Written by Robert Niles
Published: July 28, 2005 at 6:55 PM
Optimists with a love for cliché insist money cannot buy happiness. Whatever. But for the load of cash you'll drop here you get 90 minutes of unrelenting good cheer -- enough to make even the most cynical youngster deliriously giddy.
TPI kids Natalie and Brian Niles joined their grandmother at the party this morning, as a thank you for participating in their aunt's wedding this weekend. Not content with two hours of parental freedom, I shoved a camera at the trio and made them promise a full report for TPI, too.
At these prices, the Princess Tea Party can't be a casual affair even for those who can afford the indulgence. You'll find no kids in T-shirts and flip flops here. Instead, a platoon of coiffed and costumed princesses-in-training descend upon the Grand Floridian's Garden View Tea Lounge. Many opt for Disney-branded princess gowns, but a few go their own way, donning velvet capes, and in one case, a flowing blonde wig.
Too many, however, chose fancy plastic shoes for the occasion, leading to the often-heard cry, “Ow, my feet, Mommy, my feet!”
The morning's hostess, Rose Petal, greets each child as she enters with a sprinkle of, well, rose petals, and a tiara for the girls to wear. (Unless, of course, the little guest brought her own. Many do.) Waitresses then escort parents and daughters to their tables.
Yes, this is pretty much a girls-only event. Brian, bless his heart, was the only boy in attendance, gamely playing along even though he demurred an invitation to portray Prince Charming during story time.
At each place setting, the girls find an 18-inch Princess Aurora doll to take home (Brian got a Disney Teddy Bear), along with a personalized place card and a bracelet.
Each child gets her own pot of Apple “tea” (juice, in reality), which the waitresses cheerfully show the kids how to pour through strainers into their china cups.
With the tea, children are served a plate of heart-cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, along with a crustless ham and cheese sandwich and a serving of grapes.
Adults dine upon a selection of cheeses, including smoked cheddar and a bleu cheese barquette. Egg and salmon salad sandwiches, along with grapes and lavosh, complete the plate.
After the meal, hostesses present the Princess Cake, a white cake with a light pink frosting and strawberry filling.
Each guest is served a hefty slab of the cake before Princess Aurora arrives for story time. Rose Petal and Aurora tell the story of the Sleeping Beauty, inviting the kids to join in and act along, even getting their new princess dolls into the story at one point.
Live piano music and singing follows, as Aurora makes her way around the tables, presenting each child with a real pink rose. She lingers to chat with each child, often asking them to name their favorite princess. Most, captivated by the moment, eagerly respond “Aurora!” Natalie, having inherited her father's crack sense of sarcasm, chirped... “Leia!”
But the flowers, the sunshine, the music and the stories of magic swept even Natalie into the moment, and by the end of the 90-minute program she was waltzing with her grandmother around the room.
At the conclusion of the event, guests are directed upstairs to a gift shop (natch), where cheerful cast members present each child with a customized “Best Friends” certificate with their name and that of their new doll, along with a package of scrapbooking materials and a bag to carry home all the loot.
Despite the hefty cost, the daily event sells out quickly. If you'd like to go, call (407) WDW-DINE [(407) 939-6397] exactly 90 days before the date you wish to attend. “My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party” costs $200 for one adult and one child, plus tax and tip, with an extra charge of $65 for each additional adult and $135 for each additional child. Yep, the kids cost more than the adults. But it is their show.
My mother reported the adult's plate was delicious, though not always to her taste. (Though, to be fair, I should note that she's not the foodie I am. The menu sounded yummy to me.)
Utilizing existant "cast members", inexpensivly made dolls, pbjs, and apple juice I bet this thing nets $150-175 a head.
BRILLIANT!
On the other hand I wonder what this teaches little Mary Jane Trust FUnd about money management and opprotunity cost?
That's why I've provided pictures and description here, so parents of young girls who will be visiting Disney can make a more informed decision about whether this would be worth the cost. Mind you, if you are the parent of a child who's finding it hard to smile, $200 to elicit a day's worth is a mighty tempting bargain. But if this sort of thing won't bring that for your daughter, I hope this article will help warn you away from this and toward something else that might be a better buy for your family.
When I say some restaurants I don't mean all. More along the lines of Blue Bayou, which I think is vastly overated.
The key is getting the most for your money. And with so many choices out there, somebody's offering an experience that's perfect for you and your kids. The trick is finding it. Just going along with the "popular" choice might not be the best way to do that, though.
Ultimately, I think that's what has helped win TPI such acclaim. It's not just a Disney site, or just a roller coaster site. It covers a wide variety of experiences, including wickedly expensive ones ;-) in an effort to arm you with a wide range of informed vacation choices. (Which I suppose should lead to an appeal for people to e-mail suggestions for things like the Princess Tea Party that we ought to profile.)
Your plan can change, but at least have one.
I think Disney still relies (and charges) a lot on the branding thing itself.
But, ultimately, expenses do not set the price of an event. Demand does. Given that Disney's Princess Tea sells out at $200 a couple, one could justly argue that Disney's not charging *enough* for this event. Yikes.
The reason that the Disney even is in higher demand than other events of the same theme is that, as I said, they're Disney. Would you rather go to a small event at a hotel or one thrown by Disney. The choice isn't that hard to make. Most people would choose Disney.
BUT, if you have a princess-mad child, the Restaurant Akershus in Epcot's Norway pavilion apparently has princess meals all day long (no doubt to get people into the least popular restaurant in the park). For $15 to $29 per person!
My point is: I really love Disney, but - specially after being to this tea party in San Diego - if I went to this Princess Tea in Disney I would be utterly disappointed. I would be mad. Not like the Mad Hatter, but more like a mad, mad Grumpy. Simply because I would be expecting MORE. More quality. The doll seem flimsy, the cake looks cheap (with a printed display on top). I don't want to diminish your experience, I hope your young ones had a great time, and I imagine that they have a lot to tell to the other kids at school and all. But I'm glad you've put pictures in this site and described the whole thing... so that I will know not to try it.
I don't know how Disney can get away with this kind of stuff, but it certainly can't stand forever. Disney was supposed to mean "good quality". Considering all, charging that much for this event is offensive to the public. I bet many parents were secretly shocked with that kind of food, but just took it because they were paying "for the show", and because they were doing that for their kids. But would you want to pay top price for a Cirque De Soleil show sitting on a metal chair? I think you would take the metal chair if it was a discount price, otherwise...
The name Disney is a brand. The quality of the even doesn't matter to many people if the event is Disney.
I am glad that you wrote about this event. Being from a family of all boys, we would never go there especailly if we would drop $200. This does clear up for many about what you get for the money. It seems worth it. I liked the pictures of the little boy. It shows that boys could go there if there is no other option giving an option for the whole family to go there. Did he enjoy it? If I have a daughter, I would take her there.