Darjeeling
DS2- Cassis
DD- Mad Hatter

We all finished our entire pot.
DH and I had the grand tea with the Domaine Ste.-Michelle sparkling wine.
The kids had the Buckingham Palace

We added ala carte:
The British Cheese Plate
The Gentleman's Platter
1 serving of Sally Lunn Bread

It was a huge amount of food and this was our evening meal! I was stuffed afterwards.

Our favorites varied, mine was the scone with the Devonshire cream, I could eat my weight in this I think .

I will be doing a trip/dining report on Wednesday with some pics. We lost our main camera this trip with several days food porn on it Its ok I will borrow here and there to suppliment the experience.

 

[aesalsa]

My sister and I will be enjoying tea on Mother's Day this year . This will be be my second time here and her first. She is not a tea drinker. Does anyone here know if she can order The Grand Tea or the Buckingham Palace and have a pot of coffee instead?

Thanks!