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5 days and counting: The Walt Disney Feature Animation-Florida countdown clock ticks on

In a bit of a change of pace, Jim allows an unnamed Disney Feature Animation exec to tell his side of the story. How the proposed closure of the Disney-MGM animation operation is an unfortunate but necessary step if WDFA is to survive beyond the next few years.

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19 years ago

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You know, there are always two sides to every story.

As is obvious by the articles that I’ve run at JimHillMedia.com over the past few days, my sympathies clearly lie with the animators and technicians whose jobs may be going away next week. IF executives from the Walt Disney Company actually go forward with their plan to shut WDFA’s Central Florida production unit.

But — that said — I’m still up for hearing the other side of the story. Having a Disney exec try and explain the corporation’s rationale for shutting down an animation studio that has produced three hits films in a row (I.E. “Mulan,” “Lilo and Stitch” and “Brother Bear”). Amazingly enough, one such executive has come forward. And — provided that I would do what I could to try and to mask his identity — he would attempt to explain why the Walt Disney Company feels that, given what’s going on with animated films today, that it just has no choice but to shut down WDFA-F.

Mind you, I don’t actually agree with everything that this Feature Animation insider has to say. But I still think that it makes for some compelling reading. His e-mail reads:

Jim:

I am one of those “alleged creative VPs” that you have been talking about in your “WDFAF Countdown” articles this week. And I’m writing today to take exception to some of the things that you’ve been saying in this series.

Okay, I’ll admit that — over the past few years — there have been some pretty questionable decisions made by the “useless suits” (as you call us) back here in Burbank. But a lot of those bad calls (I.E. Putting films into the production pipeline before all the story issues had been settled) were made under Disney Feature Animation’s previous management team. Now that Peter Schneider and Tom Schumacher have both moved on, WDFA is still in the process of regrouping. Picking up the pieces, if you will.

Because — whether we like to admit it or not — we know that the Mouse Factory is broken right now. That — for some reason — Disney Feature Animation has lost the ability to create films that can really connect with a mass audience. Oh, sure. Our films still do well with families and animation fans. And these titles tend to sell well whenever Buena Vista Home Entertainment puts them out on video and DVD. But where are the teens, the young couples on dates that used to turn out in droves for Disney animated features like “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King” and “Aladdin”? These people still turn out in record numbers for Pixar pictures … But not for Disney’s animated features anymore. At least not any of our recent releases.

As you might expect, we’ve been doing a lot of market research, running a lot of surveys, trying to get to the bottom of WDFA’s disappearing audience problem. And you know what we’ve found, Jim? There’s just too much Disney animated product out there nowadays. We’ve glutted our own market.

I mean, look at the period from November 1st, 2003 to April 2nd, 2004. On the film side of the house, we had “Brother Bear” debut in theaters back on November 1st. Next week, the “Teacher’s Pet” movie pops up in theaters nationwide. And then — On April 2nd — “Home on the Range” hits the big screen. Meanwhile — over on the Buena Vista Home Entertainment side of things — we’ve just spent the four months promoting the hell out of “Finding Nemo” and “The Lion King.” This month, we’re hyping that “Sleeping Beauty,” “Fantasia” and “Fantasia 2000” are all supposedly going back into the vault at the end of January, never to seen again. Come February, BVHE will be promoting “Lion King 1 1/2.” Then in March, our big push will be “Brother Bear” ‘s release on home video and DVD.

You see what I’m saying, Jim. That’s an awful lot of product. So I guess you can understand why consumers don’t consider Disney animated films to be all that special anymore. Meanwhile — over at Pixar — what are they doing? Just one film a year. Which is why their stuff still seems special to the public. Which is why going out to see a new Pixar picture still seems like an event to most folks. Which is why people still rush out to see these films while they’re up on the big screen. Rather than waiting ’til these Pixar movies becomes available on home video and DVD.

Sadly, the exact opposite is what’s happening with Disney’s new animated features. Because so many consumers are now hip to the pattern (I.E. That — four to six months after a new Disney movie appears in theaters — that this same film will be available for purchase in the home video and DVD format), they no longer feel like they have to rush out to theaters to catch the latest WDFA release. (That’s what Disney’s own market survey work is telling us what happened with “Brother Bear,” Jim. Almost 35% of our North American target audience opted out of seeing that movie while it was in theaters. These consumers preferred to wait ’til “Brother Bear” was available on home video and DVD before finally checking out that flick. )

So you see, Jim, Disney — without actually ever intending to — has totally glutted its own market. We have diluted the Disney animation brand so much over the past few years that consumers can no longer differentiate between our high price theatrical releases and our low cost home premiere product. Which is why (we think) the grosses for WDFA’s films have been tracking steadily downward for the past five years.

Which is why Disney Feature Animation is currently in the middle of a rebuilding process, Jim. Step 1 in this plan is bringing all of the company’s top animation talent back to Burbank. Getting all of our best animators and story people back together under one roof. Recreating what Disney Feature Animation was like back in the late 1980s, when everybody was working on the very same movie. When we didn’t divide our talent between separate and competing projects, but all worked together to make the best possible pictures.

Yes, making a move like this comes with a pretty hefty price tag. It meant letting go of all of those great artists who worked at the Parisian studio, all those animators who did such nice work on “The Goofy Movie,” “Hunchback “and “Tarzan.” And it also means cutting loose our Feature Animation — Florida unit (Which — arguably — has been WDFA’s most consistent production unit. Year after year, these guys have turned out top quality work. I mean, how can you complain about the string of pictures that these folks churned out. “Mulan,” “Lilo and Stitch,” “Brother Bear.” Those titles will be making millions for the Mouse for decades yet to come.

But we had to do it, Jim. We really had no choice. WDFA is fighting for its life right now. This is a triage situation, Hill. And — given that the bulk of the Walt Disney Company’s animation production facilities are based in Burbank — it just made sense (in the long run) that, if this division of the Disney corporation was going to make one last stab at survival, that it would be have to be done out here in Southern California. Where — after all — Disney Feature Animation got its start back in the 1930s.

Please be aware, Jim, that this was NOT a casual decision. Something that we took lightly. In fact, for quite a while, there was an alternate scenario we were actively thinking about. Which involved shutting Burbank’s Feature Animation unit down and shifting the company’s entire animation operation down to Orlando. Where — given that it cost us a third less to produce animated films down there as it does to make them out here in Southern California — made sense. At least from a financial point of view. But then — when we began weighing what the possible public relations ramifications might be if the Walt Disney Company did something like that — shutting down WDFA-F instead really did seem to be the smarter choice.

Look, I know that some very talented people in Florida are losing jobs that they love, Jim. And — while I know that no one is going to believe this when I say it — but there are people here in the executive branch at Disney Feature Animation who actually do feel badly about this. If it’s any consolation, our arm of WDFA has also had to take a number of hits. We’ve lost a lot of people too, had our salaries cut. So it’s not as if the WDFAF crew is the only group that’s feeling the effects of all these changes.

You have to keep in mind that our Number No. 1 goal right now, Jim, is to save Disney Feature Animation. Eisner’s told us that we have to turn this division of the Walt Disney Company back into the profit center that it was back in the early 1990s or Disney’s going to start out-sourcing stuff. That’s what “Valiant” actually is, Hill. A test run for the WDFA out-sourcing concept. Right now, Disney’s only slated to release this Vanguard Animation picture in North America. But if this U.K. based CG production proves to be a big enough hit, it soon won’t be just the guys in Orlando who’ll be out of work. It’ll be every single person at Disney Feature Animation — from us “useless suits” (as you like to call us, Jim) right on down to the guy who guards the door at the Sorcerer Mickey building.

Anyway, I just thought that you and your readers would to know that there really is another side to this story. Yes, it’s unfortunate that Disney Feature Animation seems to have lost its way over the past few years. Yes, it’s sad that all those talented animators and technicians in Paris and Orlando have had to lose their jobs. But — right now — it’s that we can do to keep this once proud division of the Walt Disney Company alive.

It may not look like it from the outside, but there are really some of us “pinheaded” Disney executives who actually care about the traditions of great story telling at Walt Disney Studios. We aren’t shutting down entire divisions of Disney Feature Animation just because it amuses us or just because we enjoy firing people. In fact, most of us hate having to tell friends and co-workers that we’ve worked with for years that jobs that they love are going away. But — when you’re trying to save a sinking ship — you do whatever you have to. Even if you don’t like what you’re doing.

Anyway, thanks for allowing me to vent, Jim. Here’s hoping that you — and your readers — have open-enough minds so that you can possibly see the other side of the equation here.

An “empty-headed executive”

Again, I don’t exactly buy everything that this Disney Feature Animation vet was trying to sell. But — even so — I think that he brings up some very interesting points.

Your thoughts?

Related Topics:

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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Jens Dahlmann of LongHorn Steakhouse has lots of great tips when it comes to grilling

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6 years ago

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July 4, 2017

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Sure, for some folks, the Fourth of July is all about fireworks. But for the 75% of all Americans who own a grill or a smoker, the Fourth is our Nation’s No. 1 holiday when it comes to grilling. Which is why 3 out of 4 of those folks will spend some time outside today working over a fire.

But here’s the thing: Though 14 million Americans can cook a steak with confidence because they actually grill something every week, the rest of us – because we use our grill or smoker so infrequently … Well, let’s just say that we have no chops when it comes to dealing with chops (pork, veal or otherwise).

So what’s a backyard chef supposed to in a situation like this when there’s so much at steak … er … stake? Turn to someone who really knows their way around a grill for advice. People like Jens Dahlmann, the Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef for Darden Restaurant’s LongHorn Steakhouse brand.

Given that Jens’ father & grandfather were chefs, this is a guy who literally grew up in a kitchen. In his teens & twenties, Dahlmann worked in hotels & restaurants all over Switzerland & Germany. Once he was classically trained in the culinary arts, Jens then  jumped ship. Well, started working on cruise ships, I mean.

Anyway … While working on Cunard’s Sea Goddess, Dahlmann met Sirio Maccioni, the founder of Le Cirque 2000. Sirio was so impressed with Jens’ skills in the kitchen that he offered him the opportunity to become sous-chef at this New York landmark. After four years of working in Manhattan, Dahlmann then headed south to become executive chef at Palm Beach’s prestigious Café L’Europe.

Jens Dahlmann back during his Disney World days

And once Jens began wowing foodies in Florida, it wasn’t all that long ’til the Mouse came a-calling. Mickey wanted Dahlmann to shake things up in the kitchen over at WDW’s Flying Fish Café. And he did such a good job with that Disney’s Boardwalk eatery the next thing Jens knew, he was then being asked to work his magic with the menu at the Contemporary Resort’s California Grill.

From there, Dahlmann had a relatively meteoric rise at the Mouse House. Once he became Epcot’s Food & Beverage general manager, it was only a matter of time before he wound up as the executive chef in charge of this theme park’s annual International Food & Wine Festival. Which – under Jens’ guidance – experienced some truly explosive growth.

“When I took on Food & Wine, that festival was only 35 days long and had gross revenues of just $5.5 million. When I left Disney in 2016, Food & Wine was now over 50 days long and that festival had gross revenues of $22 million,” Dahlmann admitted during a recent sit-down. “I honestly loved those 13 years I spent at Disney. When I was working there, I learned so much because I was really cooking for America.”

And it was exactly that sort of experience & expertise that Darden wanted to tap into when they lured Jens away from Mickey last year to become LongHorn Steakhouse’s new Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef. But today … Well, Dahlmann is offering tips to those of us who are thinking about cooking steak tips for the Fourth.

Photo by Jim Hill

“When you’re planning on grilling this holiday, if you’re looking for a successful result, the obvious place to start is with the quality of the meat you plan on cooking for your friends & family. If you want the best results here, don’t be cheap when you go shopping. Spend the money necessary for a fresh filet or a New York strip. Better yet a Ribeye, a nice thick one with good marbling. Because when you look at the marbling on a steak, that’s where all the flavor happens,” Jens explained. “That said, you always have to remember that — the higher you go with the quality of your meat — the less time you’re going to want that piece of meat to spend on the grill.”

And speaking of cooking … Before you even get started here, Jens suggests that you first take the time to check over all of your grilling equipment. Making sure that the grill itself is first scraped clean & then properly oiled before you then turn up the heat.

“If you’re working with a dirty grill, when you go to turn your meat, it may wind up sticking to the grill. Or maybe those spices that you’ve just so carefully coated your steak with will wind up sticking to the grill, rather than your meat,” Dahlmann continued. “Which is why it’s always worth it to spend a few minutes prior to firing up your grill properly cleaning & oiling it.”

Photo by Jim Hill

And speaking of heat … Again, before you officially get started grilling here, Jens says that it’s crucial to check your temperature gauges. Make sure that your char grill is set at 550 (so that it can then properly handle the thicker cuts of meat) and your flattop is set at 425 (so it can properly sear thinner pieces of meat).

Okay. Once you’ve bought the right cuts of quality meat, properly cleaned & oiled your grill, and then made sure that everything’s set at the right temperature (“If you can only stand to hold your hand directly over the grill for two or three seconds, that’s the right amount of heat,” Dahlmann said), it’s now time to season your steaks.

“Don’t be afraid to be bold here. You can’t be shy when it comes to seasoning your meat. You want to give it a nice coating. Largely because — if you’re using a char grill — a lot of that seasoning is just going to fall off anyway,” Jens stated. “It’s up to you to decide what sort of seasoning you want to use here. Even just some salt & pepper will enhance a steak’s flavor.”

Then – according to Dahlmann – comes the really tough part. Which is placing your meat on the grill and then fighting the urge to flip it too early or too often.

“The biggest mistake that a lot of amateur cooks make is that they flip the steak too many times. The real key to a well-cooked piece of meat is just let it be, “Jens insisted. “Of course, if you’re serving different cuts of meat at your Fourth of July feast, you always want to put your biggest thickest steak on the grill first. If you’re also cooking a New York Strip, you want to put that one on a few minutes later. But after that, just let the grill do its job and flip your meat a total of three or four times, once every three minutes or so.”

Of course, the last thing you want to do is overcook a quality piece of meat. Which is why Dahlmann suggests that – when it comes to grilling steaks – if you’re going to err, err on the side of undercooking.

“You can always put a piece of meat back on the grill if it’s slightly undercooked. When you over-cook something, all you can do then is start over with a brand-new piece of meat,” Jens said. “Just be sure that you’re using the correct cut of meat for the cooking result you’re aiming for. If someone wants a rare or medium rare steak, you should go with a thicker cut of steak. If one of your guests wants their steak cooked medium or well, it’s best to start with a thinner cut of meat.”

Photo by Jim Hill

As you can see, the folks at Longhorn take grilling steaks seriously. How seriously? Just last week at Darden Corporate Headquarters in Orlando, seven of these brand’s top grill masters (who – after weeks of regional competitions – had been culled from the 491 restaurants that make up this chain) competed for a $10,000 prize in the Company’s second annual Steak Master Series. And Dahlmann was one of the people who stood in Darden’s test kitchens, watching like a hawk as each of the contestants struggled to prepare six different dishes in just 20 minutes according to Longhorn Steakhouse’s exacting standards.

“I love that Darden does this. Recognizing the best of the best who work this restaurant,” Jens concluded. “We have a lot of people here who are incredibly knowledgeable & passionate when it comes to grilling.”

Speaking of which … If today’s story doesn’t include the exact piece of info that you need to properly grill that T-bone, just whip out your iPhone & text GRILL to 55702. Or – better yet – visit  ExpertGriller.com prior to firing up your grill or smoker later today. 

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

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Brattleboro’s Strolling of the Heifers is a sincere if somewhat surreal way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont

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6 years ago

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June 4, 2017

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Some people travel halfway ‘around the planet so that they can then experience the excitement of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. If you’re more of a Slow Living enthusiast (as I am), then perhaps you should amble to Brattleboro, VT. Where – over the first weekend in June – you can then join a herd of cow enthusiasts at the annual Strolling of the Heifers.

Now in its 16th year, this three-day long event typically gets underway on Friday night in June with a combination block party / gallery walk. But then – come Saturday morning – Main Street in Brattleboro is lined with thousands of bovine fans.

Photo by Jim Hill

They’ve staked out primo viewing spots and set up camp chairs hours ahead of time. Just so these folks can then have a front row seat as this year’s crop of calves (which all come from local farms & 4-H clubs) are paraded through the streets.

Photo by Jim Hill

Viewed from curbside, Strolling of the Heifers is kind of this weird melding of a sincere small town celebration and Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade. Meaning that – for every entry that actually acknowledged this year’s theme (i.e. “Dance to the Moosic”) — …

Photo by Jim Hill

… there was something completely random, like this parade’s synchronized shopping cart unit.

Photo by Jim Hill

And for every piece of authentic Americana (EX: That collection of antique John Deere tractors that came chugging through the city) …

Photo by Jim Hill

… there was something silly. Like – say – a woman dressed as a Holstein pushing a baby stroller through the streets. And riding in that stroller was a pig dressed in a tutu.

Photo by Jim Hill

And given that this event was being staged in the Green Mountain State & all … Well, does it really surprise you to learn that — among the groups that marched in this year’s Strolling of the Heifers – was a group of eco-friendly folks who, with their  chants of “We’re Number One !,” tried to persuade people along the parade route not to flush the toilet after they pee. Because – as it turns out – urine can be turned into fertilizer.

Photo by Jim Hill

And speaking of fertilizer … At the tail end of the parade, there was a group of dedicated volunteers who were dealing with what came out of the tail end of all those cows.

Photo by Jim Hill

This year’s Strolling of the Heifers concluded at the Brattleboro town common. Where event attendees could then get a closer look at some of the featured units in this year’s parade…

Photo by Jim Hill

… or perhaps even pet a few of the participants.

Photo by Jim Hill

But as for the 90+ calves who took part in the 2017 edition of Strolling of the Heifers, once they reached the town common, it was now time for a nosh or a nap.

Photo by Jim Hill

Elsewhere on the common, keeping with this year’s “Dance to the Moosic” theme, various musical groups performed in & around the gazebo throughout the afternoon.

Photo by Jim Hill

While just across the way – keeping with Brattleboro’s tradition of showcasing the various artisans who live & work in the local community – some pretty funky pieces were on display at the Slow Living Exposition.

Photo by Jim Hill

All in all, attending Strolling of the Heifers is a somewhat surreal but still very pleasant way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont. And that’s no bull.

Photo by Jim Hill

Well, that could be a bull. To be honest, what with the wig & all, it’s kind of hard to tell. 

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Sunday, June 4, 2017

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Looking to make an authentic Irish meal for Saint Patrick’s Day? If so, then chef Kevin Dundon says not to cook corned beef & cabbage

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6 years ago

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March 17, 2017

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Let’s at least start on a positive note: Celebrated chef, author & TV personality Kevin Dundon – the man that Tourism Ireland has repeatedly chosen as the Face of Irish Food – loves a lot of what happens in the United States on March 17th.

“I mean, look at what they do in Chicago on Saint Patrick’s Day. They toss all of this vegetable-based dye into the Chicago River and then paint it green for a day. That’s terrific,” Kevin said.

But then when it comes to what many Americans eat & drink on St. Paddy’s Day (i.e., a big plate of corned beef and cabbage. Which is then washed down with a mug of green beer) … Well, that’s where Dundon has to draw the line.

Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon displays a traditional Irish loin of bacon with Colcannon potatoes and a Dunbrody Kiss chocolate dessert. Photo by Tom Burton. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

“Green beer? No real Irishman would be caught dead drinking that stuff,” Kevin insists. “And as for eating corned beef & cabbage … That’s not actually authentic Irish fare either. Bacon and cabbage? Sure. But corned beef & cabbage was something that the Irish only began eating after they’d come to the States to escape the Famine. And even then these Irish-Americans only began serving corned beef & cabbage to their friends & family because they had to make do with the ingredients that were available to them at that time.”

And thus begins the strange tale of how corned beef & cabbage came to be associated with the North American celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Because – according to Dundon – beef just wasn’t all that big a part of the Irish diet back in the 19th century.

To explain: Back in the Old Country, cattle – while they were obviously highly prized for the milk & cheese that they produced – were also beasts of burden. Meaning that they were often used for ploughing the fields or for hauling heavy loads. Which is why – back then — these animals were rarely slaughtered when they were still young & healthy. If anything, land owners liked to put a herd of cattle on display out in one of their pastures because that was then a sign to their neighbors that this farm was prosperous.

“Whereas pork … Well, everybody raised pigs back then. Which is why pork was a staple of the Irish diet rather than beef,” Dundon continued.

So if that’s what people actually ate back in the Old Country, how then did corned beef & cabbage come to be so strongly associated with Saint Patrick’s Day in the States.? That largely had to do with where the Irish wound up living after they arrived in the New World.

“When the Irish first arrived in America following the Great Famine, a lot of them wound up living in the inner city right alongside the Germans & the Jews, who were also recent immigrants to the States. And while that farm-fresh pork that the Irish loved wasn’t readily available, there was brisket. Which the Irish could then cure by first covering this piece of meat with corn kernel-sized pieces of rock salt – that’s how it came to be called corned beef. Because of the sizes of the pieces of rock salt that were used in the curing process – and then placing all that in a pot of water with other spices to soak for a few days.”

And as for the cabbage portion of corned beef & cabbage … Well, according to Kevin, in addition to buying their meat from the kosher delis in their neighborhood, the Irish would also frequent the stores that the German community shopped in. Where – thanks to their love of sauerkraut (i.e., pickled cabbage) – there was always a ready supply of cabbage to be had.

“So when you get right down to it, it was the American melting pot that led to corned beef & cabbage being found in the Irish-American cooking pot,” Dundon continued. “Since they couldn’t find or didn’t have easy access to the exact same ingredients that they had back in Ireland, Irish-Americans made do with what they could find in the immediate vicinity. And what they made was admittedly tasty. But it’s not actually authentic Irish fare.”

Mind you, what Kevin serves at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs (which – FYI – Orlando Magazine voted as the area’s best restaurant back in 2014) is nothing if not authentic. Dundon and his team at this acclaimed gastropub pride themselves on making traditional Irish fare and then contemporized it.

Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

“Take – for example – what we serve here instead of corned beef & cabbage. Again, because it was pork – rather than beef – that was the true staple of the Irish diet back then, what we offer instead is a loin of bacon that has been glazed with Irish Mist. That then comes with colcannon potatoes. Which is this traditional Irish dish that’s made up of mashed potato that have had some cabbage & bacon mixed through it,” Kevin enthused. “This heavenly ham – that’s what we actually call this traditional Irish dish at Raglan Road, Kevin’s Heavenly Ham – also includes some savory cabbage with a parsley cream sauce as well as a raisin cider jus. It’s simple food. But because of the basic ingredients – and that’s the real secret of Irish cuisine. That our ingredients are so strong – the flavors just pop off the plate.”

Which brings us to the real challenge that Dundon and the Raglan Road team face every day. Making sure that they actually have all of the ingredients necessary to make this traditional-yet-contemporized Irish fare to those folks who frequent this Walt Disney World favorite.

“Take – for example – the fish we serve here. We only used cold water fish. Salmon, mussels and haddock that have been hauled out of the Atlantic, the ocean that America and Ireland share,” Kevin stated. “Not that there’s anything wrong with warm water fish. It’s just that … Well, it doesn’t have the same structure. It’s a softer fish, which doesn’t really fit the parameters of Irish cuisine. And if you’re going to serve authentic food, you have to be this dedicated when it comes to sourcing your ingredients.

Copyright Mitchell Beazley. All rights reserved

And if you’re thinking of perhaps trying to serve an authentic Irish meal this year, rather than once again serving corned beef & cabbage at your Saint Patrick’s Day Feast … Well, back in September of last year, Mitchell Beazley published “The Raglan Road Cookbook: Inside America’s Favorite Irish Pub.” This 296-page hardcover not only includes the recipe for Kevin’s Heavenly Ham but also it tells the tale of how this now-world-renown restaurant wound up being built in Orlando.

On the other hand, if you happen to have to the luck of the Irish and are actually down at The Walt Disney World Resort right now, it’s worth noting that Raglan Road is right in the middle of its Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival. This four day-long event – which includes Irish bands and professional dancers – stretches through Sunday night. And in addition to all that authentic Irish fare that Dundon and his team are cooking up, you also sample the fine selection of beers & cocktails that this establishment’s four distinct antique bars (each of which are more than 130 years old and were imported directly from Ireland) will be serving. Just – As ucht Dé (That’s “For God’s Sake” in Gaelic) – don’t make the mistake of asking the bartender there for a mug of green beer.

“Why would anyone willingly drink something like that?,” Dundon laughed. “I mean, just imagine what their washroom will look like the morning after.”

This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Friday, March 17, 2017

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