If you’ve been missing your afternoon tea spot at Disney World you’re not alone.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is known for its amazing restaurants and incredible experiences, but we still have a few burning questions. What’s going on with the Garden View Lounge and The Garden View Tea Room experience? Will we see this restaurant reopen? Here’s what we know.
We’ve seen lots of changes and construction at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa over the last few years and some have been quite productive. Along with the changes we’ve also seen the reopening of most of its restaurants including a facelift for both the menu AND dining room at Narcoosee’s that’s known for its idyllic views over the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Narcoossee’s
Just before Narcoosee’s update in 2021, Cítricos received an all-new Mary Poppins-inspired design. This was a very quick turnaround from when the Disney World parks and resorts were closed and eventually reopened months later in 2020. Currently, the rooms of the resort are being updated, with some Mary Poppins theming added throughout the guest buildings. Additionally, some of the exteriors are also undergoing construction for maintenance.
Citricos
Although it’s a popular spot to sit down for an afternoon treat, the Garden View Lounge is noticeably still closed. Despite most of the restaurants and even the spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort now operational, Disney has remained quiet on when we can anticipate this restaurant returning and its status.
The Garden View Lounge
The Garden View Team Room is a charming experience where you can relax and take in the ambiance of the resort and its nearby gardens while enjoying stately afternoon tea — served with British inspiration. The spot of tea is usually accompanied by light pastries and delicate treats.
Afternoon Tea at Garden View Tea Room
The Garden View Lounge is also host to the Perfectly Princess Tea Party enchanting extra experience where little ones were encouraged to dress up in their royal best attire to attend a morning tea with a visit from a real Disney princess.
Tea Info (not currently offered)
Since we’ve yet to hear anything from Disney on the Garden View Tea Room something tells us we could be waiting even longer than we had hoped. Don’t worry though, if you’re like us and ready to sit down with a hot pot of tea, a new experience is coming our way! An alternate afternoon tea experience is set to come with the opening of the Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.
Seating at the Cake Bake Shop in Indianapolis
The Cake Bake Shop will be a table-service dining restaurant where afternoon tea will be part of the dining experience. Disney has stated that the new eatery will present a “whimsical atmosphere that complements the magic of the idyllic charm of Disney’s BoardWalk that guests know and love.” The owner of Cake Bake Shop, Gwendolyn Rogers, is excited to partner with Disney on the expansion of her third Cake Bake Shop location.
Marie Antoinette
We had an opportunity to check out one of the afternoon teas at an existing Cake Bake Shop location in Indiana already so you can read all about our experience in anticipation of what’s to come! Their menus at the other locations specialize in savory items like Truffle Pommes Frites, Quiche, and sandwiches, as well as, TONS of cakes, pies, and other sweet treats including French pastries, cheesecake, and other goodies.
Cake Bake Shop in Indianapolis
We still have a bit to go before that restaurant opens later this year, but our guess is that we won’t hear anything further about the Garden View Tea Room until Disney sees how well the tea experience is received by folks visiting the Cake Bake Shop.
We’ll be sure to keep you posted as we learn more information about this and other Disney restaurants reopening so for the latest in updates, be sure to check back in with us at Disney Food Blog!
California Grill, Nomad Lounge, and 10 More Disney World Restaurants Hit With Menu Changes
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Do you miss the Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort? Tell us in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Ugh. Afternoon tea has been a tradition with my mom since I was a little girl. I live by both cake bake shops in the indianapolis area- cake bake is NOT the Grand Tea. Cake bake has beautiful cakes but they are not good. They are incredibly dry and the tea is not at the level. I will be super disappointed if Disney assumes The Cake Bake can replace The Grand Tea.
We have been fans of the Garden View Tea Room since our first experience there in 1992. It was a tradition every visit thereafter. Last time we were there was December 2019 before the world as we knew it changed drastically. We are still anxiously awaiting and ever hopeful Disney will do the right thing and reopen this magical spot. I miss DeLayne, who in her own, became a master tea blender and brought a wealth of knowledge to our experience.
We miss this spot terribly
An English tea, please.
I recently did the tea service at Cake Bake. It included a blueberry-lemon scone, cucumber cream cheese/chicken salad/egg salad sandwiches, a mini Millionaire cupcake, rose and strawberry mini macarons, and mini squares of the lemon, blackberry, and magic bars. It was good but I actually prefer the Garden View tea with the curry chicken salad sandwiches, the swan pastries, and the bowl of strawberries and cream option. It could be difficult to score a Garden View reservation so I absolutely think that there is room for both venues on property.
I live just 15 mins away from the Cake Bake Shop in Carmel, IN…just north of Indy…have been there several times and it is absolutely beautiful and magical place! I have had both their food and desserts including their cakes….all have been super delicious!! I have taken many friends there too and they also agree!
I’m sure the Cake Bake Shop will be lovely but the ambiance of having Tea at The Grand cannot be matched. Hoping Disney sees the value in reopening this GF favorite.
The Grand Floridian is a location that requires a stately afternoon tea. The unused and noticeably vacant spot feels like the soul is gone from the grand atrium. The regal atmosphere and brides, the pianist, deserve to have a tea room. What are all of the Poppins up-grades worth without tea ?
The photos you shared of the cake bake shops tea room were helpful, thank you! However, outside is the Boardwalk, not the elegance of the Grand Floridian. No matter how lively, the cake shop is still that. A shop. And there is no way it can properly match the refined ambience and relaxed up-scale environment ment afforded by the GF Tea Lounge.
Sure CakeBake will inevitably do well enough to sadly keep the GF Lounge closed permanently for two reasons: 1) there are no alternatives to a proper tea, so Cake Bake will have a showing. 2) Again, it is a store! It is new. People will be curious and come in. In coming in, they will sit down and have tea. In their shorts. & tank tops with their strollers in tow.
Nope. No thanks. I want the proper tea return to the Grand Gloridian. It cannot be topped.
We miss the Garden View Tea. We always look forward to the Tea ion our trip.
Sam Christodlous
The Grand Floridian is the Best tea room ever! I have been going there since I moved to Orlando many years ago – before I was married or a mom. The elegance just can’t be matched! I even had my daughter’s sweet 16 party there! It was Perfect! Please keep this venue- with its beautiful location, intimate feel, top notch food, old fashioned charm and afternoon tea the only way Disney can do it!!!
My husband and I spent our 25th anniversary at the Grand Floridian. We loved our experience at the Garden View Tea Room. It had such a unique, beautiful, cozy feel that became a beautiful, cherished memory. I long to be able to go again and share this experience with friends and family. It’s an experience I have never been able to find anywhere else. Please bring it back.
Kathleen O.
Each time I visit Disney it’s our tradition to go to high tea at GF. The highlight of my day and something I dream about when I go home. I’d like to be able to recommend this special experience to first timers or those who haven’t found our cherished afternoon tea. I hope they open soon!
GF Garden View Tea Room has disappeared from Disney website (had been ‘temporarily unavailable’ since Covid struck). Sad day…
When I dined at the newly remodeled Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant this past May, my server told me Disney will be remodeling the Garden View Tearoom. AND that Afternoon Tea will be returned, once the remodel is finished. A caution, though: the remodel will not occur anytime even remotely soon.