Disney's Grand Floridian Just Brought Back a Fan Favorite—And the New Alice in Wonderland Twist Makes It Even Better

After nearly six years of sitting dark, one of Walt Disney World’s most beloved dining traditions is finally back. The Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa reopened on March 19, 2026, and it did not return quietly. The newly reimagined afternoon tea experience carries an Alice in Wonderland theme throughout—from the menu names to the tableside presentation—and reservations reportedly disappeared almost as fast as they opened.

If you have been waiting for this one, here is everything you need to know. And if you had not been thinking about it, you might want to start.

Six Years Is a Long Time to Wait for Scones

The Garden View Lounge closed in 2020 as part of the wave of shutdowns that hit Disney’s resort dining hard during the pandemic. What made this closure sting more than others is that afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian had been a long-standing tradition—the kind of experience that families returned to year after year, that honeymooners worked into their itineraries, and that solo travelers treated themselves to on a slow afternoon.

Six years is a long time. And while Disney has reopened and reimagined plenty of experiences since 2020, this one had been conspicuously absent. Its return is a genuine moment for guests who have been holding out hope.

According to WDW Magic, the lounge is now offering a proper British-style afternoon tea with a full Disney storytelling layer on top of it—and the partnership with Twinings gives the tea selection itself some genuine credibility.

What the Alice in Wonderland Theme Actually Looks Like

This is not just a coat of paint. The Alice in Wonderland theming runs through every part of the experience, and Disney has been thoughtful about how the menu items translate the story into food and drink.

On the savory side, guests will find a Curried Chicken Playing Card Tart, Salmon Rillette Crisp, a Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich, and a Caterpillar Cucumber Roll. The sweet selections include the Matcha Mad Hatter Cake, a Tea Party Tart, Flamingo Croquet Choux, and a tableside presentation called Painting the Rose. That last one alone sounds worth the reservation.

The tea list partners with Twinings and includes London Strand Breakfast, Spicy Chai, a Lady Grey blend exclusive to Walt Disney World, Nutty Chocolate Flavoured Assam, and a caffeine-free Blackcurrant and Lavender Herbal Tea. For guests who want something stronger, cocktails include the Mint Tulip—built with Old Forester 1870 Kentucky Whiskey and Twinings Peach Mango Tea—and the Mar-TEA-ni, made with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Twinings Earl Grey. Non-alcoholic specialty drinks round out the list under names like Curiosi-TEA and This Way, That Way.

Optional add-ons include a seasonal cheese selection and Royal Osetra Caviar with Mini Chive Biscuits for guests who want to turn the afternoon into something truly over the top.

A children’s menu is also available, with items like a Queen of Hearts Cheese Toastie and Turkey Wrap alongside character-themed desserts—which makes this genuinely workable for families, not just adults looking for an escape.

The Price and the Booking Reality

Adult afternoon tea is priced at $79 per person plus tax and gratuity. The children’s option runs $49. Reservations opened February 19, 2026, and by most accounts, availability for the opening weeks was gone fast.

This is the kind of experience that books up quickly and stays booked. If you are planning a Walt Disney World stay between now and summer, we would suggest checking availability sooner rather than later—and keeping an eye on cancellation windows, since spots tend to open back up as travel plans shift.

The lounge is located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, which has been undergoing a broader transformation. The new lobby bar, The Perch, opened in November 2025, and the resort’s lobby itself has been refreshed as part of the larger renovation effort. The Garden View Lounge reopening feels like the final piece of that puzzle clicking into place.

Why This Matters Beyond the Menu

There is something worth saying about the nature of this return. Afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian was never a thrill ride or a headliner. It was a slower, quieter kind of Disney magic—the kind that asks you to sit down, take your time, and let the resort do its work on you.

Six years away made a lot of guests realize how much they missed that. Disney World does spectacle better than anyone, but it also does elegance well when it chooses to, and the Grand Floridian has always been the clearest expression of that. Bringing the afternoon tea back, and giving it a genuinely immersive Alice in Wonderland layer, suggests Disney knows exactly what this experience means to the guests who loved it.

If you have never tried afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian, this version sounds like the best time to start. And if you have been waiting since 2020 for this to come back—your patience has finally been rewarded.