The Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has reopened on March 19, 2026, after being closed since 2020. This highly anticipated return of the Disney afternoon tea experience follows a six-year absence, during which many fans were left disappointed by the loss of the original offerings and the Perfectly Princess Tea Party. Reservations opened on February 19 and quickly filled up, as guests rushed to secure their spots for the reimagined experience.On opening day, guests arrived early to celebrate, but there were no special ceremonies. At 11 a.m., those with reservations were allowed in, but there is currently no Walk-Up Waitlist or same-day dining option, so all guests must book in advance through the Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app.REOPENING TODAY! The Garden View Tea Room returns to Grand Floridian after SIX YEARS closed! Alice in Wonderland-themed elegance with Victorian charm. First new look inside! #WaltDisneyWorld #GrandFloridian #DisneyFood #DisneyDining: WDWNT pic.twitter.com/HACEkThESp— MainStreetChatter (@MainStChatter) March 19, 2026 The Disney Opening Day ExperienceThe dining room was not full after all the 11 a.m. reservations checked in, raising hopes that Disney might offer more availability after the first day, once they see actual demand and capacity. The limited seating reflects the cozy nature of afternoon tea, which usually accommodates fewer guests than a typical restaurant.The afternoon tea is now themed around Alice in Wonderland, featuring creative dishes, eight different teas, and specialty cocktails made with tea. This adds a fun twist to the classic British afternoon tea while keeping it elegant and sophisticated, with playful Disney touches in the food and drinks.Walt Disney World has released interior photos of the Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which is scheduled to reopen this Wednesday, March 19, after a six-year closure. pic.twitter.com/IFJzQQi5RH— TheOrlandoShine (@TheOrlandoShine) March 18, 2026 The menu includes a selection of Twinings teas, and guests can enjoy three tiers of food. This follows the traditional afternoon tea structure, starting with savory items, then moving on to scones, and finishing with desserts. This progression allows guests to enjoy lighter savory bites before indulging in rich treats, giving them time for multiple cups of tea and conversation. Disney worked with Twinings to select premium tea blends for everyone, including loose-leaf options such as London Strand Breakfast and Spicy Chai, as well as herbal infusions and unique flavor combinations.The Tea SelectionsOrangery of Lady Grey is a light and fragrant black tea with bright citrus notes of orange and bergamot, offering a refreshing twist on classic Earl Grey, inspired by sunlit English orangeries and exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort, representing a special blend that guests cannot purchase elsewhere, creating a unique selling point for the experience. Nutty Chocolate Flavoured Assam is a rich Assam black tea that combines the flavors of smooth chocolate and roasted hazelnuts, inspired by the timeless pairing of tea and chocolate, while London Strand Breakfast offers bold and malty Assam black teas with golden-tipped leaves for richness and a full-bodied finish.Spicy Chai is a blend of African black tea and Rooibos with fragrant spices for rich and delicious chai, while Exotic Mango & Ginger is a rich, fragrant blend of mango and ginger layered over a base of green tea. Redbush Caramel Velvet is a vibrant copper-red herbal infusion made from South African redbush leaves flavored with caramel and safflowers for a smooth, comforting cup, while Lemongrass & Peppermint offers a refreshing lemongrass blend with sweet peppermint, creating an uplifting, smooth, herbal citrus infusion.Blackcurrant & Lavender is a rich, fragrant herbal blend delivering the essence of autumn with fiery golden leaves, vibrant holly berries, and fields of amber harvests, providing a caffeine-free option for guests who prefer to avoid caffeine or are enjoying afternoon tea later in the day. Expertly trained cast members serve as tea guides, helping guests select teas and customize them by choosing aromatics added during steeping and creating educational elements where guests learn about tea varieties and preparation methods, elevating the experience beyond simply ordering tea from a menu.The Disney Food OfferingsThe savory selections include Curried Chicken Salad Playing Card Tart featuring savory curried chicken salad filling topped with cherry gelée creating sweet and savory combination, Footman’s Feast Wonderland Salmon Crisp with salmon rillette on miso brown butter crisp, Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich with traditional egg salad on beet bread, and Caterpillar Cucumber Roll with delicious combination of butterfly pea-infused cream cheese and cucumbers on pumpernickel. The sweet selections include The Matcha Mad Hatter sponge cake with apricot jam and yuzu buttercream, Tea Party Tart with vanilla tart coffee custard and chantilly cream, Flamingo Croquet Choux filled with passion fruit cream and raspberry crunch, and Painting the Rose Earl Grey-flavored teacake painted tableside adding element of theater as cast members customize each guest’s dessert.Credit: DisneyGuests start with Orange-Cranberry Scone, combining classic English elements with the fun of Alice-themed touches for a balanced afternoon dining experience, with the scone serving as a traditional bridge between savory and sweet courses. Additional enhancements are available for purchase, including Seasonal Cheese Selection and Royal Osetra Caviar with Mini Chive Biscuits and Traditional Accompaniments, allowing guests to upgrade their experience with premium add-ons similar to how the previous Berkshire package offered caviar at higher price points.The Cocktails and BeveragesThe beverage menu offers more than just traditional tea with two special tea-based cocktails that use tea as a key ingredient, enhancing the afternoon tea experience beyond traditional service. Mint Tulip combines Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Whiskey and Twinings Peach Mango Tea Refreshers herbal tea garnished with mint creating refreshing cocktail that balances whiskey warmth with fruity tea notes, while Mar-TEA-ni is made with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Twinings Earl Grey Tea, lemon, and honey then topped with edible violet flower creating visually stunning cocktail that showcases how tea can be incorporated into sophisticated drink programs.Credit: DisneyFor those who prefer non-alcoholic options, the menu features specialty teas with fun names relating to the Alice in Wonderland theme, offering options for guests who do not drink alcohol or prefer non-tea beverages, while champagne and sparkling wines are also available, helping create a festive atmosphere for special occasions and allowing toasts and celebrations during afternoon tea.The Children’s ExperienceThe $49 Children’s Afternoon Tea features adorably delicious bites, including savory items like Queen of Hearts Cheese Toastie, Fanciful Turkey Wrap, and Sunflower Seed Butter and Jelly Bun, as well as desserts such as Cheshire Cat Raspberry Macaron, Chocolate Brownie Branch, and vanilla White Rabbit Cupcake. The children’s pricing and menu make the experience accessible to families rather than being exclusively adult-oriented, addressing feedback that the previous Perfectly Princess Tea Party was prohibitively expensive at roughly $300 per child, creating a barrier that prevented many families from enjoying it.Credit: DisneyA plant-based menu option is also available, ensuring guests with dietary restrictions or preferences can participate in the afternoon tea experience without being limited to just bread and vegetables, while others enjoy the full menu, demonstrating Disney’s commitment to accommodating various dietary needs.The Historical ContextOriginally, the Grand Floridian’s afternoon tea catered mostly to adults, offering teas and treats at varying prices, while the Perfectly Princess Tea Party was a special event for children and their parents, featuring interactive elements and gifts, with both experiences being extremely popular and frequently sold out, making their absence noticeable to fans. This return fills the gap left by the shutdown of both the traditional afternoon tea and the Perfectly Princess Tea Party during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with the new experience priced at $79 per adult and $49 for children, offering families a chance to enjoy this elegant tradition.After the COVID-19 closures in 2020, while most experiences in the parks reopened within 6-20 months, a handful did not return until years later, and believe it or not, there are still a handful that have not returned, making the Garden View Lounge Tea Experience one of the longest COVID-related closures at Walt Disney World.The Disney Reservation RealityReservations opened February 19, 2026, with guests able to book 60 days in advance, beginning at approximately 6 a.m. EST online and 7 a.m. EST by phone, with guests staying at Disney World resort hotels including the Grand Floridian able to book for the entire duration of their trip up to 10 days beginning 60 days before arrival potentially booking up to 70 days out. That extended booking window for resort guests provides an advantage in securing reservations for what will likely be a highly sought-after experience, given the six-year absence and limited daily capacity.The tea experience takes place in the Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a space known for its elegant Victorian-inspired design with large windows overlooking the resort’s lush gardens and grounds, creating natural light and garden views that complement the Alice in Wonderland theming.The post Disney Just Reopened This Restaurant After 6 Years appeared first on Inside the Magic.