Afternoon Tea at GF- please tell me everything! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I would like to book something for DD and myself for our upcoming trip (and possibly invite my DM and DS) and I'm interested in the Afternoon Tea at the GF. I noticed on Disney's website it's offered daily from 2-5pm. Does it last that long or do you make reservations during that time? I'm not sure if DD will sit there for 3 hours. Also, is there a certain age that DD has to be? She's 3 right now. Any other information you have about your experience there I would appreciate it!
you don't have to stay that long. you enjoy your tea and leave. they have 'tea' for little ones at the afternoon tea and they believe they also have teas designed just for kids.
all ears has the menus for you to look at to see what she would like. we love the relaxing time
You can make reservations for anytime between 2 and 5pm. I think the longest I've been is about an hour like Chez said. There are both "package" and a la carte choices. I recommend the Grand Tea or the Buckingham Tea as they come with your choice of tea, a selection of finger sandwiches, tart, and pasties (and a few other things as well). You could definately make the tea your lunch for the day if you wanted. For little ones there's the "Mrs. Potts Tea" which serves sandwhiches, chocolate milk and pastries. But you could also just get her apple juice and sandwhiches a la carte if you wanted.
I can't give you any details, because I haven't been. But I can tell you my wife and daughter loved it. Keller and I killed the time riding on the monorail. So it was a fun afternoon for everyone.
THis is a great break from the heat of MK (or wherever you are). DD and I love to go. Your daughter is not too young. It is a "formal" tea room but, of course, it is Disney and children are very welcome. They have several tea options for kids on the menu.
You can go for lunch (tea sandwiches and such) or just tea and dessert. We usually do dessert and tea since it is the middle of the afternoon. Everything is good.
I definitely recommend fitting this in to your trip.
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"Disneyland has that thing - the imagination and the feeling of happy excitement - I knew when I was a kid."
--Walt Disney
The afternoon Tea is such a lovely break in the middle of the day -- a slow, easy pace, delicious food and drinks, beautiful fresh flowers and awesome service -- I can't say enough good things about it.
I didn't have to be dragged to it, but it wasn't high on my list. But it was a new Disney experience so I didn't resist, though I didn't go with great expectations.
I LOVED IT!
I like tea and what I had (a "house" blend) was some of the best I have ever had. The food was also great, and they even served one person in our party who doesn't drink tea "brown bubbly tea" (AKA Coke)!
I got the Grand Tea, which included a glass of sparkling wine, and to be honest it was absolutely the only thing that didn't wow me. Going again--and I do plan to--I will get the Buckingham, which if memory serves much includes everything in the Grand Tea except for the sparkling wine.
It's quite filling, but you can go a la carte if you would like and just pick and choose what you want.
We love tea at the GF. It's not three hours - I'd say our two trips there were about 1.5 hours. It definitely is a leisurely pace. There is no age limit per se. I will tell you that we took DD when she was 4.5 and she had a hard time sitting through it. DH actually had to run up to the mercantile to get her a sticker book. I think the slow pace and it being so small in there was hard for her. But if your dd is good about sitting in restaurants ymmv.
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Depending on what you order, you may spend from 30-60 minutes (or longer, if you dwaddle). It is more economical to order a service, such as the Buckingham. There are special tea services for young ones, so your DD would not see that Mom is getting something she isn't.
The table is laid out with china and silver (I don't remember the pattern, but I think it is a Royal Dalton--someone correct me if I'm wrong). You start by choosing your service--tea selection and menu. Little ones may have chocolate milk. A typical service might include finger sandwiches, scones and jam, tarts and pastries or strawberries and cream. You may also order a la cart. The Jenny Lunde bread is wonderful. The servers are laid back and there is no rush to finish. It is as close to an English tea as we Americans may find.
The first time I took my DD (23 at the time) she was coming down with mono (unknown to us) and just couldn't make it through the dining. The servers were kind enough to find us something to take her extras back in along with some extra tea for her sore throat. So, I guess I'm saying the servers are very accommodating. If you ask for their suggestions, trust them. These ladies are very good at guessing what you might like.
If you decide to do it, enjoy!!! Even my DH loved it and doesn't hesitate to accompany me when I want to go.
The table is laid out with china and silver (I don't remember the pattern, but I think it is a Royal Dalton--someone correct me if I'm wrong).
The pattern is Royal Albert Old Country Roses, one of the most popular china patterns we sold when I worked in a major department store as a china-crystal-silver specialist. You can buy some to use at home, maybe a tea cup to make you feel special on not so good days. It is sold online and at department stores like Macy's. We're going to do the tea this year, finally! I'm enjoying seeing everyone's comments. Thanks!
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they have 'tea' for little ones at the afternoon tea and they believe they also have teas designed just for kids.
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