SorcererMickey
June 28th, 2006, 17:35
10 places to relax at Disney World
Amid the bustle, there are spots where you go can take a breather
CHARLES PASSY
Cox News Service
ORLANDO, Fla. - Is it possible to find peace at Walt Disney World?
The short answer -- at least to most parents -- is "No!" To trek through four attraction-filled theme parks with an eager-to-do-it-all child (or two) in hand is to ask for trouble. Add in the sauna-like summer heat, the wallet-busting concession prices and the interminable waits and you have the perfect cocktail for a parental migraine.
Unless, of course, you learn to take a break. And I'm not just talking about stopping for ice cream (well, maybe I am, but more on that later).
In nearly a decade of traipsing through Disney with two children, I've learned to find mini-escapes -- places that offer a bit of shade and quiet and an opportunity to rest your feet. Some are so easy to find you might wonder why you didn't think of them in the first place. Others are less obvious, but still worth seeking.
In no particular order, here are 10 of my favorite places. Trust me, the more of them you visit, the more peaceful your Disney travels will be.
1. Afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian Spa & Resort's Garden View lounge. Who would think such an oasis exists in Disney -- just a short ride on the monorail from the Magic Kingdom?
The setting is wonderfully Victorian. The treats -- finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, strawberries and cream and, of course, tea -- are delicious. And there's no minimum -- you can get by with just a reasonably priced pot of tea. It's great to visit after the afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom.
2. The firepit at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Yes, it's hot outside. But it's cool inside the lodge -- so cool that you'll be inspired to sit 'round the firepit and watch the dancing flames. There's an outdoor one, too, perfect for those rare chilly nights.
3. Tomorrowland Transit Authority at the Magic Kingdom. OK, this is admittedly among the lamest rides at Disney -- a train that makes a long, slow loop around Tomorrowland, with a corny narration as accompaniment. But it's so lame, it's relaxing. And the train goes indoors for a brief bit -- a cool respite, indeed.
4. The petting zoo/stables at Fort Wilderness Resort. It costs nothing to visit, but the interaction it affords is priceless. Unlike the petting zoos you'll find at most traveling carnivals, this one is a class act -- the animals look well-groomed (and well-fed). It's rumored the goats and pigs may no longer be part of the zoo, but the horses and ponies are expected to stay (and, yes, you can ride them for a fee).
5. Frozen margaritas at EPCOT's Cantina de San Angel. On a scorching day, nothing beats "that frozen concoction that helps (you) hang on," to quote Jimmy Buffett. And the waterfront view at Cantina makes it seem all the more thirst-quenching.
6. The "Villains' Room" (a.k.a. the watch department) in Downtown Disney's World of Disney. Your kids will want to come here for the tremendous selection of character merchandise. But if you can sneak away from the bedlam in the stuffed-animal department, you'll find the decidedly more sedate (though villain-themed) timepiece section, with watches to suit every taste (and every budget). The staff is always helpful, too.
7. The fishing hole at Port Orleans Resort. Even if you don't get a bite, there's nothing better than whiling away a couple of hours at this fully stocked fishing spot. But you better not mind baiting your hook with live worms.
8. The boat ride from EPCOT to Boardwalk. You might call this just another form of transportation, but when you ride this ferry at night, taking in the sights along the way, you'll feel as if you're cruising the Seine.
9. The Writers' Stop at Disney-MGM Studios. It's so small that you can't call it a cafe (even though it serves coffee) or a bookstore (even though it sells books and magazines). But it offers enough of each experience to somehow qualify as its own Starbucks-meets-Barnes & Noble equivalent within Disney.
10. Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club. Maybe a scoop of ice cream isn't such a bad way to take a break, especially at this retro-minded ice-cream parlor. Or make that a few scoops of ice cream -- for a totally indulgent treat, go for the Kitchen Sink, a "sundae" that combines every flavor of ice cream and every topping the park offers. After a long day in the parks, you deserve it.
Source: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/travel/14897483.htm
Amid the bustle, there are spots where you go can take a breather
CHARLES PASSY
Cox News Service
ORLANDO, Fla. - Is it possible to find peace at Walt Disney World?
The short answer -- at least to most parents -- is "No!" To trek through four attraction-filled theme parks with an eager-to-do-it-all child (or two) in hand is to ask for trouble. Add in the sauna-like summer heat, the wallet-busting concession prices and the interminable waits and you have the perfect cocktail for a parental migraine.
Unless, of course, you learn to take a break. And I'm not just talking about stopping for ice cream (well, maybe I am, but more on that later).
In nearly a decade of traipsing through Disney with two children, I've learned to find mini-escapes -- places that offer a bit of shade and quiet and an opportunity to rest your feet. Some are so easy to find you might wonder why you didn't think of them in the first place. Others are less obvious, but still worth seeking.
In no particular order, here are 10 of my favorite places. Trust me, the more of them you visit, the more peaceful your Disney travels will be.
1. Afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian Spa & Resort's Garden View lounge. Who would think such an oasis exists in Disney -- just a short ride on the monorail from the Magic Kingdom?
The setting is wonderfully Victorian. The treats -- finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, strawberries and cream and, of course, tea -- are delicious. And there's no minimum -- you can get by with just a reasonably priced pot of tea. It's great to visit after the afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom.
2. The firepit at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Yes, it's hot outside. But it's cool inside the lodge -- so cool that you'll be inspired to sit 'round the firepit and watch the dancing flames. There's an outdoor one, too, perfect for those rare chilly nights.
3. Tomorrowland Transit Authority at the Magic Kingdom. OK, this is admittedly among the lamest rides at Disney -- a train that makes a long, slow loop around Tomorrowland, with a corny narration as accompaniment. But it's so lame, it's relaxing. And the train goes indoors for a brief bit -- a cool respite, indeed.
4. The petting zoo/stables at Fort Wilderness Resort. It costs nothing to visit, but the interaction it affords is priceless. Unlike the petting zoos you'll find at most traveling carnivals, this one is a class act -- the animals look well-groomed (and well-fed). It's rumored the goats and pigs may no longer be part of the zoo, but the horses and ponies are expected to stay (and, yes, you can ride them for a fee).
5. Frozen margaritas at EPCOT's Cantina de San Angel. On a scorching day, nothing beats "that frozen concoction that helps (you) hang on," to quote Jimmy Buffett. And the waterfront view at Cantina makes it seem all the more thirst-quenching.
6. The "Villains' Room" (a.k.a. the watch department) in Downtown Disney's World of Disney. Your kids will want to come here for the tremendous selection of character merchandise. But if you can sneak away from the bedlam in the stuffed-animal department, you'll find the decidedly more sedate (though villain-themed) timepiece section, with watches to suit every taste (and every budget). The staff is always helpful, too.
7. The fishing hole at Port Orleans Resort. Even if you don't get a bite, there's nothing better than whiling away a couple of hours at this fully stocked fishing spot. But you better not mind baiting your hook with live worms.
8. The boat ride from EPCOT to Boardwalk. You might call this just another form of transportation, but when you ride this ferry at night, taking in the sights along the way, you'll feel as if you're cruising the Seine.
9. The Writers' Stop at Disney-MGM Studios. It's so small that you can't call it a cafe (even though it serves coffee) or a bookstore (even though it sells books and magazines). But it offers enough of each experience to somehow qualify as its own Starbucks-meets-Barnes & Noble equivalent within Disney.
10. Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club. Maybe a scoop of ice cream isn't such a bad way to take a break, especially at this retro-minded ice-cream parlor. Or make that a few scoops of ice cream -- for a totally indulgent treat, go for the Kitchen Sink, a "sundae" that combines every flavor of ice cream and every topping the park offers. After a long day in the parks, you deserve it.
Source: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/travel/14897483.htm