Afternoon tea is one of those dining experiences that can feel almost impossible to enjoy when you eat gluten-free. Between the scones, tea sandwiches and seemingly endless assortment of pastries, so much of the traditional experience revolves around foods that are off-limits. That’s what made my recent visit to the Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon tea at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa such a pleasant surprise.
Located in the Garden View Lounge, the tea experience recently received a refresh as part of the Grand Floridian’s larger refurbishment. Along with the updated space came a whimsical new menu inspired by Alice in Wonderland, but for me, the real highlight was seeing just how much attention was given to the gluten-free version of the experience.
Afternoon tea is currently offered Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because the Garden View Lounge is a smaller, more intimate space, reservations are required. Guests with dietary restrictions should make their needs known when booking and speak with their server upon arrival. Always communicate your specific allergies or dietary needs to your server, as menus and ingredients can change and Disney cannot guarantee that cross-contact with allergens will not occur.
The gluten-free scone was the first pleasant surprise. It looked remarkably similar to a traditional scone and had the texture you want from one: crumbly without falling apart, with just the right amount of sweetness. It was a small detail, but one that immediately made the experience feel much more like a traditional afternoon tea.
The gluten-free tea service is presented on a three-tiered stand, just like the standard version. Each level features its own assortment of bites, with the savory tier offering several gluten-free takes on classic tea sandwiches and small bites.
The savory selection includes the Curried Chicken Salad Playing Card Tart, Footman’s Feast: Wonderland Salmon Crisp, Tweedledee Egg Salad Sandwich and Caterpillar Cucumber Roll.
While the savory bites were enjoyable, the dessert course was where the gluten-free offering really stood out. The top tier features four whimsical desserts: Cheshire Checkerboard Cake, Unbirthday Petit Four, Queen of Hearts Raspberry Tart and Painting the Rose.
The presentation of these desserts is what really caught my attention. Rather than receiving a plate of plainly decorated gluten-free sweets, the desserts were carefully designed to fit the Alice in Wonderland theme. The tiny Unbirthday Petit Four, in particular, looked like a miniature piece of edible art.
My favorite was Painting the Rose, an Earl Grey-flavored teacake designed to look like a white rose. The dessert is finished tableside with raspberry sauce, “painting” the rose red in a nod to the famous scene from Alice in Wonderland. For gluten-free diners, those little details make a big difference. This wasn’t simply a meal that happened to accommodate my dietary needs; it still felt like I was participating in the same whimsical tea party as everyone else.
If you are gluten-free and have avoided afternoon tea because you assumed there wouldn’t be enough for you to eat, the Alice in Wonderland tea at the Grand Floridian is definitely worth considering. The gluten-free version manages to preserve the elegance, variety and the fun of the experience, proving that you don’t have to miss out on the magic of tea time just because you can’t have gluten.
Written by
Izi K
From hunting for Hidden Mickeys to trading pins with anyone who had a lanyard, Izi grew up finding joy in the little details of Walt Disney World. That love for the parks eventually led to roles as a Cast Member on both coasts – at Disneyland and across several teams in Florida. These days, you’ll often find Izi wandering Disney resorts, diving into bits of park history, or finding the perfect spot to relax and soak in the atmosphere in the parks.
