Once we got checked in, we traipsed down hall after hall to our room (I already mentioned this, didn't I???), dropped our bag off, made sure I had the camera and anything I thought I might need that night, including rain ponchos cause it was lookin mighty dark, and off we went to catch a bus to DTD!
By now it's about 4:30pm, and our ADR at Raglan Road isn't until 7, so we did what any red-blooded American does at DTD - we went to World of Disney!!!
And yes, I forgot all about stupid Stitch.... and got spit upon! Or maybe that was rain? Not sure. But I know I got wet.
Jeff cracks me up whenever we go shopping in Disney. He finds stuff, then says, "don't get it now, you know we'll be back." And then we have to make a separate trip back to wherever we saw something, because we should have bought it in the first place!!!!
So I didn't listen to him this time. I found a stuffed Chip n Dale that I was getting for a friend, plus a pin book, and had both shipped back to the resort. Oh, and since when do the deluxe resorts NOT deliver your packages to your room??? I nearly forgot to get this package because the last time we stayed at a deluxe, my bags were always waiting on the bed when we got in.
Anywho.... after WoD, we headed over to Pin Traders, cause we're rootin tootin pin traders now! Jeff was on the hunt for the Disneyana pin book, that showed all the pins over the years. No luck. So we went back to WoD and asked 4 different people. Each person told us, "check with the information desk." Seriously. I was so disappointed in the Disney service at this point. Or lack thereof.
And the info desk was busy helping someone who had a serious problem communicating, so we headed out on our own.
By now we were getting hungry, and it was only about 5:30, so we headed off toward Raglan Road to see if they could seat us early. And as luck would have it, they were nearly empty!!!
First impression was that this looked like a fun place to eat. Except for the hostess. Not sure what was up with her, but we had a serious communication breakdown. To the point that I finally just nodded at whatever she said. I think I heard something about "that's just one of the many Gaelic phrases they teach us." But I couldn't tell you what that phrase was.....
First off, our waiter Pedro was there in a skinny minute. Pedro. Hmmm, doesn't sound very Irish to me. But who cares? He was mighty fine eye candy for the Mrs!
Jeff thought I was taking a stupid picture of him, but it's actually Pedro in the background!!!!
Silly husband. You'd think after 11 years he'd have me figured out by now. Besides, as I always say, "You can always look at the menu, as long as you don't order." And I was checking out that menu....
Speaking of the menu..... first things first. DRINKS!!!!
I ordered some beer flight. Couldn't tell you what was on it. But it was 4 4oz beers served on a paddle. Hmmm....
Jeff got the same, only different. He actually chose his beers, to try only those he had never had before.
Once we got our drinks, I ran off to get some pics of the place.
The service bar, right near our table (convenient...
)...
The main dining area....
Silly Jeff checking out the menu....
When I got back to the table, sweet Pedro had brought us some yummy bread with a sweet dipping sauce.
Whenever I try a new restaurant, I almost always get the servers recommendation and go with that. So I asked sweet Pedro which he would recommend between the Shepherd's Pie, Fish n Chips, or Salmon. He steered me toward the Shepherd's Pie or Fish n Chips, and I opted for the latter. Sweet Pedro didn't lie. It was awesome Fish n Chips!!!
Jeff was torn between a couple of items, but opted for the It Ain't Bleedin' Chowder. I had read some rave reviews on the DIS and told him about it - and he still ordered it!
I wish I would have ordered that too! I can sum it up in 3 words... Well, actually 2 numbers and 1 word. 2 DIE 4!!! Very creamy, and the seafood was all very tender.
So far so good. And Jeff did NOT want to eat here! OK, sweet Pedro, what's for dessert?
He recommended Ger's Bread and Butter Pudding, which I of course ordered it. Cause sweet Pedro told me to. And again, sweet Pedro did not lie! 2 numbers and 1 word again!!! 2 DIE 4!
The little pitchers had a white creamy sweet sauce in one, and a butterscotch in the other. Not a huge butterscotch fan, so I only used a little of that, but just dumped in the other sauce! OH.... MY.... GOD!!!! Heaven!
Jeff got the Sticky Toffee Pudding, but I didn't care for it. After the sickening sweetness of my dessert, his tasted burnt to me. But he liked it.
No problems with the check (unlike our trip back in May when nearly every server had problems with the
DDP!), and Pedro was well taken care of.
All in all, really good food, not "fine" dining, but fun food with good service, and good food. Actually a really good selection too, and we were concerned that Ireland is not exactly known for their delectable dishes, but there were several things on the menu that I know I would have liked.... if Pedro would have recommended them.
Once we left Raglan Road, we headed out toward Pleasure Island and Westside, because Jeff was convinced he had never been to Westside. AND Pleasure Island will no longer be Pleasure Island this time next week. So we wanted to head that way, just to say we were there at the end.
Finally grabbed a bus and headed back to the resort. But instead of getting off at YC, we got off at the Swanolphin, or as I like to call it the Swan and Mahi Mahi
! C'mon, it's a dolphin fish, not a Flipper dolphin on the rooftop! So it's the Mahi Mahi hotel!
From there, we navigated our way over to the Boardwalk to wander around, watch some performers, grab a drink at Big River, and another one at the Bellevue Room in the BW. Nice evening, but we were in bed by 9:30! Woo hoo! Party animals are we!!!
On the way around the boardwalk, I was experimenting with the different settings on my camera.... and still haven't found the right night time setting! But here's some pics of one of my favorite places in all of Disney!
From in front of the ESPN Club, looking down the Boardwalk....
From somewhere in front of the YC, looking back at the Boardwalk....
Off to bed.... next up Animal Kingdom, and the best lunch in all of WDW!!!!
... and I hope your Buckeyes have better luck that they did against USC
I'm sorry, but that is just hilarious. You have this beautiful new home and you go to bed looking at the belly of frogs. Isn't nature funny?
Apparently the cat was enjoying himself.
I so feel your pain. Our goldens retrieved baby squirrels and brought them to me to share with me
OK, what is up with that? 
