A friend commented the other day that if he had time off he would head to Orlando and take advantage of the fact Walt Disney World is probably not very crowded in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedies.

He was not responding to President Bush's recent comments that people need to "enjoy life," and "go down to Disney World." Rather, my friend is a Type A kind of guy who really hates lines.

But his comments got me wondering about the situation at the Disney parks and whether there are special deals to draw visitors.

A Walt Disney World spokeswoman declined to give attendance figures, but said the fall is always slower attendance-wise than, say, July. And she said prior to Sept. 11, the annual numbers were already soft, and "the events did not improve that situation."

But how that translates into the wait at, say, Splash Mountain, she declined to say. My guess is we're talking closer to 15 minutes than 45.

Having launched a celebration of founder Walt Disney's 100th birthday earlier this month, complete with new parades, shows and attractions, the parks are hardly empty. That's clear.

But the big question for bargain-hunters is, are prices lower?

The answer is, there are some good deals. Park tickets remain the same, but a nightly room rate of $59 has been introduced at Disney's All-Star Sports, Disney's All-Star Music and Disney's All-Star Movies resorts, where rates normally start at $77. The rate is available most nights between Nov. 23 and Dec. 25, and Jan. 1 and Feb. 13, but the number of rooms is limited and advance reservations are required. There may be a minimum stay requirement if you visit on a weekend.

There's also a package special starting at $329 for adults, $229 for juniors (10 to 17) and $184 for kids (3 to 9) that includes three nights' accommodations and an Ultimate Park Hopper ticket good for unlimited admission to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom, Disney's water parks, Pleasure Island and Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. It's available for travel Nov. 23 to Dec. 25. (Ask for booking code ZWQA.)

Look for comparable winter packages.

Be aware that security is more noticeable at the parks, including a requirement that anyone entering have their bags searched. For reservations, call W-DISNEY (407-934-7639). For information, visit www.disneyworld.com.

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