A Reservation for 13 Please! 5/27/07-6/2/07: 2 years later Liberty Inn, Raglan Rd.

[lovehoney]

You had chocolate buckle at CRT lunch?? On the menu it only lists the blueberry? Was there a change? I wasn't looking too forward to the bluberry buckle.....

Yes we had the chocolate. I think the change was made a couple of months ago. I read about it on the DIS before I left.

 

[lovehoney]

Great reviews! We normally travel with a large party - minimum 8, maximum 15, so I know how difficult it is to schedule meals and especially to wrangle all the kids and adults for CS. It sounds like you did a great job.

Thanks. The dining worked out pretty well. Eating early works out great for groups. The waiting time is always shorter so you have less cranky people.

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

LOOK ! ! !

A hidden mickey!

I am enjoying your reviews... Keep it coming!

 

[lovehoney]

LOOK ! ! !

A hidden mickey!

I am enjoying your reviews... Keep it coming!

I am so happy you noticed!

 

[DisneyJo]

I love how you took the croc on your date night Hope she behaved herself

 

[lovehoney]

I love how you took the croc on your date night Hope she behaved herself

She was very well behaved except she kept sneaking drinks of my Glowtini. I'm pretty sure she is underage. I was lucky I didn't get arrested.

 

[Swimnoid]

LOOK ! ! !

A hidden mickey!

I am enjoying your reviews... Keep it coming!

Actually the ears are too high for a hidden Mickey....more like a hidden Pooh!

OH Yeah! I LOVE your reviews. What a great thing to be able to go with so many people. And it seems like everybody gets along!

 

[lovehoney]

Actually the ears are too high for a hidden Mickey....more like a hidden Pooh!

OH Yeah! I LOVE your reviews. What a great thing to be able to go with so many people. And it seems like everybody gets along!

Well I do love Winnie the Pooh!

I am working on finishing the reviews. Next up Hollywood and Vine.

 

[lovehoney]

Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Package

Fantasmic is one of my very favorite shows at WDW. It is also one of my DH’s favorites. Our first time at Fantasmic we didn’t have the package and waited in line over an hour just to get in the stadium. Our second time we had the package and sat on the front row. DH insists that we always have the package from now on. Me too!!

We decided on Hollywood and Vine because we only wanted to use one credit on the dining plan and my DBIL doesn’t like Italian food (that ruled out Mama Melrose). We also thought the buffet would give our large group lots of variety.

H&V gets a lot of bad reviews here on the DIS so I was a little worried. We did the character lunch on the last trip so I was pretty sure it would be similar. The food turned out to be okay. None of the food was bad and nothing was really outstanding. I think it was on par with Chef Mickey’s.

Our ADR was for 3:30 pm. This was outrageously early but it worked well for our group. We were seated at back left corner near the drink filling station. We had one table with the booth seats on one side and tables on the other. This table set sat 6. We also had a set of free-standing tables right next to the first set where the other 7 family members sat. The waitress took our drink orders right away. My DS6 ordered chocolate milk and it came in a huge paper cup with a lid and straw. I think it was at least 20 ounces – maybe 24!

The waitress gave my DH the voucher for Fantasmic. The paper has the number of people in your group and the instructions. Always make sure to keep this voucher safe.

It was time to go through the buffet. The first station had various rolls and bread with bowls of real butter. I love real butter! I don’t get it very often so it is a real treat. Next were salads and fruit. I ended up getting a lot of fruit and skipped the salads. They looked good. There was a Caesar salad and a couple of other mixed salads. I think there was also a pasta salad.

The buffet had boiled shrimp and cocktail sauce. The peel and eat shrimp was great. I think that is the only thing DS6 ate. With all that chocolate milk he didn’t need anything else. I peeled shrimp for DS6, DN4 and myself. I felt like I should have been paid for my services. I saw a lot of people with shrimp on their plates. It really was one of the best dishes at H&V.

There were a lot of casseroles and chicken dishes but I passed over them for the prime rib carving station. I had mashed potatoes and I think green beans too. The prime rib was good, not great. Like I said before there was nothing outstanding but everything I ate was edible.

The desserts were just okay. These were not as good as the Chef Mickey desserts. I wish I had written down what they were. There was an apple cobbler that was alright. The boys had chocolate cake bites and soft serve ice cream. The kids are always happy with ice cream. Some in our group just had more fruit. The fruit was nice and tasty. They had fresh pineapple – one of my favorites.

The service was okay. I don’t think anyone had refills. I know someone had coffee with dessert because DsBIL left with the coffee cup. I told him he should probably just go back in and ask for a paper to go cup. I guess we were rushing him. It only took him a couple of seconds to get his paper cup.

Pros: peel and eat shrimp.

Cons: I didn’t mention this earlier but the restrooms were a wreck (trash everywhere and no paper towels). I had to go up to the front to tell them. We did go again later and someone was in there cleaning. I think they keep this place too busy with no time to recover between services. They really need to rethink their cleaning schedule

 

[DisneyJo]

Great review, what do you think of the fantasmic seating?

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
Thanks for your reviews. They're really good. Can't wait to read more.

 

[katiesmomluvsdizne]

It sounds like you did great with a party of 13. My DFam of 3 is turning into a party of 13 for our next trip!!! 3 to 13 is crazy!!! Originally me DH and DD planned a trip in Dec, then my sis and her family want to join us for 3 days that adds 4 to our 3=7. Then DH friends want to go the same time and tour with us, OK fine. They have 5 + 7=12, now I find out they want to bring their neice, now we are 13!!!!
So I just took charge and said here is where we are dining, it you want to join us, great, if not you are on your own.
After about 15 calls to dining, I am finally done with ADRs.
I was glad to hear that they pushed tables together cause when I called for ADRs they told me they couldn't guarantee tables together.
I greatly enjoyed your report it gave me hope. Thanks

 

[lovehoney]

Great review, what do you think of the fantasmic seating?

The Fantasmic Package seating is all on the right. If you want front and center you will have to wait in line. On the package you have to show up at least 30 minutes before the show. You are guaranteed a seat. If you wait in the regular line this is not the case. However, there were plenty of seats left on the night we went but by the time we arrived the center section was quite full.

We arrived about 45 minutes early and the 12 (DsBIL went back to the resort to rest) of us sat on the 4th and 5th row as close to the center in our reserved section that we could get. The seats are aluminum stadium seating on concrete (like a football stadium).

I think all of the views are great. It is a very large production. We like to sit up front because it is a great experience. The heat of the fire and the cool spray of water just adds that little something extra.

 

[lovehoney]

Hi
Thanks for your reviews. They're really good. Can't wait to read more.

Thanks. I only have three reviews left - I can see the light. I'm really bad at not finishing projects but I'm very determined to finish these reviews.

It's been hard since I'm still having the post WDW blues but I am recovering .

 

[lovehoney]

It sounds like you did great with a party of 13. My DFam of 3 is turning into a party of 13 for our next trip!!! 3 to 13 is crazy!!! Originally me DH and DD planned a trip in Dec, then my sis and her family want to join us for 3 days that adds 4 to our 3=7. Then DH friends want to go the same time and tour with us, OK fine. They have 5 + 7=12, now I find out they want to bring their neice, now we are 13!!!!
So I just took charge and said here is where we are dining, it you want to join us, great, if not you are on your own.
After about 15 calls to dining, I am finally done with ADRs.
I was glad to hear that they pushed tables together cause when I called for ADRs they told me they couldn't guarantee tables together.
I greatly enjoyed your report it gave me hope. Thanks

Lucky 13 for you too! I'm sure you will have a great time. I did have changes as we came close to the trip. Adding people is a lot harder than taking away so as long as no other relatives pop out of the woodwork you will have no problems .

We ended up spending 2 extra days at WDW after everyone left. That was the best thing we could have done. We were able to relax with just our little nuclear family. Of course we were sharing a 3 bedroom villa and going to a room of our own made it more relaxing as well.

We did a December trip to WDW in 2005 and it is just super magical. You will love it!

 

[luciloo]

Great Reviews can't wait to read more

 

[lovehoney]

Liberty Inn
America - World Showcase - Epcot

I can't believe I jinxed myself 2 years ago by saying I have a problem with finishing things. Although it has been 2 years I am going to finish my review although some of the details will be fuzzy.

Friday was the last day for most of the group. My family of 4 stayed on so we could see Star Wars Weekends.

We arrived at Epcot early, just at opening. We did some souvenir shopping and then started around the world showcase from Canada. Around France we were getting hungry. I decided good ole American food might be just what the kids would want so we headed to Liberty Inn. DFIL, DSBIL and DN5 went on their own to Germany so it was just 10 of us for lunch.

It was early so there was no line and plenty of tables available. It was prettier and cooler inside than I imagined. We picked several tables and the adults went up to order.

Most of the kids had the chicken nuggets with grapes and carrots. However 2 or 3 of the kids wanted burgers and they don't have a child's burger meal. We had a few counter service credits leftover since DFIL didn't use his every day so we were able to get them cheeseburgers.

The burgers were great. They were big and juicy and the topping bar was super popular. Lots of tomatoes were eaten. Yumm! DS6 loved getting ketchup out of the dispenser. He likes to eat a few fries with his ketchup.

I can't remember the dessert. I just remember that as always we split them among the kids since they don't get a dessert with the kid's meals. Most likely it was the chocolate cake and apple cobbler.

pros: hamburgers are great
cons: limited kids meals.

 

[lovehoney]

Raglan Road

It was just the 4 of us on this night. We waved goodbye earlier in the day to the other 9 as they left on the magical express. We were sorry to see them go but were excited about our new found freedom of movement. It is a lot easier to get around with just 4!

We were also moving resorts today. After we checked into ASMu, we had 2 adult TS leftover so I called WDW dining and was able to get an ADR for Raglan Road. We paid OOP for the kids.

We arrived for our ADR but still had to wait about 1/2 hour for our table. Raglan Road is very beautiful. It is just a lovely restaurant. The bar was gorgeous and there was a hilarious group of women sitting at it making jokes and having a good time. The whole place was having a great time. They have live music but we were there before it started. We were seated at a table between the kitchen and the bar. Not the best location but with kids you take what you get.

I'm fuzzy on some of our food items. I had the drunken chicken appetizer that was good and DH had some sort of beef. They also gave out bread and dipping sauce that was super yummy.

For entrees DH had a steak that he said was great. I had a pork dish with mashed potatoes that was very good. I just remember thinking it was super overpriced and was glad I was using the dining plan.

DS3 had the macaroni and cheese kids meal. I had a taste and it was sooooo goood. I could have eaten that for my entree! DS6 had the fried fish and chips. He enjoyed it.

Overall a nice dining experience with great food.

pros: good food

cons: seemed very expensive