"But if you stand at opposite sides of the room and refuse to engage, it's guaranteed nothing will happen, " she added.

BBC: Obama's first 100 days: Foreign policy

Indeed, might some just refuse to leave the room?

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

Laurie Puhn, a couples mediator and author of "Fight Less, Love More, " likens Friday's meeting at the White House to a couple's mediation session where both spouses come into the room but refuse to speak.

CNN: Shame and blame: Why Washington needs couples therapy

Whether or not the Ulster Unionists sit down at the table opposite Sinn Fein, only agree to attend if they can sit in another room, or refuse to talk to anyone but the British government, may not matter that much.

ECONOMIST: Sinn Fein comes on board

Other kid-friendly touches: trundle beds that pull out for those little dears who refuse to sleep on the top bunk, junior-eye level peepholes in the guest room doors, and a built-in potty seat that cleverly folds over the regular seat if needed (the Legoland park is targeted at the 2 to 12 set).

FORBES: Inside Legoland's First U.S. Hotel Opening