It was our last full day in Orlando and all of us wanted to make the most of it. I wanted to do something special and memorable. Initially, we thought about relaxing at the house before leaving the next day. However, after I really gave it some thought, I knew there were better ways to spend our day. After speaking with my family, we decided to split up. All of the ladies in my family decided to spend our day having afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. As for the boys, they made plans to enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon at the resort pool. It was the perfect way to end our vacation. Honestly, as much as I love the parks, I think this was my favorite part of the trip. I’m pretty sure all the ladies would agree.
I have always been in love with the Grand Floridian! It’s on my top 5 list of resorts I would love to stay at. There’s a feeling of nostalgia, or going back in time, the moment you enter the lobby. It is so elegant and the atmosphere is calmer than the other Disney resorts. I could literally sit in the lobby listening to the piano music for hours. My first visit was back in 2000. My sister and I decided one morning to have breakfast at the Grand Floridian Café. We were both in love with the beauty of the hotel lobby, the friendly staff and our delicious breakfast.
Afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian was the very first dining reservation I made for our trip. Our reservation was for 12:50pm, but we headed over earlier so we could walk around the beautiful grounds and lobby. It was a cloudy day but the Grand Floridian was a beautiful background to play host to one of the most memorable days of our trip.
After being greeted and welcomed by a Disney cast member, we made our way around the lobby. It smelled wonderful in there. Soft, live piano music was playing in the background. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas and the gingerbread house was almost complete! I wasn’t sure if we would be visiting too early in the season to see it, but I’m so happy we were able to. It was gorgeous and it was amazing to watch them put the finishing touches on it. When I looked around at my family, I could see all the smiles and felt all the feels.
As we made our way over to the Garden View Tea Room to check in, everyone stopped to take photos of the beautiful Mrs. Potts and Chip, placed in the tile flooring right at the entrance to the tearoom. We only had to wait for a few minutes and then we were shown to our table to be seated. Even though the day was cloudy, I enjoyed being able to sit near the window taking in the scenery of the outdoors.
I had a sneak peek at the menu prior to leaving for our tea, so I had an idea of what I wanted to order. The hardest part for me is picking out what kind of tea I want to try. My sister and I went back and forth, “What tea are you getting?” We ended up choosing one of the seasonal tea selections and neither one of us can remember the exact name of, of course. Everyone in our party decided on the Bedfordshire Tea.
The Bedfordshire Tea offers two courses and the finale. It was the perfect amount of food and delicious desserts for one person; but, it could have been shared by two. Honestly, I don’t think anyone would have offered up a share of their portion that day – it was that good! For my choice of dessert, I went with the Mousse-Filled Swan. It was delicious and the perfect way to end our afternoon tea.
Once we finished our time at the Garden View Tea Room, we all were so excited to explore the rest of the resort. There were several weddings going on that day. We really enjoyed watching the couples pose for their wedding photos inside the lobby and outside on the beautiful grounds. It was a fairytale setting!
All of the ladies wanted to shop! We made our way from store to store and floor to floor. I had already made a note of what I wanted to take away as a souvenir – the Grand Floridian key chain! I love it! I love the delicate charms and how they truly represent the feeling of the resort. Although I do not carry any keys on it, I carry it with me as a bag charm for my purse.
Spending the afternoon at the Grand Floridian was a highlight of our trip. There is something about that resort that just makes you feel happy. I truly can’t wait to go back and enjoy the experience again.
Have you been to the Grand Floridian and the afternoon tea? I would love to hear in the comments below!
I would love to stay at the Grand Floridian sometime, though I doubt I’ll ever be able to afford it. I do; however, love going over for a visit. The piano player is always wonderful. Christmas time is fabulous with the giant Christmas tree and the gingerbread house. The smell is amazing! I also love the shops. I can always find something to buy there. I’ll have to try tea or one of the restaurants. We’ve never done that before. Glad you had a great time!
Hi Melanie,
I would definitely recommend you try the Afternoon Tea! I’m sure you would love it!
Hi Joann,
The Floridian looks absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad you decided to go there & everyone had a great time.
Wish I could have been there with you. Beautiful pictures, you all look great & well rested !!!