The Raglan Road Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival: March 11-17

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and now is the perfect time to start making plans. The annual Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival is back this year from March 11-17 at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant. Guests will have the chance to enjoy the very best of Irish talent, a variety of beers and cocktails, classic Irish fare and more. This festival is a can’t-miss experience!

Irish Fare & Brews
New on the menu this year is a locally crafted seltzer, called “So Berry Les.” The name is a special tribute to John Cooke’s (co-owner of Raglan Road Pub and Cooke’s of Dublin) father Les, who found himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for setting a strawberry-buying record in 1977. So Berry Les was crafted in collaboration with Crooked Can Brewing Co. in Winter Garden, Florida, and is a light and refreshing hard seltzer infused with local Florida strawberry and Key Lime juice. There are also several Irish beer flights and, of course, the classic Guinness.

It’s hardly a trip to Raglan Road without their famous fresh-caught fish with chips! (Pro tip: Guests can also order fish & chips to go at the Cooke’s of Dublin counter). Or, Guests can choose from a tasty selection of authentic Irish dishes like the Shepherd’s to Die for Pie and Executive Chef Mark O’Neill’s popular plant-based pie, This Shepherd Went Vegan. All of which pair beautifully with their wide range of Irish whiskeys, local craft beers and hand-crafted cocktails.

Live Entertainment
It’s no secret – Raglan Road knows how to provide an amazing entertainment lineup. And for the festival this year, they are flying in some of the top bands from Ireland including Jig Jam, known for their captivating brand of CeltGrass; the Lisa Canny Band, blending pop and hip-hop with traditional Irish rhythm; Emerald Shore, vibrant trad music – just to name a few. Of course, the fan-favorite Raglan Road Irish Dancers will also be performing throughout the festival and are ready to teach Guests a few dance steps!

And the fun doesn’t stop there! There will also be a face painter, giveaways, merchandise at the Shop for Ireland boutique and more. On March 17 Raglan Road will open at 10 a.m., seating guests on a first-come, first-served basis, with a $20 cover charge for guests 18 and older. For those planning to celebrate during the other festival dates from March 11-16, reservations are encouraged.

Disney Cruise Line Health and Safety Update

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Following recently updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have updated our face covering requirements for sailings originating from a U.S. port of departure. Beginning March 11, face coverings on Disney Cruise Line will become optional in most indoor locations throughout our ships.

Guests ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will still be required to wear face coverings in the Walt Disney Theatre. Guests under 5 years of age who are currently ineligible to be vaccinated will be required to wear face coverings in Youth Activities spaces and in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique; and, while not required, we continue to strongly recommend these Guests wear a face covering in all other indoor locations.

Face coverings may be required in ports of call based on local government requirements, including in some areas at Disney Castaway Cay. Masks should also be worn in the cruise terminal during the boarding and screening process, as well as during disembarkation.

The below SeaMail will be sent to Guests on the following sailings beginning at 1 p.m. today:

  • Disney Wonder – March 11 to April 17, 2022
  • Disney Magic – March 11 to May 8, 2022
  • Disney Fantasy – March 11 to May 28, 2022
  • Disney Dream – March 11 to May 30, 2022

For more information, please visit the Disney Cruise Line Know Before You Go page.

 
Dear [Guests on Travel Agent Bookings],

All of us at Disney Cruise Line hope you and your family are staying well. Considering recently updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have updated our face covering requirements for sailings originating from a U.S. port of departure, including your upcoming sailing:

  • For sailings beginning March 11, 2022, face coverings on Disney Cruise Line will become optional in most indoor locations throughout our ships. Guests ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will still be required to wear face coverings in the Walt Disney Theatre.
  • Guests under 5 years of age who are currently ineligible to be vaccinated will be required to wear face coverings in Youth Activities spaces and in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique; and, while not required, we continue to strongly recommend these Guests wear a face covering in all other indoor locations.
  • As previously shared, face coverings are not required in outdoor locations while onboard our ships.

Face coverings may be required in ports of call based on local government requirements, including in some areas at Disney Castaway Cay. Masks should also be worn in the cruise terminal during the boarding and screening process, as well as during disembarkation. Please be sure to review the information available on the Know Before You Go section of our website for answers to many frequently asked questions.

We appreciate you sailing with us and look forward to welcoming you aboard.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line 

Disney World Plans Refurbishment for Space Mountain

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via InsidetheMagic.net

Walt Disney World Resort is known for its iconic attractions, especially at Magic Kingdom.

From Pirates of the Caribbean to Jungle Cruise to Haunted Mansion and everything in between, these attractions have been beloved by Guests for decades and still remain an intricate part of the Disney magic because, in many ways, they are timeless.

While the Disney Park attractions and their theming might be timeless, the reality of operating a theme park shows that rides are constantly having to undergo maintenance to keep up with the volume of Guests they carry each day.

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

We recently saw two of three big mountains in Magic Kingdom undergo maintenance, in Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Now, it seems Disney has plans to undergo construction on its third mountain, Space Mountain, located in Tomorrowland.

A recent permit filed by Walt Disney World Resort for the area where Space Mountain sits (4950 N. World Drive) shows there are plans for improvements to the ride.

Buena Vista Construction Company, which handles many projects in Walt Disney World Resort, will be the contractor and the general description of improvement is to “provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction.”

Space Mountain Permit 2022

Disney has not announced a closure of Space Mountain as of yet and the description does not indicate what areas of the ride will be under construction. That being said, we can expect to see activity begin to happen around the attraction at some point in the near future.

We previously reported on how extreme weathering has affected the attraction, leaving many areas on the outside façade looking rough. However, with electrical elements being added to this permit, we would venture to say that the work will not just pertain to the outside building.

space mountain

New Spring Treats at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Via DisneyLists.com

Spring is in the air and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is offering some limited-time sweet treats!

From a Disney Cast Member;

If you love sweets, this latest edition of Sweet Treats will have you running over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to try out the latest and greatest indulgences. This spring, our chefs have whipped up some truly decadent items crafted especially for those sweet tooth extraordinaries, like myself, to live out their own culinary adventures at the park. I don’t know about you, but my stomach can’t resist a dessert when I see one. And trust me, these treats are not to be missed.

Starting today, all across Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll be able to get your hands on these delicious dishes to celebrate the fresh flavors of spring! I hope you and your taste buds are ready, because you won’t be able to resist this Sweet Treats roundup.

First off, let’s take a little trip over to Sunset Boulevard where multiple locations are serving up sweets. At Hollywood Scoops, the Orange Blossom Shake has everything you need to stay cool and, most importantly, satisfied. This orange and cream milkshake is absolutely beautiful (and tasty), topped with whipped cream and an orange-scented donut – how can you resist that? As an avid milkshake and donut connoisseur, I know I’ll be dropping into the Hollywood Scoops for this shake (likely more than once).

If you’re interested in a treat that’s inspired by a tale as old as time, the Beauty and the Beast Rose at Catalina Eddie’s will make you feel the love … or maybe that’s just your sweet tooth calling? This dessert is as beautiful as it is tasty – take a look for yourself! This dark chocolate mousse with a taste of black currant and Morello cherry sits atop a chocolate shortbread cookie, whipped cookies, and cream fluff, and is gorgeously topped with gilded chocolate-covered cocoa nibs.

At Rosie’s All-American Café, the S’mores Cupcake will light up your appetite. What could be better than chocolate and marshmallows on a cupcake? This fudge-filled chocolate cupcake, and yes, I did say fudge-filled, is topped with graham cracker buttercream, toasted marshmallows, and even a mini chocolate bar.

If you’re looking for a twist on a classic Mickey apple, The Trolley Car Café has got you covered. Here you’ll find the Chocolate-covered Apple, a dark chocolate and peanut butter crunch dipped Granny Smith apple with marshmallow ears. Not only is it absolutely adorable and a Disney treat staple, but it’s delicious too! Sounds like a win-win to me.

Next up, we have the ABC Commissary. This spot brought its best for this roundup because they have not one but two delicious desserts – one minty and one tropical-tasting!

First up, we have the Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. Enjoy this chocolate cheesecake topped with dark chocolate ganache and whipped mint chocolate chip cream. Few things go together quite as well as mint and chocolate, and when you throw in the fact that this is a cheesecake, it’s a must-try treat.

Also being served up at ABC Commissary is the Tropical Tart. This lovely dessert is a mango passionfruit curd-filled graham cracker tart topped with whipped raspberry vanilla bean panna cotta, toasted coconut, and dehydrated strawberry and passionfruit. With all these fresh, fruity flavors, this treat is a spring staple!

If you ever wondered what strawberries, cheesecake, and cannoli tasted like together, well you’re in for a treat. PizzeRizzo is joining in on the spring fun with the Strawberry Cheesecake Cannoli. This white chocolate and rainbow sprinkled dipped cannoli shell filled with whipped strawberry cheesecake is a must-try. Just look at how pretty it is!

And last but certainly not least, we venture over to where the toys hang out to find our final treat. If you stop into Woody’s Lunch Box, you’ll find the newest addition to their sweet selections – the Banana Fudge Lunch Box Tart. This peanut butter and chocolate fudge stuffed pastry is coated with banana fondant, banana chips, and rainbow sprinkles. I don’t know about you, but I think bananas and fudge are a great combo and I can guarantee I will be heading over for repeat tastings of this tart.