September 10, 2003 -- Theme parks across the country are still feeling the post-9/11 pinch, and while numbers of visitors across the board increased slightly in 2003, they are still below pre-attack averages. The mightiest of them all, Disney, is no exception. The cartoon juggernaut began offering discounts and increased options on air/hotel/park pass packages earlier this year to its parks and properties in Florida and California. We're happy to report that they're continuing on that path working with the vacation arms of United and Southwest airlines. To take advantage of these current deals, you'll have to book by September 22.
Starting from $519 out of New York, Boston or Washington, D.C., you can get Disney's Winter Dream Maker to Walt Disney World in Florida, through United Vacations. Travel is valid between November 10, 2003 and February 11, 2004. Blackout dates include Thanksgiving, November 25-27, 2003; New Year's, December 27, 2003 to January 1, 2004. The package price includes roundtrip airfare on United, three nights' lodging, and the Dream Maker package, which has an Ultimate Park Hopper Ticket, two Disney trading pins with lanyards (uh, wow?) and one "choice feature" per room (choose from a round of miniature golf, a Story Magic experience at Epcot, a character poster, inclusion in the Legacy File, or up to $25 worth of dining).
Other United departures include:
- Chicago from $549
- Denver and Los Angeles $649
- Portland, OR or Seattle from $729
As we mentioned at the top of the article, Southwest is also selling the same packages, sometimes at better prices. For example, Chicago departures on Southwest out of Midway (rather than O'Hare with United) start from just $469 per person (that's a $80 per person savings!); if you're willing to fly out of Baltimore instead of D.C. you'll save $50 a head.
On the West Coast, United Vacations has an Anaheim Package in which you get a 5-Day Disneyland Park Hopper ticket for the price of a 3-Day ticket, and a fourth night free at Disneyland Resort Hotels. The bargain is available for travel from now through January 5, 2004, with blackout dates from November 26 to 28 and December 26, 2003 through January 1, 2004. The hotels used may vary slightly in their dates.
The vacations include roundtrip airfare, and by way of a sample, four nights at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel; a 5-day hopper ticket, a $10 ESPN Zone Game Card, and more. Prices start at $459 from San Diego and San Francisco; $539 from Seattle or Portland OR; $574 from Denver; $639 from Chicago; and $659 from New York City or Boston. Prices are per person in a double room and do not include airport taxes and charges. Departures are for Monday-Thursday travel.
For additional details, visit the Mouse online at www.disney.com. You can book packages through United Vacations at www.unitedvacations.com; Southwest Vacations at www.swavacations.com. If you want to use your travel agent for further comparison shopping, refer him or her to discount booking code ZXMJ.