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If you find yourself wanting to take a break from the crowds at the parks and are looking for a unique experience, look no further than afternoon tea at the Garden View Tea Room located in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This special dining experience is one of my favorite things to do outside the parks!
The Location
The Garden View Tea Room is located in a corner of the first floor lobby in the Grand Floridian. The tea room is a small room with beautiful, large windows that look out on the resort's gardens and pool area.
The Food
The Garden View Tea Room menu offers unique afternoon tea packages that include sandwiches, scones, desserts, and some packages even have added enhancements like champagne and cheese and fruit plates! My personal favorite package is the Buckingham Palace tea service, which includes your choice of tea, as well as a variety of tea sandwiches, pastries and scones, and your choice of dessert!
Along with your choice of accompaniments, you also get a full menu of different teas to choose from green teas to herbal teas to black teas and flavored teas, there is sure to be something to please everyone! (My personal favorite is the Nutty Chocolate!) All members of your party will get their own personal teacup and tea pot, and they even have the most adorable tea cozies to help keep your tea warm!
Your first course usually includes a variety of delicious tea sandwiches! At our last visit the sandwiches consisted of Cucumber, Chicken Curry, Egg Salad, Pear and Gorgonzola and Goat Cheese and Fire Roasted Tomatoes! Of course, if any of those don't suit your fancy, Disney allows you to substitute any of the sandwiches for different ones! The sandwiches are also accompanied by a small delicious sweet onion tart.
After your sandwich course comes the pastries course! This course includes a soft English scone with your choice of three delicious accompaniments, whipped butter, sweet Strawberry jam, or a favorite, an amazing Lemon curd! The pastry course also includes a sweet and tart Strawberry tart that goes perfectly with the other dishes!
Once you have finished your other two courses comes the best and final course, dessert! For dessert, you are given your choice of several different options. Usually the options include your choice of pastries, a special seasonal trifle, or a dish of strawberries and cream! (My personal favorite is the strawberries and cream! How beautiful is that Grand Floridian logo on top!?)
Reservations
Reservations for the Garden View Tea Room are highly recommended, as this special experience does tend to book up pretty fast! Reservations are available seven days a week, usually between the hours of 12p-4p.
Overall thoughts
Afternoon tea at the Garden View Tea Room is one of my absolute favorite dining experiences outside the parks! The beautiful, relaxing atmosphere is a lovely escape from the business at the parks.
If you're looking for something different and unique to experience, why not give the Garden View Tea Room a try? :)
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