In partnership with
Greetings Fellow Rope Droppers,
If there’s one single spot that’s seen dining refresh after dining refresh the past few years, it’s the Grand Floridian. We’re breaking down the latest news, plus the broader lineup.
Plus even though we’re only a week or so into Epcot International Festival of the Arts, we’re already getting new deets on Flower and Garden!
-Gabe
Disney Parks Blog
Disney just spilled the tea on Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience at the Grand Floridian: it reopens March 19, 2026, with reservations opening February 19.
That’s the headline, but the bigger planning story is that Grand Floridian has spent the last few years steadily reshaping its dining roster, and this is the latest “new classic” being slotted into place.
What’s new at Garden View
This isn’t just “a lounge reopened.” Disney is framing it as a full afternoon tea experience with Alice in Wonderland touches, plus options for adults and kids. The menu preview includes:
Twinings loose-leaf tea selections, with Cast Members guiding you through picks.
A build-your-own angle: you choose an aromatic added during steeping, plus sweeteners.
Tea-based cocktails (and also non-alcoholic specialty drinks), plus champagne/sparkling.
A three-tier service: savory bites, sweets (including an Earl Grey-flavored teacake painted tableside), and an orange-cranberry scone.
Plant-based tea service exists, and there are add-ons like seasonal cheese or Royal Osetra caviar.
Disney Parks Blog
The bigger picture: Grand Floridian’s dining has been on a multi-year refresh cycle
If you haven’t been tracking it, this is why Grand Floridian dining feels “different” than it did pre-2020: multiple anchors have reopened or been reworked in sequence, and one of them even picked up a MICHELIN Star in 2024.
Grand Floridian dining cheat sheet
(Price gauge is a quick “feel,” not a promise… menus and totals vary fast.)
Venue | Recent change | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience | Reopens Mar 19, 2026; reservations Feb 19; Alice-themed afternoon tea | A “make it the event” midday break, best for planners who want something calmer than parks. $$$ |
1900 Park Fare | Reopened Apr 10, 2024 with a refreshed room and updated character dining | Families who want character time without a park ticket day; book early. $$$ |
Narcoossee’s | Reopened Apr 1, 2023 in a newly reimagined space | Date nights + fireworks-adjacent dining energy; good “big meal” pick. $$$$ |
Victoria & Albert’s | Returned July 28, 2022 and later earned a MICHELIN Star ( 2024) | True bucket-list, special-occasion dining; expect effort + planning. $$$$$ |
Cítricos | Reopened July 15, 2021 with Mary Poppins Returns-inspired updates | A polished “signature but not V&A” choice; solid if you want upscale without full formal. $$$$ |
Enchanted Rose | Lounge; Opened Oct 4, 2019 | Easy win for adults: cocktails + small plates, no major time commitment. $$–$$$ |
The Perch | New lobby bar; opened Nov 10, 2025 | A quick “Grand Floridian moment” without committing to a full meal. Great for a pre-dinner drink, a toast, or a mid-afternoon reset if you’re already on the monorail loop. $$ |
Grand Floridian dining FAQs
Driving in? Disney lists complimentary standard self-parking while enjoying select dining/experiences at the resort. It’s usually across the street.
But don’t treat it like all-day parking. Security will give you a 3-hour flyer to post on your car dash.
Valet exists, and Disney currently lists $42 (plus tax) at Grand Floridian (fees can change).
Planner move: If your real goal is “tea + Magic Kingdom after,” consider arriving via monorail instead of trying to stretch a dining-parking window.
First Look: Kidani’s refreshed Deluxe Studios and Two-Bedroom Villas are rolling out with modern baths, Murphy-style beds, new flooring, smart TVs, and USB/USB‑C, all while keeping the AKL vibe. Timeline check: Kidani through May 2026; Jambo House into January 2027, so you can target newly renovated rooms. (DVC Fan)
Maiden March: Disney Adventure, DCL’s biggest ship, is steaming toward its new home in Singapore with a March 10 maiden voyage and mostly 3–4 night sailings. As that maiden gets closer, we’re getting more peeks at the forthcoming onboard entertainment. (Disney Parks Blog)
Showtime Shift: Happily Ever After moves to 9:30 PM nightly starting March 8, so plan ADRs, dessert parties, or exits accordingly. Beginning Jan 28, castle repainting pauses Let the Magic Begin and shifts Friendship Faire to afternoons, so double-check the app. (Disney Food Blog)
Refurb Radar: Yacht Club’s Crew’s Cup Lounge closes Feb 23–May, then Yachtsman Steakhouse goes dark May–Aug for a refresh. (DVC News)
Water Park Watch: Typhoon Lagoon starts its seasonal closure Feb 15 (last day Feb 14) with Blizzard Beach tagging in, and Humunga Kowabunga actually goes down early on Jan 20 as permits hint at bigger work. Expect Typhoon back by summer. (BlogMickey)
Skyliner Reminder: Skyliner is down Jan 25–31, so guests at Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera will be on buses to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. (Disney Food Blog)
Bluey Prep: Imagineering filed a general construction permit for Conservation Station at Animal Kingdom… likely groundwork for the Bluey & Bingo experience debuting summer 2026. Keep an eye out for possible work impacts around Rafiki’s Planet Watch while details stay under wraps. (BlogMickey)
Disney Parks Blog
Epcot’s next festival is officially on the calendar: Flower & Garden runs March 4 through June 1, 2026. (Disney Parks Blog)
Quick Hits
Disney says you’ll see 60+ character topiaries and 31+ gardens/floral displays spread across the park.
Garden Rocks is back at America Gardens Theatre, and the lineup includes Simple Plan, Rick Springfield, 98 Degrees, Air Supply, and more (with several new acts noted). Shows are included with park entry; seating is first-come, first-served.
Want a seat without the camp-out? Garden Rocks dining packages open February 5.
Family add-ons are returning: Spike’s PollenNation scavenger hunt, Eggstravaganza, and Butterfly Landing.
Outdoor Kitchens are confirmed, with a Foodie Guide promised later.
RDR take: If Festival of the Arts is Epcot’s “do it in one lap” fest, Flower & Garden is the one you plan for a slower day—snack, stroll, and let the park do the work. For crowds, your easiest win is simple: weekday visits, and if a concert is your priority, either arrive early or book the dining package.
What's your favorite Epcot festival of the year?
Adventure curated by the brands you trust
REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel have teamed up to take you somewhere extraordinary.
Hike Nüümü Poyo, also known as the John Muir Trail, one of America's most iconic multi-day treks, while forming lasting bonds with like-minded adventurers.
Set up camp each night with iconic backdrops and get to know your fellow travelers over dinners prepared by your local trip leader, who handles all the logistics so you can focus on the adventure.
This trip is part of a curated collection of small-group adventures across 85+ destinations worldwide. And right now, REI Co-op members save 15% on this REI Exclusive trip.
For T&Cs and more info, click here.
And finally this week, if you want something short and FUN to add to your watchlist, don’t miss this new video from Imagineering. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (one of my favorites!).
How'd we do?
Was this email forwarded to you?
Join us for all the weekly updates. Subscribe here.