BEYOND THE
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Overlooked
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Pin Trading Guide
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Grocery Stores
Ground  Transportation
Orlando Area Outlets
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This article appeared in the
Issue #104 September 18, 2001 of ALL EARS™ (ISSN: 1533-0753)

You've been standing on line for 45 minutes, and you still have no idea where the Tower of Terror ride actually begins. You begin to believe that its "Terror" is that it's an endless queue that perhaps snakes beneath the ground, comes up briefly in some mall in Kissimmee before dropping back into its labyrinth beneath Florida. You've exceeded the limitations of your pedometer. You've noticed that perspiration has made a huge hidden Mickey on your shirt. You suddenly look at the small boy clutching your hand and wonder who he is as he laughs and says "Mommy, you look like paste."

You think, "This is it, I'm having a stroke!" Then you do a mental inventory on what your day has been like. You've spent the past nine hours on your feet. You've chased down one lost child who took off after Goofy, and spent a half hour trying to find your husband who said, "I'm just going over there," as he gestured across a sea of people. In this time, you've eaten one hamburger and half a Mickey Bar before it slid off its stick and down onto your new sneakers. Then it all becomes clear.

"That's right, I'm on vacation."

Sometimes, sitting on a bench, looking at little things and watching "The World" go by isn't practical. Sometimes, budgets don't allow staying on-site and taking mid-afternoon breaks at your resort. There is one more wonderful way to take a little one or two hour vacation from your vacation, to remind you that you are in someplace wonderful.

Make yourself a reservation for a nice leisurely sit-down lunch or dinner at one of the many, many fabulous restaurants in Disney World.

Too often, our "mission" to see and do it all accounts for everything excepts the human body's basic need for food. While snacks and treats are plentiful everywhere, one must always remember the age-old saying, "man does not live on beavertails alone."

There is mental exhilaration in hearing the voice of a young happy server chirp, "May I get you something to drink?" Reading a menu that you actually hold in your hand can bring momentary joy to your heart. I believe I actually saw a tear come to a mother's eye once at the sight of food served on a real plate, without a trace of a tray or plastic fork anywhere.

The choices are endless. You can dine your way around "The World" in Epcot. Have fresh, individual brick-oven pizza and Mom's meat loaf in the Studios. Enjoy prime rib in the castle with Mickey-shaped butter for your bread.

There's first rate California cooking with a fireworks view on top of the Contemporary, lavish, sumptuous delights in the Grand Floridian, and all-you-can-eat barbecue at the Wilderness Lodge.

At Animal Kingdom, you can dine in a jungle beneath a stunning waterfall, right at the park's entrance.

Even better yet, you can go to Downtown Disney and just spoil yourself rotten. (Zamgwar and "She who must be obeyed" never go to the Mouse without a dinner at Portobello's, their favorite restaurant outside of Little Italy.)

There is a "vacation within your vacation" to appease literally every palate imaginable.

There are menus available on WDWIG at http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm to plan your breaks before you go.

If you're more of the spontaneous type, Guest Relations in the parks usually have a large binder of menus to browse through to help you make up your mind.

Does it cost more than a burrito, and a kaki gori? Sure! Is it worth it?

Like the commercial says: "One martini, one chardonnay, four Cokes and two espressos, $20. Penne ala Vodka and three brick-oven pizzas, $50. Four lemon sorbets, $12. Tip, $16.

The joy of actually sitting down on a nice chair, resting your feet and taking time to enjoy yourself while being served:

Priceless.

John
Office of Vacations From Your Vacation
The Zamgwar Institute
www.zamgwar.com