Monday

Grand Floridian Tea Room

My Disney World Birthday Celebration!
I wore this Disney Birthday Button,
loads of people (strangers) wished me
Happy Birthday!

I just returned last night from my birthday trip to Savannah with my two daughters and I'm dying to tell all about it, but the pictures aren't ready so I'm going to share my actual birthday, May 19th and my special gift from my husband was taking me to the Grand Floridian Garden Tea Room!

I'm going to share my birthday experience on Marty's Tabletop Tuesday
Susan's Tablescape Thursday
Lady Katherine's Tuesday Tea Time
Go to each of their blogs for lots more inspiration!

We chose the afternoon tea from this lovely menu

The first course: finger sandwiches
Cucumber, egg, shrimp salad, pear/cheese sandwiches, all delicious!

Joe enjoyed serving the tea!

Scones, jam and cream, and a mini tart - the second course

The delicious loose teas we chose: Eros for Joe, and I had Mad Hatter! No tea bags used here!
Eros tea: Medium bodied Ceylon, sweet mandarin orange with warm vanilla.
Mad Hatter tea: A blend of passion fruit, pomegranate, and vanilla. All the teas are special blends for Disney only, these teas were for sale in small tins, but they cost $21 for 3-oz. so we passed! :-(

Third course - the desserts and pastries! All were soooo yummy!

Our tea time was at 4:40 and we were the last to leave, so we were given extra desserts!
L to R: The swan had raspberry filling, an eclair, and a chocolate covered strawberry!

Where we were seated:
on the far right, beside the window.

The view from our table:
(The view is in the back of the main hotel lobby and overlooks the pool area)


The fresh flowers centerpieces were on the larger tables:

The band was playing beautiful music right above the tea room:


I zoomed in at this angle to show the huge chandelier:


View of the Garden Tea Room from the outside:
We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon tea!
We highly recommend this tea room, reservations are required.

This concludes pictures for Tabletops and Tablescape, but you are invited to see more pictures of The Grand Floridian below:


The tea room is right behind the area above

Entrance to the Garden View Tea Room at the Grand Floridian, Disney World:

Close-up of the flowers:

View of the front entrance to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa,
first floor, from the tea room entrance

More photos of the inside of the tea room:
View from our table


Opposite end of the tea room:
View, below, looking toward where we sat:
Joe talking to our sweet server

Where we sat is behind this cute sofa.

Long shot of the lobby looking toward the tea room:
When the band wasn't playing a very talented man in a tuxedo (with tails) played wonderful tunes!
(Note: they were installing new carpet and all the sofas and chairs were moved out of the area you see here.)

The huge birdcage!

The elevator:

The huge birdcage, taken from inside the elevator!

Other beautiful decor:

The grand staircase at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa!

Parked outside the front of the Grand Floridian Resort:

I think they sometimes use those vehicles for weddings there.

Oh, I almost forgot,
Here's the bathroom shot for Sheila!


More cake!
Another little birthday cupcake was given to me at a restaurant in the Polynesian Hotel where we ate lunch on my birthday! The little sprinkles are Mickey Mouse shapes.
Here we are at the Polynesian Hotel where we ate.

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
It really is GRAND!

I will share our Savannah trip soon, it was really fabulous too!

Katherine

What a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone birthday
Thanks to my family and friends for pampering me!

27 comments:

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

Happy birthday! What a wonderful bithday you had! Every pictures was so wonderful!!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh Katherine, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! You look fabulous and both of you look like you were having a wonderful time. The tea room is fabulous and your tea looks just wonderful. Such a pretty place. I can't wait to hear about your trip to Savannah. Thanks so much for joining the party. Hugs, Marty

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Ok, first...Happy Birthday...then

waaaaaaah...I want to go there! Just my cup of tea!!

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Katherine...

Happy Birthday, sweet lady! Ohhh my goodness, what a way to celebrate a birthday!!! I can't think of anything sweeter...or more delightful! The Floridian Grand Hotel is just magnificent...and so is their beautiful tea room! Ohhh...such splendor...loved that beautiful tea set! It looks like you and your husband had such a great time...I'm so very happy for you, my friend! Thank you so much for sharing your birthday celebration at the Grand Hotel tea room with us today...this was a real treat!!!

Have a terrific Tuesday, Darlin'!
Chari @Happy To Design

Anonymous said...

Katherine, Happy Birthday! Oh, you look adorable and you even snapped again for me! I'll post soon and let you know!
What a gorgeous place and your tea time looks so wonderful. Even your dear hubby looks to be having such a wonderful time. You know what? The outside of this gorgeous resorts reminds me so much of The Del Coronado on Coronado Island by San Diego, Ca! The same red roofs and points!
Oh, what a marvelous birthday you must have had.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Love Bears All Things said...

Thanks for sharing your surprise with us. All of the scenes were beautiful. Loved the Swans.
Mama Bear

Sonny G said...

Happy Birthday Katherine.
wow , talk about a magnificent place to have your birthday.. thank you so much for sharing your day with us and all those beautiful sights too.

hugs
Sonny

Beth said...

What a fabulous birthday, Katherine! The tea table was set beautifully and the hotel is fabulous. Thanks for sharing these photos, my virtual trip was fun! Can't wait to see your Savannah pics!

Wanda Lee said...

Thanks so much for sharing your delightful experience and happy birthday dear Katherine!..,

..,I can hardly wait to see all of the other pictures that you have to share with us later!

Do please pop by 'for a splosh of tea and an afternoon tea treat for my 32nd Tuesday Tea For Two and also my 23rd,'Wednesday Tea For Me And Thee; I'd love to have you visit!..,

..,(Please know dear Katherine that whereas I have been very busy and not feeling as well as I would naturally much prefer, therefore I have not been able to visit and invite folks as often, as I would so very much have loved to do, over the last while)..,

Cheers and hugs from Wanda Lee

Marilyn Miller said...

What a special treat for your birthday. Happy, happy birthday to you.

Carrie said...

Happy Birthday, and may God grant you many more!
What a fabulous place to have tea...and the dishes are Royal Albert Old Country Roses!
Thanks for sharing all the lovely views.

Martha's Favorites said...

Happy Birthday! What a amazing time you must have had. Everything looked so stunning. I would like to invite you to join our Tea Cup Tuesday next week. I know the ladies would love to see your blog. Have a wonderful birthday week! Blessings, Martha

A Hint of Home said...

I'm so jealous! What a gorgeous place to celebrate! You are one lucky birthday girl.
Looks like you had a wonderful time.
Happy Birthday, friend!

Creations By Cindy said...

Oh katherine, looks as though you had a lovely birthday and I am so glad for you. Oh your man looks like a sweetheart...pampering you at the tea room.......Can't wait to hear about your Savannah trip. I love Savannah! Have a blessed day katherine. Cindy

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Katherine!

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday, Dear Katherine!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Loved going to your birthday tea with you. Glad that you had such a wonderful time! I love the Grand Floridian. They do know how to pamaper their guests.

Mr. Magpie's birthday to tomorrow, and I'm having a giveaway in honor of it. Please drop by and visit if you get a chance.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Cottage Rose said...

Happy Birthday Katherine; OH I love all these gorgeous photos,,, what a grand hotel..... love the tea room,,, how sweet of your Hubby to take you there,,,, it all looked so yummy. and how cute you are in your Mickey ears,,,,, love it.. thank you for the tour,,, can't wait to see your Savanna trip.... have a great week,

Hugs;
Alaura

Marigene said...

A very Happy Birthday, Katherine and many more!

Donna (Timeless Settings) said...

What a great place to celebrate your birthday! Happy Birthday!

Donna

Lori @ Dining Delight said...

Happy Belated Bday! How wonderful to celebrate it by having a fancy afternoon tea and even better, that your hubby joined you! Everything looked lovely and super delish! It reminds me of our 25th anniversary when my hubby and I went and had afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. It was so expensive but totally worth it!

DD

Donna said...

What a wonderful birthday you had. I just love tearooms. The food looks so good. Also, thanks for sharing those great pics and views.
D

Rettabug said...

Wishing you a slightly belated but no less sincere "Happy Birthday", Katherine! What a magical place to celebrate! I've been to the Grand Floridian & it IS marvelous. I never had the tea, though. :-( Next time!

I think you need to grab one of these photos of you for your profile avatar. You look great in that turquoise color...so young & fresh & happy!! You're positively glowing!

Chubby Chieque said...

What a lovely day! Pampering the celebrant is worth it.

Your so cute in every shots you have.

Belated happy BDay to you Lady.

Wishing from Stockholm

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Looks like a most delightful birthday celebration for a most delightful you!

parTea lady said...

Thanks for sharing all your wonderful photos. Looks like a perfect birthday treat.

I love having afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. The only difference I noticed was the new tea cozies. The sweets are luscious, but I can't resist the English trifle.

Fifi Flowers said...

Looks like a FAB way to celebrate... Happy Birthday!

The Charm of Home said...

Oh, how fabulous! What a wonderful birthday treat! It is just lovely! Have you ever been to the tea shop in England at Epcot? I love to shop in there! So many tea cups that are so divine my head spins!
Happy belated birthday!

nannykim said...

wow that was some teaparty!! All of the food looks so fabulous!! Oh and the tea tooooo! Wish I didn't have to be gluten free!!! Guess I could bring my own bread? Looks like you had such a wonderful time!