Why no High Tea service at UK in Epcot?

[Quin]

I know they have afternoon tea at the GF but I've always wondered why they don't have this in the UK Epcot?
. . . the GF Tea commands a high price
. . . would be hard to match in-the-park

Did they ever offer this there?
. . . no

Do you think it's a good idea?
. . . no
. . . too many noisy and smelly people
. . . too much "park attire"

Oh, yes, they did. DH and I had afternoon tea in the Rose & Crown in May or June of 1991. If the restaurant had been open for lunch it must have been a limited window of time, because then there was a single seating for tea. It was wonderful! First they brought your choice of tea while they served warm scones with plates of clotted cream on each table plus various jams. Then they brought you a few tea sandwiches. Then at the end they brought around lovely little dessert pastries. I don't believe alcohol was offered (although it might have been but just was so far off our budget then that we did not partake). And there was no menu - everyone was served the same thing. IIRC, too, during each course CMs were circulating with baskets of the scones or sandwiches or whatever, offering more if you wanted.

When we went back to WDW in 2001 the Tea in England was gone, so I made a reservation for the GF tea instead. What a let-down it was!

I have no idea how long the Afternoon Tea was offered. It must have been at least a year because I had read about it in one of the guidebooks I'd borrowed from the library, and that would have been at best the edition from the prior year. I still mourn its loss.

 

[ElizabethB]

Thank you, Quin, for the lovely memory!

Afternoon tea in the UK pavilion would be neat again. After all, what does one expect from World Showcase but the chance to sample (Americanized of course) the foods and shopping of other cultures.

There is room in every pavilion for more construction -- Italy has added a pizza parlor and a wine bar. Each "country" is more or less a movie set front with scads of land available for additions. We have been "backstage" numerous times.

Sadly, most of the nice touches everywhere at WDW have been eliminated in a culture that demands that everything be highly profitable or it must be jettisoned.

As a friend was recently told by a highly placed Food and Wine Festival exec when my friend mentioned how lovely the Reserve Dinners from years ago were: "Oh, but those weren't cost effective".

Yep. So, unless Disney sees significant profit potential from afternoon tea in the UK, it will never happen. And waiters circulating the room with extra scones these days? ROTFL

 

[BudgieMama]

Yep. So, unless Disney sees significant profit potential from afternoon tea in the UK, it will never happen. And waiters circulating the room with extra scones these days? ROTFL

They should talk to the Ritz. Afternoon Tea there is magical (and served from late morning until evening!)

 

[msbiscuit]

Oh, yes, they did. DH and I had afternoon tea in the Rose & Crown in May or June of 1991. If the restaurant had been open for lunch it must have been a limited window of time, because then there was a single seating for tea. It was wonderful! First they brought your choice of tea while they served warm scones with plates of clotted cream on each table plus various jams. Then they brought you a few tea sandwiches. Then at the end they brought around lovely little dessert pastries. I don't believe alcohol was offered (although it might have been but just was so far off our budget then that we did not partake). And there was no menu - everyone was served the same thing. IIRC, too, during each course CMs were circulating with baskets of the scones or sandwiches or whatever, offering more if you wanted.

When we went back to WDW in 2001 the Tea in England was gone, so I made a reservation for the GF tea instead. What a let-down it was!

I have no idea how long the Afternoon Tea was offered. It must have been at least a year because I had read about it in one of the guidebooks I'd borrowed from the library, and that would have been at best the edition from the prior year. I still mourn its loss.

I recall the Afternoon Tea, as well! I remember it fondly as 'one of the best deals at WDW' and that's probably why it's no longer served. Pretty sure it was $10! I agree that tea service at GF was a let down after that!

 

[abk96]

Thank you, Quin, for the lovely memory!

Afternoon tea in the UK pavilion would be neat again. After all, what does one expect from World Showcase but the chance to sample (Americanized of course) the foods and shopping of other cultures.

There is room in every pavilion for more construction -- Italy has added a pizza parlor and a wine bar.

These are my thoughts exactly.

 

[abk96]

Quin and msbiscuit...I'm happy to hear you both got to enjoy the tea in Epcot years ago. Thanks for sharing.

I have also been to the GF tea and it was ok. I am going to give it another try this summer.

 

[abk96]

. . . they did serve tea

I thought you said they did NOT serve tea in UK at Epcot ever.

I'm glad others have corrected that.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

I would love if they had high tea at the UK pavilion in Epcot



.

 

[Lisann]

Afternoon Tea and High Tea are two very different things.

Afternoon tea is what most Americans think of - pretty dresses and dainty cakes and pastries. It's generally served around 4:00 and is a social ocassion for ladies.

High Tea is a much more substansial meal for working class families. It's served after work - generally between 5:00 and 7:00

Yes, that's true. In fact, high tea got it's name from the "high" tables as opposed to the "low" tables that were generally used for afternoon tea. And tea, as my European friend states, is also a reference to any meal in the late afternoon. Afternoon tea does not have to be fussy or fancy...it can be as casual as you want, it's still called afternoon tea. It's more often than not a casual-ish affair, unless you are having tea at the Dorchester in London.

High tea was generally a meal of cheeses and ham, bread, tea, served around 7 or 8pm, after the men had come in from the fields. Americans always make the mistake of thinking that "high" means high falootin' or fancy, when in fact, it's quite the opposite as far as tea is concerned!

I would love, at the very least, tea and scones in the afternoon, somewhere in the vicinity of Rose and Crown, which would be a logical choice. Yum!

 

[Quin]

I recall the Afternoon Tea, as well! I remember it fondly as 'one of the best deals at WDW' and that's probably why it's no longer served. Pretty sure it was $10! I agree that tea service at GF was a let down after that!

Except that in 1991, $10 each was a big hit on our budget and I really had to think about it before we went. So glad we did, though; DH still remembers it fondly as well.

 

[crazymomof4]

Yes, that's true. In fact, high tea got it's name from the "high" tables as opposed to the "low" tables that were generally used for afternoon tea. And tea, as my European friend states, is also a reference to any meal in the late afternoon. Afternoon tea does not have to be fussy or fancy...it can be as casual as you want, it's still called afternoon tea. It's more often than not a casual-ish affair, unless you are having tea at the Dorchester in London.

High tea was generally a meal of cheeses and ham, bread, tea, served around 7 or 8pm, after the men had come in from the fields. Americans always make the mistake of thinking that "high" means high falootin' or fancy, when in fact, it's quite the opposite as far as tea is concerned!

Yep. Most people think of High Tea as the fancy one. I guess bc the ladies hold their pinkies up high when holding a delicate tea cup. LOL
The confusion is understandable, especially for those of us "across the pond". I do think it's funny tho when hoity-toity establishments make the same mistake.

 

[dragonfly57005]

I would absolutely love to have a good tea service in park rather than having to go to GF for the experience. It really strikes me as odd that it's not offered when it's such a huge part of the British culture.

I agree it might not be wise to do it as a limited timeframe offering as a "true" high tea would be if it were in a stand alone area - that would probably be too close to the tea at GF and too much competition. But as an all day option in a stand alone, or heck, even just as a menu option at R&C would be fantastic. So much of the food on the menu as is seems so heavy - the option of some light tea sandwiches and a good scone with double Devon cream and jam or curd would be nice. Maybe a nice slice of Victoria sponge to finish it off.

Actually I'd love to see a bakery in the UK pavilion. I can't be the only one.[/QUOTE

Sign me up for the scones! I miss those!

 

[6disneykids]

We had 'tea' at the Rose and Crown on our honeymoon 20 or so years ago. We also had tea at the Grand Floridian, and I think the tea that at the Garden View lounge at the Grand Floridian was a much nicer service. I think the purpose for an afternoon tea is to be leisurely, this would take a chunk out of either dining room space or pub space. I feel fairly confidant that the tea would not create as much revenue as a tea service.

I am sure that it was a 'cost saving' measure.

 

[Jamester75]

I was a cast member at the Rose & Crown 20 years ago and we did used to serve afternoon tea. The back room inside the restaurant was called the Tea Room and it was closed early from lunch service and set up for tea. We used to serve on Royal Doulton chinaware, have loose tea leaves, small sandwiches (cream cheese and rose petals which I never understood!) and pastries. The room was seldom used for dinner service as most diners like to sit outside for dinner.