Take 5: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Disney Parks
posted on March 17th, 2012 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This year at Disney Parks, we have lots going on to celebrate one of our favorite holidays. Take a look at the posts below to see all the action taking place this weekend, along with some exciting Irish-themed treats and goodies.
Take 5: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Disney Parks
- Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Style at Disney Parks – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the parks with new ear hats, pins, T-shirts and more!
- Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World March 15-17 – Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in Downtown Disney celebrates St. Patty’s day with live music and entertainment this weekend – check out who will be performing!
- Kick Off St. Patrick’s Day March 15 at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort – You can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without a rich Irish feast. Disney Parks Blog author Pam Brandon gives us a peek at what’s on the menu at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant.
- Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort – Check out these St. Patty’s Day hot spots in the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort.
- The Best of Authentic Irish Dance at Raglan Road: A Disney Parks Blog Author Digs a Fleet-Footed Jig – The St. Patrick’s Day celebration kicked off this week with an authentic Irish jig at Raglan Road – watch as Disney Parks Blog author Gary Buchanan gave it a try himself.
Try This St. Patrick’s Day Appetizer from Raglan Road at Downtown Disney
posted on March 16th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and the master chef of Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Downtown Disney here in Florida asked if he could share a recipe with you. Master Chef Kevin Dundon created the Raglan Road menu and although he spends much of the year in Ireland, Kevin traditionally comes to Walt Disney World Resort for the week leading up to the celebration.
Smokie City is on the Raglan Road menu as a shared appetizer, but it’s so good that you might be tempted to keep it all for yourself. Fresh smoked haddock, Dubliner cheddar, and veggies are simmered in a cream sauce and served with grilled baguette slices for dipping and scooping. Kevin’s two tips for making Smokie City at home are to use the freshest ingredients you can get and, if possible, to buy smoked haddock that hasn’t been dyed or colored.
If this recipe inspired you, Kevin Dundon has three cookbooks in bookstores now – and he says to expect a Raglan Road cookbook in the fall.
For more fun at Walt Disney World Resort this St. Patrick’s Day, check out these posts:
- Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Style at Disney Parks
- Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World March 15-17
- The Best of Authentic Irish Dance at Raglan Road: A Disney Parks Blog Author Digs a Fleet-Footed Jig
The Best of Authentic Irish Dance at Raglan Road: A Disney Parks Blog Author Digs a Fleet-Footed Jig
posted on March 15th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor
I admit it: I am green with envy every time I see the amazing, fleet-footed talent on display at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort. Moving in swift synchronicity, this troupe of professional Irish dancers bring the very best to guests visiting Raglan Road.
The true authenticity of Raglan Road is what makes it special to me – the building’s fixtures, furniture, bars, the Chef and the owners all came to Walt Disney World direct from Ireland. The dancers are Irish too, and are some of the best to come from The Emerald Isle.
So, as yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration post by Jennifer featured the Raglan Road band “Creel” performing “Lord of the Dance,” I was inspired to try and become a “Lord of the Dance.” And despite the wonderful lesson from Sarah, one of the Raglan Road dancers, I think it’s best for me to leave it to the pros.
As Jennifer detailed in her post, today marks the beginning of Raglan Road’s three-day St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. So if you’re looking to fete the luck of the Irish, step on over and marvel at the fleet feet onstage at Raglan Road.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World March 15-17
posted on March 14th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
Are you in need of some ideas for St. Patrick’s Day fun here at the Walt Disney World Resort?
The holiday will be celebrated March 15-17 in the Downtown Disney Pleasure Island area, with the celebration centering where else but at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant.
The entertainment will rev up March 15-16 with house band Creel on the restaurant’s main stage, and Murphy’s Law and The Irish Rogues perform on the Raglan Road patio. Then on March 17, nonstop entertainment kicks off at noon with Creel, The Raglan Road Dancers, more outdoor entertainment and a special appearance by U2 tribute band, Elevation at 10 p.m.
Check out a preview of Creel’s St. Patrick’s Day performance of “Lord of the Dance” below (words/musical adaptation by Sydney Carter).
The weekend of festivities will span the area with live Pleasure Island stage performances by The Wyndbreakers — Florida’s own “neo-traditional, pub-rockin’, guitar pickin’ Celtic” musicians; Celtic Wave, with its own traditional Irish flair; and Celtic Nova, which puts its own twist on popular lrish tunes. Family-fun activities will include face painting and stilt walkers, and St. Patrick’s Day souvenirs will be available.
Entertainment is subject to change. $10 cover charge applies for Raglan Road on Saturday for guests 18 and older.
Moms Panel Monday: More Time, More Walt Disney World Resort!
posted on February 27th, 2012 by Laura Spencer, Social Media Manager, Walt Disney World Resort
As we gear up for a marathon of memory making during One More Disney Day on February 29, when Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland park will stay open for 24 hours straight, I thought it would be fun to hear how master vacation planner and Walt Disney World Moms Panelist Erin Foster would make memories if she had a few more hours at Walt Disney World Resort.
“I’m an avid Vinylmation collector – I lost count when I got to about 600 different ones – but I’ve never had the opportunity to meet the artists who design them. I would love to take my daughters and spend two hours meeting one of the artists at The Art of Disney at Downtown Disney while they make them come to life.
I really like how they have to think inside the box and continue to make creative designs with one little mouse figure. That process would be really cool to watch and learn about, and I think it would be something my family would remember each time we look to collect a new one.
These collectibles have become small reminders of our different Disney trips, and it would be nice to let the artists know they’ve rocked my world!”
What would you do with One More Disney Day at Disney Parks? Let me know in the comments section below!
Kick Off St. Patrick’s Day March 15 at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on February 17th, 2012 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
The best excuse to eat and drink in March is St. Patrick’s Day – the “feast day of St. Patrick,” by the way, has been observed in Ireland on March 17 for centuries but we’re starting a couple of days earlier at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant. (March 17 falls during the fasting season of Lent, but on St. Patrick’s Day the prohibitions against eating meat were lifted, and the Irish would celebrate their patron saint with dancing, drinking, and feasting.)
The fun this year begins at the Downtown Disney restaurant at Walt Disney World Resort with Chef Kevin Dundon onstage for a four-course kickoff lunch and culinary demo at 1 p.m. on Mar. 15. Chef Kevin will show how to make each course, then you get to taste with wine pairings.
We had the pleasure of attending last year’s lunch and, needless to say, many of the dishes involve rich Irish cream and butter. This year it’s darne (thick-cut) of hickory-smoked Irish salmon served warm on buttered leeks with mead cream reduction; espresso of roasted tomato and gin soup; loin of traditional Irish bacon with Irish Mist glaze on colcannon potato with parsley cream sauce; and a jam jar of silky rhubarb jelly panna cotta.
Cost is $45 plus tax and gratuity. Call 407-938-0300 or 407-WDW-DINE, or visit www.raglanroad.com.
Participate in a Guinness World Record at The LEGO Store at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on February 16th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
On Friday, February 17, the LEGO Store at Downtown Disney here at Walt Disney World Resort will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most people participating in LEGO Ninjago spinner battles in one day.
Ninjago is a battle-themed LEGO game in which players build a character mounted on a spinner. An opponent also builds a character and the figures are “spun” at one another. The first spinning character knocked to the ground surrenders his weapon to the other player. Cards drawn throughout the game may add different advantages for players.
Guests can stop by the shop any time Friday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. to participate. You don’t need to play a full game, but merely spin a spinner to have it count toward the record.
Behind the Scenes: Flying With Cirque du Soleil Aerialists at ‘La Nouba’ at Downtown Disney
posted on January 26th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
I always love writing about Walt Disney World Resort, but this assignment was truly “uplifting.”
I recently headed backstage to learn more about the performers in “La Nouba” by Cirque du Soleil at Downtown Disney. There, I met Ana Cuellar, Captain of the Silks, who was kind enough to show me a thing or two about aerial ballet, one of the many amazing acts performed in the show.
While my “flight” took me 12 feet in the air, Ana and her team regularly perform as high as 45 feet during the show.
I wonder how many flights it took them to stop shrieking with excitement…
You can purchase tickets for “La Nouba” at DisneyWorld.com/LaNouba.
Celebrate Literacy Week with Author Appearances at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on January 24th, 2012 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
I watched an amazing thing happen the other night. My son came home from school and read a book to me. For years, I’ve been reading to him, so it was one of those special moments as a father that I will always cherish (and I captured the whole thing on video). As you may recall from a previous Disney Parks Blog article, books play an important role in my life. I’m happy to share with you that, in honor of literacy week, we have two authors making special appearances at Walt Disney World Resort this week.
Ridley Pearson returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Thursday, January 26. He will be signing all four books from the “Kingdom Keepers” series from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Writer’s Stop. His newest book, “Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game,” will be published this coming spring. Devon Burch, Merchandise Special Events Manager, told me that Ridley will be returning in March for an early release event for this book. Stay tuned to ArtofDisneyParks.com for additional details.
On Saturday, January 28, Emma Walton Hamilton will be appearing at Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace. She was the co-author, along with her mother Julie Andrews, of the “The Very Fairy Princess.” We will also have the newest book in the series “The Very Fairy Princess Takes The Stage.” She will be signing books and meeting with fans from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Happy reading!
New Tastes at Crossroads at House of Blues in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on January 24th, 2012 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
We’re fans of House of Blues just for the incredible collection of folk art – we visit just to enjoy the fantastic paintings. When we headed back last week, we found some new menu items – and tweaks to old favorites.
If you loved the HOB shrimp and grits, the new version is just as delicious, but now the grits are fried in a crispy cake, smothered in a chipotle garlic cream sauce with six pan-seared shrimp. If you’re trying to behave, the new grilled flatbreads are a winner: they grill the dough then finish it in the pizza oven. The simple basil pesto and tomato was our favorite.
Cornbread is back minus the rosemary, jambalaya returns without shrimp, but with a hefty serving of chicken and spicy Andouille sausage. The diverse menu runs the gamut from lobster mac & cheese to street tacos and generous salads, but we have to say that the new Juicy Lucy burger topped our list of favorites. The Angus beef was stuffed with cheese and Applewood bacon, then topped with crispy pickled jalapeños and chipotle mayo. We split it three ways.
The wine list is all new, and you’ll find 15 beers plus local micro brews and a full bar. When you’re really hungry, end with an order of bourbon bread pudding, now served with a splash of bourbon, or the new molten chocolate cake – then stroll Downtown Disney end to end to burn those calories.
