Disney Targets Summer Travelers
Earlier this month, the Walt Disney Co. announced new additions to be added to California Adventure in the next two years to lure both the pre-school set and thrill-seekers. Now the company is courting kids with summer packages in the hopes of bolstering its tourist business, which suffered a decline in the wake of September’s terrorist attacks.
While the first of the new attractions,”A Bug’s Land” feature four kiddie rides and a play area,won’t open until November, families can take advantage of “Kids Play Free” vacation packages from mid-April until Labor Day.
The promotion includes a free three-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket with each paid adult admission purchased with a two-night minimum hotel package purchased through the Walt Disney Travel Co. Package prices start at $219 per adult for the hotel and theme park ticket packages.
Besides the free entry ticket, packages include a pre-issued Fastpass ticket for each person, an ESPN Zone game card, choice of a character breakfast at one of the Disney hotels or a park tour, preferred show seating and souvenirs.
Though attendance at the nation’s theme parks has picked up since September, the improvement has been slow in coming. And tourism officials worry that continued consumer resistance to air travel could impact area tourist attractions into the crucial summer months.
Disneyland drew about 12.5 million visitors last year, but that number was down about 10% from 2000. California Adventure,originally expected to draw up to 7 million visitors in its first year,saw only about 5 million come through the gates in 2001. Since Sept. 11, the Disneyland Resort has implemented a variety of discounts to entice more locals and tourists to visit the parks.
,Sandi Cain
