Raglan Road my experience

[Louis morrell]

Before anyone flames me for this just know I am open to advice as to how I can make a second visit go better.
We visited Raglan Road on Saturday night. I had an 8:45pm reservation. We checked in at about 8:25pm or so. I was not given any warning about delays in their seating so all was fine. At about 9:15 I walked to the door to ask if maybe my buzzer was not working and was told there were delays in seating. The buzzer finally alerted me at about 9:30 that they were ready, strike 1. OK. We walked in and were escorted to a table way off in the corner of the bar with at best a very obstructed view of the performance, strike 2. We ordered drinks and they were delivered fairly promptly as was our food. Now I know a lot of you all like the food but I have to say the Shepherds Pie tasted like a can of Hormel Corn Beef Hash and the tomato basil soup was most likely from a can. To say the least I was not pleased, strike 3. I as a rule never complain but I had to ask the waiter who was great by the way, "Is this considered bar seating?" He said no not really. We were about 15 feet from the bar by the way and this would be bar seating in any restaurant I have ever been in. So I expressed my displeasure to him. Well he had the manager come over, nice guy by the way. He said they are aware of the obstructions and are working to remove those walls and other elements in time. Also in our discussion it came out that there are guests who come in and camp out at the front tables and make it difficult for others to have an opportunity to enjoy the show. He said they have a 2 hour limit but realistically I do not see any server telling a customer they have to go. In the time we were seated (about 60 min) we saw few if any guests leave the front of the restaurant. We also got to see an obstructed view of the last 5 minutes of the dance act and the next act setting up. They started playing as we were leaving. In all it was the worse and sadly the last evening of our trip.

Anyway, I offer this as information as to what can happen there. My advice and what I should have done looking back is to refuse to sit at those out of the way tables and demand to have better seating. There is no discount if you are in seats that have no or limited view of the show. Also maybe an earlier reservation if they are normally this behind on seating.

 

[handinpocket]

Yes. You should have asked to be moved. I love the Shepard's Pie and Tomato soup. Definitely not out of can. Sorry, it was a bad night for you.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My advice and what I should have done looking back is to refuse to sit at those out of the way tables and demand to have better seating.

Just keep in mind that, with an already 45 minute delay and tables not turning over, you would have had even a longer wait for better seating.

There is no discount if you are in seats that have no or limited view of the show.

Raglan Road is, first, a restaurant that, second, happens to provide entertainment. There's really no valid reason to offer a discount based on seats. Although comping part of your check wouldn't have been inappropriate.

Also maybe an earlier reservation if they are normally this behind on seating.

Do you know that it's normal, though? Would anyone? I mean, how would you know you should have made an earlier reservation until you get there and they're behind?

But this is a reasonable place to remind people that, ultimately, an ADR is call-ahead seating, extreme version. It means you are seated at the next available table for your party size, at or after your assigned time.

 

[gharter]

Sorry you had a bad experience there.
We have never been there at night, but can see where it could get very busy.
Your wait was well beyond what I would expect. If they know people will be camping out at the front tables, sounds like they need to decrease the number of ADRs they accept later in teh night.
Ihave had the shepards pie several times and it was very good. Sounds like you were there on a bad night all around.

 

[SillySallySews]

I am probably in the minority but I’d prefer a table farther away from the entertainment at Raglan Road. Always feels like we are seated *thisclose* and I guess it’s not my cup of tea because it is very loud and gives me a slight headache. I’ve always enjoyed the food here so maybe it was an off night? Did your server come back to check on you after your food was delivered? Did you mention you weren’t enjoying it? I think if you go back I would switch your expectations. Raglan Road is not a dinner show, it’s just a restaurant that has entertainment, like when you go somewhere else and there’s a piano player or a band. We’ve been going here for a long time, so I’ll admit I haven’t looked at it on Disney‘s website in forever. If they are advertising it as a dinner show that is certainly misleading.

 

[elaine amj]

When we went on Dec 26 I specifically asked to be seated with a view. We waited about 20+ mins and actually got seated quicker than expected (my kids and I had gone off to pick something up and had to rush back).

We were seated with a clear warning that we had a 2 hr limit. We only wanted to stay about 60-90mins so that was good. However, with apps, entrees, dessert and overall slow pacing, the meal took just about 2 hours.

Our apps were great but our entrees were just ok. Our ribs were terrible (dried out and burnt) and we sent them back. Had the ribs replaced with a shepherd's pie and it was decent (although sadly not memorable). Unfortunately our onion rings also came out horrible and I was sufficiently annoyed to send them back too. Although I felt terrible sending two things back. A manager showed up later and the 2nd batch of onion rings were great.

On the flip side, our apps were so very good we thoroughly enjoyed them. And the entertainment was fun.

My DH has made me cancel every Raglan Road reservation I have ever made (he's not a big fan of Irish food) but would happily go back, even with the problems we had over a couple of dishes.

 

[Jennasis]

We have enjoyed the inside seating and the outside seating. I can for sure see how having a not-so-great view would diminish the enjoyment.

 

[epcotobsessed]

Some people here will insist that your Disney ADR time is meaningless and that you get seated when a table becomes available. Whether that's true or not is of no relevance to me - anywhere that makes me wait more than 15 minutes is not a place to which I will give my business. I don't fault you at all for staying - that is a personal choice that everyone has to make for themselves - but it's unacceptable that they seated you 45 minutes after your ADR. You are not wrong for being annoyed by that.

 

[marikujawa]

If Disney gives you a reservation time, that means they are telling you that you will be seated at or near that time. It doesn’t matter what system they use to manage their reservations. Very, very few restaurants will reserve a specific table for you. They operate the same way Disney does. You can call it whatever you want and describe exactly how the tables are managed, but that doesn’t make it any less of a reservation.

 

[Louis morrell]

Yes, it is listed as a resturant / pub but the entertainment is heavyly pushed on their webpage.

No, I did not expect a discount. My point is the cost is the same weather you get a show or not.

And for the record the manager was a great guy. I declined several times but he insisted on buy us a round of drinks.

 

[Louis morrell]

Their web page
Reservations
To make a reservation, you can book online or by calling (407) 938-0300. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Please note that advanced reservations are recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit, but same-day reservations are also accepted.


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[cedricandsophie]

Sorry you had a bad experience. We go there every time we come to DW. When I check in I always say we want to be seated in Main area close to stage and we know we will need to wait longer. But it’s never been more than 25 or 30 minutes past our reservation time. We order a bottle of wine and enjoy that and the bread for a while before ordering. I love the blue cheese salad or sometimes the fish and chips. The chicken is also very good. And sometimes we just share an entree. But we are there for the entertainment more than the food. It’s always a good time. It helps that we have TIW for the 20% discount.

 

[petrola]

FWIW we had a similar experience. Waited over 40 minutes past our ADR time to be seated, table in the back and place is as loud as can be. The kids enjoyed it -They had some dancing for the kids. Food is meh. We’ve tried it a total of 3 times and 3rd time wasn’t a charm. We won’t be back.

 

[kaytieeldr]

but it's unacceptable that they seated you 45 minutes after your ADR.

Hmm. I wonder if the OP requested a table in the main area at first, and that caused the delay - restaurant was waiting for tables to turn?

They operate the same way Disney does. You can call it whatever you want and describe exactly how the tables are managed, but that doesn’t make it any less of a reservation.

Then the definition and actually of "ADR" therefore need to be addressed to Disney.

 

[Louis morrell]

I did not make any requests when checing in. This was our first visit and I just assumed all seating was in view of the show.

And yes it was loud. The people sitting at the bar were so loud they drowned out the entertainers.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

When we went, we were sat in a side room in a corner behind a wall (not in the bar area) and didn't have a view of the stage AT ALL. They did send a dancer over at one point who gathered all the kids and taught them a quick dance and gave them a certificate. That was nice, but I was still a little disappointed that we didn't get to watch the action. Still though, the design of the restaurant simply doesn't allow for everyone to see the stage, and when they are busy (which from what I can tell seems to be almost always), some groups are going to end up with the crappier tables. Our server said you can put in a request when you check in to sit near the stage, but that when they are busy they may not be able to accommodate and if they can, it will almost always be a longer wait.

As for the food, we all enjoyed it. I thought the bread was really dry, but we all liked our entrees, including DH who had the Shepherd's Pie. We had to wait for a while too to get in, but it was clear that they were busy and I do imagine some people linger more at a place like that where there is entertainment. For us, it was DH's top pick to return to on our next trip and hopefully we will luck out with a better view.

 

[sponica]

Friday and Saturday night the place is hopping, and really I think ADRs are more similar to call ahead seating than an actual reservation.

I've had a reservation through opentable there for 5 on a Friday and there was a wait. We were in the side room, which was honestly fine....it was loud enough on that side.

 

[Disneypapa]

Sorry that your experience did not match your expectations. I would not have been happy either. I have been one time and asked for a table in the main seating area, knowing there are tables in separate rooms and others with poor viewing. Wait was not extremely long, but at least 15-20 minutes and it was fairly early, like maybe 6 PM. I was not overly impressed with food and food choices, but no one in our group complained. All enjoyed the show. Would go back.

 

[Moliphino]

I prefer the side rooms. They're quieter and I'm there for the food, which has always been fantastic for us.

 

[Louis morrell]

We are back in July so we may give it another go. Now we know that there are better viewing areas and side rooms with no view.
I believe the restaurant should note this on their information page so guests can be more prepared to ask for what they want but maybe they do and I just did not see it.

Thanks all for your input, it is much appreciated.


Oh, and no more Shepherds Pie for me