I had dinner at Ragland Road on Sunday, 10/30. The food was great, the service was excellent, HOWEVER, the manager was lacking.
I chose to go here for the Irish food, ambiance, entertainment and value as a Disney Dining Experience new member. I called on Saturday afternoon for an 8 PM reservation (or best available). WDW Dining told me that there were plenty of reservations available, but when we got to the end of the process the person said that Ragland Road does not accept same day reservations. No Problem, they have entertainment 7 days per week, so I made it for Sunday at 8:00 PM. I checked to make sure that they were part of DDE and I was told that they were (when I picked up my temporary card on Thursday I was given the most up to date listing of participating restaurants and Ragland Road was on it). Armed with all this information I made a reservation for the Flying Fish for Saturday night and was happy with that choice and looking forward to Sunday.
On Sunday we arrived at Ragland Road at 7:45 for our 8:00 PM ADR. The place was empty and we were able to walk right in. I commented to the hostess that it must have been busy last night and she said no, it was quiet. Oh well, we could have taken our chances and gone Saturday but we chose not to wait in what we thought would be lines (Saturday night at PI).
The waitress was excellent. She had been well trained and knew the menu and the history of the restaurant. She was attentive and helpful. The food was excellent (more about that later). When the bill came it was very reasonable. I paid with my room charge and my DDE card. The waitress informed me that she did not think that they accept DDE. I told her that I was assured by Disney Dining that they do. She went to check for us and came back saying that the manager said that they don't. I had my listing from Disney Dining Experience with me and showed it to our waitress and asked her to show it to the manager. The manager had the waitress tell us that it was a misprint. At this point I asked to speak to the manager.
The manager came to our table and told us that she would give us a 20% cast member discount on the food but not the beverages (not a big deal, 2 drinks and a beer). I informed her that WDW dining assured us that their computer shows that they do accept DDE, that our reservation was made with a note that we would be using DDE and that the most up to date listing for Disney Dining Experience showed that they accept it. She said it was a misprint and she could not honor the beverage aspect of DDE. I explained that I felt that this was very deceptive and should be corrected because it caused a bad feeling in an otherwise very nice restaurant. I also mentioned that I had tried to get a reservation for Saturday but that WDW dining had in their computer that they don't take same day reservations. She told me that they do take same day reservations, but not from Disney. If I had called up or gone to their web site they would have taken the reservation. When asked how I was to know this she had no answer. When also asked why there was no entertainment there on Sunday, she said that they had given the band the night off.
All in all I felt that the experience was tarnished by the policies adopted by Ragland Road after it opened. I have been following the Ragland Road story for a while; I visited the web site early on and saw that it was to have entertainment 7 nights a week. That it would accept the DDE card (this has now been removed). I'm not sure if the restaurant has overextended itself and is not honoring prior commitments or what (I will contact the management and find out). It has great food a very nice atmosphere and nice staff. But there are many more restaurants in the downtown Disney area that do honor the DDE card and will be getting my business.
I chose to go here for the Irish food, ambiance, entertainment and value as a Disney Dining Experience new member. I called on Saturday afternoon for an 8 PM reservation (or best available). WDW Dining told me that there were plenty of reservations available, but when we got to the end of the process the person said that Ragland Road does not accept same day reservations. No Problem, they have entertainment 7 days per week, so I made it for Sunday at 8:00 PM. I checked to make sure that they were part of DDE and I was told that they were (when I picked up my temporary card on Thursday I was given the most up to date listing of participating restaurants and Ragland Road was on it). Armed with all this information I made a reservation for the Flying Fish for Saturday night and was happy with that choice and looking forward to Sunday.
On Sunday we arrived at Ragland Road at 7:45 for our 8:00 PM ADR. The place was empty and we were able to walk right in. I commented to the hostess that it must have been busy last night and she said no, it was quiet. Oh well, we could have taken our chances and gone Saturday but we chose not to wait in what we thought would be lines (Saturday night at PI).
The waitress was excellent. She had been well trained and knew the menu and the history of the restaurant. She was attentive and helpful. The food was excellent (more about that later). When the bill came it was very reasonable. I paid with my room charge and my DDE card. The waitress informed me that she did not think that they accept DDE. I told her that I was assured by Disney Dining that they do. She went to check for us and came back saying that the manager said that they don't. I had my listing from Disney Dining Experience with me and showed it to our waitress and asked her to show it to the manager. The manager had the waitress tell us that it was a misprint. At this point I asked to speak to the manager.
The manager came to our table and told us that she would give us a 20% cast member discount on the food but not the beverages (not a big deal, 2 drinks and a beer). I informed her that WDW dining assured us that their computer shows that they do accept DDE, that our reservation was made with a note that we would be using DDE and that the most up to date listing for Disney Dining Experience showed that they accept it. She said it was a misprint and she could not honor the beverage aspect of DDE. I explained that I felt that this was very deceptive and should be corrected because it caused a bad feeling in an otherwise very nice restaurant. I also mentioned that I had tried to get a reservation for Saturday but that WDW dining had in their computer that they don't take same day reservations. She told me that they do take same day reservations, but not from Disney. If I had called up or gone to their web site they would have taken the reservation. When asked how I was to know this she had no answer. When also asked why there was no entertainment there on Sunday, she said that they had given the band the night off.
All in all I felt that the experience was tarnished by the policies adopted by Ragland Road after it opened. I have been following the Ragland Road story for a while; I visited the web site early on and saw that it was to have entertainment 7 nights a week. That it would accept the DDE card (this has now been removed). I'm not sure if the restaurant has overextended itself and is not honoring prior commitments or what (I will contact the management and find out). It has great food a very nice atmosphere and nice staff. But there are many more restaurants in the downtown Disney area that do honor the DDE card and will be getting my business.
I've also read many good reviews - and seen some photos of the restaurant and food, so that helps.
I do think that the DDE management needs to remedy the situation and let guests know RR isn't accepting the discounts - and update the DDE information being passed out to guests. 
It's just a good thing that we have this dis-board to help each other out!! At least we know what to expect when we get there!!! WDWBetsy, your vacation is almost here!! It made my tummy do a flip flop when I saw that!!! I have awhile to wait but I'll be a nervous wreck when I'm that close!!!! 
