THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507210101
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STEPHEN HARRIMAN
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
AMERICA'S 10 most-visited theme parks, according to Amusement Business magazine (estimated attendance in millions per year):
1. Magic Kingdom (Fla.), 11.2
2. Disneyland (Cal.), 10.3
3. Epcot (Fla.), 9.7
4. Disney/MGM Studios (Fla.), 8
5. Universal Studios (Fla.), 7.7
6. (Tie) Sea World (Fla.), 4.6
6. Universal Studios (Cal.), 4.6
8. Knott's Berry Farm (Cal.), 3.9
9. (Tie) Busch Gardens (Fla.), 3.7
9. Sea World (Cal.), 3.7 YOUR'S MONEY'S WORTH
Hotel Reservations Network, a free discount hotel booking service, is slashing its first-class accommodation rates by 30 percent. Some sample rates, through Sept. 15: In New York, from $195 down to $79; Washington, $170 to $69; Orlando/ Disney World, $99 to $39. Reservations/information: 1-800-96-HOTEL.
Other multicity discount hotel services include: Accommodations Express (800-444-7666); Central Reservation Service (800-950-0232); Quikbook (800-789-9887); and Room Exchange (800-846-7000), which also has accommodations in the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.
Other specialized agencies include Capitol Reservations (800-847-4832) and Washington D.C. Accommodations (800-554-2220), both of which represent Washington; San Francisco Reservations (800-677-1550), which includes almost all properties in the city; Express Reservations (800-356-1123), which offers rooms in Los Angeles and New York City; City Wide Reservations (800-733-6644), which offers Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev.; Hot Rooms (800-468-3500), which represents Chicago; and California Reservations (800-576-0003), which offers rooms throughout the state as well as in Portland, Ore., and Seattle.
Free guide to Florida state parks is a user-friendly region-by-region publication. Something to consider: In Stephen ``Dr. Beach'' Leatherman's fifth annual survey of the country's best beaches, five of the top 10 are Florida State Parks. Entry fee is $3.25 per vehicle for up to eight people. Call (904) 488-9872.
Walt Disney World's All-Star Sports Resort, just west of the Disney-MGM Studios, offers rooms at $69 and $79 per night. Five themes - football, baseball, basketball, tennis and surfing - score with the visitor. Free transport to all attractions. Info: (407) W-DISNEY.
El Al Airlines, Israel's flag carrier, is offering a 25 percent summer discount on round-trip fares from New York's JFK to Tel Aviv, $998 for travel through Sept. 10. (800) 223-6700. THE KIDS GOTTA GO
With kids, parents stay free at Dauphine Orleans Hotel in French Quarter. Through Sept. 4 it's $75 a room, includes breakfast, afternoon tea, transport to some city attractions. Info: (800) 521-7111. WEDDING-GIFT IDEAS
Magellan's Catalog of Travel Essentials has just started its own gift registry aimed at honeymooners, but anyone can use it, says a Magellan's spokeswoman. Travelers make up a wish list from the catalog and give Magellan's the names and addresses of those likely to send gifts. Magellan's will send out a tasteful announcement to the effect that you are now registered. When your people call up, the gift consultants will help them pick out a gift that gets wrapped and sent to you. Info: call (800) 962-4943. ONE DAY AT A TIME
Sober Village 15 at Club Med Eleuthera (Bahamas) is offering a Jan. 27-Feb. 3, 1996, package for $1,495 that includes round-trip air, eight days/seven nights accommodations, meals and activities and 12-step meetings. Info: (800) SOBER-FUN. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases, trade
journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the writer's
mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The
Virginian-Pilot/The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (804)
446-2904. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
WALT DISNEY CO.
Disney/MGM Studios in Florida is America's fourth most-visited theme
park, with about 8 million guests a year.
by CNB