Short Stay at Disney World

We splurged and booked a savannah view, figuring we would stay fewer nights in a more upscale hotel. Each night, we would buy a pastry at a bakery, and each morning we would brew a pot of coffee and split the cinnamon roll (etc.) on the balcony, watching the giraffes, zebras, etc. We wondered if it would be worth it to pay the extra money for a savannah room, but this morning ritual made our hotel an extra theme park for us. It really was extraordinary.

Food is exotic, but not too far outside the norm. Best dining experience is at the Cooking Place, a counter with chairs where you can interact with the cooking staff. The chefs prepared a tasting menu for two of some of the appetizers (including tamales, a lentil and phyllo dish, a lamb appetizer, and a duck and pork "firecracker"), and my husband and I shared an entree (braised short ribs in a tamarind glaze). We were too full for dessert, so we went back another night to order from the dessert menu and instead ended up with a flat bread cooked in their brick oven. This is a great dining experience. We love the cooking place, but the dining room, with its changing lights, can be quite romantic. Add an African beer or wine, and it really is an exotic evening out, not like something you can get back home.

Dinner at V&A's is a gourmet experience. We lucked into the chef's table, a 4-hour, 11-course extravaganza that takes place in a special room within the kitchen. The chef designs a gourmet feast per the diners' likes and dislikes. We said only we did not want "innards" and received a feast that included caviar, foie gras, lobster, Kobe beef, heirloom pork, a "dessert appetizer," and two full-size desserts.

Members of the kitchen staff kept asking us how we were doing and if we had any questions.

Since we did not get the chef's table when we made the reservation (it was reserved 6 months out), we felt like we won the lottery when that party did not show up. It was a truly memorable evening, with great food, impeccable service, and an atmosphere to please any foodie.