Thursday, August 18, 2011

Visit Walt Disney World in Style


Is your image of Walt Disney World one of sleeping in motel-style accommodations and dining on hamburgers as you roam the theme parks? Well, it�s time to change that picture. Instead of a chain motel, how about an African-style lodge or a resort with the sophisticated ambience of an exclusive yacht club? Instead of chicken fingers, how about Potato Wrapped Florida Red Snapper with a Creamy Leek Fondue, Basil-Crusted Rack of Lamb with a Ragout of Spinach, Shitakes, and White Beans, or Grilled Buffalo Top Sirloin with Sweet Potato Hazelnut Gratin and Sweet Onion Jam? No question about it, Walt Disney World offers an abundance of amazing themed resorts and superb restaurants that are perfect for the sophisticated traveler. Here are some of the best experiences to indulge in while touring Mickey Mouse land:


Victoria and Albert�s at Disney�s Grand Floridian Resort offers fine dining in a elegant setting combined with flawless service. Honored with a AAA Five-Diamond Award for the 3rd year in a row (the only such restaurant in Orlando), diners feast on six sumptuous, prix-fixe courses served on Royal Doulton china with crystal glasses to the strains of the enchanting sound of harp music. Those seeking a special evening should book the 6-person Chef�s Table set in a candlelit alcove in the kitchen, perfect for an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at Disney�s top chef in action.For commercial lights, it depends on the kind of business you're in. If you have an office that uses a lot of computers such as a graphic design company, you'll need to keep your main ambient lighting low to avoid screen glare and use accent lighting to fill in.Halogen ceiling lights are very popular nowadays owing to their combination of energy efficiency and stylishness. These were originally designed for use as accent lighting; they're now popular as task lights for illuminating cooking spaces in kitchens for example.One of the many nice things about wall lights is that they do not take centre stage. Unlike chandeliers or hanging pendants they do not immediately draw in the eye. In small rooms in particular, a hanging light or even a standing lamp can simply overshadow everything else and make the place look badly designed. Wall lights are there, in the background providing style and light but not overcrowding or vying for attention the way that hanging lights and chandeliers in particular can do. They can be placed on any wall and at whatever height you choose. If you need lights in a room for reading or carrying out a task then you will want to place the wall lights strategically - this is called task lighting. If the lights are just to provide overall light in the room then they can more or less be placed anywhere. You can just use your eye to see what positions they look best in.Most Atmospheric ResortFor an up market restaurant, chandeliers add that touch of glamour that really sets off a room. If you're the owner of a high end boutique, you'll want to maximize the use of accent lighting to bring out the best in your merchandise. You could set up track lights to shine a spotlight on key areas, and you'll probably want to experiment with coloured bulbs.In short, Walt Disney World is not just for kids! It�s a world of fantastic resorts and innovative dining just waiting to be explored. You may never even make it to the parks.Disney�s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a stunningly faithful celebration of African wildlife, culture, cuisine, and art. Here the atmosphere literally pulsates with the beat of drums throughout 33 acres of glorious savanna filled with hundreds of roaming exotic animals. The lodge�s 5-story, thatch roof lobby is a wonder with its massive overhead chandeliers formed by resplendent Masai shields overlooking safari chic seating. Don�t even consider a room without a savanna view, well worth every penny for its front row view of the wildlife. The resort boasts an 11,000 square foot pool overlooking the savanna, a full service spa and fitness center, and one of Disney�s loveliest restaurants, Jiko, serving international food with an African flair.There is no denying that fitting wall lights can be more time consuming and even costly then installing other types of lighting. Lamps can simply be plugged in and switched on. Wall lights on the other hand need screwing into the wall correctly and wired in. If you have wires for the purpose of attaching a wall light already protruding from the wall then fixing the light in place is not too difficult. If these wires are not present however, because you had never intended to have a light there then a little more work is involved. It will be necessary to chase the wires into the wall if you don't want them on display. This can need specialist equipment and can involve hiring someone to do it if you are not a DIY kind of person.So, how to choose the most suitable ceiling lights?Stormalong Bay at Disney�s Yacht and Beach Club offers three acres of winding, watery delight. Here you�ll find sandy bottom pools, a giant �shipwreck� waterslide, a tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with its own slide near the beach, and enough waterway to float lazily in inner tubes to your heart�s content.Epcot�s Bistro de Paris is a charming Belle �poque dining room with an air of exclusivity. Here you�ll find gilded mirrors, crimson banquettes, and billowy white drapes that frame windows overlooking the World Showcase Lagoon. Servers with delicious French accents roll out sensational dishes and stylishly plate them tableside. Fresh ingredients are prepared simply in tantalizing sauces, and the all-French wine list is a pleasure. Afterwards, order a dessert of crepes prepared and flamed at your table while lingering over cordials and coffee in anticipation of the Illuminations spectacle.The Animal Kingdom Lodge�s premier dining room is Jiko (Swahili for �cooking place�), one of the most seductive spaces yet at a Disney hotel. Floor to ceiling windows look out on a boulder-strewn creek. The soft, contemporary lighting, fantastically shaped in the guise of bird wings, hangs from a rich, blue ceiling creating the feeling of open space. Giant, twin clay ovens draw the eye to the open kitchen where an eclectic blend of creations prepared with African spices and ingredients are turned out in attractive presentations. Accompany your meal with a selection from the all South African wine list, the largest in North America.Best Resort For RomanceMost Luxurious ResortDisney�s Polynesian Resort�s lush grounds and white sand beaches with views of Cinderella�s castle are a dream come true. Tangerine and mahogany tinted longhouses are scattered throughout this luxuriant property where ducks and ibis roam the dense vegetation and thick, grassy lawns. Meandering pathways lined with volcanic rock are tiki torch-lit at dusk, and soft Hawaiian melodies set the mood for memorable nights. Come nightfall, pick a hammock on one of three beaches for a spectacular vista of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.When it comes to bulbs you have many choices including compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) or halogen. CFLs are most suited to areas such as kitchens and dining rooms or external use where the lights need to be on for extended periods.In your home, each room will have different demands. Every room requires ambient lighting and your living room demands the kind of gentle relaxing light that downlights provide along with strategically placed task lighting, in the form of track lighting or pendant. You kitchen needs effective task lighting for cooking and your bedroom needs soft lighting that down lights provide to create the bedtime mood.

In short, Walt Disney World is not just for kids! It�s a world of fantastic resorts and innovative dining just waiting to be explored. You may never even make it to the parks.




Author: Cara Goldsbury


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