Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PACKAGE TOURS THAT INCLUDE lodging, park admission, and other features are
routinely available. Some packages are very good deals if you make use of the fea-
tures you are paying for.
Finally, here's a helpful source of regional travel information:
Anaheim-Orange
County
Visitor
&
Convention
Bureau
714-765-8888;
ana-
heimoc.org
How to Evaluate a Disneyland Travel Package
Hundreds of Disneyland package vacations are offered to the public each year. Some
are created by the Disney Resort Travel Sales Center, others by airline touring com-
panies, and some by independent travel agents and wholesalers. Almost all Disney-
land packages include lodging at ornear Disneyland and theme park admission. Pack-
ages offered by the airlines include air transportation.
Package prices vary seasonally, with mid-June to mid-August and holiday peri-
odsbeingthemostexpensive.Duringtheoff-season,forgetpackages;thereareplenty
of empty rooms, and you can negotiate great discounts (at non-Disney properties)
yourself. Similarly, airfares and rental cars are cheaper at off-peak times.
Almost all package ads feature a headline stating “Disneyland for 3 Days from
$298” or some such wording. The key word in the ads is from. The rock-bottom pack-
age price connotes the least desirable hotel accommodations. If you want better or
more conveniently located digs, you'll have to pay more, often much more.
At Disneyland, packages offer a wide selection of hotels. Some, like the Disney-
owned hotels, are very good. Others, unfortunately, run the quality gamut. Packages
with lodging in non-Disney hotels are much less expensive.
When considering a package, choose one that includes features that you are sure
to use. Whether you use all the features or not, you will most certainly pay for them.
Second, if cost is of greater concern than convenience, make a few phone calls and
see what the package would cost if you booked its individual components (such as
airfare, rental car, and lodging) on your own. If the package price is less than the à la
carte cost, the package is a good deal. If the costs are about the same, the package is
probably worth it for the convenience.
If you buy a package from Disney, do not expect Disney reservationists to offer
suggestions or help you sort out your options. As a rule they will not volunteer in-
formation but will only respond to specific questions you pose, adroitly ducking any
query that calls for an opinion. A reader from North Riverside, Illinois, wrote to the
Unofficial Guide, complaining:
I have received various pieces of literature from [Disney], and it is very confusing
to try and figure everything out. My wife made two telephone calls, and the [Disney]
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