Disney, a Metaphor?

Disney World - two words that send chills down my spine. After years of resistance, I decided to go back to the land of Mickey as a Valentine's Day gift for my child-at-heart boyfriend. I was prepared to accept my fate - - bad, over-priced park food and hotels filled with screaming children and Character-themed buffets -- all of which were plentiful, but certainly not the highlights of my trip.

On our drive home I realized Disney can be a metaphor for any dreaded trip - be it for business, visiting in-laws or class reunion. So here's what I did to make the best of it.

1. Do your research when it comes to hotels, especially when going to a tourism mecca like Orlando. Why stay at a convention-style property with tons of amenities you'll never use, when you can stay at a smaller, cheaper property that fit your lifestyle. Check out what hotels are popular on sites like Expedia and Travelocity. Then go to Trip Advisor (free) or Zagat (not free) to see how travelers rated your picks. You can read detailed description of their stays, see pictures and videos and post questions. Generally, you get the cheapest rate with fewest restrictions when booking on a hotel's website or calling their 800 number. We stayed at a recently renovated Hyatt Place (formerly Amersuites) with a decent (and more importantly) free breakfast and 42-inch, flat screen TV in each room. Not sure if we will stay there again, but it was a satisfactory and worth the price.

2. Expect the unexpected if you are willing to play things by ear. After getting Mickey out of our system, we went exploring for a romantic spot to watch the evening's fireworks. Wandering around led us to the Contemporary Hotel - the Grand Central Station of Disney World. In the convention area we found a few families gathered. Why little kids running around two Disney characters attracted us is still a mystery. We were greeted by a pleasant Disney employee who informed us they were waiting to disembark for a fireworks boat tour. Again, why a couple in their 30s would want to join families with toddlers is beyond me, but surprisingly I asked how we could participate, only to hear the tour was by invitation only and we would have needed to register in advance. As we started to walk away, our Disney Godmother said "This is a magical moment" and handed us our boarding passes. The boat tour (free to us, but regularly $40 p/p) was sweet and hats off to Disney for putting on an excellent fireworks show.

With dinner still to be had, we checked out the California Grill menu, the signature restaurant at the 14th floor of the Contemporary. It was EXCELLENT. I can't recommend it enough. Sit at the sushi bar and talk to Yoshie. Order:

• Braised Angus Beef with Onion Marmalade, Fontina, Pommes Frites, and Horseradish Mayo 13.00
• Spicy Sensation - Scallops, Tuna, Avocado, Tobiko, and Fireball Sauce $18
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze, and Sage 26.00
• Any of their dozens of red wines by the glass
• Honey Crunch Cake with Chantilly Cream, Oven-roasted Golden Pineapple and Crunch Candy Crumble 10.00

3. Ask a local about where to eat. On our way back from Orlando a friend recommended we check out Mount Dora, a near-by town with antique shops, gourmet restaurants and wine bars. It was touristy, but pleasant. Laid back and casual.

• Check out Goblin's Market for lunch, but don't expect deferential treatment, that's reserved for locals. Good food and reasonably priced.
• Consider spending the night at any of their B&Bs and have afternoon tea at the local British Tea Shop.