Disney Offers Deep Discounts

Mickey, Alice and Cinderella are getting a little lonely. As The New York Times reported the other day, Disney is running discounts at its theme parks to stem an ebbing tide of visitors. Attendance began falling in late 2008 at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. Traffic was down roughly 5 percent from the year before.

At Disney World, cost-conscious parents can reserve a seven-night package at one of 23 on-site hotels for the cost of four nights. The offer, which is good for trips through Aug. 15, can be applied to even the most upscale accommodations, such as the Polynesian and the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Visitors who book stays in early or late March can also receive a $200 gift card. Disneyland, meanwhile, is offering a variety of packages, beginning on hotel stays of two nights. The deals include adult tickets priced at the cost of children's tickets and free flights for kids on Alaska Airlines.

One of the best ways to find these and other discounts is to take a spin through MouseSavers.com, a web site devoted to finding deals on Disney trips.