LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Wearin’ of the green is encouraged, but not mandatory during the most authentic St. Patrick’s Day celebration in town March 8-10 and 14-17 at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant and across Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. More than 10 top Irish bands will perform on select days during the festivities, with amped up entertainment the second weekend.

At Raglan Road, a true Irish pub with Dublin roots, it’s a “Mighty Festival” that will include Irish bands and professional dancers performing on several stages indoors and out.  Also on tap: a mighty selection of beers, food by Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and plenty of St. Patrick’s Day memorabilia.

The spirited week of revelry will gear up March 8-10 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. with performances at Raglan Road by The Willis Clan, a family of artists and musicians who merge their Irish roots with other music genres.  Nova Celtic, with its own twist on popular Irish music, will appear on a nearby outdoor stage.  Beginning March 14 and 15 from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m., and continuing March 16 and 17 from noon until 1 a.m., a few highlights of the celebration across Pleasure Island will include:

• Performances by The Willis Clan, Girsa, Albannach and world-famous U2 tribute band Elevation
• Renowned Irish dancer and choreographer Ronan McCormack of the original Riverdance cast, leading Irish Dance Workshops Friday through Sunday
• More than 50 musicians and dancers performing, plus face painting, stilt walkers and giveaways

Guests can order from Raglan Road’s popular food and drink menus throughout the event.  The Cooke’s of Dublin counter-service eatery will offer Irish favorites like fish and chips, battered sausages and deep-fried candy bars, and guests will discover additional food offerings across Pleasure Island.

On Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, guests will be seated at Raglan Road on a first-come, first-served basis.  Access to select entertainment on March 16 will include a $5 cover charge for guests 18 and older; on March 17, cover will run up to $10.  Raglan Road reservations can be booked on March 14 and 15 by calling 407/938-0300.  For more information visit Disneyworld.com/StPatricksDay.

 Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The post Wearin’ of the Green at Downtown Disney & POLL on St. Patty’s in WDW appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Walt Disney World can be a fabulous place for shopping throughout the year but a visit at Christmas time can find your suitcase bulging at the seams…and if you fly home like us international visitors then you’ll be praying that you haven’t exceeded the weight limit for your luggage!

Guests looking for Christmas decorations outside of the holiday season can head to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom, It’s a Wonderful Shop in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (love that reference!), Die Weihnachts Ecke in Epcot and Disney’s Days of Christmas at Downtown Disney. There’s enough holiday cheer in those shops to have you feeling festive on even the hottest days in July!!

But if you are lucky enough to head to Walt Disney World during the Christmas festivities you will find seasonal goods filling the shelves in almost every merchandise location.

So what can you buy while you’re there for the holidays? Almost anything you can imagine; decorations, candy, clothing, kitchenware, and not forgetting the ever popular Santa hats with Mickey ears! My favourite items to buy are ones that have the year of your visit. Then each Christmas when you hang the item on your tree, wear the t-shirt or count the days down to Christmas you’ll remember the visit you had when the item was purchased.

My favourite WDW places to shop at Christmas? I love the resort gift shops; you can often find little Christmassy things in here that can’t be found in the parks. I love the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile in Wilderness Lodge at Christmas; I think the log cabin effect makes it feel even more seasonal when it is full of festive goodies!

Another place not to miss is the Gingerbread House bake shop at Grand Floridian. You’ve heard of the huge gingerbread house that appears in the lobby of the Grand Floridian each holiday season? Well inside you’ll find a shop selling all kinds of edible Christmas treats.

My favourite shops within the parks which seem to be full of gifts at Christmas time are The Emporium in Magic Kingdom and Mouse Gear at Epcot. I’ve found larger items in Mouse Gear on previous visits that I haven’t seen anywhere else on property. But as I said before, Christmas merchandise is everywhere!

In my previous post I talked about attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Well, Disney sells event-specific merchandise at the parties which you will not be able to get at any other time. Word of warning…some items sell out so if you see something you like BUY IT!! Oh, and be careful of the crowds heading into The Emporium on a party night to buy those exclusive t-shirts and pins!!!

There is a collection of Christmas gifts which cannot be purchased in the actual parks or resorts but can be delivered to you during your WDW stay. The Disney Floral and Gifts department have some amazing festive gifts in their Christmas and Holiday Magic range. Unfortunately I can’t fit the Christmas tree into my suitcase but I’m dreaming that one day my resort room will have a very special visit from Mickey and Minnie. Here’s how this year’s ‘in room celebration’ is described on the Disney Floral website:

“Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse heard you were coming, so they placed a special Christmas sash, (featuring a fabric wreath on one side and a holiday tree on the other) over the door to your Walt Disney World® Resort room. Then, they slipped inside to create a Disney Christmas to remember!

Once inside, you’ll see the glow from luminaries placed around the room. On a table nearby you’ll find the “Toon Town Times,” a holiday Disney newspaper personalized with your family name, filled with stories and ideas for fun activities. But, on the bed, a plush Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, dressed in holiday hats, wait for you, each holding a special Christmas package filled with memories and dreams. Mickey’s present is a “Memory Making Box” full of surprises and activities to create special memories in the room and the parks. Minnie’s “Disney Kiss Goodnight” has everything needed to wind down your day with a magical moment to cherish.

All these gifts from Mickey and Minnie are yours to enjoy, both in the parks and in your room – and after you’ve filled your hearts with memories and dreams, these gifts are yours to take home!

Inside Mickey’s “Memory Making Box”:

• An autograph book and pen for your Christmas “meet and greets”.
• A Christmas red blanket to sit on when you watch the parade.
• Two holiday light-up lanyards to wear when the park starts to twinkle.
• Two Mickey Vision Glasses that turn every burst of firework into a Mickey head.
• For inside the room, Mickey left you felt ornaments to hang on your door sash tree, to create another memory!
• Two exclusive Mickey Mouse sleepy time pillowcases.
• A Disney storybook for a cozy snuggle at bed time.
• A “wish upon a star” activity, which includes a “pixie-dusted” Swarovski crystal star to create special memories.
• Plus, one more little box filled with cookie decorating goodies for everyone to enjoy!”

Inside Minnie’s “Disney Kiss Goodnight”:

• Two exclusive Mickey Mouse sleepy time pillowcases.
• A Disney storybook for a cozy snuggle at bed time.
• A “wish upon a star” activity, which includes a “pixie-dusted” Swarovski crystal star to create special memories.
• Plus, one more little box filled with cookie decorating goodies for everyone to enjoy!”

Doesn’t it sound magical?! We all have to have a Christmas wish, right?

I’ll end this post with a confession to you all. The first year I got to visit Walt Disney World during the holiday season I went at the beginning of December. I had planned on completing my Christmas shopping during my two week vacation; treating my family and friends to unique gifts from the World. Know what happened? I spent so much time buying things that caught my eye that I had to go out on Christmas Eve when I arrived back in the UK to finish buying gifts for others! I didn’t make that mistake again; all gift shopping is completed in November before I fly out so that the WDW shopping is all mine!!

Happy shopping everyone xxx

Emma Godbold lives in the East of England and has been visiting Walt Disney World since she was a teenager. In between trips, Emma can be found reading about Disney history or researching and planning her next Disney vacation. She also writes her own blog at www.daydreamingdisney.com.

The post Shop Til You Drop for the Holidays–Disney Style! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Blake Taylor

While it’s a little sad to see kids grow out of their “Toy Story” and princesses obsessions as they mature their way to adulthood, one of the many benefits of traveling to Walt Disney World with older kids is being able to experience so much more that you hadn’t been able to see before.  Taking in more thrill rides, sending the kids off by themselves for a couple of hours without worry, staying out later at night…the list goes on.

Another prime example of this is taking in some of the “less-exciting” attractions throughout Disney property that might be deemed dull or boring to preschoolers.  However, with older kids and teens who can tolerate and even find interest in slowing down and learning new things, these experiences can be very rewarding.  Here are my top 5 favorite out-of-the-way places to visit in Walt Disney World during the holiday season of November and December.  They might be a bit of a journey to travel to if you’re not staying at these specific resorts, but they are very much worth seeking out, and are perfect if you’re looking for something to do away from the parks.

5. Yacht Club Train Village

I admit this is the only item on this list I haven’t seen in person, but I wish I had.  From what I’ve seen, this miniature Christmas village complete with a working model train is amazing.  Think the mini German village in Epcot, but all dressed to the nines in its winter finest.  The Yacht Club is within walking distance from Epcot’s “back door,” its International Gateway entrance.

4. Peppermint Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

While this item is technically inside the Magic Kingdom, it still qualifies for this list as being certifiably out of the way from the crowds.  Sleepy Hollow is a counter-service dining window located in a quiet corner of Liberty Square.  The place is notorious for its delicious chocolate-chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, which have scoops of ice cream between two warm, giant cookies.  It’s a little messy, but it’s awesome.  During the Christmas season, the regular vanilla ice cream can be replaced by request with peppermint-flavored ice cream.  Yumorama.

3. Wilderness Lodge Ambiance

The atmosphere of the Wilderness Lodge is serene itself any time of the year, but at Christmas, there’s an extra layer of magic to the air.  The colossal tree and surrounding garland that adorns the lobby makes the perfect backdrop for a calm rest in a rocking chair or couch, away from the hustle and bustle of the parks.  While you’re here, be sure to make a trip to the Villas building to check out the Carolwood Pacific Railroad room—a small, cozy tribute to Walt Disney’s love of trains.  It’s filled with fun pieces of Disney history, and again makes and ideal spot for a quick (or long) rest.  The Wilderness Lodge is a peaceful ferry ride away from the Magic Kingdom.

2. Grand Floridian’s Gingerbread House

This is a life-size house made entirely of real gingerbread.  It’s quite something!  It stands in the lobby of the Grand Floridian Resort, right on the Magic Kingdom monorail line.  While Guests aren’t allowed inside the house, they can take pictures outside of it and admire its exterior detail all they like.  Cast Members sell all sorts of gingerbread items via one of the house’s windows.

1. Fort Wilderness

Fort Wilderness is one of my favorite Walt Disney World resorts because of its sheer versatility, and at no time is this more apparent than during the Christmas season.  Guests who are using Fort Wilderness as a campsite for their campers and RVs are allowed to set up their own decorations and lights—and they really pull out all the stops.  Wow!  Boy, are they worth making a special trip to see.  Lights, toys, inflatables, a Cinderella Castle made of gingerbread…you name it, someone probably has it.  It’s really quite something.  Being one of my favorite Disney experiences, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue makes a wonderful compliment to a trip to see the campers’ lights.  The show even has some special Christmas elements throughout the program just for the holidays.  It makes for a great ending to a magical night.

What is YOUR favorite, out-of-the way holiday detail to check out when you are in Walt Disney World during the holidays?  Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Blake recently graduated from high school and has been surrounded by Disney literally since birth, having had a Mickey mobile in his crib.  Blake enjoys helping peers plan WDW vacations and writing for his Disney blog, BlakeOnline.com.

The post E.P.C.O.T. – Top 5 Out-of-the-Way Disney Holiday Spots appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Blake Taylor

Being in Walt Disney World during the holiday season presents itself with many advantages, and of course one of these is being exposed to many great ideas for family gifts.  The Resort is filled to the brim with many unique souvenirs all 12 months of the year, but at Christmastime there is an even expanded abundance of things to bring home for loved ones that would make the perfect gift to unwrap on December 25.  Here we’ll look at some items that might spark the interest of the teens in your life.

What Not to Get

Before we delve into fun ideas, we must first address what to avoid.  It’s easy to purchase the first Selena Gomez CD you find and call your mission accomplished, but don’t!  Not only are there more original items to be found throughout Walt Disney World than a CD or DVD you could locate at any store around the country, but on Disney property you’ll find that media-related items are extremely overpriced.  The same exact music album or movie sold in the Emporium may be found at Walmart or Target for a fraction of the price.  The same goes for books (head to Amazon!).

However, there are a few exceptions.  Some titles are park-exclusive and are not available elsewhere, like the Imagineering the Magic DVD, official park albums, or souvenir coffee table books.  In those cases, prices still may be high, but are a little more justifiable since their availability is so limited.  For Christmas-themed presents specifically, the Candlelight Processional and Holiday Wishes soundtracks (sold separately) come to mind.

Christmastime-Exclusive Ideas

There are quite a few things that you’ll only find when you visit during November or December.  A vast array of plush toys, tree ornaments, and home décor are all rolled out during this time that have Mickey and pals dressed for the season.  But what about for teens?  Often I find myself buying something on a Disney trip that I initially think is really neat, only to come home and find little to no use for it other than to put it on a shelf somewhere.  For the Disney teenager, two practical ideas come to mind, and unsurprisingly they both involve clothing.

The first is a holiday-themed tee shirt.  I know, not so original at first glance, but you’d be surprised at the assortment of styles Disney stocks that are quite fun.  I personally have a liking toward the vintage-looking, worn-out styles.  A particular favorite is of pie-eyed Mickey in a standard pose but with a Santa hat, and the original, 1970s-style Walt Disney World logo emblazoned in front of him.  I always look forward to when it’s time to find it in the depth of my shirt drawer.

Another idea is a Santa Claus hat.  Nowadays Disney sells quite a few different styles of Santa hats so pretty much every member of your family can get a different one if so desired.  This also helps to add a bit of personality to each hat—the red-and-green plaid hat was great for me while my sister preferred a plain red one with a Minnie bow on the front (both of them, of course, have mouse ears attached!).  Others include styles for Eeyore and Tigger if I remember correctly.  At one point Disney also sold a Stitch style, but we were told in 2010 that they had been discontinued (though that might have changed since then!).  Unlike other Disney headgear that gets minimal use outside of the parks, the Santa ears are perfect to wear to holiday parties or family gatherings.

Other Fun Ideas

If you aren’t looking for something with a specific Christmas theme to it, there are plenty of other appropriate gift ideas for teens throughout WDW, as well.  Again, Disney has some great shirts.  (The one with the Finding Nemo “Mine! Mine!” birds on it is hilarious.)   If you know someone who visits WDW often, get them a few pins—but here’s the catch: get them pins you know they won’t like.  This way they’ll be able to bring them on their next trip to trade for ones they do like!  It literally allows them to choose their own Christmas present, while at the same time extending the present’s charm long past Christmas morning.  Remember to purchase these pins from the least-expensive category since they will be traded—and the more obscure, strange, and ridiculous, the better!  For instance, if your teen loves Pirates of the Caribbean or The Avengers, you might want to seek out some cute, lovely, drenched-in-pink princess pins.

Another way to add some originality to a gift: if the teen you’re buying for is traveling with you to WDW, you can have them pick out a present for themselves without even knowing it!  This happened to me a few years ago.  My grandmother was looking at blankets in the Magic Kingdom and told me she wanted to buy one for a relative back home.  She asked me which one I would like best if I was buying one for myself, and that’s the one she purchased—little did I know I would be opening it up for myself on Christmas Day!

Where to Find These Items

This being Disney World, it isn’t difficult to find a gift shop.  Fun shirts can be found everywhere.  You’ll find small displays of practically the same Christmas items in every single resort’s gift shop and in every theme park’s big stores.  However, there are three definite places to go if you’re looking to find a more expansive collection of Disney holiday goodies: Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square, It’s a Wonderful Shop near the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Days of Christmas in Downtown Disney Marketplace.  All are great choices with tons of really neat things inside, with Days of Christmas having the largest assortment of the three.  And best of all, all locations are open year-round, so even if you’re not visiting during the holiday season but still have your Christmas shopping in mind, they’re the places to go.

Blake recently graduated from high school and has been surrounded by Disney literally since birth, having had a Mickey mobile in his crib.  Blake enjoys helping peers plan WDW vacations and writing for his Disney blog, BlakeOnline.com.

The post E.P.C.O.T. – Holiday Gift-Giving for the Disney Teen appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

My favourite time to visit Walt Disney World is during the holiday season. The magic filling the parks seems to double, even triple, around Christmas time.

My favourite event to attend at Walt Disney World has to be Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. And if you happen to visit WDW without children like my partner and I, I can assure you that this isn’t a reason to stay away from this event! Want to know a secret? Attending MVMCP as a couple can feel like the most romantic date night ever!

The last time I attended MVMCP it was December 2010 and it was unseasonably cold in Orlando, I mean colder than it was in the UK! We knew that to be able to enjoy ourselves at the party and to stay out as late as possible we needed to wrap up warm, really warm. Just getting ready for the party, putting on our gloves, scarves and Mickey Santa hats made us giggle like excited children.

We were staying at Wilderness Lodge so we decided to take the boat over to Magic Kingdom. When we had attended the party in a previous year we had arrived at Magic Kingdom at around 4pm as we had park hopper tickets and wanted to get into the park before the crowds, you can then just pick up a wristband to show that you can stay in the park for the party. But this year we decided to arrive at Magic Kingdom at around 7pm when the party started.

The first thing I noticed on the boat over to MK was how everyone was wrapped up in warm clothes and even blankets. It gives you a sense of belonging, knowing that everyone has had the same thoughts about trying to beat the cold for a fun evening. But the second thing I noticed as the boat began to fill up was the atmosphere. Everyone was excited to be going to the party. It didn’t matter whether they were 5 years old or 50; everyone had a smile on their face and an excited glint in their eye.

As we arrived at Magic Kingdom we could see the crowds flocking in; it was very busy but again, there was that atmosphere. As it was just the two of us it was nice to stand in the queue and watch the crowds whilst waiting for our turn through the turnstiles. It was great fun to say hello to all the cast members dressed up in their special Christmas party outfits. One of the things I enjoy about visiting Walt Disney World as an adult is that the cast members take time to say hello and chat; they don’t just interact with the families.

After getting our wristbands we wandered down Main Street taking in the sights and sounds; making our way to Tomorrowland, leaving the crowds behind. As the daytime crowds had left and the families attending the party were in other parts of the park we pretty much had the Tomorrowland attractions to ourselves. Know what it feels like to run from attraction to attraction in Tomorrowland, in the dark, just the two of you? Well if you don’t you need to try it, we were big kids again!

After riding the attractions and watching the snowflake projections on the outside of Space Mountain we made our way over to Cosmic Ray’s for our first complimentary cookie and hot cocoa stop. As it was pretty busy and noisy in there with a big dance party going on we sat outside, enjoying the peace and quiet. It’s lovely to stop and look around you whenever you are in Magic Kingdom but being able to do it during a party seems extra special.

After we had been warmed by our cocoa we headed off to Fantasyland to meet the Seven Dwarfs; MVMCP is one of the few times when you can have your photos taken with all of them together and it was a must do for me.

Joining a queue to meet your favourite characters when you haven’t got a child in your party is an interesting experience. It’s something which I have always done, and it always makes me smile. There you are a grown adult standing in line between families with excited children who can hardly believe that they’re about to meet Mickey, Cinderella, Lotso or Stitch. But why shouldn’t the grownups get to meet their favourite characters too?

We ended up queuing for forty-five minutes for our turn to meet the Seven Dwarfs. This meant that we had very little time to get back to our regular parade viewing spot on Main Street before Holiday Wishes began so we decided to watch from Fantasyland. I think this was the most magical decision we had made all night. The Christmas version of Wishes is truly spectacular…just how do they get fireworks to form the shape of presents as they explode??! The fireworks lit up the sky all around us and as I looked round I could see other guests looking left then right trying to catch the next shimmering image in the sky. It doesn’t get much more romantic than standing side by side in your Santa hats watching Disney fireworks together!

After Wishes we decided to stay on that side of the park for Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime parade. We made our way to Liberty Square and easily found a space on the parade route. The parade takes place twice during MVMCP and the crowds are often smaller for the second one, mainly because it’s past lots of little people’s bedtimes!

While we were waiting for the parade to start a nearby cast member started chatting to us. Whilst still remaining ‘part of the show’ she seemed very interested in talking to us about where we came from, how much a WDW vacation cost from the UK and then told us some very fun stories about her work; conversations that may not have been quite so appropriate if we had had youngsters with us!

The Christmastime parade is just wonderful and fills you with so much holiday cheer. You find yourself totally immersed in the moment, waving at characters and dancers as they pass you by. The music, the lights, the costumes….you start to feel like that child on Christmas morning again.

After the parade was over the crowds started to head out of Magic Kingdom. We walked slowly around Frontierland, stopping to look at what was left of the party merchandise and making the most of quiet time in the park before making our way to Adventureland and then onto Main Street; back into the hustle and bustle of guests full of Christmas cheer.

It was nice to end the evening in the shops along Main Street, after all every good date night deserves at least one Christmas gift! Then it was time for one last look back at the Castle Dream Lights before heading out of MK and sleepily looking for the bus back to our resort.

Visiting Walt Disney World as an adult gives you the chance to believe in your imagination; attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party makes you believe that Christmas wishes can come true…even for grownups!! It’s certainly a different experience attending without children but if you fancy a Christmassy date night during your vacation then this is one I would highly recommend! Merry Christmas xx

Have you ever attended MVMCP as an adult–without children?  What did you think?  Share your memories below!

The post Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party–Not Just for Kids! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.