Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
336
Tips
The Luck of the Irish
The Great Irish Pubs of Florida, Inc. (the company that created the Nine Fine Irish-
men pub in Las Vegas's New York-New York Hotel & Casino) brought the luck of
the Irish to Downtown Disney in the form of
Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restau-
rant.
The pub is an impressive and inviting member of Disney's collection of
unique eateries, immersing guests in a wholly Irish environment that includes
custom-made furnishings direct from the Emerald Isles, incredibly high ceilings,
rich woodwork, and leaded glass. The spirited atmosphere, where singing, danc-
ing, and clapping are all encouraged, is enhanced by the live nightly entertain-
ment. And the food's pretty good, too, thanks to the culinary creations of Kevin
Dundon, one of Ireland's most celebrated chefs. If you choose to eat here, main
courses at dinner will run you about $13 to $18 a person. (However, pub food is
plentiful and runs $8-$13.)
Finds
Not Your Ordinary Circus
Lions and tigers and bears?
Oh, no. But you won't feel cheated.
This Disney partnership with
Cirque du Soleil,
the famous Montreal-based,
no-animals circus, is located in Downtown Disney West Side. The eye-popping
La Nouba
(derived from the French for “to live it up”), set in a custom-
built, state-of-the-art theater, is a Fellini-style amalgam of live music, dance,
theater, and acrobatics that will have your jaw dropping in no time at all. High-
lights include a cyclist who does things with a bicycle that would make an
X-Gamer jealous, a spectacular coordinated trampoline performance, and a
pint-size troupe of Chinese acrobats who do tricks with
diabolos
(Chinese yo-
yos) that bring the house down. I rank this one just beneath Las Vegas's
Mystère,
though the comedic interludes in this production are the best of all
the permanent Cirque shows.
That said, though
La Nouba
is a ton of fun, it's also one of the priciest shows
in town, so you need to decide if your budget can take the hit. Ticket prices
vary according to location (don't feel you must spend extra for the expensive
seats—nearly every spot in the theater offers a good view) and range from $67
to $117 for adults, and $54 to $94 for children ages 3 to 9 (plus 6.5% sales tax).
Yes, it's an expensive 90 minutes, but prices here are among the cheapest of all
the Cirque productions in the U.S. Shows are at 6 and 9pm, Tuesdays through
Saturdays, though the show is dark 6 weeks each year. There are occasional
matinees, so call ahead (
&
407/939-7600
) or check the show's website (www.
cirquedusoleil.com) for information and tickets.
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