Dr. Jones and the Spitting Camel - Link to Alaska Cruise TR 9/18

[MEK]

In the past 3 days I (and/or Eric) were lectured for

• not doing sit ups properly
• not reading his birthday card before opening the present (bear in mind it was in invented secret CODE and there were other kids present, it wasn't like he could drop everything and figure out the code)
• not being able to swim (well) (and me not being willing to consider noseplugs)

We have another meeting Sunday and I'm not sure I can take it. I need a break. I saw these people 3 days in a row last weekend and the thought of another meeting stresses me out.

I think you have encountered a few people who bring new meaning to the term, "Get a Life".

 

[eandesmom]

I know you’ve all been waiting for this so THANKS for your patience! I truly didn’t mean to drag it out. And if I haven’t been by your PTR or TR yet I am sorry, I’m very behind on most but I’ll get there eventually!!

After arriving at Raglan, some hugs and a few tears we checked in. And were seated immediately! Given my families size we are rarely rarely, if ever, seated immediately. This was a huge surprise. And to be honest, a little bit of a bummer. I’d have loved to check out the waiting area, the little shop off of it and just drink in my surroundings. But from a service standpoint of course, it was outstanding! I had never ever been to Raglan before. It is HUGE! And stunning. I had no idea. A few pics stolen from elsewhere to give you an idea of the surroundings.

Exterior

Were it not so hot, I’d have loved to eat out here

The shop (from the outside)

Inside

The center stage

the “back” stage

The bar

The beer selection

Actually they had a lot more than that, this just what was on tap lol.

We were taken to the far back right corner of the restaurant. Which is actually kind of sectioned off, basically an area that is likely used for larger group functions, a whole little corner you could take up. We took up about a third of it. It was a GREAT table for a party of eight. However….we couldn’t see the stage at all. Which was a bummer as there was basically entertainment going on out there the entire night that we could here, but not see. Music, dancing, all kinds of wonderful things that teased us all night. Stuff like this

and this

You can see some videos of the entertainment here

That said, the restaurant was quite loud and there is no way Julie and I could have really chatted like we were able to had we been seated closer to the stage. So, given that scenario it was a good thing but it also means I have to go back!

Why?

Because it was my favorite meal of the trip! Favorite meal in all of the World. Part of it was the meal, part ambiance, part who I was with. The overall experience was just top in every way. Which is saying a lot as honestly all our meals were good. Some better, some I’d do again and others probably not but they were all good. This was outstanding! I expected to like it, we are big on pub food, especially good brew pub, but it was really really REALLY good! And a wonderful variety!

I went for

Crock 'o' Mussels - Fresh Blue Hill Bay mussels served in a saffron, grape tomato and leek broth $18

Jeff got

Sod The Stew - It's beef stew infused with a hint of Guinness. $17

Evan, who was a Disney adult on the dining plan got

Mighty Mixed Grill - lamb cutlet, Guinness banger, sirloin steak, black pudding, chicken drumstick and bacon $28

I was worried about him eating it all but also knew Jeff would help on this one if needed.

Julie and her mom both got

Fish and Chips - Our famous beer-battered fish and chips served with fresh tartar sauce $18

Taylor, our ribs fanatic of course went for

Ribs to the Power of Two - braised double shortribs with horseradish mash, roasted carrots, and parsnips $21
For the life of me I’ve no idea what Kendall got, she was at the other end of the table. I’m guessing Salmon, or the burger.

Raglan has a much better kids menu than most and so Eric went for this

Young Shepherd's Pie - Traditional Shepherd's Pie with our contemporary twist to this favorite dish $8.50

I confess, I was SO busy chatting with Julie I didn’t get a single picture of our entrees but I do know that EVERYONE loved them. And ate ALL of them. Evan wasn’t big on the blood sausage but cleaned up the rest of his mixed grill. Barely, but he got it done. My mussels were amazing and a nice huge generous portion. I’m a huge mussel fan and often if there aren’t enough, I need a salad or something to go with it. This was perfect. Especially perfect for sopping up that broth with...soda bread! With your meals you are offered complimentary bread service, which includes their famous soda bread along with Guinness Brown Bread and another option. YUM!

I think I’m going to try their recipe as I can never make my mom’s right for some reason! All the adults had a beer with their meal though I can’t recall what everyone had. A great selection to be sure! After they cleared our food away, we did have Julie’s mom take a picture! Not a very good one of either of us but who cares

For dessert they have a nice selection. While we may have had others, I know we had these three. And I even got pictures! The bread pudding, my choice, was so impressive I quit talking and since I still had the camera out, actually used it!

Ger's Bread & Butter Pudding - Like no other pudding you have ever tried. Believe us $8

Kendall had this

Dunbrody Kiss - Chef Dundon's gift to America. Chocolate. Add chocolate. Then add some more. With us? $8

And Evan went for this one

Strawberry & Apple Crumble - Fresh strawberries and apples in a tart with berry compote and vanilla bean ice cream $8

I am pretty sure Jeff got the Bailey's Brulé Tart - Créme Brulé, Irish style $8 but I didn’t get a picture. Julie and her mom opted out as they were not on the dining plan.
OH MY STARS! That bread pudding is the single most amazing dessert I’ve had at Disney. I don't know who Ger is but I'm in love.

Dinner done we headed outside for some pictures

It was about 9pm and Julie and her mom had to go. They had decided not to do a park day the following day and head back first thing in the morning. Which meant they still had a few hours they could put in at magic Kingdom and they wanted to head back. Which of course we “got”! After more hugs they left us and we discussed what to do.

The options were
1. Head back, see Wishes and the ELP. It was doubtful we’d get there in time for the ELP
2. Hang around DTD and maybe go to Disney Quest.

No one really knew what DQ was so we decided we would just wander a little and play it by ear.
It was pretty crowded out but a nice night.
Leaving Raglan we decided to head to the west side.
We were mesmerized by this street performer for a while

We checked out the magic shop and then went down and watched the balloon load up and take off. Some of the kids really wanted to do it but it just didn’t pencil for Jeff and I. Slightly deflated we decided to check out Disney Quest. It was about 9:30. If you’ve not been, it’s a bit of a sensory overload (no surprise there) and unclear as to what’s where. I knew there were virtual rides but not much else.

Here’s a cool synopsis of it, which describes it far better than I could

Like Innoventions in Future World, this cutting edge amusement center and multilevel arcade boasts the latest in gaming technology, including an interactive play area with laser tag, virtual reality adventures, and the latest grand-scale arcade games.

Some of the advertising material bills it as being the worlds first indoor ultimite interactive adventure park. Whilst I certainly wouldn't go that far, it makes a very interesting high-tech update to the old style "Fun Houses" that populated many of the British seaside resorts.
Gone are the older climbing areas, rolling walk-through wheels, pinball machines, and humorous mirrors replaced by high-tech interactive pinball, total imersion virtual reality adventures, and ultra high tech video games.
Within the 5-story building you can Climb aboard a real river raft, grab a paddle, and shoot the rapids in a virtural prehistoric world. Buckle into a motion simulator and ride a roller coaster of your own design. Or even fly a magic carpet through the bazaars and alleyways in an ancient city. All brought to life via motion simulators, and virtual reality devices.

Disney Quest is designed to be the ideal safe hangout for teens age twelve to twenty. Admission is via a pass charged at a daily rate (currently $29 for Adults).

As with most things from Disney, DisneyQuest is designed to drop guests into an entirely different world. Disney Imagineering has turned a simple "blue, wavy-roofed building" into a five-story maze of virtual adventure. To jazz up the outside, huge versions of the swirling "Q" from the DisneyQuest Logo (affectionately known as "Hurricane Mickey") on the front and back of the building.

Inside the building, there is no hint of the outside world, except what can be seen through glass doors on the front entrance and gift shop exit. The layout of DisneyQuest is almost as complex as the experience itself. Staircases swirl from floor to floor. The zones, or levels, are designed to flow seamlessly, one into the next. Some zones keep the action to one floor; others let you peek from floor-to-floor, with the end result a labyrinth of pathways with an adventure around every corner.

DisneyQuests also has its own naming conventions. Employees are called "navigators." The entrance is not an entrance, it's the Departure Lobby. It features gold pillars with faces of Disney characters engraved into the capitals of the columns. The floor is a huge compass designed to point your way to the adventure that lies ahead, with "Aladdin's" Genie guiding you along with a hilarious voice-over.

The "Cybrolator" - an elevator to you and me - takes you on a comic jolt-of-a-journey to the third-floor Ventureport, the start of your adventure. The Cybrolator is almost a ride itself.
The Ventureport is the entrance to DisneyQuest. Its huge vaulted ceiling and armillary sphere -- an old astronomical instrument composed of rings showing the positions of important circles of the celestial sphere -- point the way to

DisneyQuests's zones: The Score Zone, Explore Zone, Replay Zone and Create Zone

Zone Guide
The Score Zone features futuristic versions of typical virtual reality games, where guests don VR headsets and take up arms against all types of villainy or engage in more civil play. In what officials call "a competition city," guests can become a pinball, in the Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam. Players stand on giant discs in front of a huge video screen. As the discs are inflated, players find their corresponding ball on the screen and score points by using their whole body to maneuver the disc, and thus the ball, into various pinball hot spots. The Mighty Ducks goalie guards the highest score spot. He's good, but not impenetrable.

Other Score Zone attractions include a four-person virtual reality game where guests battle extraterrestrial intruders called Invasion! An Alien Encounter and the fantasy VR challenge Ride the Comix. In Ride the Comix, guests wear a virtual reality headset, sit on a round "hover seat" and grab a laser sword. As you propel yourself through a futuristic comic book world, effective use of your sword makes mincemeat out of all sorts of cartoon rogues. Alien Encounter puts four players on a journey to save interplanetary colonists from outer space bad guys. One player drives and the other three are gunners, shooting aliens as the craft picks up colonists. The 360-degree adventure sets you right in the middle of all the action.

The Explore Zone is a land of pure Disney fantasy. Visitors run, jump, explore and play their way through huge sets from Disney's adventurous films. The Tiger's Head from "Aladdin's" Cave of Wonders leads the way into the land of the Virtual Jungle Cruise, a combination flume/raft/video ride that takes you from the primordial jungles of pre-historic times to the 21st Century. Guests work with Wayne Zalinsky from "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" on his latest invention - a time machine. A huge raft, complete with sensored oars, allows rafters to feel every twist and turn as they paddle your way through the jungles of time. All of the action is played out on a huge video screen before you.

A maze of caverns lies beneath the floor the Explore Zone, and it's your job to search the subterranean grottoes for fortune in Treasures of the Ancient Incas. Players use remote-controlled jeeps to survey the caverns. Cameras perched on top of the jeep show your way. When you find the hidden treasure, your jeep can run into the grotto, grab the treasure and it appears on your screen.
Characters from Disney's animated film "Hercules" also inhabit the Explore Zone. Hercules in the Underworld is 4-player, 3-D adventure where guests can choose to be either Hercules, Meg, Pegasus or Phil. As the characters, players run through the underworld picking up lightning bolts and searching for Pain and Panic (Hades' henchmen) who have hidden a cart filled with lightning bolts. Once you've collected all the lightning bolts and found the cart, the characters race toward Hades' lair. Pegasus drives the cart as the other characters try to destroy Hades with the bolts.

Explore Zone also offers Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride, a virtual reality ride through the Cave of Wonders. Wearing virtual reality headsets, competitors climb aboard motorcycle-like vehicles to begin their journey. Players become Abu, the monkey, and are charged with traversing the cave on Aladdin's flying carpet to find the Genie of the Lamp. Players compete against each other and the clock to see who can find the Genie first; but beware, the evil Jafar has laid traps throughout the caverns.

Guests of the Replay Zone are treated to a futuristic midway of games of skill. Fans of the movie "Toy Story" can play Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blaster, two-seated, bubble-topped bumper cars, equipped with cannons on their hoods. While one player bumps the other cars, the other blasts opponents with foam balls. A direct hit puts your adversaries into an out-of-control tailspin. Guests can also enjoy traditional midway-type games with classical Disney-character themes such as Whack An Alien and Dumbo's Water Race.

Replay Zone also offers a wide array of traditional video games from old-time favorites like "Zaxxon," "Dig Dug," "Centipede" and "Tron" to the newest arcade hits like "Street Fighter," "Top Skater" and "Daytona USA."
The Create Zone is a private Imagineering studio where guests can live out their greatest artistic flights of fancy. Bill Nye, "The Coaster Guy," helps Quest-goers create their own roller coaster on the premier attraction of the Zone, Cyberspace Mountain. First, you pick from one of four different environments you want to coast through. Adding your coaster features comes next. You can choose from real coaster specialties, like vertical loops, corkscrews and spirals, or get really creative with otherworldly options like jumping from track-to-track or leaping through hyperspace. (You get 10,000 feet of track to play with.) Once you've got your coaster designed, you can rate it on a "thrill scale" of 1-10. Finally, you enter a VR simulator that lets you ride the very coaster you've created.
The Create Zone also provides numerous outlets for traditional artistic creativity, with a futuristic spin. You can paint, draw, construct and sculpt with high-tech instruments, plus learn take advantage of artistic and animation techniques provided by Disney artisans. Sid's Create-a-Toy allows kids to jump into the movie "Toy Story" by grabbing pieces of broken toys and combining them to make "super toys."

Future Picassos, Da Vincis and Van Goghs can let their burgeoning artistic talent flourish through the Living Easels, video canvases where kids combine backgrounds, colors and characters to create a masterpiece. The Magic Mirror also allows kids to put themselves into their art, adding their photos to different backgrounds and manipulating it in a variety of ways.

As an added bonus, Create Zone offers mini art classes with Disney artisans in the Animation Academy. Animation 101 teaches Quest-goers to draw their favorite Disney characters; while in Animation 202, you delve further into the creative arts.

Many Disney-created rides and games have been designed to extend your experience after you leave the building. If you create that perfect gadget with Sid's Create-a-Toy, you can actually purchase the toys you design. Pictures and paintings produced with the Living Easels and Magic Mirror can also be printed out, bought and taken home.
As your adventure comes to an end, visitors exit the building through DisneyQuest's main gift shop, The DisneyQuest Emporium. The shop showcases hundreds of T-shirts, mugs and pins featuring the DisneyQuest logo and items from your favorite games. It can be accessed without going into the complex and is already open to the public.
​

Confused?

continued in next post.

 

[eandesmom]

LOL! We ended up in the Score Zone on the top floor. Not because it was a goal of some sort but because the elevator lets you out on floor three, which was PACKED and had more seemingly traditional games. Floor 4 wasn’t quite as bad but we just kept going up, to the top floor.

We first went to

Invasion! An ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter
In your virtual-reality spaceship, you and your friends will team up to steer the ship over an alien planet, rescue the human colonists there, and destroy hostile aliens.

It was up to 4 players I think so we divided into groups.

It was pretty fun. We had noticed a virtual reality game on the way in though that the boys really wanted to try. It had a line and it was getting close to closing time so I headed over with them and Taylor, Jeff and Kendall decided to try to rescue more colonists.

The game the boys had their eyes on was

Ride the Comix
Mistress Khan, Leader of All Supervillains, instructs you in the pre-show for this attraction. You'll wear a virtual reality helmet and use a laser sword to do battle with supervillains in a 3-D comic strip world.

yeah, those people don’t look quite as dorky as I did.

Taylor and the gang finished before we started and decided to take blackmail photos.

DQ closes at 10 and we finished riding the comix at about 10:15 and were booted right out. No time to look at the shop or check out the rides I’d really have liked to. Which we realized, as we were walking out, were under where we’d been let off. Still it was fun and I’d go back. With the kids.

It was about 10:15 at night and we weren’t quite done but were starting to fade. Though we'd had plenty of sleep, we had quite a bit of sun and I think it was starting to take a toll on the crowd. We decided to make ONE last stop. Something I like to call…

Build a bear

For boys (although Eric loves BAB lol)

Other wise known as RIDEMAKERZ

This is new, and is located where the old Virgin Megastore was. More pictures stolen from elsewhere

There are big cars, for the big boys to look at

The little (or big guys) can build their own smaller version, like these

First you select a car type, and then you start picking out extra goodies you might want and basics you need. All of them include some basics but of COURSE you can upgrade to fancier versions of virtually everything, while you grab those basics

Like a chassis

Like tires

One you have all your parts, and there is LOT that can be added, you go to a build station like this

Even after it’s built, you can still add more things

Eric REALLY wanted to build one. They all had $$ to spend but we knew we’d be back at DTD so convinced him to wait and think about it. They are not cheap and to get what he wanted, including remote control, was going to eat up a LOT if not all of his $$ so I wanted him to think about it.

He had a blue mini cooper calling his name.

Not your traditional race car mind you.

Very Eric all the same.

With one little boy dreaming of rally cars we headed off to another meat locker bus ride and some tired sun kissed puppies folding into bed about 11. Our plan was to attempt (or for some of us to attempt) our first ever rope drop the next morning at DHS and ride TSM as much as possible. It would be closing for rehab on Sunday so our window was limited. The question was, how much motivation would the threat of no TSM really provide when it came time to get up?

Up next. DOH!

 

[eandesmom]

I think you have encountered a few people who bring new meaning to the term, "Get a Life".

And therein lies the problem methinks. This is their life. Which is fine, until it overlaps into mine

 

[MEK]

Great update!

I can see why you liked Reglan Road so much! It looks like a super cool place and I am really looking forward to trying it. Sorry you didn't take more pics, but I completely understand. It's way more important to visit with your friend and enjoy the time together.

Did you ever get a chance to go back into DQ? At least you got a couple rides in. The first time I went there I really didn't like it. The last time I was there I loved it. Especially the POC ride. So fun.

That RidemakerZ place looks totally cool. What a great way to get parents to part with their hard earned money. Disney is such a master at that!

Oh - I almost forgot - did I see Boddington's on tap there??? My personal fav!

 

[eandesmom]

Great update!

I can see why you liked Reglan Road so much! It looks like a super cool place and I am really looking forward to trying it. Sorry you didn't take more pics, but I completely understand. It's way more important to visit with your friend and enjoy the time together.

I have a feeling had we been seated in a more visible area I'd have taken more pics anyways, although with my camera they wouldn't have turned out all that well.

But, given where we were seated there wasn't much to take pics of. I did check out the entertainment on my way to the restroom and was annoyed with myself for not bringing it with me.

We had the kids get up and go watch a few times which they enjoyed.

Did you ever get a chance to go back into DQ? At least you got a couple rides in. The first time I went there I really didn't like it. The last time I was there I loved it. Especially the POC ride. So fun.

I really wanted to try that one, and the Jungle Cruise. Oh well. No, we didn't make it back but boy the E's sure wanted to! I really thought we'd have time but....some plans got rearranged later on in the trip.

That RidemakerZ place looks totally cool. What a great way to get parents to part with their hard earned money. Disney is such a master at that!

It's actually a chain but only 5 stores nationwide so far so who knows, maybe Disney has an ownership share in it. Wouldn't surprise me.

It was pretty cool.

Oh - I almost forgot - did I see Boddington's on tap there??? My personal fav!

Very likely! I know they had it on tap at the Three Broomsticks. I got something else that was actually bottled but don't recall what it was. I liked it though. LOL!

 

[creativeamanda]

Raglan Road sounds great!

Also, I think that I would love Disney Quest, but we never make it there.

Someday. . .

 

[mermaid764]

Raglan Road looks fantasic...especially that Bread pudding.

Disney Quest looks awesome...I've always wanted to see this but we just did not seem to have the time.

Looking forward to more

 

[MRYPPNS]

Your Raglan Road review couldn't have come at a better time for me! I'd love to know (first hand) how Ger's Bread pudding compares to the one at 'Ohana's....I may have to do some investigating in March!!!

Glad you had such a wonderful dinner with your old friend

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Oh my goodness! that bread pudding is calling my name. I have not heard very much about Raglan Road, but your update has me thinking we might need to try to fit it in our next trip, even if it is just for that dessert!

I went to Disney Quest years ago, and it was fun back then. I would love to go again some day, but it will have to wait until Dylan gets old enough to appreciate it. Just a few more years I think. But I have to agree, there is no way to look cool with those big masks on your head.

 

[eandesmom]

Raglan Road sounds great!

Also, I think that I would love Disney Quest, but we never make it there.

Someday. . .

It was! One of my absolute favorites, hands down!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd like to see more of DQ but would only do it if I already had a hopper. Great rain activity though.

Raglan Road looks fantasic...especially that Bread pudding.

Disney Quest looks awesome...I've always wanted to see this but we just did not seem to have the time.

Looking forward to more

The Bread Pudding was AMAZING. Words cannot describe.

Your Raglan Road review couldn't have come at a better time for me! I'd love to know (first hand) how Ger's Bread pudding compares to the one at 'Ohana's....I may have to do some investigating in March!!!

Glad you had such a wonderful dinner with your old friend

well, in my humble opinion....

Ger beats it hands down. Don't get me wrong, the Ohana Bread Pudding is darn good too. Downright delicious. But Ger...oh!

It has creme anglaise and caramel sauce on the side and is filled with irish mist soaked raisins among other things.



For me, it wins hands down. Lighter, fluffier, melt in my mouth wins. Jeff would pick the Ohana version.

Oh my goodness! that bread pudding is calling my name. I have not heard very much about Raglan Road, but your update has me thinking we might need to try to fit it in our next trip, even if it is just for that dessert!

I hadn't either until Jordan, Winkers and Rosie went last Feb and it's been on my radar ever since.

I went to Disney Quest years ago, and it was fun back then. I would love to go again some day, but it will have to wait until Dylan gets old enough to appreciate it. Just a few more years I think. But I have to agree, there is no way to look cool with those big masks on your head.

OMG those are the worst pictures of the trip I think! SO bad!

 

[TarzansKat]

Hon, that was serious update!

I'm so glad you enjoyed Raglan Road! I was wondering what you'd think, and dying to know. We've never been, it's now most definitely on my to do list.

You know, DH and I love Disney Quest from our pre-kid days, but I have to admit, it's hard for me to go in there if I think about it. No windows, and I'm slightly claustrophobic. Suddenly I feel all Haunted Mansion. "There are no windows...and no doors...which leaves you with this chilling challenge..." Sorry, I'll stop.

I can't get over that make your own car thing in the old Virgin Megastore. That looks SO neat.

And can I just say how much older the kids look compared to last year's photos? My goodness! It's amazing how much they can grow in a year.

 

[eandesmom]

Hon, that was serious update!

I'm so glad you enjoyed Raglan Road! I was wondering what you'd think, and dying to know. We've never been, it's now most definitely on my to do list.

LOL! I figure if I'm going to go 10 days between updates it should be a good one.

I loved absolutely everything about it. I think part of what I liked is that it was so cool, yet so approachable. Like the best of an every day night out at home but with entertainment. I loved many of the other places we went to but this is one I could seriously go to once a month if I could. And would if there was one here! Granted, I'd eat at Sanaa once a month too.

You know, DH and I love Disney Quest from our pre-kid days, but I have to admit, it's hard for me to go in there if I think about it. No windows, and I'm slightly claustrophobic. Suddenly I feel all Haunted Mansion. "There are no windows...and no doors...which leaves you with this chilling challenge..." Sorry, I'll stop.

we weren't in there long enough for me to have that reaction but if I thought about it...maybe. The 3rd floor gave me that vibe but then again, all of Gameworks does.

I can't get over that make your own car thing in the old Virgin Megastore. That looks SO neat.

I think Nemo needs to build a car

And can I just say how much older the kids look compared to last year's photos? My goodness! It's amazing how much they can grow in a year.

Isn't it though? it's scary!

 

[KatMark]

Great update! You are the first person that I've followed on the DIS who has liked Raglan Road (we've always stayed away from it because of the poor reviews). So glad you got to spend some time with Julie at dinner catching up.

Your photos are great of the restaurant and Disney Quest. We've not been to Disney Quest since it first opened and our boys were young (I want to say it was like 15 years ago or so.

 

[TarzansKat]

LOL! I figure if I'm going to go 10 days between updates it should be a good one.

I loved absolutely everything about it. I think part of what I liked is that it was so cool, yet so approachable. Like the best of an every day night out at home but with entertainment. I loved many of the other places we went to but this is one I could seriously go to once a month if I could. And would if there was one here! Granted, I'd eat at Sanaa once a month too.

I feel that way about so many restaurants in Disney. Quite frankly, it's a good thing I don't live closer, my wallet would suffer.

I think Nemo needs to build a car

I was just thinking that.

How much will my wallet be crying?

 

[eandesmom]

Great update! You are the first person that I've followed on the DIS who has liked Raglan Road (we've always stayed away from it because of the poor reviews). So glad you got to spend some time with Julie at dinner catching up.

I'd heard bad reviews in the past too and then heard nothing but great things from Jordan, Winkers and Rosie and it made me revisit the whole idea. It was not on the original ADR list, it was one choice my kids had no input in at all but looking at the menu I knew everyone would like it. Originally when we added the extra night at POP due to the flights adding a day to our trip, it seemed like a perfect first night. After all the crazy swapping I was still sold on going there so kept it in the lineup when I redid things. I could see where it wouldn't be for everyone but for us, it was perfect!

Your photos are great of the restaurant and Disney Quest. We've not been to Disney Quest since it first opened and our boys were young (I want to say it was like 15 years ago or so.

Other than the dessert and pictures we are actually in, I stole the rest. LOL! It's more interesting with pictures though.

I feel that way about so many restaurants in Disney. Quite frankly, it's a good thing I don't live closer, my wallet would suffer.

I felt more that way on this trip than the last. I liked all of our choices before but there were some real standouts this trip!

I was just thinking that.

How much will my wallet be crying?

It depends on how tricked out you get. Base car is around $22-25 I think. Add sound and a remote and tax and it's a $60 car. Or more!

Not that that's any different than a build a bear plus a couple of outfits.

 

[glennbo123]

I've never been to Raglan Road, but it's good to hear that it won rave reviews from you. Maybe I'll get there some day.

I don't want my son to find out about DisneyQuest or Ridemakerz, but particularly DQ....that will be the only place he'll want to go.

I went to DQ with some extended family (brother-in-law, nieces and nephews) back in '01. We tried one of the virtual reality games and my niece almost got sick from it. She had to quit playing and it was plenty long enough for me, I wouldn't have wanted to try it much longer.

 

[eandesmom]

I've never been to Raglan Road, but it's good to hear that it won rave reviews from you. Maybe I'll get there some day.

It was darn good! And nice to walk out from dinner and be able to just stroll DTD. I do think it will stay in the lineup. Not sure if everyone else would put it at #1 as we had a lot of great meals but it was a crowd pleaser for our crew.

I don't want my son to find out about DisneyQuest or Ridemakerz, but particularly DQ....that will be the only place he'll want to go.

I wouldn't pay for it separate that's for sure. Since we had the WP&More tickets it worked but I could see it not working on future trips. While they did want to go again, the E's are smart enough to know that is not the kind of place Jeff and I would want to spend a ton of time at and didn't have high expectations of getting back, much as they wanted to.

I went to DQ with some extended family (brother-in-law, nieces and nephews) back in '01. We tried one of the virtual reality games and my niece almost got sick from it. She had to quit playing and it was plenty long enough for me, I wouldn't have wanted to try it much longer.

This one wasn't bad other than I completely sucked at it. The kids made it to far higher levels than I did. Not to mention looking like an idiot. I would be interested to see some of the others to at least try once but it's not super high on the list. More like a "if I need a rainy day activity to do" type of thing.

 

[tinacaplan]

Great update. Happy to hear that you enjoyed Raglan Road, as I hadn't read too much about it that was positive. But I wonder about that sometimes, as a lot of people who review restaurants don't actually ever state why they don't like things. Is it because it wasn't your taste, or because the food wasn't fresh, or badly prepared?

As soon as I saw Ridemakerz, I told my husband we had to bring Max (he's three), but DH decided against it, as we have a ton packed into our trip plans already! That's the wonderful thing about reading TRs and dining reviews, you start to re-think all of your original plans!

 

[eandesmom]

Great update. Happy to hear that you enjoyed Raglan Road, as I hadn't read too much about it that was positive. But I wonder about that sometimes, as a lot of people who review restaurants don't actually ever state why they don't like things. Is it because it wasn't your taste, or because the food wasn't fresh, or badly prepared?

I often think, unless the review is specific, that it may just not have been a good match for that person. Boma for example seems to be a love/hate kind of place, as does Biergarten. All foods are not for everyone and I think this menu, along with many other of our favorites, might be too adventuresome for some. If your kids are picky eaters for example, maybe this isn't the best choice although honestly every disney buffet seems to have the same basic kid fare available (nuggets, mac and cheese, etc...lol) so I always find that complaint rather false.

Just a thought but I'll tell you, it's not hurting business there for sure. Everyone liked their food and that's all that matters in my house.

I take my time to read the menus and get my kids input and it works really well for us. If the menu doesn't excite me, we don't go. If I'm meh about it but they like it, I'll do it. It's worked like a charm. We've honestly never had a bad meal. Some that we liked better for sure, but bad? Not a one. And what I liked best, wasn't necessarily what my husband or kids liked best. On our 2008 trip every single restaurant we chose ended up being someone's 1st or 2nd favorite. Which was pretty darn cool!

As soon as I saw Ridemakerz, I told my husband we had to bring Max (he's three), but DH decided against it, as we have a ton packed into our trip plans already! That's the wonderful thing about reading TRs and dining reviews, you start to re-think all of your original plans!

And the nice thing about it is if you just "happen" to be in DTD and magically have the time, it can still work out. It's fun to just go look even if you don't build a car.