Sunday Brunch Sunday News: Enchanted Grove
Chopped Down for Curious Cats
November 13, 2011
With the last weekend of Epcot's Food and Wine
Festival upon us, it would be only fitting to'not talk about it.
Actually, the plan was to cover the festival one last time, but
surprise stirrings in the Magic Kingdom bring us to discuss the
latest 'new' eatery in Fantasyland! I was walking in the park last
week with my friend Aaron Wallace* who was visiting for an extended
weekend, and he asked me what I thought of the new Cheshire Caf'. I
had no idea what he was talking about and we quickly rushed over to
the edge of Fantasyland by the Mad Tea Party. After some quick
online research, we realized that day was the grand opening of the
'new' Caf'.
All summer long and for majority of the Fall season,
the Enchanted Grove juice bar was covered up with the usual canvas
coverings, printed with images of the building as it is typically
seen. I was wondering why they were taking so long just to repaint
and re-shingle the roof as Pinnochio's Village Haus had a rehab, but
it didn't take all summer and it is a much larger building. Much to
my surprise, Enchanted Grove was not only being refurbished, but
re-themed! Long time readers will recall one of my favorite articles
I've written was about
the evolution of 'the Lancer's Inn' to its current incarnation 'the
Friar's Nook.' In similar fashion, we will look at how the
'Enchanted Grove' refreshment counter has evolved into the 'Cheshire
Caf'.'

The view of the new Caf' as you head towards Tomorrowland. The color
scheme of the shingled roof has changed from teal blue and pink to
natural brown.
When Magic Kingdom opened a smidge over 40 years
ago, the charming little timberline building by the Mad Tea Party
did not even exist. By 1973, the little house appeared with a wide
double patio, though it was not for food at all. From 1973 to 1981,
this was the home to the Fantasyland Art Festival. During this time
period, a fleet of artists drew guests' portraits, equipped with
seats and easels lining the patio. But by 1981, the popularity of
live artist portrait sittings seemed to wane and both festivals were
removed in lieu of more profitable shops.

Aaron and I weren't sure what this little alcove was when we were
exploring the area. It seemed to be a forgotten seating area and we
hypothesized perhaps it was a new Meet-and-Greet area for Wonderland
characters. I now realize, this was the second half of the large
patio for when the building housed the Fantasyland Art Festival.
The reimagineered shop became
Enchanted Grove, a juice bar and refreshment stand. While I don't
have any pictures of the former shop, I do remember there was an
emphasis on fresh fruits, what with the theme being an enchanted
grove. The grove served fresh fruit, juice, lemonade, punch, and
lemonade slush and raspberry slush refreshments as well as coffee,
tea, muffins, and cereal.
Cheshire Caf' still serves the same exact menu, with
all items counting as snacks on the Disney Dining Plan. What's
interesting to note about the menu is the artwork for the shop name
logo. Aaron noticed that it's very much in the style of the Tim
Burton version of Alice in Wonderland. While the Cheshire Cat
from Disney's 1951 film Alice in Wonderland decorates the
main shop sign, it seems to be the font of Tim Burton. If there's
one Disney character that would match the zany style of Tim Burton,
it would be the Cheshire Cat, so in my opinion the use of such
lettering is fitting.

Even the new Restroom sign features Tim Burton Alice font!
With a somewhat simple rehab and retheming, the
often forgotten Enchanted Grove was given new life and made to
better fit the area in Fantasyland in which it resides. The area
music played near the new caf' and in the adjacent bathrooms is a
musical score of a medley of songs from Alice in Wonderland, though
it is different than the music played in the Mad Tea Party. The
opening of the New Fantasyland is drawing closer and closer and the
existing Fantasyland continues to get refreshed in preparation for
its extension. Distinct areas of Fantasyland will soon appear and
begs one to wonder if this area of the land is becoming a miniature
Wonderland of sorts.
*yes, that Aaron Wallace of the Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Pod podcast
found at