National Geographic Tours Disneyland

Usually I look through National Geographic and sigh at all the fancy trips I can’t afford, then I plot to figure out how I can do something equally cool, but cheaper.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, left, inspired Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Today though I came across this article about how famous landscapes around the world have influenced Disney rides and architecture. So if you don’t have the time or money to visit Utah’s Monument Valley, and some castles in Austria, and Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania, and New Orleans, and, well, space (or the future), at least you can go to the Happiest Place on Earth and see versions of it all.

See the Geography of Disneyland slideshow.

Volunteer and Get a Free Day at Disney

Update 4/7/2010: Looks like the first million people have claimed their free ticket, so this program is over. Let’s hope Disney offers it again next year.

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Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.

That’s the offer and it’s as simple as it sounds. To get people volunteering in their communities, Disney is offering a free 1-day, 1-theme park ticket for either Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort to the first million people who complete their day of service. The offer is good in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

As a traveler you probably already have a strong volunteer ethic. Why? Because you’ve seen a little of the world, you appreciate cultures, communities and the elements of nature that bind us all together, and you know how important it is to support the people and programs that try to make life better for everyone.

Reaching out and connecting with others is what being a traveler is all about, even when you’re not far from home. So help out at a community garden, a local animal shelter or your old elementary school, and know that what you’re doing is just as important as if you were doing it on the other side of the world.

Oh, and enjoy the added benefit of free rides. Woo hoo!

Here’s the fine print:
You must pre-register and sign up through this site to volunteer and complete your service at an eligible volunteer opportunity in the fifty United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or Canada to receive a ticket after verification of such service. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. You must be at least 18 to sign up. You may only sign up a maximum of 8 members of your household. Children must be at least 6 to participate in the program. One ticket per person, regardless of the number of times you volunteer. Program begins January 1, 2010 and continues until tickets are distributed or until December 15, 2010, whichever occurs first. Your voucher for a free ticket must be redeemed by December 15, 2010, and used on the same day of redemption.

Sign up now and find a great volunteer opportunity near you!

Student Deals on the Eurostar Disney Train

What are you doing for Spring Break? Or next summer? If you’re looking for a way to save money and still have fun, planning ahead is step one, and step two is finding the best student travel deals.

If backpacking Europe is high on your travel wish list, consider adding the Eurostar Disney train to your itinerary. It’s touristy, but fun, and you have to do something silly to balance out all the museums, cafes and other serious traveller activities you’re going to do.

The Eurostar offers daily direct service between London Waterloo or Ashford and Marne-la-Vallée (the heart of Disneyland Paris). The train drops you at the gates of the Magic Kingdom so you can walk right up and say “Bonjour” to Mickey and Minnie.

And if you’re looking for Disney deals on this side of the Atlantic, don’t forget about Disneyland’s offer to get into the park for free on your birthday during 2009.

Visit Disneyland for Free in 2009

This is one of those offers that’s very cool for some people, and not such a big deal for others. The short version: Disneyland is offering free admission to everyone on their birthday in 2009.

If you live within driving distance to Disneyland and you like to visit there often then a free day at the park is pretty cool. If you’re an Annual Passholder then you get a different treat on your birthday.

If you live far away and it would cost you a fortune to get to Disneyland for your free day, or if your birthday falls at a time when you can’t possibly get to the park, then you’re sort of out of luck. This offer isn’t good the day before your birthday, or the day after, or on your best friend’s birthday so that you can both have a free day at the same time. Still, it’s a nice offer that lots of people will probably take advantage of.

You can sign up for your Disneyland birthday pass here: Free Admission On Your Birthday

If you want to take advantage of this opportunity but don’t know if you can swing the other expenses, talk to your friendly Travel CUTS agent. They can point you to hostels near the park and find you the most affordable student travel options possible.