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Finnegan’s Bar and Grill at Universal Orlando Review

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On my most recent trip to Universal Orlando Resort, my mom and I once again booked the Mardi Gras Ride and Dine package. However, this time we decided to try Finnegan’s Bar and Grill for our dinner. So, here’s my review of that experience.

Finnegan's Bar and Grill

Finnegan’s Bar and Grill

Finnegan’s is an Irish-American pub located in the New York section of the Universal Studios Florida park. It features many Irish dishes as well as some classics like burgers. It’s one of the two sit-down restaurants in this park. The other being Lombard’s Seafood Grille, which we ate at last year for this package.

The restaurant often has live music. I know some people like to enjoy a drink at the bar while enjoying the band. For us though, it was too loud. My mom wears a hearing aid, so the loud music made it hard for us to talk and for her to converse with the waitress. It wasn’t impossible, just difficult. So, something to keep in mind if you have hearing issues.

The Food

Since we ate here as a part of the Ride and Dine package, we were both able to select an appetizer, entree, dessert, and beverage for our meal. My mom ordered a diet drink, which she enjoyed. I ordered a water.

For an appetizer, I chose the Guinness Warm 3 Cheese Dip served with soft pretzel sticks. It reminded me of the pretzel bites we used to sell when I worked at a movie theater. It was good, but not anything groundbreaking. My mom selected the Potato & Onion Webb. It was basically a big basket of fried onions and potatoes. It was a touch greasy but had a good flavor.

For the entree, I ordered the Bronzed Flounder. The fish was a little dry or well-done but tasted good. The vegetables were also fine. Again, not anything mind-blowing here. My mom chose the Irish Fish and Chips. Unfortunately, this was a greasy mess. The fish was mostly bread with very little actual fish. I attempted to tear a piece off to try and got a handful of grease! I was actually shocked by how greasy this fish was. So, maybe don’t order this dish if you don’t like grease.

As for the dessert, we both selected the Apple Caramel Bread Pudding. This was the highlight of the meal. It was warm with a scoop of ice cream! The bread pudding was a little dry, but that ice cream really helped it. It was a nice to way to end the meal.

Mardi Gras Ride and Dine

As I stated above, this meal was purchased for the Mardi Gras Ride and Dine experience. Last year, we were given our lanyard and information as soon as we entered the restaurant. This time we were told we didn’t need anything. However, we spotted other diners as we were leaving wearing lanyards for the experience. So, we asked the attendant who said we needed the lanyard for the event. He went in the back to look for our packet but couldn’t find it. We ended up waiting several minutes for someone to pull our stuff together. Then, we had to sprint across the park to make it in time for the parade line up.

This year, we were on the King and Queen float. Unfortunately, some big guy was beside me and crowded me out of my spot on the float. I spent most of the parade standing behind my mom and we took turns tossing beads. One thing we learned from last year: run directly to the photo pick up location at the front of the park for ride photos. We purchased a few nice pictures this year and I love that we have souvenirs this year.

Is Finnegan’s Bar and Grill worth it?

This is probably one of the harshest reviews I’ve ever posted. However, I strive to be honest here, so it is what it is. I wouldn’t eat here again. The food wasn’t great and certainly not worth the prices charged. My mom’s fish was one of the greasiest dishes I’ve ever encountered. My fish was ok. The dessert was pretty good, but I think you can find better desserts/snacks elsewhere. If we book the Ride and Dine experience again, it will be at another restaurant.

Akershus Princess Breakfast Review at Epcot

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Back in December, my mom and I enjoyed the Akershus princess breakfast at Epcot for our Candlelight Processional Dining Package. In my earlier post, I promised a full review of the meal. So, here’s my post detailing that experience.

Akershus Princess Breakfast

Akershus Princess Breakfast

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a character dining experience located in Norway in the World Showcase at Epcot. They serve breakfast as well as lunch and dinner here. Breakfast is cheaper, as is usually the case with character meals. Regardless of the meal booked, you will be meeting five princesses. They tend to rotate the princesses, so you never know which ones you will be meeting.

The Food

Given that this restaurant is located in Norway, the food features a few Norwegian inspired dishes as well as some classic American foods. I think they strike a nice balance between giving you something new to try and pleasing the picky eaters that visit character meals.

Previously, this was a buffet meal. However, these days it’s a family-style meal wherein the food and princesses are brought to your table in quick succession. In fact, we had all of our food and had seen all 5 princesses within 30 minutes of arriving at our table!

You begin the meal with a plate of pastries and charcuterie. The pastries were pretty basic. Not bad, but nothing wowed us. I enjoyed trying some Norwegian cheese, along with a fish dip that I can’t recall what it was, and a lingonberry jam. We also received a bowl of fresh fruit at this point. This was quickly followed by a giant plate of the mains! We had Norwegian waffles, which actually tasted a little bit different than the regular Disney waffles! There was also scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon! Plus, there was a tasty potato and cheese casserole!

Since you are allowed to request extras, we ended up getting additional waffles. They were really good. The potato casserole was also a standout for me. It reminded me a bit of the potato casserole my family makes for the holidays. However, instead of using hashbrowns, they use chunks of potatoes and a fancier cheese. Overall, it was a pretty good meal that left my mom and I full.

The Characters

As I stated above, this is a fast moving meal! Within 30 minutes of being seated, we had seen all 5 princesses! Granted we are two adults who try not to take too much time with characters. However, they move at a quick pace! While I never felt rushed with the princesses, it wasn’t exactly a relaxing meal either. We enjoyed the banter with the princesses since they are face characters. In fact, we talked to Snow White above having seen the Seven Dwarfs at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party a few nights prior. So, that was a neat interaction! The princesses are lovely, but it’s not a leisurely meal.

Akershus Breakfast Overall

This is one of only two princess meals at Walt Disney World. The other is Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom and is even more expensive. So, if you have a big princess fan but want to save a few bucks, then this a good option. Additionally, it’s great to meet several princesses without having to wait in any lines. The food is also better than at some other character meals on property. Although, it does mean you will start your day at Epcot full of food. So, that is a trade off here. My mom and I enjoyed our experience here, even though it was a quick one.

Winter in Orlando Theme Parks Guide

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I feel like I just started this seasonal theme parks guide series, but it’s my last post. I just did Christmas in the theme parks, so now it’s time for winter in Orlando theme parks! FYI: I will be considering January and February as winter for this post. As in, the period of time after the holidays but before the spring festivities start.

Winter in Orlando

Winter in Orlando

If you aren’t familiar with the theme parks, you probably wonder why I’m doing a separate post from the holidays guide. That’s because there’s a couple of months wherein the holidays are over but the parks are still open and have some special events! Typically, the crowds are smaller during this time of the year. So, the parks host special events to draw people in.

Winter in Disney

The Christmas decorations usually come down in January, around/after the marathon weekend. You enter the half of the year where the Magic Kingdom looks normal without any holiday decor. The majority of the parks are somewhat quiet and feature special After Hours events to entice people to visit. I plan to visit in February and attend an event at Magic Kingdom, so be on the lookout for a review of that experience. However, in previous years it was a great time to ride the rides with minimal waits.

The other big thing that happens in January and February in Walt Disney World is the Festival of the Arts at Epcot! You know from my Epcot Festival of the Arts Guide that I love this event and it’s my favorite seasonal event at Epcot. The weather is cooler, which makes it easier to enjoy the food around World Showcase. Plus, there’s lots of fun entertainment to enjoy. Festival of the Arts ends on February 19th and Flower and Garden begins February 28th this year! So, technically your winter trip could coincide with either or neither of these fun festivals!

Winter at Universal Orlando

Once again, we encounter another one of my favorite theme park events. This time, it’s at Universal Orlando resort and I’m talking about Mardi Gras. I posted a Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando guide previously, but suffice it to say it’s a fun time! The event begins the first weekend in February and goes until the beginning of April. Since it’s so long, I’m covering it in both winter and spring guides. I highly recommend riding on a float if you can. If not, enjoy catching some beads when you watch the parade.

Winter at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld tries to draw in visitors during this time of the year with several limited time special activities. For instance, there’s an Inside Look event taking place over two weekends that offers a behind the scenes look at how the animals are taken care of at the park. Just for Kids Weekend takes places one weekend in January. There’s also an Elmo’s Birthday celebration lasting one whole week. Additionally, from February to May, they have the Seven Seas Food Festival! We enjoyed a few food items from it one time and think it’s good for any foodies in the area.

Where are you headed?

So, that’s an overview of what you can expect to experience in the Orlando theme parks in January and February. Are you visiting any of the parks this winter?

You can check out my other seasonal theme parks guides here:

Grinch Breakfast at Confisco Grille 2023 Review

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While visiting Universal Orlando for the holidays, my mom and I were able to experience The Grinch Breakfast at Confisco Grille at Islands of Adventure! We loved this experience last year, so I jumped to book it when it came out this year. There were many changes made to the experience this year, so continue reading to see if it’s worth it.

Grinch Breakfast at Confisco Grille

Grinch Breakfast at Confisco Grille

Last year, my mom and I absolutely loved this character meal at Universal. That’s why when Universal finally announced its return on October 19th I jumped on booking it. In fact, the site was a little glitchy and there was a long wait on the phone lines. So, I booked it without using my annual passholder discount for fear of missing out on it entirely.

Previously, this meal was held at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendus. That was the perfect setting for this experience. Unfortunately, the restaurant is currently under refurbishment and isn’t an option. So, the decision was made to move this meal to Confisco Grille for 2023.

Changes for 2023

Once the dust settled so to speak, I was disappointed to realize that Universal had increased the price dramatically while also lessening the experience. Last year, we paid $41.99/each and this year it’s $58.99! So, it went up $17 in just one year. Then, I realized it went from being a buffet to a plated meal. So, that meant less food. I also realized once initial reviews came out that it went from being The Grinch and Friends to just The Whos. So, we lost a few Dr. Suess characters with the change. Additionally, they removed the free photo downloads from the experience and instead rely on you using your cell phone.

So, was it worth the additional $17 for an experience that included less? Let’s get into the specifics of this meal.

The Food at Confisco Grille

We started the meal with a plate of pastries for the table. This included mini croissants, mini blueberry muffins, and a bowl of fruit. The muffins were dry and the croissants were fine. As for the fruit, I ate the pineapple and strawberries. My mom ate the watermelon and cantaloupe. They were good, it’s fruit. I also selected the Grinch Punch for my beverage. It was nice and fruity.

Then, we were able to select an entree for the main portion of the meal. My mom and I both got Martha May’s Chicken and Waffles. The waffles were pretty standard. The real star here was the combination of the whipped honey butter and hot honey drizzle. Everything combined (chicken, waffles, butter and drizzle) was a delightful experience. Then, there were a few random berries tossed on the plate for added color?

Lastly, a plate of sweet treats was brought to the table. It included those famous Grinch Cookies, Max treats, and red velvet hearts! We ate the cookies (a good but basic sugar cookie) and took the rest to go. Maybe it was because we ate them hours later, but the Max treats were fairly dry. It was basically a chocolate shortbread. The red velvet hearts didn’t seem like traditional red velvet. It was more of a chocolate cake pop colored red.

Overall, the food was ok. We got more food than we could eat, but I don’t know that it was better than last year. In fact, I preferred last year’s spread so we could try green eggs and ham pizza plus chicken and waffles.

The Experience

As I stated above, last year’s meal included The Who’s, The Grinch, and Sam I Am. I’ve also heard of The Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 meeting here previously. This year, it was just The Whos. While I enjoyed the added benefit of hearing them sing, I feel like it lost something to not have the additional characters coming around.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out how different this meeting was. Last year, The Whos walked around to each table and spent time with each guest. This year, they kind of wandered around the restaurant and stopped at the same spots to sing. Our waiter ended up flagging them down and making us jump up at the end of a song just to get a picture with them. It seems to be set up to enjoy their appearance/singing more than a meet and greet.

Additionally, this year you go to The Grinch after you finish your meal. I enjoyed seeing The Grinch interact with other guests last year during the meal. So, this meant less time actually being entertained by him. We were also disappointed to have to stand in a line that went outside to meet him. That kind of defeats the purpose of a character meal if I have to stand in a long line to meet the character, I think.

Also, the environment was a little lackluster. I think I read online that some people were told the restaurant was The Grinch’s cave. However, we weren’t told that during our meal. I understand that they had to change the restaurant due to the issues at the other restaurant, however it kind of felt like an excuse to do less with the space.

Is the Grinch Breakfast at Confisco Grille worth it?

Given the price hike and lessened experience, you have to wonder if this meal is worth the high cost. This is still one of only two guaranteed ways to meet The Grinch (the other being the Universal Holiday Tour) at Universal. Plus, the line was much shorter than the hours long one in the park. My mom and I agreed that if this was our first time doing this breakfast, then we probably would have been content. However, compared to last year, this is a much worse experience for a lot more money. I honestly don’t think I would book this again unless there are changes made (either goes back to the other restaurant and/or more character meets added). Then again, if this is your one and only holiday trip to UO, then it’s probably worth it.

Candlelight Processional Dining Package at Epcot Review

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If you ever plan a trip to Epcot during the holidays, you will immediately discover that many people recommend booking the Candlelight Processional Dining Package. After dealing with site glitches and trying again closer to our trip, I secured us a breakfast reservation at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall! Here’s my review of that experience to help you decide if it’s worth it.

Candlelight Processional Dining Package

Candlelight Processional Dining Package

As I stated above, when the advance dining reservations initially opened up, the site was very glitchy. So I wasn’t able to secure the exact restaurant and exact time we wanted. However, I grabbed a lunch at Garden Grill with a seat for the 7 PM show with John Stamos! Then, a few days out breakfast reservations with the princesses started popping up. So, my first tip is: keep trying! Set up a reservation finder and be quick!

The Food

We had a breakfast reservation at Akershus. One of the reasons I switched it is because we had just eaten and done a Garden Grill dinner review earlier this year. So, we wanted to try something different this time. However, I will say that we enjoyed ourselves. It was also the fastest character meal I’ve ever had. All 5 princesses had visited our table and we had all our food within 30 minutes! So, don’t go into this expecting a leisurely meal. Ha!

I also enjoyed that each of the princesses had a little extra something added to their outfit for the holidays. Ariel had a golden starfish hair bow, Snow White had some greenery/berries added to her headband. Little touches that added to the holiday feeling without being over the top were nice.

The Show

We already had our Epcot day picked out when the schedule of celebrity narrators was announced. So, we were both tickled to discover our day was John Stamos. I grew up watching him on “Full House” and my mom also watched some of those episodes. So, it seemed like something we should really try to see. It would appear that lots of other people had the same thoughts as there was quite the line to see the show. We lined up a little under one hour ahead of the show as there was already a pretty long line to get in.

I had previously watched a different celebrity narrator online a few years ago and thought it was ok. However, the show was so much better in person! My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed this show. In fact, I had meant to record some of the show but I found myself so wrapped up in it that I didn’t get to. It is a beautiful way to get into the holiday spirit.

Of course, I expect that the narrator brings a lot the experience as well. I choked up when John Stamos mentioned losing Bob Saget and that pretty much set the tone of the show for me personally. It made me appreciate being there all that much more. So, I’m not sure that I would have enjoyed the show as much if there had been a different narrator.

Tips

  • Keep trying – if you can’t get the exact reservation time or restaurant you want, then keep checking back. About a week out is when I started noticing more cancellations.
  • Get there early – We went to the 7 PM show and got in line a little after 6. There was already a pretty long line at this point. So, get in line early for a good seat. If you can’t get a package reservation, you will need to line up hours in advance for a chance to see the show.
  • Wear layers – I wore a long sleeve shirt and ended up putting on my jacket while we waited in line. We felt a chilly breeze coming off the water. So, I recommend wearing layers for this nighttime event.
  • Get a reservation hours out – I wondered why I couldn’t book a dinner for the package. However, having done it now I understand why breakfast and lunch were offered. You have to arrive early to get a good seat and you don’t want to feel rushed at the meal. So, a lunch reservation might be ideal.

Is the Candlelight Processional Dining Package worth it?

All of the restaurants are expensive for the dining package. However, I think it’s worth it. This is the only way to guarantee you get a seat for one of the shows. Plus, you are going to have to eat anyways. I think it’s a splurge worth making if you are interested in the show and/or a specific narrator.

Have you ever booked one of these packages? Did you think it was worth it?