Disney Dining Review – Raglan Road

Posted on June 11, 2014 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Making ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) 180 days before every Disney vacation has become a regular part of our trip planning process. So much so, I’ve developed mental lists of table service restaurants that fall into three categories: Want to go again, want to try, and not going back ever. The first category is currently a medium-sized list. I’ll admit that sometimes, restaurants land on it due to sentimentality rather than for outstanding food or service. Over the years, a few places that made it into Category One at one time have fallen from favor due to a single really bad dinner. Category Two is the longest list – there are still many places we haven’t tried yet. A restaurant has to actually work really hard to end up a Category Three, but there are definitely some firmly entrenched eateries on that list.

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant falls firmly in the first category. We’ve never had a bad meal there. To be honest, the consistency of good food and great service at Raglan Road has been impressive. Raymond and I like the atmosphere so much, we’ve been know to drop in for a cold beer on an afternoon just to hang out, relax, and soak up the atmosphere for a while. Other than consistently tasty fare and nice wait staff, that’s about the only “usual” thing about Raglan Road – because, and I mean this in the best possible way, every experience there has been different! A special dinner, unique for every visit.

Our most recent Raglan Road dinner was on May 25th, 2014. We had an ADR for 7:30 pm. We’d been up since 3:00 am to catch super early flights to Orlando. Raymond, Joseph and I had been at a wedding in Dallas and flew from there, Megan had been at her boyfriend’s college graduation in Louisiana, so she flew from there. We all met up to change planes in Atlanta and arrived in Orlando early enough to spend the entire afternoon in Magic Kingdom. After getting soaked (thank you, rain ponchos, you did your best) in a flash-flood-like torrential downpour that struck just as we exited Pirates of the Caribbean, we began to make our way to Downtown Disney for our much anticipated meal.

Our plan was solid (we thought) – take the monorail to the Contemporary, catch the Downtown Disney bus from there and arrive at Raglan Road in plenty of time for our reservation. We walked as briskly through Magic Kingdom as possible through the deep puddles and pouring rain. It was about 6:15. We’d made our way to the Contemporary’s bus stop by just before 7:00. We waited. The rain stopped. Busses came and went. Still we waited. It was nearly 7:30 before the Downtown Disney bus pulled up and, even though once we got there we practically sprinted through Downtown Disney, we arrived at Raglan Road at 8:10 (almost two hours after we started trying to get there). We were wet, tired, and hungry. Not to mention really, really late.

We had no expectation that we would be seated – and even though we overheard the hostess tell the party in front of us the wait would be two hours – we thought we’d see if anything could be done. I didn’t have high hopes (or low hopes or any hopes, really) that we would get a table that night and I’d already started thinking about what our alternatives might be. I explained that we were a wee bit tardy and the hostess asked (with a beaming smile), “What was the name?” Note: I do not recommend testing the limits of the ADR system and do not in any way believe that if you show up for dinner 40 minutes late you’ll be seated, but on this day….we had our table within 10 minutes. I can only believe it was a pinch of pixie dust exactly when we most needed it. We had just enough time to get our buzzer, head into the bar for a cold Guinness, and pay our tab before the buzzer sounded. Our table was in a dark alcove by a back door – not in the middle of the action (we thought) but perfect for the four of us since we love to have lively dinner conversation. Our server, Brett, was absolutely fantastic! He explained menu items, made recommendations, was friendly and made us feel welcome – also special, like we were his only table.

The menu at Raglan Road offers a great variety of people-pleasing dishes designed for every taste. Chicken, steak, salmon, scallops, shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew, vegetarian choices – good, hearty selections. Dinner starts with bread service – a dense, delicious Irish bread with a scrumptious dipping sauce! I can recommend with enthusiasm the “Kiss Before Shrimp” and “Nom Nom Wings” appetizers as well as the “Braised Be Beef”, “Mammy’s Roast Chicken”, and “Raglan Risotto” entrees and also the “Garlic and Herb Roasted Potatoes” from extensive side dish selection. (We were, sadly, too full for dessert.) See the full menu at Raglan Road’s awesome website here.

Raglan Road dinner includes excellent evening entertainment. Every hour on the hour, seven nights a week (from 5-10 pm), talented Irish dancers perform to lively (and live) Irish music. On the evening we were there, we were enjoying the music and dancing from our table in the back. And then (more pixie dust!), the dancers were beside our table for a little dance-off. We were able to meet them and visit with these happy, enthusiastic performers – one of the best moments of this vacation! (Follow the Raglan Road Irish Dancers on Facebook here.)

Raglan Road currently accepts the Tables in Wonderland discount card. If you’re on the Disney Dining plan, Raglan Road is ONE table service credit (lunch or dinner).

Have you had the opportunity to enjoy a meal at Raglan Road?

Disney’s New Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Posted on June 10, 2014 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Note: This post actually has an accompanying video (such as it is) of my first ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. If you’re interested in watching, catch the action here (twice for some reason!) on Living a Disney Life’s YouTube channel.

So much hype! Such incredible buildup! Those walls were up in Fantasyland for years! Could the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ever live up to the sky high expectations? Sadly, it couldn’t. Probably, not much could have proved worthy of all the massive promotion. Nothing, realistically, could be as spectacular as the excitement generated by years of rumor and speculation, promises of cutting-edge ride vehicle technology, and the fervor created by a huge media blowout event. All of that pre-excitement was counterproductive, maybe – stealing the thunder from what could have been a great final reveal.

I recently (finally!) rode the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and I loved it. Was it as amazing as it was cracked up to be? Not so much. But – it was new, it was fun, and it has a lot of charm. Some will call it a Kiddie Coaster (must be 38″ to ride), but I consider it more of a Family Coaster because the incredibly smooth ride will appeal to adults who don’t care for the rougher coasters like Big Thunder and Space Mountains. I can see grandparents riding this with their grandchildren and making happy Disney memories.

We had previously held fastpasses for the day we arrived (5/25, during soft opening) but our dinner ADR and a torrential downpour nixed those plans. So, while I DID get to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train on May 30th, I only rode once and did not get to see any of the interactive standby queue. That standby line was loooooong and some friendly Cast Members were on hand with cups of ice water to keep everyone properly hydrated and as cool as possible. I will be returning to Walt Disney World in October and hopefully, time will allow us to use the standby queue – I’ve heard so much about it!

The highlights of the ride (for me) included the landscaping, the indoor/outdoor aspect (which I also love about Expedition Everest, Big Thunder, and Splash Mountain), the mine scene with the Dwarfs and familiar music, and yes, of course – it’s the little details, once again, that make this attraction a winner! The shadows of the Dwarfs walking that are seen along the mine’s walls are a great touch! It’s also a ride that begs to be ridden over and over because of the different details riders will spot that went unnoticed on the previous ride(s).

What would I change? Well….that’s easy. I’d make it a little longer (it’s only about 2.5 minutes), I’d make Snow White easier to see (she can briefly be seen through a cottage window, pay attention or you’ll miss her), I’d add just a few scary details, like maybe some of those scary trees that reach for you with their bare branch fingers. I’d also probably toss in a few more friendly woodland creatures just for fun.

Overall, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a winner. There’s a true feeling of quality to the ride, scenery, and perfectly aged, realistic details and animatronics. The swaying, suspended-over-the-track mine carts are a fantastic innovation that do create a very smooth, quiet coaster experience. The lap bar, though! Heed this warning (thanks to Joseph for pointing it out before Raymond and I took our first ride): The lap bar pulls down smoothly and soundlessly (no clicking into place) – it’s very easy to pull it down too far – once it’s down, it doesn’t go back up until the ride’s over. If you squish yourself in too much with the bar after you sit down, the ride can be extremely uncomfortable as your body shifts over the hills and around the turns.

Talk to me! Have you ridden Seven Dwarfs Mine Train yet? How did you feel about it? Did it meet your expectations? If you haven’t ridden it yet – how high are your expectations for this new experience?

Disney’s Festival of Fantasy – One Terrific Parade

Posted on June 9, 2014 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

I like a good parade. Shoot, nearly every parade I see is good to me. Mardi Gras parades? Love ’em! “Throw me somethin’, Mister!” Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? It’s a classic – what’s not to love about those giant bobbing floats? The added drama of the whole potential wind-disaster factor makes it even more exciting! Neighborhood kids’ parades? Got a soft spot for those, too – the decorated wagons and adorable little costumes get me every time. Don’t even get me started on how great pet parades are!

So, all that now fully disclosed, you can probably guess how I felt seeing the new Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom for the first time! So much awesomeness! In one parade!!! Hel-lo! The wizards of Disney parade assembly are pure genius. From the theme, to the music, to the floats, to the costumes. Pictures and videos (yes, I watched it streaming live from the comfort of my own living room on the day the parade debuted) do not do it justice. It must be experienced in person for the full effect.

Annnnd Cue the Flashback Sequence:

I don’t think there’s a bad place to watch the 3 o’clock parade in Magic Kingdom. If you’re on the parade route, you’ll see everything. I know people have their favorite parade-viewing spots and opinions vary, but I think if you can get a “front row” spot anywhere along the route, you’ll be happy. We were squeezing parade viewing in between fastpasses and needed to be in Fantasyland for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as soon as the parade ended. We found seats on the curb along the circle of the hub in front of Cinderella Castle – on the Tomorrowland side. We were out in the blazing sun, conveniently situated beside a trashcan, and the concrete of the curb was hot enough to fry an egg on! Luckily, for posterior protection, I opened my handy-dandy, multi-pocketed backpack and retrieved our rain ponchos for us to use as seat cushions. Worked out perfectly for our sitting comfort. Nothing we could do about the sun. It was strong and hot and felt incredibly close – we were wearing plenty of sunscreen, but, let’s not sugar coat it, we were sweating something fierce!

Raymond and I were alone at first (Megan and Joseph were planning to catch up with us before show time). As usual (Raymond is completely used to this by now), I was making friends with the people around me; In this case, the young ladies sitting next to us. They were an adorable group from all over the U.S. – a couple of girls were Disney College Program participants, the rest were friends. They were so excited (like me!) to be seeing the Parade and we just chatted up a storm.

Now, speaking of storm, that’s when the most amazing thing happened – as if preparing for an afternoon shower, clouds moved in and a soft breeze came up – but no rain fell. As the parade was about to start, we got relief from the oppressive heat! Megan and Joseph found us just in time and took their places as we heard the first sounds of the parade coming in the distance, softly at first and then louder as the tops of the first floats came into view above the crowds across the plaza.

We’d chosen our viewing spot based on convenience, but it was beautiful to see the brightly colored floats and our favorite Disney characters pass by us with the castle in the background. I was so amazed by the movement – the floats had many moving parts- and the clever and unique costumed walking characters, I didn’t really notice the music. I think it was because, unlike the previous “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade which had a repetitive Small-World-esque theme song (that stuck with you for a while), the music for Festival of Fantasy changes for each float. That’s pretty cool, if you ask me!

As one would expect with anything produced by Disney, the magic of the Festival of Fantasy Parade is in the details – the clever, fun, and funny touches that Disney adds to surprise and delight us. This new parade has no shortage of those things. And if there’s a steam punk, fire-breathing Maleficent Dragon for the grand finale? Well, that’s just as perfect a way to wrap up a spectacularly entertaining show as I could imagine.

If you have a trip to Walt Disney World in your future, put Festival of Fantasy Parade-watching on your touring plans. Your family will love it!

Talk to me: If you’ve seen Festival of Fantasy, what did you think?

Epcot’s Japan Pavilion – Mitsukoshi Department Store

Posted on June 6, 2014 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

I’m planning to write an article about my favorite stores in Walt Disney World – so I started thinking about them – where they’re located, what type of merchandise they carry, and why I love them. I’m still going to write that post, but in the middle of all that thinking….I couldn’t get my mind off the ONE most fantastic store in the World. It really deserves its very own place in the limelight – without being grouped in with other great, but, let’s face it, lesser…or maybe I should say, more mainstream or ordinary stores.

If you’ve visited Walt Disney World but passed up the opportunity to visit the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion – I can understand how that could happen, but I need to…well…point out the error of your ways. The store isn’t out there, up front with attractive window displays designed to draw you in. The understated entrance gives no hint of the riches to be found inside – a treasure trove of unimaginable variety. Do NOT pass through the World Showcase without taking at least a few minutes to look around at this huge and fascinating collection of Japanese goods! I’ve been in Mitsukoshi many times, but every time feels like the first – and I always discover some new section I didn’t know existed.

Believe me, I’m not exaggerating or building this up for a good story. Unless you’ve had the chance to visit Japan (the actual country), I cannot believe you wouldn’t be impressed and, dare I say, enthralled by the enormous selection of unique merchandise within this building! All the things you would expect to find are there – and so much more!!! Traditional Japanese shoes and clothing? Yes. Incense, teas and teapots, chopsticks, swords, and fans? Check! Hello Kitty, Pokémon, Sanrio, Domo tees and collectibles – they’ll fix you up! Tabi socks, books and jewelry – it’s all there! But there’s also so much more!

The Pick a Pearl counter allows you to choose a live oyster from a tank for a Cast Member to open for you…and retrieve your pearl! You can have it made into a piece of jewelry right then and there or take it with you as is. Ever wanted a Bonsai Tree of your very own? The have a tiny forest from which to make your selection. Too hard to take it home? Buy a Bonsai seed kit instead! Curious about Japanese food, candy and soft drinks? Go wild in an entire room full of every imaginable snack, sweet, cracker – if you’re having a hankering for some shredded dry fish? Not to worry! They have that too (and it tastes better than you’d think)!

One of Joseph’s favorite things to do at Walt Disney World is to take his time at Mitsukoshi and pick out a variety of Japanese packaged foods to try. So much there is unlike anything we’ve ever had before! At this point, he’s been to the store enough to have some favorites he’ll buy each time we visit. Last week while we were there, he enlisted Megan’s assistance in picking out some new and different snacks (I even got to pick out something!). Some of the candy looked so strange but was surprisingly tasty! The descriptions on most packaging are completely in Japanese – so you’re pretty much guessing what you may be getting based on pictures and/or what the candy or snack looks like. The mystery of it is what makes choosing treats so much fun!

There is literally something for everyone at Mitsukoshi and if it’s souvenirs you’re after – you’re guaranteed to find special and unique treasures for everyone on your list!

Have you been to Mitsukoshi? What did you think?