When the first reports began swirling early last year of a “princess makeover” for Mizner’s Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, I became anxious. While I’ll admit Mizner’s was a bit outdated and in desperate need of a refreshing, the thought of this space being overrun with Disney characters in such an elegant resort was disheartening. Oh, how wrong I was…
Amy and I had the opportunity to visit this newly re-imagined lounge recently, now named the Enchanted Rose. From the moment we stepped inside, my nerves were instantly calmed as I marveled in the elegance of the space. With its inspiration drawn from Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, Enchanted Rose invites guests to relax in one of four areas, individually telling parts of this classic tale’s story. Guests visiting should be sure to check out the entire lounge, so they don’t miss some of the movie nods scattered throughout, such as Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth!
Open from 1:00 pm daily, Enchanted Rose offers a large selection of signature cocktails, as well as a small selection of snacks and starts beginning at 5:00 pm. Since we arrived shortly after opening, we grabbed a quick drink and enjoyed exploring this beautiful addition to the Grand Floridian.
Amy elected to go with one of lounges non-alcoholic options called the B&B. This drink consists of Fresh Brewed Twinings of London® Iced Tea, lemon, blueberry, and basil served over ice for $7. Unlike many non-alcoholic beverages at Disney, this was not overly sweet and provided a perfect balance of flavors. With the holidays in full swing, Amy asked to substitute mint for the basil and was pleasantly surprised how it paired with the blueberry and lemon. The drink was also freshly prepared, gaining as much attention to detail as the lounges alcoholic offerings.
I opted for the Seasonal Old Fashioned, which included Widow Jane 10 yr. Straight Bourbon Whiskey, House-made Seasonal Syrup, and Bitters for $25. This variation on a classic utilized a housemade cranberry simple syrup that infuses for over 24 hours before serving, brown sugar, and rosemary. I found this drink to be incredibly smooth, and the seasonal twist brought all the smells you expect from this time of year into the glass. Amy also tried it and felt it was still a bit strong for her taste.
Sitting at the bar also allowed us to enjoy watching the bartenders craft a few additional beverages for guests of the Enchanted Rose:
Overall, Amy and I agreed that Enchanted Rose was somewhere we could see ourselves sitting and relaxing for many hours. Unfortunately, the price associated with sitting there for hours could quickly buy another dinner at Victoria & Albert’s. Based on the lounge’s location and the quality of service and the offerings, these prices are justified but make the place somewhere we will only visit occasionally. I’d recommend if you want to experience this beautiful new edition to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa but not break the bank, stick to the non-alcoholic section of the menu.
Have you been to the new Enchanted Rose lounge at the Grand Floridian? Do you miss Mizner’s? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
I enjoyed the beautiful updated lounge area however if you go past 5:00 it is incredibly noisy sitting in the bar area. It’s hard to sit and relax with the noise level. I know there are a couple other areas you can sit in but I feel like the bar area is where I would want to sit to see what’s going on. Feel a part of it. I liked Mizners better. It just needed a little pixie dust. Plus Enchanted Rose is way over priced. I won’t be back.
The truffle fries are our of this world!
We were so looking forward to an after dinner drink after a busy day at the parks. We were happy to meet another couple on the monorail and ended up at the Enchanted Rose together . As we entered, it was beautiful and quite busy around 9pm but we were able to snag seating at the bar. Granted we had just come from the parks so we were not dressed like many of the upper crust beautiful people of the Grand Floridian, but the servers were so focused on the high end folks . I felt we were looked down upon and when we finally got served, I asked for a glass of reisling and the bartender gave us the most expensive glass without even offering suggestions. I did observe another guest was given a sample and received excellent service. I was so disappointed in the treatment and poor service we received . I am a table in wonderland member so I had to leave a tip. So, being a DVC member, we have always felt the love every trip. This was just awful. I will never be back.
I too was a Mizner’s fan and was anxious about how this would turn out. As far as the facility, it is beautiful. I like the different seating areas which can help if you are looking for a more quiet adventure as it can get rather loud. I was expecting a price increase as well on the beverages with the new theming and atmosphere. What I wasn’t expecting was the repeated poor service. I have gone a couple of times over my last two trips in 4 months. Each visit was met with less than stellar service. I attributed it the first time to the “newness” of the lounge as they had only been open a week or two. The second trip was during New Years and that is crowded anywhere you go. Upon reflecting, the servers are pleasant but there just aren’t enough of them. I hope the management realizes this and adds appropriate staff. I still miss Mizner’s…….
We noticed the lighting fixture at Enchanted Rose–which is supposed to represent Belle’s skirt, is the same as the lighting at Topolino’s at the Riviera. We visited both on the same day, which made it easier to spot.
These are upper east side Manhattan hotel bar prices. I appreciate a well made drink as much as the next person but this is too expensive for the location. Yeah it’s the Grand Flo – but it’s Disney, not the Carlyle.