Celebrating St. Patrick's Day at Walt Disney World

Although Disney World is not known for its green beer, for a small pot of gold you can celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style. In fact, Walt Disney World is one of the only places in Florida where you can raise a glass to toast the Irish with your family in tow.

In Epcot, the Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room offers waterfront views, piano-accompanied tunes belted out by a distinguished lady in a silly hat, and a wide selection of British beer and spirits. This full-service bar also serves traditional pub dishes including cottage pie, fish and chips, and Scotch egg, an artery-clogging delight that features a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage. Expect to see some Irish specials today.

At Downtown Disney, the Irish pub Raglan Road is guaranteed to put guests in the St. Patrick's spirit with professional Irish dancers and musicians, plus dishes inspired by a visiting celebrity chef from Dublin. More than 50 Gaelic musicians and dancers will perform inside the pub and outside, where traditional Irish dishes and drinks will be served at tents erected for the St. Patrick's festivities. Reservations are recommended for inside dining.

Among the Irish performers who will be on hand at Raglan Road are Ronan McCormack of Riverdance fame and Elevation, a U2 tribute band. For detailed showtimes, visit the official Raglan Road Web site.

Of course, Disney World guests can also commemorate the holiday with St. Patrick's-themed merchandise, including St. Patrick's Day Mickey Mouse ear hats, collectible pins, and T-shirts.

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, Walt Disney World Recreation Examiner

Peggy Macdonald-Demosthenous is a freelance writer with a Ph.D in history. A native Floridian, Peggy enjoys writing about a variety of topics in Florida culture and history. She is an adjunct professor at Stetson University. Her biography of Marjorie Harris Carr, a scientist and environmentalist...

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