Inside the Reimagined Garden View Lounge: Grand Floridian's Alice in Wonderland Tea Experience Returns

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is reopening The Garden View Lounge with an Alice in Wonderland-inspired tea service, eight Twinings blends including a U.S.-exclusive Orangery of Lady Grey, and a menu rebuilt from scratch. Meet Amber, the Cast Member who's led the two-year reimagining.

Inside the Reimagined Garden View Lounge: Grand Floridian's Alice in Wonderland Tea Experience Returns

After more than two years behind closed doors, The Garden View Lounge — Tea Experience at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is officially reopening — and the Cast Member leading the culinary reimagination has been part of the project since the concept was still taking shape on paper in 2023. The new service trades strict tradition for an Alice in Wonderland-inspired reinvention built around eight Twinings blends, a U.S.-exclusive tea, and a multi-tier tower rebuilt from scratch.

Meet Amber, the restaurant lead overseeing the reopening. More than 15 years after first joining the Disney College Program, she's now the person guests turn to when they want to know when — and how — one of Walt Disney World's most beloved traditions is coming back.

Cast Members opening the Garden View Lounge Tea Experience at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Amber and the Garden View Lounge team celebrate the reopening of the reimagined tea room.

From the Disney College Program to Leading the Tea Room

Amber's path to running one of Grand Floridian's signature experiences started on the Disney College Program, more than 15 years ago. Since then she's picked up sommelier and cicerone certifications (both supported by Disney), and for the past two-plus years she's been quietly leading the charge to return a fan-favorite tradition to the resort's dining roster.

"Guests asked me every single day when the tea room was reopening. It's been a lot of pressure, but the kind that reminds you how much this place means to people. Feeling their excitement has kept us going." — Amber, Restaurant Lead, The Garden View Lounge

Brewing Her Tea Expertise with Twinings

The beverage program is the heart of the reimagining. Amber partnered directly with Twinings Master Blenders to select eight unique blends for the new service — a process that included hours-long tasting sessions covering water temperature, steeping time, glassware, pot selection, and multi-sensory tasting technique.

"My desk looked like a science experiment. Twinings taught us everything — from water temperature and steeping time to the pot, the glassware, and how to taste using all of your senses."

The lineup mixes classic blends with non-caffeinated herbal options and light refreshers built for guests of all ages. But the headliner is a true exclusive: the Orangery of Lady Grey, a Disney-only bright twist on classic Earl Grey infused with citrus notes alongside the traditional bergamot — a blend you won't find anywhere else in the United States.

Interior of the reimagined Garden View Lounge Tea Room at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort with Alice in Wonderland-inspired stained-glass design
Stained-glass accents and storybook details give the reimagined lounge its Wonderland atmosphere.

A Tea Experience in Wonderland

Where better to enjoy a whimsical twist on a British tea service than inside the storybook charm of the Grand Floridian? The reimagined Garden View Lounge invites guests to step into the world of Disney's Alice in Wonderland through every detail — from stunning stained-glass windows to towering tiers of sweet and savory bites.

"The food is incredible. Chefs Michelle and Ally created an elegant, colorful tower that tastes even better than it looks. Guests who remember the previous service will be surprised. This is an entirely new experience with imaginative touches inspired by the classic tale." — Amber

Key Details

Menu Highlights from the New Tea Tower

Every tier on the new menu was rebuilt from scratch by Chefs Michelle and Ally. Expect adult tiers layered with elevated savory bites, a Caterpillar Cucumber Roll (pumpernickel topped with butterfly pea-infused cream cheese and fresh cucumbers), caviar and cheese plate add-ons, and a dedicated children's tea selection built for younger guests.

2026 Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge adult tea tier with sweet and savory bites Caviar enhancement add-on at the Garden View Lounge tea experience Cheese plate enhancement at the reimagined Garden View Lounge at Disney's Grand Floridian Children's tea selection at the Garden View Lounge with kid-friendly sweet and savory bites

Amber's personal favorite? The Caterpillar Cucumber Roll — a vibrant, garden-inspired bite that may quietly become the most photographed item on the new tower.

What This Means for Disney Fans

For longtime Grand Floridian guests, this reopening restores one of the resort's most emotional offerings — the kind of slow-paced, special-occasion experience that's increasingly rare at Walt Disney World. For everyone else, it adds a new reason to step inside the flagship Victorian resort even without a hotel reservation. Between the Twinings-trained service, the Wonderland-inspired design, the U.S.-exclusive Orangery of Lady Grey blend, and a culinary team willing to rebuild the menu bite by bite, the reimagined Garden View Lounge isn't just a return — it's a full reintroduction. Expect reservations to move fast.