I have only stayed at the Grand Floridian once (in the DVC villas), but I find myself visiting the resort fairly often – mostly because they have some great restaurant options! When the Enchanted Rose lounge was first announced some people were skeptical. They felt that the French-inspired Beauty and the Beast lounge wouldn’t go with the British Victorian feel of the Grand Floridian. But as a huge Beauty and the Beast fan, I was excited to check it out!
The Decor at Enchanted Rose lounge
I absolutely love the inside of this lounge. They’ve expanded the size of it since it was Mizner’s lounge, and the themeing is beautiful. It evokes some elements of Beauty and the Beast without being in your face about it. It’s very understated and elegant. We visited shortly after it had opened and it was a very quiet atmosphere. I couldn’t help but think it would be a great place to relax with a book and a drink on a solo trip!
There’s actually a few rooms in the lounge, but of course the main one is the “library” and has a lovely fireplace area with a mantle and many items representative of Beauty and the Beast. I love the rose being featured, and the globes are a wonderful tribute to Belle’s desire for adventure. If you visit, see if you can find Mrs. Potts too!
The other main room has more of an “enchanted forest” feel to it, done in greens and blues with a large mural on the background with trees. It’s nice that the two rooms have different vibes to them but they still work well together. Both rooms have large windows along the back wall which makes it feel very light and welcoming during the daytime. There’s also a small outdoor balcony area, which is where we ended up sitting.
The Drinks
I cannot write this review without saying that the drink prices are high. Very, very high. I’m used to paying more for a drink or cocktail in Disney World. You come to expect it and I’ll pay $12-14 for a drink at Nomad Lounge, Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar, or Wine Bar George. At Enchanted Rose lounge the cheapest drink on the menu is $15, with most cocktails hitting more of the $18-20 range and a number of them around $25.
It has to be an amazing cocktail for me to think it’s worth $20, even with Disney pricing. And spoiler alert – my $19 margarita was nothing special. In retrospect I wish I’d gone with something a little more exciting, but everything unique was $20+ and I have to admit I was having a bit of sticker shock at that.
The drink that I went with was the Sunny Margarita ($19 – Patrón Silver Tequila, Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, Juices of Orange and Lime, and Agave):
It was a good margarita, but it didn’t wow me. I love Grand Marnier and I was hoping that would give it a nice twist on a typical margarita, but I couldn’t taste much of the Grand Marnier.
Jason had the Island Rose ($15 – Ketel One Grapefruit and Rose, Lime, Orgeat (Almond), Pineapple, Bitters, and Rose Water):
This is a surprisingly fruity drink given the setting and might feel more appropriate poolside, but it was still quite tasty. It’s one of those cocktails that’s very easy to drink and Jason sucked it down pretty quickly – not necessarily what you’re looking for with a $15 cocktail!
Bottom Line
I would probably come back here for a special occasion or once in a rare while. I’d also be okay with making a stop here on a monorail bar crawl and just having one drink, and maybe trying one or two food items between a group of people. But the prices of the drinks just make it too much for me to consider this as a place to relax for a whole night with a couple of drinks. I just didn’t think the drinks were that great to warrant the high prices.
Maybe I’ll splurge someday and treat myself to a fancy trip of staying at the Grand Floridian and spend a night here. Or I’ll pop in just to admire the decor. But otherwise, I can’t really recommend going out of your way to get here unless you’re a huge Beauty and the Beast fan (or you have money to burn – in which case, feel free to invite me along!).
Are you interested in a visit to Enchanted Rose lounge?
Swing by my place; I make my scratch margaritas with GM as a matter of course.
Did the Island Rose actually taste like rose or is that a gimmick? ‘Cause I LOVE rose-flavored things!
Wow, those paintings on the wall are just breath taking! Such a unique spot.
This looks so cool. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite!
It’s my favorite too!
Ooo I love the architecture and decor. I’m not one for bars, but this looks like a really neat place to see! And it’s fun how it’s Beauty and the Beast themed, so I can see how it would be a fun atmosphere!