Disney hopes 'magic' will loosen pocketbooks

You know times are tight when the “Happiest Place on Earth” is making a visit easier on the pocketbook.

Discount deals abound for Universal Studios and Sea World, but Disneyland bargains haven't been quite as accessible — until now. The parks (Disneyland and California Adventure) are offering some incentives to make your visit more affordable. Maybe one of these offers will put more “magic” into your year.

Free admission on your birthday: Just register your 2009 birthday online (http://www.disneyland.com/) a few weeks ahead of your big day. Disney will confirm by e-mail. Then, take your confirmation and an ID to the ticket booths at the park to claim your free entry. This will only let you into one of the parks, Disneyland or California Adventure, but you can pay the difference to upgrade to both.

Disney Parks Celebrate US Military With Free, Multi-day Admission ...

As Disney Parks ask “What Will You Celebrate?” and invite guests to turn their personal milestones into magical family vacations in 2009, America’s military personnel will have one more reason to celebrate: Free multi-day admission to Disney’s U.S. theme parks.

With the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer, active and retired U.S. military personnel,including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reservists, can enjoy complimentary, multi-day admission into Disney’s U.S. theme parks, great rates at select Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort hotels, and additional special ticket offers for family members and friends.

Visiting California? Check Out Gorp.com Before You Leave

Gorp.com, the extensive online resource that specializes in travel information for national parks, outdoor activities and adventure travel gear, also happens to have a great destination guide on California.>>What's hot: You don't have to know what type of Polartec fabric is appropriate for which season to find something that appeals to you in the many sections of the California destination guide. In the "Road Trip Guides," even the laziest adventurer can find options, and there are many more ideas for your next California vacation.

"The Best of California" on the main page suggests coastal trails, day hikes and Sierra escapes, and the regional links beneath the map lead you to plenty of gems, such as five oceanfront campsites in Southern California ("An Ocean at Your Doorstep") and white-water rafting on the American River. Every page of the site has another set of activities to check out. There's far more than a year's worth of weekend getaways and much more to keep you daydreaming.

Roundup: Southern California resorts get snow. Best Western sale ...

Good morning, travelers! Was it a little wet for you this weekend? The bad news is that there is another storm coming today. The good news is that means more snow for the local ski resorts. Here’s a Los Angeles traffic map for you. Local ski report On the Snow reports that Mammoth, Mountain High has already received 24 inches in the last 72 hours; Mt. Baldy received 36 inches of snow in the last 72 hours while Bear Mountain, Snow Summit and Snow Valley only got 16 inches.

Deals Best Western, the consistently decent and comfortable hotel chain with the free high-speed Internet (Wi-Fi varies by location) and free breakfast is having a special week-long sale. Each day they will offer discounts wrapped around a theme or destination. The sale starts at 9 a.m. PST and lasts for two hours. Monday deals will be centered around popular ski destinations and resorts; Tuesday deals feature romantic hot spots such as Napa, Savannah and Nashville; Wednesday deals are all about the warm weather in places such as Honolulu, San Diego, Scottsdale and Orlando; Thursday features favorite U.S. cities, including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles; and Friday deals will be a grab bag mix of destinations in North America. Where is your favorite Best Western?