dixonsontour
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2008
This isn’t one of the well known character meals and when I was looking to make reservations, reviews were hard to find.
I took my daughter Anna on Friday 29th October 2010. The tea party takes place several times a week at the Garden View tea room at the Grand Floridian from 10.30 am – 12pm.
Reservations open 180 days out and must be made by telephone, not online. I reserved about 160 days out.
When I phoned, the cm tried to tell me nothing available. I couldn’t believe it was fully booked for the whole 14 days of our trip and asked her to try again – I don’t think she was familiar with it. Well she did and it was available.
Payment is made at time of booking. The cost was $250 for one adult and one child plus tax but including gratuity. I believe an extra child or adult can be added for extra cost. The event is very much geared up as a mom and daughter event.
I actually ended up moving our reservation from the Thursday to the Friday. My daughter wasn’t 100% and I wanted her to be for this. The cm on the phone was able to do this the evening before we were due to attend.
Due to the cost I’d thought alot about attending this event. My DD was age 4.9 years on this trip. But she is mature for her age and very tall (47 inches) – people often think she is 6. She loves dressing up and princess things and I don’t know when our next trip will be or how long this stage will last. I was worried if I left it a couple of years she would miss the magic of it. She started full time school the month before so this was also a treat to recognise how well she has done. With hindsight I think she was the perfect age for her to go.
As you will see from the pictures Anna was born without her left arm below her elbow. Alot of our Mom and daughter time is taken up with hospital and therapy appointments. I wanted to do something special on this trip that we or at least I would always remember.
My DD was so excited to attend this tea party. I’d bought her a dress to wear at the party before we left England, shown her clips on youtube and in the months leading up to we had talked alot about it. Did it live up to the hype? We both really enjoyed the tea party and it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
We got to the garden view tea room at 10.15am or so and checked in at the podium. We were not on the list! There was a spot but they wanted me to pay. The confusion was soon sorted out and a female manger came to see me to assure me we were paid in full.
DD was given a card saying princess Anna and all the moms and princesses stood waiting to be called.
My DH was able to stand next to the rope and video DD getting crowned and going in to the tea party and see her in the parade after. He ate breakfast at the GF cafe – steak and eggs much more his sort of thing.
Rosepetal introduced herself and called each girl in turn. She called Princess Anna and placed a crown on her head and another lady sprinked her with fresh rose petals.
There were 8 girls altogether. Most were in mom/daughter pairs. The table next to me had two sisters with their mom and grandma. One table had 3 adults including the only Dad, a daughter and two young boys. The boys did get a little impatient sitting and didn’t join in any of the activities. They were given bears not dolls.
We were taken to our table overlooking the garden. The chair was pulled out for DD and a doll was sitting there. She was hesitant to sit and afterwards she said to me but the doll was sitting there.
I’d brought two clips to hold the crown in place and was so glad I did. They were just the pink mickey clips you get in any gift shop but were perfect. Only a couple of the girl’s crowns stayed on. The crown was a pretty beaded circlet with ribbons tied to it but it had no combs.
About half the girls were dressed in princess dresses, a mix of princesses – I think they were all someone different. Only one girl had been to BBB before the party.
Anna loved the doll and was in awe of the whole thing. Fresh flowers were on the table, pink napkins, a little card saying Princess Anna of the Hollyhocks.
We were introduced to Baron Branch the pianist. He came to the table shortly after and spoke to DD and signed her autograph book.
Rose petal then told her story about who she was. The gist was she was a Rose who had been magically turned human.
The girls were told to put their napkins on their lap and a bracelet was folded into the napkin which surprised my DD. It was just a play quality bracelet – silver coloured with a plastic pink heart but DD wanted it put on straightaway.
We were brought tea. I was given a pot, cup and tea strainer. I was poured a cup and then the pot was put under a tea cosy. It was served without milk or lemon – i’ve never had tea without milk but it was very pleasant and hot – can’t stand lukewarm tea. I didn’t think to ask what blend it was.
DD was delighted with her apple juice in a tea pot.
Rose petal asked some princess questions and the older girls hands shot up. The two girls at the table next to us were maybe 8 and 9 and very enthusiastic. They were also very sweet to my DD telling her she had the prettiest dress (they were in park clothes-too old for dress up I guess)
I also remember having to put our hands up if we were in love and rose petal said she was in love with a purple tulip.
Food was served to us plated up. Anna got a plate with 3 heart shaped jelly sandwiches, 2 turkey and cheese on brown bread and some fruit. I had asked for no peanut butter when I booked – I think they should have been peanut butter and jelly. She ate half a sandwich – far too enthralled by what was going on!
On my plate there was a coronation chicken sandwich, salmon and cream cheese sandwich and egg sandwich. There were some crackers and cheese with herbs, a tartlet with stilton and some grapes and fruit. I enjoyed this and ate it all but it definitely would not suit a pickier eater. The food was obviously pre plated some time in advance – one cracker was soft from sitting on the cheese but the food did taste fresh.
Rose petal sang and told the story of Sleeping beauty with actions for the girls to copy. At one point she had them cradling their dolls. All the girls I could see joined in enthralled. Rosepetal did come around the room several times whilst she was singing, involving all the girls.
Rose petal asked about birthdays, 3 girls raised their hands and said their name and age and were wished happy birthday. There was a 5 yr old and two 7 year olds.
The cake we had seen at the entrance to the room was held up then taken to be cut and served to us with cream, a strawberry and strawberry coulis. The cake was lovely – really fresh sponge with strawberry filling. DD had one bite I fed her – too busy to eat!
One lovely little girl, who had a make a wish button, was chosen to help Rosepetal teach us some sign language – hail to the king, hail to the queen, hail to the princess Aurora! I keep hearing my DD singing this.
Rosepetal had all the girls come up and stand with her then Aurora arrived. The girls followed her around the room in a parade – waving and holding their dresses.
I took my daughter Anna on Friday 29th October 2010. The tea party takes place several times a week at the Garden View tea room at the Grand Floridian from 10.30 am – 12pm.
Reservations open 180 days out and must be made by telephone, not online. I reserved about 160 days out.
When I phoned, the cm tried to tell me nothing available. I couldn’t believe it was fully booked for the whole 14 days of our trip and asked her to try again – I don’t think she was familiar with it. Well she did and it was available.
Payment is made at time of booking. The cost was $250 for one adult and one child plus tax but including gratuity. I believe an extra child or adult can be added for extra cost. The event is very much geared up as a mom and daughter event.
I actually ended up moving our reservation from the Thursday to the Friday. My daughter wasn’t 100% and I wanted her to be for this. The cm on the phone was able to do this the evening before we were due to attend.
Due to the cost I’d thought alot about attending this event. My DD was age 4.9 years on this trip. But she is mature for her age and very tall (47 inches) – people often think she is 6. She loves dressing up and princess things and I don’t know when our next trip will be or how long this stage will last. I was worried if I left it a couple of years she would miss the magic of it. She started full time school the month before so this was also a treat to recognise how well she has done. With hindsight I think she was the perfect age for her to go.
As you will see from the pictures Anna was born without her left arm below her elbow. Alot of our Mom and daughter time is taken up with hospital and therapy appointments. I wanted to do something special on this trip that we or at least I would always remember.
My DD was so excited to attend this tea party. I’d bought her a dress to wear at the party before we left England, shown her clips on youtube and in the months leading up to we had talked alot about it. Did it live up to the hype? We both really enjoyed the tea party and it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
We got to the garden view tea room at 10.15am or so and checked in at the podium. We were not on the list! There was a spot but they wanted me to pay. The confusion was soon sorted out and a female manger came to see me to assure me we were paid in full.
DD was given a card saying princess Anna and all the moms and princesses stood waiting to be called.
My DH was able to stand next to the rope and video DD getting crowned and going in to the tea party and see her in the parade after. He ate breakfast at the GF cafe – steak and eggs much more his sort of thing.
Rosepetal introduced herself and called each girl in turn. She called Princess Anna and placed a crown on her head and another lady sprinked her with fresh rose petals.
There were 8 girls altogether. Most were in mom/daughter pairs. The table next to me had two sisters with their mom and grandma. One table had 3 adults including the only Dad, a daughter and two young boys. The boys did get a little impatient sitting and didn’t join in any of the activities. They were given bears not dolls.
We were taken to our table overlooking the garden. The chair was pulled out for DD and a doll was sitting there. She was hesitant to sit and afterwards she said to me but the doll was sitting there.
I’d brought two clips to hold the crown in place and was so glad I did. They were just the pink mickey clips you get in any gift shop but were perfect. Only a couple of the girl’s crowns stayed on. The crown was a pretty beaded circlet with ribbons tied to it but it had no combs.
About half the girls were dressed in princess dresses, a mix of princesses – I think they were all someone different. Only one girl had been to BBB before the party.
Anna loved the doll and was in awe of the whole thing. Fresh flowers were on the table, pink napkins, a little card saying Princess Anna of the Hollyhocks.
We were introduced to Baron Branch the pianist. He came to the table shortly after and spoke to DD and signed her autograph book.
Rose petal then told her story about who she was. The gist was she was a Rose who had been magically turned human.
The girls were told to put their napkins on their lap and a bracelet was folded into the napkin which surprised my DD. It was just a play quality bracelet – silver coloured with a plastic pink heart but DD wanted it put on straightaway.
We were brought tea. I was given a pot, cup and tea strainer. I was poured a cup and then the pot was put under a tea cosy. It was served without milk or lemon – i’ve never had tea without milk but it was very pleasant and hot – can’t stand lukewarm tea. I didn’t think to ask what blend it was.
DD was delighted with her apple juice in a tea pot.
Rose petal asked some princess questions and the older girls hands shot up. The two girls at the table next to us were maybe 8 and 9 and very enthusiastic. They were also very sweet to my DD telling her she had the prettiest dress (they were in park clothes-too old for dress up I guess)
I also remember having to put our hands up if we were in love and rose petal said she was in love with a purple tulip.
Food was served to us plated up. Anna got a plate with 3 heart shaped jelly sandwiches, 2 turkey and cheese on brown bread and some fruit. I had asked for no peanut butter when I booked – I think they should have been peanut butter and jelly. She ate half a sandwich – far too enthralled by what was going on!
On my plate there was a coronation chicken sandwich, salmon and cream cheese sandwich and egg sandwich. There were some crackers and cheese with herbs, a tartlet with stilton and some grapes and fruit. I enjoyed this and ate it all but it definitely would not suit a pickier eater. The food was obviously pre plated some time in advance – one cracker was soft from sitting on the cheese but the food did taste fresh.
Rose petal sang and told the story of Sleeping beauty with actions for the girls to copy. At one point she had them cradling their dolls. All the girls I could see joined in enthralled. Rosepetal did come around the room several times whilst she was singing, involving all the girls.
Rose petal asked about birthdays, 3 girls raised their hands and said their name and age and were wished happy birthday. There was a 5 yr old and two 7 year olds.
The cake we had seen at the entrance to the room was held up then taken to be cut and served to us with cream, a strawberry and strawberry coulis. The cake was lovely – really fresh sponge with strawberry filling. DD had one bite I fed her – too busy to eat!
One lovely little girl, who had a make a wish button, was chosen to help Rosepetal teach us some sign language – hail to the king, hail to the queen, hail to the princess Aurora! I keep hearing my DD singing this.
Rosepetal had all the girls come up and stand with her then Aurora arrived. The girls followed her around the room in a parade – waving and holding their dresses.
I'm sure it will be a wonderful memory for both of you.
but it's always nice to look back and see who was there with you, even if you didn't know the people. 
I must say, I never expected the doll to be such a lovely one. I really had something Barbie style in my mind. 
