DISNEYLAND LUXURY GETAWAY REALLY NOT SUCH A GOOFY IDEA.

Byline: Marla Matzer Rose Correspondent

ANAHEIM - On a recent vacation in Southern California, my husband and I enjoyed a massage, relaxed over a fine dinner with a nice glass of wine, then went back to our four-star hotel that featured a fantastic view and handsome decor.

Oh, did I mention that we were at Disneyland?

As it marks its 50th anniversary this year, Disneyland has come a long way from the E ticket and the annoyingly cheerful strains of ``It's a Small World.'' Those who haven't visited in years - especially those who associate theme parks with the word ``tacky'' - might be in for a pleasant surprise if they take another look at the Disneyland Resort.

That's right, Disneyland has grown up and now calls itself a resort. With three hotels on the property and a host of amenities added in the past several years, now a different Disney experience is available for those who wouldn't normally make a theme park the first choice for a romantic or relaxing weekend.

The last several years have seen the addition of Disney's California Adventure park, the upscale Grand Californian Hotel and the Downtown Disney District, all adjacent to the original Disneyland. While families with young children remain the core audience for the park, the addition of these new attractions with their gourmet dining offerings (including alcohol, once verboten at Disneyland), spa and luxury accommodations opens up a whole new range of possibilities.

A good place to start if convenience and a first-rate experience are more important than rock-bottom prices is the Walt Disney Travel Co.: [phone]. You can also be booked through your own travel agent or through Disneyland.com.

The Walt Disney Travel Co. is little-used by locals - the recorded greeting on its phone line promises an exciting vacation in ``fabulous Southern California''- but this in-house travel firm offers a one-stop shop for packages and extras not available anywhere else.

For example, the WDTC is offering a Romance Package and a 50th Anniversary Commemorative Package as add-ons to vacations of two nights or more at Disneyland. The romance package includes dinner for two at your choice of the Grand Californian's Napa Rose restaurant or two of the resort's other most upscale eateries; a spa treatment for two at the Grand Californian; two collectible, limited-edition cloisonne pins; and your choice of a pair of champagne flutes or a crystal picture frame. Price: $325 (in addition to the hotel charge).

The WDTC also offers options including extras such as preferred seating at various resort shows and meal plans. They tend to price out about the same as buying them separately, but the planning assistance and convenience is a real advantage.

Booked separately, a one-hour massage at the Grand Californian's Eureka Springs Health Club goes for $105 to $120, depending on t at the Napa Rose typically runs about $50 per person, excluding drinks.

You can find promotional rates on the resort hotels for as little as $120 or so at certain times. Disney itself ran a promotion in mid-2004 touting resort hotel rooms for as little as $150 per night. But the luxury-minded traveler might want to consider upgrading to a suite or concierge/club level room at one of the Disney hotels, which offers an even nicer experience.

In our opinion, unless you really need a little extra room, the concierge level offers better value than does a suite upgrade. Concierge level rooms at the Grand Californian have year-round rack rates starting at $525, while a basic suite starts at $695. The regular suites are a step up but not really spacious at around 700 square feet.

Meanwhile, guests on the concierge level get perks such as food services throughout the day, kids' activities and the ability to view the evening fireworks, along with piped-in music, from the comfort of the exclusive lounge.

The Disneyland Hotel's concierge rooms start at $430, while the Paradise Pier's are priced from $290 year-round. If you choose a suite at one of the three hotels and want to add on access to the concierge lounge and its services, you'll pay an additional $100 to $150 per day.

For those who truly want to live large, the Grand Californian offers a handful of Vice Presidential and Presidential suites. They're often occupied by chieftains of business attending the frequent conferences booked at the resort, and by the stars of Disney movies whose films are being premiered at the park.

These expansive and impressive suites feature two to three bedrooms along with such things as enhanced Craftsman touches modeled after the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, formal dining areas, indoor/outdoor fireplaces and large private balconies with sweeping views of Disney's California Adventure. They can be had for $1,700 to $3,000 per night - not exactly Mickey Mouse prices.

DISNEYLAND OVERNIGHT

Resources: Walt Disney Travel Co., [phone] or go to www.disneyland.com.

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The lobby of Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel, with its towering ceilings and rock pillars, gives grown-ups a respite.