An alarm rings early in the morning. As your eyes open and take in the already bright Florida sunshine that fills the room, you remember that you’re not home – you’re waking up in a hotel room and are about to spend the day at Disney World!
Well, that’s certainly a better reason to get out of bed than usual! You stumble out of bed and set off to make tea to start the morning with, only to realize that there’s no kettle in this room.
Alas, it’s true. It’s almost unheard of to find a hotel room in the US with an electric kettle, including those at the Disney resorts and in the surrounding area. Sure, there is hot water and complimentary tea bags available at most resort food courts, but there are a few other options around the Disney parks and resorts for those looking for a great cup of tea…
The Fancy Option – Garden View Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Just a quick monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom park, the Garden View Tea Room offers a daily afternoon tea in this small, quiet space overlooking the grounds of Disney’s flagship resort.
The tea menu includes a selection of almost twenty black, green, white and herbal teas, including two varieties blended especially for the resort. (My personal recommendation is the Eros, a medium bodied Ceylon with hints of mandarin orange and vanilla.) Tea sandwiches, pastries, scones, tarts, and even champagne are available a la carte or as part of fixed price packages.
Top tip: Due to the small size and limited hours of the tea room, reservations are generally necessary.
Best Theme Park Tea – Royal Anandapur Tea Company at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
On a hot day, there are few things better than grabbing a frozen chai from the Royal Anandapur Tea Company and sipping it slowly while watching the tigers and other animals along the Maharajah Jungle Trek.
Many guests race past this tea stand on their way to nearby attractions, but tea fans should take time to stop and browse the menu. Although the previously mentioned frozen chai stands out as a fan favorite, you can also choose from a selection of teas including Masala Chai, Darjeeling, and Vanilla Honey Rooibos, all of which are available either hot or iced.
Coffee drinks and pastries are also available to help you refuel before continuing your theme park adventures. Since FastPass+ is included on all Disney World tickets, this is a great place to stop while waiting for your FastPass time at Expedition Everest or Kali River Rapids!
Pro Tip: For the safety of the animals, food and beverage locations at Animal Kingdom do not supply straws or lids for drinks. I like to bring a plastic travel mug to transfer my beverage into so that I can carry it along as I explore the park without worrying about spills.
Something A Bit Different – The Joy Of Tea at Epcot
This small kiosk in the China pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase serves hot, iced and frozen tea drinks, including a few interesting options such as the Green Tea Plum Slush, a frozen concoction made with plum wine.
The DIY Option – Twinings Tea Shop at Epcot
If the small selection of tea bags provided at resort beverage stations just isn’t working for you, one option is a trip to the Twinings tea shop in Epcot’s UK pavilion.
The shop, which is designed to resemble Anne Hathaway’s cottage, carries pretty much every variety of Twinings imaginable, as well as a selection of biscuits and other familiar treats from the UK.
Although the prices will probably be quite a bit higher than you’re used to paying at home, it will still come out much cheaper than paying several dollars per cup in restaurants. Once you’ve purchased your tea of choice here, almost any quick or full service restaurant location will be happy to supply hot water.
Although this certainly isn’t a complete list of all good tea options at Disney World, hopefully it will help with trip planning, whether you’re looking for a traditional tea experience or the opportunity to try something totally new!
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