Raglan Road

Image: frankfranc, Flickr (license)

Disney Springs is also host to Raglan Road Irish Pub — a delicious restaurant and bar that offers live music every night of the week, both inside the restaurant itself and outside on its patio stage. 

The music is mostly traditional Celtic songs with a rock-and-roll vibe, but with a pulsing energy that is thrilling to listen to. Many of the performers come from the UK and bring with them traditional styles combined with modern rhythms. If all else fails, Ragland Road is the perfect go-to for crowd-pleasing tunes that the whole family can enjoy.

And, for travelers of age, the drinks at the Raglan Road bar are among the best at Disney Springs.

Grand Floridian Society Orchestra

Image: frankfranc, Flickr (license)

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is home to many of the best things on Walt Disney World property. It hosts the best restaurant — the five-star Victoria and Albert’s. It has the best seafood at Narcoosee’s. It has the best place to get married — Walt Disney World’s wedding pavilion.

But, more than anything else, it also hosts the single best bit of free entertainment in central Florida: the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra.

Filling the lobby with big band classics and orchestral versions of Disney tunes, this musical act adds so much character and mood to what some view as an otherwise sterile space. The music is just so astonishingly great, it’s often hard to pull yourself up from one of the area’s comfy chairs even to head back to the parks. Whether they’re playing classics from Frozen or Snow White, or traditional orchestral songs, it’s impossible not to stop and be awed by their talent.

And, best of all, they put on a special holiday set during November and December featuring classic Christmas songs. 

If you’ve never seen them perform, it’s time to change that. If you have seem them perform, it’s time to plan another trip.