Wonderland Tea Party

First let me say what an honor it is to be a guest writer for such a fantastic blog! Being able to share my Disney knowledge with others is an absolute blessing. Now on to some insider tips and tricks for you wonderful Disney fans!

This week I’m sharing an exciting experience for anyone traveling with pint sized princesses (or princes). Being an Aunt to 5 lovable nieces and nephews I’m no stranger to being utterly exhausted by the energy that Disney seems to instill in young children, it must be something in all that sugar… But when my mother and I took my niece to Disney this summer to commemorate her 6th birthday we stumbled upon a hidden gem, known as the Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare.

This is a one-hour experience for kids only, from ages 4-12. It is a Tea Party actually hosted by Alice and the Mad Hatter himself! Costing $42.60 per child and up to 25 children, this party is set up in the middle of 1900 Park Fare dining room with a long table to seat each of the young guests and their 2 storybook hosts. The children receive apple juice and are given cupcakes to snack on and decorate. I was informed that any allergies your children may have could be easily catered to with a prearranged cupcake. Once the doors close on this event and the adults are ushered out, the children enjoy an hour of playing and crafting, which include the “gifts” pictured below.

This allows for the adults to have a whole childfree hour to do whatever they like! I have friends and family that say they feel guilty placing their children in one of the “Disney Day Care” centers, but still want a little time to themselves, so in my personal opinion this may be the perfect solution for someone who just needs a little breathing room. My mother and I decided to spend our hour browsing the beautiful shops that Grand Floridian has to offer and having a spot of tea at the Garden View Tea Room. For those that have not been it is worth a visit. With picturesque windows and a stunning view of the Grand Floridian grounds is at your disposal, who wouldn’t enjoy sipping on a relaxing cup of tea while munching on a tasty treat. I was not able to eat dairy or gluten on our last visit and was pleasantly surprised that the chef came out and personally organized my menu for me! Also worthy of note is that each portion I received was larger than the last and what I had planned on being a light snack turned into a 3-course meal.

If dining in a tearoom is not on the agenda for you, feel free to bring a book or wander the grounds of the resort with a camera. The architecture is simply stunning and the view of Magic Kingdom from the beach isn’t bad either. There is delightful quick service dining known as the Gasparilla Island Grill, but if you would rather sit in the lobby and enjoy the relaxing tones of the live orchestra or piano, that is always a perfectly satisfying option. When the spa reopens in 2013 there may also be the chance for a quick mani-pedi or 30-minute massage in your future!

As an added bonus for parents who don’t enjoy waiting in long lines for autographs, this allows your child to truly have an immersive character experience that they will remember for years to come. Costumes are encouraged, but not in anyway required, also don’t forget that to retrieve your child you must return with photo ID and the receipt from your payment of the experience when you dropped your child off.

Your child will return to you an hour later grinning from ear-to-ear, eager to tell you of their latest experiences, as well as bestowing you with their own piece of artwork they colored before their entry, signed by Alice and the Mad Hatter! An additional perk is that you will receive a photo pass with photos of your child taken by a Disney photopass photographer commemorating the event.

From Niceville with Love,
Lacey