The Perch at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort: What to Know

5 September 2026 by Steve Bell Leave a Comment

The Perch Is a Beautiful New Addition to the Grand Floridian Lobby

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has one of the most recognizable hotel lobbies at Walt Disney World, and The Perch gives guests a new reason to spend a little more time there.

This avian-inspired lobby bar occupies the area associated with the Grand Floridian’s former decorative birdcage and blends surprisingly well into the resort’s grand Victorian atmosphere.

Tracy and I stopped by during our June 2026 visit. I ordered a Floridian 75 while Tracy had water, and we settled into one of the low tables near the bar while the pianist played nearby.

It was a very relaxing way to spend part of the evening.

Quick answer: The Perch is worth checking out if you’re already visiting or staying at the Grand Floridian, especially before dinner or while waiting during an arrival or departure day. The bar itself is beautiful, but the menu is fairly limited. If I’m specifically going to the Grand Floridian for drinks, I would still choose Enchanted Rose.

Location

The Perch is located directly in the main lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

You do not have to search for a separate lounge entrance or head upstairs. The bar is built right into the lobby and is easy to spot once you enter the resort.

That location is one of its biggest advantages.

If you’re checking in, waiting for transportation, meeting someone before dinner, or simply touring the Grand Floridian, you can stop for a drink without leaving the lobby or making a special detour.

The Bar Is Bigger and More Impressive Than the Menu Suggests

The physical bar is beautiful.

It is larger than I expected and feels substantial enough to anchor that portion of the lobby rather than looking like a temporary beverage station.

Dark wood gives it a rich, traditional appearance that fits the Grand Floridian’s overall design. Stained-glass panels wrap around the upper portion beneath the roof, and a larger stained-glass installation behind the bar becomes one of the visual focal points.

The avian theme is subtle enough that it doesn’t feel gimmicky.

The Perch is darker than much of the surrounding lobby, but I think that actually helps it fit. It provides visual contrast without looking out of place in the Grand Floridian’s formal atmosphere.

What Happened to the Grand Floridian Birdcage?

Longtime Grand Floridian visitors will remember the large decorative birdcage that once occupied part of the lobby.

The Perch reinterprets that familiar feature as a working lobby bar.

I understand the nostalgia for the original birdcage, but from a guest-use standpoint, I think this is a better use of the space. Instead of a large decorative feature, guests now have a place to sit, order a drink, and actually use that portion of the lobby.

Some fans have connected the arrival of The Perch with Disney’s decision to discontinue the Grand Floridian’s traditional Christmas gingerbread house, but the bar does not occupy the area where the gingerbread house was normally constructed.

The Menu Is Small but Well Focused

The Perch currently offers two signature cocktails, a selection of wines by the glass, three Florida beers, and one specialty nonalcoholic drink.

Signature Cocktails

The two cocktails are:

• Floridian 75 – $22
  Fords Gin, Florida Citrus Cordial, and Lemon topped with Taittinger ‘La Francaise’ Brut Champagne
• Coffee Rum Sazerac – $17.50
  Siesta Key Coffee Rum, Demerara, Absinthe Rinse, Peychaud’s Bitters, and Lemon Essence

I ordered the Floridian 75.

It was refreshing, bright, and bubbly, and I’m glad I tried it once. I probably would not order it again, though. On a future visit, I’d be more likely to choose a glass of wine.

The Wine List Is More Extensive Than the Cocktail Menu

Wine is actually the largest part of The Perch’s menu.

The current selection includes Champagne, rosé, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, a red Rhône-style blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Prices currently range from $14 for the Trimbach Riesling to $32 for a glass of Taittinger ‘La Francaise’ Brut Champagne.

If you prefer wine over cocktails, The Perch gives you considerably more choices than the two-item cocktail list might initially suggest.

The Beer Selection Has a Florida Connection

The beer menu is small, but I like what Disney did with it.

All three current selections are from Florida breweries:

• 3 Daughters Beach Blonde Ale – St. Petersburg
• Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen – Oakland Park
• Cigar City Jai Alai IPA – Tampa

Each is currently $11.75.

For a resort named the Grand Floridian, featuring Florida breweries feels like an intentional touch and gives the limited beer list a little more personality.

There Is a Specialty Nonalcoholic Option

The current menu also includes a Rosemary Cooler for $8, made with Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, vanilla, and rosemary.

That’s useful because The Perch sits in the middle of a family resort lobby rather than inside a traditional adults-focused lounge.

Guests who don’t drink alcohol still have something more interesting available than simply ordering water or soda.

The Perch Does Not Currently Serve Food

This is probably the most important limitation to know before visiting.

The current menu is drinks only.

There were no appetizers or snacks being offered during our visit, and Disney’s current menu does not list food.

That makes The Perch better suited to a drink before dinner, a quick stop while resort hopping, or something to enjoy while waiting in the lobby rather than a place to settle in for drinks and appetizers.

Where Do You Sit?

The Perch does not have a dedicated lounge seating area.

That distinction matters.

The bar itself has eight high chairs with low backs positioned along two of its open sides. There are also two chairs at a lower-height section of the bar that provides wheelchair-accessible service and can also be more comfortable for guests who don’t like high bar seating.

Beyond those seats, you’re using the regular Grand Floridian lobby furniture.

Tracy and I sat at a low table with three chairs fairly close to the bar, and there were other comfortable chairs and tables spread throughout the lobby.

The challenge is that the seating is very widely dispersed. This does not feel like a defined lounge with tables surrounding the bar.

You’re having a drink in the Grand Floridian lobby.

That’s part of the appeal, but it’s worth understanding before you arrive.

The Lobby Atmosphere Makes the Experience

We visited at approximately 5:30 p.m., when the lobby was relatively quiet.

That made The Perch feel particularly relaxing.

The pianist was playing nearby, the lobby wasn’t crowded, and there were plenty of available seats at the bar and scattered around the surrounding area.

The experience can feel different earlier in the day.

Grand Floridian and other Disney resort lobbies tend to become busier from late morning into the afternoon as guests check out, wait for rooms, or spend time before heading to the airport.

Since The Perch relies heavily on shared lobby seating, that general lobby traffic matters more here than it would at a dedicated lounge.

The Perch or Enchanted Rose?

If you’re deciding between The Perch and Enchanted Rose, I think the answer depends on why you’re there.

If both are open and I’m specifically looking for a lounge experience, I’d choose Enchanted Rose.

It has longer hours, a broader drink menu, food, dedicated seating, and a cozier atmosphere.

The Perch wins on convenience.

If I’m already standing in the Grand Floridian lobby and simply want a drink, there’s no reason to head elsewhere.

When Does The Perch Fit Best Into a Disney Day?

For me, the best use may actually be on arrival or departure day.

Arrival Day

If you’re waiting for your room to be ready after arriving at the Grand Floridian, The Perch gives you somewhere pleasant to relax without leaving the resort.

Order a drink, listen to the piano, and enjoy the lobby instead of simply waiting.

Departure Day

The same idea works when you’re waiting for transportation to the airport.

Rather than sitting near the entrance watching the clock, you can enjoy one last drink in the Grand Floridian lobby before your ride arrives.

Before Dinner

The Perch also makes sense before a dining reservation at one of the Grand Floridian’s restaurants.

That’s probably the most natural use for guests who aren’t staying at the resort.

Resort Hopping or a Monorail Crawl

If you’re exploring the Monorail resorts, The Perch is an easy addition.

You don’t need a reservation, and you don’t need to commit to a full lounge experience.

Stop in, have a drink, enjoy the lobby for a while, then continue your resort tour.

Bottom Line

The Perch is a beautiful addition to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The dark wood, stained glass, and birdcage-inspired design fit the lobby surprisingly well, and I think turning the old decorative space into something guests can actually use was a smart decision.

Right now, though, the physical bar feels more ambitious than the menu.

Two signature cocktails, wine, three Florida beers, and one specialty nonalcoholic drink make The Perch perfectly adequate for a quick stop, but it doesn’t yet feel like a destination lounge in the same way Enchanted Rose does.

That’s okay.

If you’re already staying at the Grand Floridian, waiting for transportation, meeting someone before dinner, or simply touring the resort, The Perch gives you another pleasant reason to sit down and enjoy one of Walt Disney World’s most beautiful hotel lobbies.

It’s a beautiful bar.

I just hope Disney eventually does a little more with it.

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