Get Away Today

Hotel Spotlight: Staybridge Suites

The Staybridge Suites, located in the heart of Anaheim and just a few minutes from the Disneyland Resort, is an all-suite hotel featuring three suite types (a studio suite, a one bedroom suite, and a two room suite) accommodating up to 8 travelers.  The Staybridge Suites also offers free high speed internet access and free parking.  They also offer a free breakfast buffet, a free evening reception (Tuesday - Thursday), and transportation to and from the Disneyland Resort for nominal fee. 

If you would like to know more about Staybridge Suites, please take a few minutes to listen or subscribe to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast with Patrick Wiscombe and Charlene Marshall, Staybridge Suites Sales Director.  We've also provided a transcript of the Staybridge Suites podcast for your convenience.

WE MAKE IT EASY TO LISTEN: 

Listening to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast is simple.  There are four different ways to do it: 

1. Just press the PLAY button.  (8:32)

2.  If you have iTunes installed on your computer, click the small iTunes logo right here in this paragraph to connect to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast inside the iTunes store. Once you're there, click the 'SUBSCRIBE' button.  If you don't have iTunes installed on your computer, click here to download the software.  It's FREE!

3.  Download the audio.  To download, right-click on this MP3 FILE link.  Select the 'Save Target As' option to download the file.

4.  You can also visit the Get Away Today podcast page and listen to all of the travel features we've produced for you.

--------------------START OF PODCAST TRANSCRIPT--------------------

Todd Carlson:  (Announcer)
Travel news you can use.  This is the Get Away Today.com Travel Show.  Get Away Today is a top provider of affordable, fun family vacations to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Hawaii, San Diego, Beaches, and Sandals in the Caribbean. The Travel Show is heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com.  And now, here's the host of the Travel Show.

Patrick Wiscombe:  (Get Away Today - Internet Marketing Manager)
Welcome to the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast.  My name is Patrick Wiscombe.  Thank you for tuning us in and taking us along wherever you’re listening.  Coming up in the next five minutes, we’re going to put the Get Away Today hotel spotlight on the Staybridge Suites, one of the Disneyland Resort partner hotels.  I really like this property.  If you're a person that likes the comforts of home while you’re on vacation, then you'll really like the Staybridge Suites.  Before we get started, if you book your vacation on our website, Get Away Today.com, make sure you use promotion code ‘podcast’ as you're checking out, and we’ll give you an additional $10 off your vacation.  Charlene Marshall, Sales Director at the Staybridge Suites, is on the phone with me right now to talk about the property.  Charlene, how many people can stay in a single room at the Staybridge Suites?

Charlene Marshall: (Staybridge Suites - Sales Director)
Our two bedroom suites accommodate up to eight people.  There are two separate bedrooms.  One bedroom has two double beds, and the other bedroom has one king bed.  Also all of our rooms have pull-out sofa sleepers which are full-size. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  How many rooms do you have at the Staybridge Suites?

Charlene Marshall:  We have 143 suites.  All of our rooms have full-size kitchens in them.  All of them have a refrigerator, microwave, stovetop, and dishwasher.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Are the refrigerators full-size or do you have mini refrigerators?

Charlene Marshall:  They are full-size refrigerators.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Families are looking for a great value.  Just before we started recording this podcast, you were saying that the Staybridge Suites provides Get Away Today guests with a free, hot breakfast in the morning.

Charlene Marshall:  We do.  We offer a free, hot breakfast buffet every morning.  We always cook eggs, meat, and pancakes.  We also have hot and cold cereals and fresh fruit.  We also have toast, muffins, and bagels.  We are a mile and a half away from the Disneyland Resort area.  The Anaheim Resort Transit or ART comes to the Staybridge Suites.  It picks up Get Away Today guests right in front of the Staybridge Suites. Its three dollars a day for an all-day ticket .  The ART transports guests to and from the Disneyland Resort.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Some people might think it’s a negative thing to be a mile and a half away from the Disneyland Resort.  I actually like it because you get away from the crowds.

Charlene Marshall:  That's exactly right.  You’re not part of the crowd.

Patrick Wiscombe:  If people don't know what the Anaheim Resort Transit System is, explain to our listeners how it will benefit them. 

Charlene Marshall:  Not only does the Anaheim Resort Transit System shuffle Get Away Today guests to and from the Disneyland Resort, you can also go to some of the surrounding shopping areas.  The ART is a transportation trolley that picks up Get Away Today guests in front of the Staybridge Suites and stops at some of the hot spots around town.  It goes to the block of Orange, the Disneyland Resort, and it goes to the Anaheim Convention Center.  It transports guests around the Anaheim area all day long.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Do you have internet access at the Staybridge Suites?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes, we do.  We have free, high-speed internet access throughout the property.

Patrick Wiscombe:  When Get Away Today guests check-in to the Staybridge Suites, what time can they check in and what time do they need to checkout?

Charlene Marshall:  Our check-in time is 4:00p.m. and our checkout time is 11:00 a.m.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Do you offer free parking at the Staybridge Suites?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes.  We offer free parking at the Staybridge Suites.  We have plenty of parking.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Can Get Away Today guests bring their pets to the Staybridge Suites?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes.  We are a pet friendly hotel.  We require a $150 non-refundable deposit that’s due at check-in.

Patrick Wiscombe:  So guests have to pay the pet fee up front?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Is there a limit on the number of pets someone can bring?

Charlene Marshall:  We ask our guests not to bring more than two pets.  We also ask that the pets be less than 50 pounds, if they have two.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Do you have rooms that can accommodate the needs of handicap individuals?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes.  We have handicap accessible rooms at the Staybridge Suites.  Our handicap accessible rooms have the roll-in showers. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  Do you have a pool?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes.  We have a pool and we also have a recreation area with a barbeque pavilion. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  How many barbecues do you have at the Staybridge Suites?

Charlene Marshall:  We have three barbecue grills.  Each Wednesday night we barbecue for the guests.  We cook hamburgers and hot dogs.

Patrick Wiscombe:  What time does that start?

Charlene Marshall:  The sundowner event starts at 5:30 p.m. and goes till 7:00 p.m.  On Tuesday and Thursday we serve complimentary beer and wine to the guests along with a light appetizer.  On Wednesdays, we serve complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks along with the hamburgers and hot dogs.

Patrick Wiscombe:  I have seen all three barbecues and I know they’re very clean. 

Charlene Marshall:  They are clean.  We have an excellent maintenance department.  They really take care of the barbecues and the pavilion area. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  When I was down there, I noticed you had a fitness center.

Charlene Marshall:  We do have a workout facility that’s open 24 hours a day.  It’s actually going to be renovated this month so we'll be pulling everything out, putting in new floors, and painting the room. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  Don’t you have a treadmill at the Staybridge Suites?

Charlene Marshall:  We do.  We have two treadmills.  We have the bicycle and a weight lifting machine. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  While you’re renovating the fitness center, I thought I saw a Gold’s Gym or a 24 Hour Fitness close by.

Charlene Marshall:  Yes.  There’s a 24 Hour Fitness center right around the corner.

Patrick Wiscombe:  I thought this was pretty cool.  Guests who stay at the Staybridge Suites can play board games for free.

Charlene Marshall:  We do.  Get Away Today guests can check the board games out all day long.  Most people play the board games during our Sundowner event.  That was the event I was talking about just a few minutes ago.  Parents can check the games out, sit in the game room, and enjoy their beer and wine while they play a board game. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  Getting back to the Staybridge Suite rooms for just a minute.  Let's talk about the specific items and amenities each room offers. 

Charlene Marshall:  Each room has its own coffeemaker and dishwasher.  The refrigerator freezer makes ice.  The refrigerator is full-size.  Each room also has a microwave.  Each room has plates, glasses, and silverware with enough pieces for 8 to 12 guests.  We also have pans and serving utensils.  We also have a toaster in the room.  Our rooms have a bathtub, shower combo.  We have hairdryers and hampers in the vanity area.  All of the rooms have a private bathroom separate from the vanity area. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  Does the Staybridge Suites have an on-site restaurant?

Charlene Marshall:  We don’t have an on-site restaurant but we offer room service.  Menus are available inside each of the rooms.

Patrick Wiscombe:  So guests just call a local restaurant and they deliver the food?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Let's talk about your gift shop for just a minute.  What kind of things can  guests purchase while they're in the gift shop? 

Charlene Marshall:  We have frozen foods, ice cream, soda, milk, juices, soup, spaghetti, and laundry soap.  You can also use our complimentary laundry facility. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  If Get Away Today guests need to get their clothes dry cleaned, do you have that option?

Charlene Marshall:  Yes, we have that option.  What the guest needs to do is bring their laundry down to the front desk.  We have a valet service that comes by and picks it up.  Their clothes will be returned with 24 hours. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  So it's a quick turnaround?

Charlene Marshall:  It is a very quick turnaround.

Patrick Wiscombe:  That's Charlene Marshall, Sales Director for the Staybridge Suites.  Just a quick reminder as we begin to wrap up. While you're booking your Disneyland Resort vacation on our website, Get Away Today.com, remember to use promotion code ‘podcast’ as you're checking out, and we'll give you an additional $10 off your vacation.

Todd Carlson:  (Announcer)
You can book your Get Away Today vacation package right now by going to Get Away Today.com or calling one of our friendly reservation agents at 1-866-FUN-TRIP.  This has been the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com

--------------------END OF PODCAST TRANSCRIPT--------------------

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Get Away Today Happy Customer: The Lien Family

Dear Get Away Today

We really enjoyed our 4 day getaway to Disneyland. The Disneyland Hotel is the perfect place to stay with little ones. The convenience of walking to the parks was great and the pool was A+ for afternoon breaks.

Thanks!

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Hotel Spotlight: Anaheim Courtyard Hotel

Anaheim's newest hotel, the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel, is located south of the Disneyland Resort, the Los Angeles Angels stadium, the Honda Center, Knott's Berry Farm, Soak City, and the Anaheim Convention Center.  If you would like to know more about the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel, make sure you listen or subscribe to all of the Get Away Today Travel Show podcasts.  We've also provided a transcript of our conversation.

WE MAKE IT EASY TO LISTEN: 

Listening to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast is simple.  There are four different ways to do it: 

1. Just press the PLAY button.  (8:27)

2.  If you have iTunes installed on your computer, click the small iTunes logo right here in this paragraph to connect to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast inside the iTunes store. Once you're there, click the 'SUBSCRIBE' button.  If you don't have iTunes installed on your computer, click here to download the software.  It's FREE!

3.  Download the audio.  To download, right-click on this MP3 FILE link.  Select the 'Save Target As' option to download the file.

4.  You can also visit the Get Away Today podcast page and listen to all of the travel features we've produced for you.

--------------------START OF PODCAST TRANSCRIPT--------------------

Todd Carlson:  (Announcer)
Travel news you can use.  This is the Get Away Today.com Travel Show.  Get Away Today is a top provider of affordable, fun family vacations to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Hawaii, San Diego, Beaches, and Sandals in the Caribbean. The Travel Show is heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com.  And now, here's the host of the Travel Show.

Patrick Wiscombe: (Get Away Today - Internet Marketing Manager)
Welcome to the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast.  My name is Patrick Wiscombe; podcasting live from my hotel room in San Diego.  Coming up in the next few minutes, I'm putting the Get Away Today hotel spotlight on the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel which is just a little bit south of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.  Just a quick note before we get started, when you book your vacation on our website, Get Away Today.com, enter promotion code ‘podcast’ as you're checking out to get an additional $10 off your vacation.  Cathy Dutton, Account Executive for the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel, is on the phone with me right now.  Just before we started the podcast, you were telling me that the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel is the newest hotel in Anaheim.  When did it open?

Cathy Dutton: (Account Executive - Anaheim Courtyard Hotel)
The Anaheim Courtyard Hotel opened in August 2006.  Its half a mile south of the Disneyland Resort on Harbor Blvd.  We’re right behind the brand-new Ruth's Chris steakhouse.

Patrick Wiscombe:  So you can get some steak while you're on vacation.

Cathy Dutton:   You certainly can.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Let's take our listeners on an audio tour of the brand new Anaheim Courtyard Hotel.

Cathy Dutton:  the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel is a prototype hotel for the future.  It has a very unique ambience from the time you enter.  The Panini Grill is located inside the lobby.  Panini Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Unlike most Courtyard hotels, it has a cocktail lounge.  As you walk from the lobby, you’ll head directly to the pool area.  The regular pool and the children’s pool are heated.  We also have a jacuzzi.

Patrick Wiscombe:  When people check into a hotel, they're paying for the bed, the room, and the experience.  Give us a detailed description about the types of rooms guests will find at the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel.

Cathy Dutton:  The Courtyard brand is known primarily as a business traveler’s hotel.  However, with this particular hotel being so close to the Disneyland Resort, they made it very leisure friendly as well.  We offer king size room that has a sofa sleeper in it.  You can sleep up to four guests in a king size room.  The Anaheim Courtyard Hotel also offers two queen size beds as well.  You can’t forget about Marriott's famous revive bedding package.  It’s so comfortable.  We also have a refrigerator inside each of the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel rooms.  You won’t find that benefit at any of the other Courtyard hotels.

Patrick Wiscombe:  is it a regular size refrigerator or a mini refrigerator?

Cathy Dutton:  These are mini refrigerators.  We also offer a mini-mart inside the Anaheim Courtyard lobby.  We also have a workout room, coin-operated laundry, a game room, as well as complimentary internet access.  If somebody staying at the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel needs to do some work while they’re on vacation, we can help them with that. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  You offer the king and queen size beds.  Do you have a work area in the rooms?

Cathy Dutton:  There’s a very large, portable work area in each room.  You can wheel the work area around the room.  If you want to sit by the window, you can roll the desk over to the window.  It's a unique feature.  We also have the standard computer, telephone, and power connections. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  Do you offer wireless internet access at the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel?

Cathy Dutton:  We offer complimentary wired and wireless internet access throughout the hotel.  Here's another really benefit of staying out the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel.  We have 153 rooms on the property.  It’s a smaller, more intimate experience. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  Is the Anaheim Courtyard Hotel a smoking or non-smoking hotel?

Cathy Dutton:  All of the rooms are non-smoking rooms.  The Anaheim Courtyard Hotel has a patio where guests can smoke.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Do you offer transportation to and from the Disneyland Resort even though you're only half a mile away?

Cathy Dutton:  We offer the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) service.  It's commonly referred to as the ART system.  In fact, you can catch the ART trolley on either side of the hotel.  Because we're right behind the Anaheim Marriott, you can use the pathway between the Anaheim Courtyard and the Anaheim Marriott to catch the trolley.  Guest can also walk out to Harbor Blvd to catch ART trolley.  Guest can also use the ART system to go over to the Block of Orange to go shopping.  Guests can use the ART all day and all night.  It's a great way to get around.

Patrick Wiscombe: Is the ART trolley free?

Cathy Dutton:  The service is not free.  There is a fee to use the ART.  Its three dollars per person, per day and children 10 and under are free.  You can purchase a multi-day trolley pass as well.

Patrick Wiscombe:  The Anaheim Courtyard offers king size rooms with the king size beds.  You also offer the queen size rooms with two queen size beds.  You also offer the kid suite rooms with the bunk beds.  Are there any other room types we need to talk about?

Cathy Dutton:  We have handicap accessible rooms that are ADA compliant.  Many of those ADA rooms have the roll-in showers.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Do you have a workout facility?

Cathy Dutton:  Yes, we have a gym at the hotel.  I can't remember if I mentioned this but there is a coin operated laundry facility at the Anaheim Courtyard as well.  We also have a game center if you want to play games.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Many people like to travel with their pets.  Can guests bring their pets to the Anaheim Courtyard hotel?

Cathy Dutton:  The Anaheim Courtyard hotel doesn’t allow pets.

Patrick Wiscombe:  What's the earliest time one of our Get Away Today guests can check into the Anaheim Courtyard hotel?

Cathy Dutton:  We have a 3 p.m. check-in time.   However, if you arrive a little bit early, come to the front desk to see if we have a room available room for you.  If a room is available, we’ll check you in.  If we don’t have any rooms available, we can store your luggage until a room becomes available.  There's a nice sitting area in the lobby and by the pool while you're waiting for your room to be ready.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Let’s talk about the amenities inside each of the Anaheim Courtyard hotel rooms.  You have air-conditioning.  You also have heat which is important since were heading into winter.  You have cribs.  Do you have an iron and ironing board inside each of the guest rooms?

Cathy Dutton:  Absolutely.  We have coffee makers inside all the rooms.  We have hair dryers inside all of the rooms.  We have just about anything you need.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Thank you Cathy.  That's Cathy Dutton, Account Executive for the Anaheim Courtyard hotel near the Disneyland Resort.  Just a quick reminder, if you book your Disneyland Resort vacation on our website. Get Away Today.com, use promotion code ‘podcast’ as you're checking out to get an additional $10 off your vacation.

Todd Carlson:  (Announcer)
You can book your Get Away Today vacation package right now by going to Get Away Today.com or calling one of our friendly reservation agents at 1-866-FUN-TRIP.  This has been the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com

--------------------END OF PODCAST TRANSCRIPT--------------------

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Get TWO Early Entries with our Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Tickets

When you purchase a 3 day or longer Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket from Get Away Today, you'll automatically receive a SECOND early entry to the park at no additional cost. Disneyland early entry days are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  With the Get Away Today Park Hopper ticket, you'll be able to ride the attractions in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland before the park opens to the general public.  You'll also be able to ride Disneyland's new 'Finding Nemo' attraction before the lines gets too long.

Not only will you get two early entries to the Disneyland Resort, you'll also receive:

• Free Disney Trading Pin featuring Pluto
• Free Get Away Today lanyard
• Free 5x7 Disney Photo Pass picture - a $12.95 value

We'll also give you 14 travel tips that will make your Disneyland vacation even more enjoyable so make sure you listen or subscribe to all of the Get Away Today Travel Show podcasts.  We've also provided a transcript of our conversation.

WE MAKE IT EASY TO LISTEN: 

Listening to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast is simple.  There are four different ways to do it: 

1. Just press the PLAY button.  (17:44)

2.  If you have iTunes installed on your computer, click the small iTunes logo right here in this paragraph to connect to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast inside the iTunes store. Once you're there, click the 'SUBSCRIBE' button.  If you don't have iTunes installed on your computer, click here to download the software.  It's FREE!

3.  Download the audio.  To download, right-click on this MP3 FILE link.  Select the 'Save Target As' option to download the file.

4.  You can also visit the Get Away Today podcast page and listen to all of the travel features we've produced for you.

--------------------START OF PODCAST TRANSCRIPT--------------------

Todd Carlson:  (Announcer)
Travel news you can use.  This is the Get Away Today.com Travel Show.  Get Away Today is a top provider of affordable, fun family vacations to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Hawaii, San Diego, Beaches, and Sandals in the Caribbean. The Travel Show is heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com.  And now, here's the host of the Travel Show.

Patrick Wiscombe:  (Get Away Today - Internet Marketing Manager)
We appreciate you tuning into the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast, the only podcast on the web and on iTunes where you get fresh travel content every single day about Disneyland, Walt Disney World, San Diego, Beaches, Sandals, and Universal Studios Hollywood.  My name is Patrick Wiscombe; Internet Marketing Manager for Get Away Today.com.  Coming up in the next few minutes, Jennifer Dunyon, Vice President of Communications at Get Away Today, will join me in-studio to give you some important traveling tips if you're headed to Disneyland.  We also have some Disneyland news for Get Away Today customers.  But first, let's get to the Disneyland travel tips.  Here’s Jennifer.

Jennifer Dunyon:  (Get Away Today - Vice President of Communications)
I have three young children.  I read this article that will help you if you’re traveling to Disneyland.  First of all, choose Disneyland.  It's a great family vacation destination.  Your children will love it.  They will see their favorite princesses, pirates, as well as all of the fun characters they've grown with.  It's such a magical destination.

Patrick Wiscombe:  There's something really fun about watching your child’s eyes light up when they see one of the characters they’ve been watching on DVD or video for years.  It's really fun to watch them meet those characters in real life. 

Jennifer Dunyon:  That's absolutely right.  Some parents wonder what the right age is for kids to go to Disneyland.  There's really a lot to do for each age group.  Another tip is staying in a hotel close to the Disneyland Resort.  You don't have to do as much walking and you don't have to worry about transportation.  It's really a bonus to be able to walk over to the park. 

Some of my favorite hotels that are close to the park are the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.  Those hotels are Disney’s Grand Californian, the Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier.  They're so family-friendly.  There are so many extra magical touches. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  One of the things I really like is the Disney Channel promoting the parks. You get a preview of what you’re going to do that day. 

Jennifer Dunyon:  That's my kid’s favorite thing to watch when we go back to the hotel.  The next tip would be getting a Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket.  Be sure you get a 3-day, 4-day, or 5-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket.  It's so nice to visit the parks over multiple days.  There’s no pressure to get everything done in one day.  You don't have to rush the experience.  You can relax and enjoy the park.  If you have toddlers or young kids, it’s much more enjoyable if you’re not rushing around.  It's a lot of fun to be able to do things at their pace.  If you run into a Disney character, you can stop and get pictures.  You should spend as much time as you can in the park.

Patrick Wiscombe:  We had a foreign exchange student live with us several years ago.  We haven’t seen each other in 20 years.  She’s here now and she was only able to go one day to Disneyland.  When she got home, she told me that she didn’t have enough time to see everything.  You really need more than one day at Disneyland to see and do everything.
 
Jennifer Dunyon:  That is so true.  There is so much to see and do at the Disneyland Resort.  It's not fun dragging your young kids around the park or being in a hurry.  You really need those extra days in the park to do and see everything.  If you can, go for a week.  With a five day ticket, you can do both theme parks and go the beach.  You can go to Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, or drive down to San Diego.  That's really fun.  You can go to SeaWorld.  It’s really a fun way to end your vacation.  The longer you stay the better.  If you’re doing a short weekend getaway to Disneyland, it’s still a great place to go.  Even if you can’t go for an entire week, still go to Disneyland.

I would definitely plan your meals in advance.  Disney makes that so easy to do.  They offer a Disney dining experience.  Their phone number is (714)-781-3463.  You can make your reservations up to 60 days in advance.  That also includes the Disney character breakfasts.  Kids love to eat the food prepared by Goofy himself.  You can go interact with the Disney characters.  They also have Disney character dining experiences for lunch and dinner.  Here’s a dining tip; avoid the big rushes.  Go earlier or later than everybody else would so you don’t have to wait in line.  If you plan your meals in advance, you won't have to wait in line to get your food.  You can walk right in when your reservation time has come and they'll seat you right away.  Another cool feature about the Downtown Disney restaurants is the takeout windows.  You can sit outside and see all the fun stuff going on around you.  You’re not confined to the restaurant.  You can get your food and can take it back to your hotel room.  Many of our hotels we’ve partnered with have a kids eat free option which is a great promotion for families.  It really makes a Disneyland Resort vacation even more affordable.  Some of the Disneyland Partner Hotels offer complimentary breakfast in the morning.  Make sure you ask your Get Away Today reservation agent for recommendations.  You can also find that type of information on our website.  Being able to eat free can be a huge savings for some families

Patrick Wiscombe:  What's your favorite restaurant?

Jennifer Dunyon:  You know, I love Ariel’s Grotto.  I really love Ralph Brennan's Jazz kitchen.

Patrick Wiscombe:  I like the Jazz Kitchen too.

Jennifer Dunyon:  Yes, they have delicious bananas foster.  I love the Blue Bayou over in the Disneyland Park.  I like the Napa Rose inside of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.  We ate at Yamabuki’s at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel last time we went down.  It was really good.  They offer a Japanese style food.  They had a wonderful kids menu.  They really have great service there as well.

Patrick Wiscombe:  Have you been to the Rainforest Café with your kids?

Jennifer Dunyon:  That's another one of my family’s favorite restaurants.  It feels like you’re in a rainforest.  It's really a great atmosphere to be in.  I love the ESPN Zone.  My husband really loves it as well because we can go in to eat dinner and watch a game.  They also have great food.  There is also a McDonald's inside of the Disney's California Adventure Park.  There are so many great dining options at the Disneyland Resort. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  What other tips do you have for us?

Jennifer Dunyon:  Get your kids involved during the planning phase of your vacation.  Have them color fun pictures to bring to Mickey Mouse and have them do different chores to earn money for souvenirs.  You can eat Mickey Mouse pancakes in the morning and watch Disney movies so they get excited to go.  Let your kids know they're going to meet the fun characters in the movies at Disneyland.  The anticipation makes that vacation even that much more fun. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  I’ve put the date of our vacation on the calendar before so they know which day we’re going to leave for our Disneyland vacation.

Jennifer Dunyon:  My children are still so young that it seems like every couple of hours they’re asking me, “When are we going to Disneyland?”  It's such a fun destination for kids.  My kids say that I work with Mickey Mouse so they think I have a dream job.  Another thing, bring your own souvenirs with your.  I know that sounds funny, but if you bring your own Princess fruit snacks, coloring books, and DVDs, it helps keep that anticipation level high and saves money.  If you already have some princess outfits, bring them with you so your kids can wear them at the parks.  Another fun thing is wearing matching Disney shirts.  We’ve done that as a family a few times.  Here’s another tip, when you first get into the park, make sure you have a meeting place so if anyone gets lost, you have a spot where you can meet.  Also, tell your children what to do if they do get lost.  Before you go to Disneyland, make sure you know which rides your children can go on.  You may want to bring a stroller.  You can rent them inside Disneyland or you can bring your own.  If you rent one inside the park, they’ll charge you 8 - 10 dollars a day.  When you're going around the park all day it's nice to have a spot where your kids can just sit back and relax.

Patrick Wiscombe:  There’s a place to park your stroller at every single ride.  You can leave your stuff inside the stroller and other guests will just leave it alone.  You don't even have to worry about it.

Jennifer Dunyon:  If you're a mom with an infant that can’t go on the rides, you can go to the front of the line when your group is about to get on a ride and tell them that you had to stay back with the stroller.  They will give you a stroller pass to come back up to the front of the line and go on a ride.  It's kind of like a fast pass, it's so great.  So your family goes on the ride and then you and another guest can go right on the attractions so you don't have to wait in the line twice

Patrick Wiscombe:  Wow, I didn’t know that.

Jennifer Dunyon:  That’s an insider tip for you as well.  Make sure you utilize the Disney’s Fast Pass system as much as possible. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  How many fast passes can you have active at one time?

Jennifer Dunyon:  You can only have one at a time but once that time expires, you can go get another one for a different attraction.  Here’s another tip.  If you're staying at one of the hotels right by the theme parks, use the swimming pools during the peak times of the day.  With Get Away Today you get two early entries if you purchase a three-day or longer Park Hopper ticket at Disneyland.  Early entry means you can get into the park an hour earlier than the general public.  It's so nice, especially with the new Finding Nemo attraction.  Finding Nemo is a great attraction for children, but it's also a really long wait if you don't utilize our Get Away Today early entry tickets.  Make sure you use our early entry ticket to ride Finding Nemo.  The other Disneyland parks that are open in the morning are Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.  Those two parks have the best rides for kids.  You can get on the Teacups and Alice in Wonderland before the lines get too long.  You really don't want to have to wait in line very long so take advantage of our early entry tickets.  You can have a wonderful experience then go back to your hotel to relax by the swimming pool.  It’s a great way to cool off when it’s hot.  After you take a break, then you’re ready to go back to the park in the afternoon.  When you go back in the afternoon, you’ll be able to see some of the parades and the fireworks. 

Patrick Wiscombe:  You mentioned just a second ago that we’re offering two early entries with our Get Away Today Park Hopper passes.  Will you give us the details on that?  That’s a significant piece of news.

Jennifer Dunyon:  Yes it is.  This is an offer you can only get from Get Away Today.  If you’re traveling to the Disneyland Resort on or after September 1, 2007, you'll receive two early entries, instead of one, into the Disneyland Resort theme park.  Here’s another secret.  If you stay at any of the Disneyland hotels like Disney’s Paradise Pier, Disney’s Grand Californian, or the Disneyland Hotel, you get an early entry pass every morning you’re there. 

Here’s another tip.  Bring a swimsuit to the park.  Inside Disney’s California Adventure Park they have Bugsland that has all the water that pops out of the ground.  It’s a place where they can play and get wet.  It's kind of like a water playground.  It's a nice place to go when it's really hot during the day and you don't want to go back to the hotel and swim.  All you need to do is put their swimsuits on, let them run around, cool off, and have a great time.  Bugs land has really comfortable benches for the parents to sit down and relax.  I sometimes bring a magazine.  I know that sounds kind of funny but it helps me relax also.  I really like to let my kids have their own vacation experience.  That’s an area they really like to visit.  There are usually no crowds inside the Bugs Land area.

Kids really love the Disneyland Resort.  They get so excited.  Make sure your kids over to the Pirates Lair so they can become a pirate.  If you have young daughters, make sure you take them to the Princess Fantasy Faire where they become princesses.  They get to make crowns, do crafts, get their hair braided, and get their face painted.  If your son or daughter would like to become a Jedi, take them to the Jedi Training Academy where they get to fight Darth Vader. 

There are a lot of really fun shows.  Look for the off the road shows.  We went to one of those shows last time we were there.  We just got off the Monsters, Inc. ride and went to a show.  There was hardly anyone there.  The show featured Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Woody, as well as the other Disney characters.  It was great!   We got to meet the characters after the show.  There are tons of things like that at Disneyland.  They have the Aladdin show, Turtle Talk with Crush, Playhouse Disney, and so many more shows that make your Disneyland trip extra special.  Sometimes those experiences become their favorite experiences at the park.  You can ride the train around the park.  The younger kids really enjoy doing that.  Tailor your vacation for your children but make sure that you and your husband get to ride those fun attractions as well.  Make it an experience that they'll really remember.  If you keep it simple and take it at their level, you’ll find that you went to Disneyland and had a relaxing vacation.  Everyone will wonder how you did that because for most people it's typically not the most relaxing vacation with younger children.  But really, in all honesty, it’s the best place to go on vacation as a family. 

Todd Carlson:  (Announcer)
You can book your Get Away Today vacation package right now by going to Get Away Today.com or calling one of our friendly reservation agents at 1-866-FUN-TRIP.  This has been the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com

--------------------END OF PODCAST TRANSCRIPT--------------------

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Get Away Today Happy Customer: Jenny From Utah

Dear Get Away Today:

Thanks for helping us with our vacation.  We had a great time!  Our hotel was great and we enjoyed the extras we received by going through Get Away Today.  Halloween time is a great time to visit Disneyland.  Our favorite was the Haunted Mansion.  They turned it into 'The Night Before Christmas' It was awesome.  We loved going on the ride.

Thanks for helping us have a great time.

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Get Away Today Happy Customer: The Coles Family

Dear Get Away Today:

We had a wonderful vacation! We were there in October. This is the fifth time we have booked a Disneyland vacation with Get Away Today.  We are always happy with how easy and worry free you make our trip. We are introducing our children to Disneyland and our daughter is a big fan. She loved the character lunch with the princesses so much in was like meeting celebrities. 

Thanks again!

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Get Away Today Happy Customer: Wendy From Arizona

Dear Get Away Today:

We had a jolly holiday at Disneyland with our favorite characters, Mary Poppins and Bert.  Thank you Get Away Today for giving us a great price on our vacation package!

Thanks again!

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Get Away Today Happy Customer: The Yates Family

Dear Get Away Today:

We recently took our three children, my husband's parents, and his brother to Disneyland.  We left the early part of September and planned a jam-packed 5-Day Park Hopper trip.  The weather was wonderful.  We even took the opportunity in the middle of the week to visit Newport Beach and play in the sand. Our photo album is going to be filled with over 600 pictures.  We are grateful that Get Away Today was there to help us out!

Thanks again!

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Get Away Today Happy Customer: Michelle From California

Dear Get Away Today:

We stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel which was great and spent 2 days at Disneyland and California Adventure!  WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

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Get Away Today Happy Customer: Jennifer From California

We had a wonderful trip to San Diego two weeks ago.  We stayed at the Holiday Inn Carlsbad by the Sea.  It was a great hotel.  The day we got there we relaxed by the pool and enjoyed the wonderful weather, then went to eat dinner.  They had a TGI Friday's attached to the hotel and the food was great and the kids ate free...yea. 

On the second day we went to SeaWorld.  the animals there are so amazing and the scenery is beautiful.  The shows were awesome and the kids loved it.  We have four kids.  They are 15, 13, 7, and 5. 

The third day we went to Legoland and it was so amazing to see all the wonderful things they had built in Lego's, plus they had over 50 rides for us to enjoy.  The fourth day we went to the beach in Carlsbad, about two minutes from our hotel off highway 101.  It was so much fun.  We packed sandwiches, snacks, and drinks.  We brought our chairs, umbrella, blankets, towels and sand toys to enjoy for the day.  We all got in the water and used our boogie boards to ride the waves.  All in all we had an awesome trip and cannot wait to plan the one for next year. 

We want to say thank you to Get Away Today for making our vacation so cheap, easy, and hassle free.  With four kids, the payment plan comes in handy.  You made our week very memorable and we will continue to tell people how great Get Away Today is. 

Thanks again!

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