January was PACKED with so much Disney news that it can be difficult to pick out the biggest announcement!

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We got so many updates, ranging from major closures to summer Disney World deals and special offerings. With that said, the announcement revolving around the RETURN of a beloved hotel restaurant experience literally took our breath away! Pull up a chair, grab a pastry, and get ready for some major Disney dining news — we’re spilling the tea on the long-awaited return of the Garden View Lounge — Tea Room Experience!

The Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Disney World has been closed since the pandemic in 2020, but Disney recently revealed that the lounge is officially returning on March 19th, 2026!

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A lot is changing with this one-time Grand Floridian staple when it reopens. Disney shared that there will be new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Alice in Wonderland — such as sweet and savory small bites, whimsical decor, and more! This new tea service is a reimagining of the service of old, and will let you select your experience from a curated lineup of premium loose-leaf Twinings teas and tasty eats.

Garden View Lounge

Guests will be able to enjoy Twinings Loose Leaf Tea Selections, including special flavors and classics like London Strand Breakfast and Spicy Chai, or more unique flavor combinations like Orangery of Lady Grey (a unique black tea featuring bright, orange notes). Disney is also teasing the Nutty Chocolate Flavoured Assam black tea with smooth chocolate and roasted hazelnut flavors, as well as the caffeine-free Blackcurrant and Lavender herbal tea.

You will be able to select your tea with Cast Member guidance to create a specialized tea experience that includes aromatic accompaniments added during steeping, as well as special sweeteners.

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There will also be two signature tea-based cocktails when the lounge reopens – the Mint Tulip featuring Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Whiskey, Twinings Refreshers Peach Mango Tea Instant Beverage, and mint, and the Mar-TEA-ni with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Twinings Earl Grey Tea, lemon, and honey.

Champagne and sparkling wines will also be offered.

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Non-alcoholic specialty teas will include the Curiosi-TEA with Twinings Refreshers Strawberry Raspberry Herbal Tea Instant Beverage with a touch of shimmering magic, and the This Way, That Way with Twinings Refreshers Peach Mango Tea Herbal Tea Instant Beverage and mint.

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Let’s talk food! There will be three tiers offered, and the savory selections will include the following:

• Curried Chicken Salad Playing Card Tart: Savory curried chicken salad filling topped with cherry gelée
• Footman’s Feast: Wonderland Salmon Crisp with a salmon rillette on a miso brown butter crisp
• Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich: A traditional egg salad on beet bread
• Caterpillar Cucumber Roll: A delicious combination with butterfly pea-infused cream cheese and cucumbers on pumpernickel

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Sweet options include the following:

• The Matcha Mad Hatter: Sponge cake with apricot jam and yuzu buttercream
• Tea Party Tart: Vanilla tart, coffee custard, and chantilly cream
• Flamingo Croquet Choux filled with passion fruit cream and a raspberry crunch
• Painting the Rose: Earl Grey-flavored teacake painted tableside

We’re also super excited to indulge in the Orange-Cranberry Scone, which is served with traditional accoutrements!

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Can’t have a tea experience without cheese! Enhancements will include the Seasonal Cheese Selection!

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You can also upgrade your experience with the Royal Osetra Caviar with Mini Chive Biscuits and Traditional Accompaniments! Other plant-based options will be available, as well.

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If you’re thinking these offerings are a tad too refined for your kiddos, worry not! The Children’s Afternoon Tea features adorable small bites like the Queen of Hearts Cheese Toastie, a Fanciful Turkey Wrap, and a Sunflower Seed Butter and Jelly Bun! For dessert, the lounge will serve up the likes of the Cheshire Cat Raspberry Macaron, the Chocolate Brownie Branch, and the Vanilla White Rabbit Cupcake!

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Alright, so let’s talk costs. After years of being closed and prices going up at Disney World, it’s no surprise that this tea experience will also go up in price when it opens. The new costs are $79 per adult and $49 per child for afternoon tea service. Comparatively, however, this is still more affordable than similar experiences like afternoon tea at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers at Disney’s BoardWalk — which costs $95 per adult and $65 per child.

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Reservations open on February 19th, 2026.

This moment has been a long time coming. While we fell in love with the Garden View Lounge’s afternoon tea from the good ol’ days, we can’t wait to experience this refreshed space and new menu!

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Do you plan on grabbing afternoon tea here when the lounge reopens? Let us know and continue to follow us here at the Disney Food Blog for all the latest Disney World news!

FIRST LOOK at Disney’s Revamped Grand Floridian Tea Room

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Which food and beverages are YOU most excited to try? Let us know in the comments!