St. Patrick’s Day Festivities Returning to Raglan Road Irish Pub at Disney Springs

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Bring out the green beer, get your corned beef and cabbage cooking, and hopefully, you might be able to find a leprechaun this year at the end of the rainbow because the St. Patrick’s Day celebration will be here in only 8 days.

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Raglan Road Irish Pub at Disney Springs definitely wants to make the ‘Irish” experience a traditional one for many guests. To do that, they will have their annual St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 16th through March 19th, 2017. The team at Raglan Road takes the Irish holiday so seriously they have actually put some tips together for guests on how to truly “celebrate like the Irish:”

  • Don’t call the holiday “St. Patty’s.” It’s either “St. Patrick’s Day” or “St. Paddy’s.”
  • A shamrock has three leaves (not four – that would be a clover).
  • Americans invented the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737 in Boston.
  • Most Irish pubs do a full month’s business on St. Patrick’s Day.
  • Guinness sells 13 million pints on St. Patrick’s Day versus the usual 5 million daily.
  • Green beer is an American invention. Raglan Road does not serve green beer.

New at this year’s festival is the Irish and hearty rock celebration band, The Young Dubliners, as well as Byrne Brothers who are 3 brothers ages 12, 10, and 7. Some of the bands returning again to the festival are the HanaLena Band, The Raglan Roots Coalition, Swingin’ On the Gate, Rollickin’ Rua and the Raglan Road Irish Dancers. For the full entertainment listing, visit raglanroad.com.

Not only is there amazing talent and entertainment, there will also be an assortment of traditional Irish food for purchase at the restaurant. Guests can order from popular brunch, lunch, bar and dinner menus, including loin of bacon and cabbage, the authentic Irish dish of St. Patrick’s Day. Also as a daily item, Fish and Chips will be available. Since St. Patrick’s Day can’t be it without the beer, Guinness, a Mighty Festival Brew, and  Bailey’s Shakes will all be available on tap. The Mighty Festival Brew which is new for the festival, is a brew made in collaboration with the Orange Blossom Brewing Company.

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Irish holiday attire is encouraged, but for those who need an extra dose of shamrock flair, complimentary face painting will be available from noon – 8 p.m. daily during the festival. Please note: On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, guests will be seated on a first come, first-served basis with a cover charge of $10 for each guest age 18 and older. To make reservations for all other festival days, call 407-938-0300. The festivities take place from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. March 16-19, 2017.

Téigh go maith agus is féidir leis an Luck na hÉireann a bheith in éineacht leat!- which means go well and may the Luck of the Irish be with you!

DOWNLOAD & LISTEN – WDWNT Podcast Episode 364: 2017 Flower and Garden Festival Review, Pressing Issues Including WDW Gondolas

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Have you heard this week’s WDW News Today Podcast? If you haven’t, here’s what you can expect:

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Join Tom Corless and a cast of others for a variety show dedicated to the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Plenty of Walt Disney World and Disneyland information and fun awaits you on this edition of the WDW News Today Podcast!

On this week’s show, we introduce a new segment called “Pressing Issues” that covers the biggest news stories since the last podcast, and after that, we review the 2017 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.

To download or listen to the show on-site, go to our podcast download page. You can also download episodes of the show by subscribing to our iTunes feed, or through Stitcher.

PHOTOS: New Look Remodeled Rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Today, Walt Disney Imagineering is sharing more details on changes to Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa to bring guests a more ‘premium’ look and feel. In the renovations, all guest rooms, pool areas, the concierge-level Craftsman Club, and the furniture for the lobby, will be remodeled and replaced.

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Guest rooms will be completely redesigned to create a fresh sense of luxury. Every single element will be new—from the floors and walls to the furnishings, beddings, and linens as well as upgraded bathrooms. Upon entry, you’ll notice hardwood flooring transition into soft, bright-toned carpeting. The room decor is a contemporary take on the Arts & Crafts style featuring all-new furniture made of natural oak, specially designed for each room, as well as California-inspired artwork created by artists and Imagineers, including beautiful headboard walls with wood inlay designs featuring orange trees and Chip ‘n Dale!

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Guests with a sharp eye will catch other uniquely Disney details throughout these newly refreshed rooms. Refurbishments are well underway at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and guests will begin enjoying the first phase of refreshed guest rooms soon.

The multi-phase roll-out is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

BREAKING: Hourglass Lake Overlook Being Built at Pop Century & Art of Animation; Is This the Gondola Station?

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Disney will be constructing a scenic overlook over Hourglass Lake, the body of water located between Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts.

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Permits were filed with the South Florida Water Management District and the image below is provided in the documentation.

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It appears as though this could be the spot for the station of the rumored gondola transportation system. The size of the plot would be big enough to hold such a item, and the placement directly between both resorts makes sense. Otherwise, it is unknown what the exact reasoning for building this overlook could be. There is already more than enough seating out in this area for those who wish to enjoy the view, so building more seating or standing space wouldn’t serve any real practical purpose.

Either way, this overlook is being constructed starting soon.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Latest Behind the Scenes Look Provides First Glimpse at Flight of Passage Queue, Pandora – The World of AVATAR

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Disney is providing another behind the scenes look at the creation of Pandora: The World of AVATAR today. This time, they focus on “placemaking”:

In the video, Disney shared a quick glimpse at concept art for the queue of Flight of Passage, where guests will ride on a Banshee:

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They also shared looks at some other interesting details throughout the land:

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Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens May 27th, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Entertainment Weekly Gives Us Our First Look At “Thor: Ragnarok”

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

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This week’s Entertainment Weekly will take you behind the scenes of the third movie in the “Thor” franchise, “Thor: Ragnarok”.

Cate Blanchet (Hela), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie)

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Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor with a new look and new weapons. Gone is Thor’s trusty hammer, Mjölnir, and now he carries two swords and a shield into battle. Also a pretty short hair cut for Thor this time around.

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Tessa Thompson (“Creed”) will portray a fan favorite from the comics, Valkyrie.

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Tim Hiddleston returns as Loki. But is he Thor’s ally or enemy?

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Mark Ruffalo returns as Bruce Banner but this time he must battle Thor in a grueling gladiator battle on the planet Sakaar. Chris Hemsworth seems to be laughing at the idea.

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Cate Blanchet (“Cinderella”) plays Hela, The Goddess Of Death!

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Another shot of Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie with some very colorful warriors.

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Our first look at Jeff Goldblum (“Jurassic Park”) as The Grandmaster.

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Tessa Thompson with director Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth.

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Tessa Thomspon and director Taika Waititi take a break on the set of “Thor: Ragnarok”.

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Source: Entertainment Weekly

4 Different ABC Shows to Preview Pandora: World of AVATAR on March 9th

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

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Disney is giving TV viewers a chance to get a major sneak peek at Pandora the Wold of AVATAR tomorrow, March 9th, 2017. 4 different ABC shows will be getting in on the fun: Good Morning America, The View, The Chew, and then Nightline. Below is an official schedule of when to watch, and what to expect on these previews.

Good Morning America- 7 AM Eastern, they GMA team will explore a look into the main attraction of the land; Avatar: Flight of Passage.

The View- 11 AM Eastern, Whoopi Goldberg will be exploring the land with director James Cameron, as well as go into details of the other attraction, Navi River Journey.

The Chew- 1 PM Eastern, The cast of the Chew will be exploring the unique food of the new land including the Lumpia snack found at Pongu Pongu.

Nightline- 12 AM, Eastern, The cast of Nightline will explore the land in whole, and most likely explore the land at night.

Pandora: The World of AVATAR will open officially to the public on May 27th, 2017.

 

VIDEO: Jeopardy, AVATAR, Cornac the Magnificent and More on WDW News Tonight

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Last night on WDW News Tonight…

    • We learned a lot about Pandora this week
    • Universal opens up another ride with screens
    • We take a Mission to S’mores
    • Bob Chapek’s favorite IP, Cornac the Magnificent stops by!
    • “The Wonderful World of Jeopardy Answers” presented by WDWNT: The App
    • “The Wonderful World of Psychotic Comments presented by The WDWNT Inner Globe Society
    • We play Jeopardy The WDWNT Edition presented by Theme Park Connection

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Hosted by radio veterans and life-long Disney fans Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, WDW News Tonight is a live, weekly, audio and video program presented on 105.5 FM, 660 AM, and AM 1520 WBZW in Orlando, Florida, as well as online at WDWNewsTonight.com every Wednesday from 9-11pm EST. The show covers the Walt Disney World Resort and other Disney news. The show combines the latest headlines, comedy, trending vacation topics, call in games, and in-depth discussions to bring Disney fans a one-of-a-kind 2-hour program covering the Disney Parks. While the show is being live-streamed in both audio and video, listeners and viewers also interact via a live chat online. The show is also available on demand as an audio download, online audio stream and can be watched live or recorded on YouTube.

New Cruise Line Family Experiences Including Star Wars, MARVEL on Disney Fantasy

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Disney Cruise Line is majorly upgrading their  entertainment options aboard the Disney Fantasy. From new Marvel experiences to Star Wars, there is now so much more fun for the whole entire family. Here are some of the new experiences to come aboard when the ship docks and renovates this spring:

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Imaginative New Spaces for Kids

For kids joining in on the fun Oceaneer Club, you can blast off to a galaxy far, far, away with Star Wars or learn mystic arts with Dr. Strange. For the new Star Wars experiences;  Star Wars: Command Post, will take kids on journeys where they can train with heroes of the Star Wars saga and help fight against  the Fisrt Order. Kids will be able to interact with holographic models at one-of-a-kind Star Wars holotable that will project the Milenium Falcon, Death Star, and other very famous Star Wars ships, meet members of the resistance, and channel the force. Disney already has added the new Marvel Super Hero Academy to the list of things to do, but now they are adding even more Marvel experiences aboard the ship. Kids will now be able to learn the mystic arts with the one and only Dr. Strange. Children will be also open so called ‘portals’ to different locales around the Marvel Universe and immerse themselves in an exclusive gaming experience.

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Tasty Treats to Delight the Enitre Family

New to the ship is the Sweet on You Ice Cream Shop which features hand-crafted gelato and ice cream, specialty sundaes, homemade chocolates, truffles, and a large selection of candy for purchase all right by the family pool. This new shop is themed after the recent Mickey Mouse shorts.

Luxury Shopping For Adults

For a first on DCL, the famous and iconic American Luxury brand Tiffany & Co. will have its very own store where you can indulge in timeless collections of jewlery luxury accessories, including the effortlessly elegant Tiffany & Co. diamonds.

All of these new enhancements will debut on the Disney Fantasy sailings starting May 17, 2017, from Port Canaveral.