Variety of New Year’s Parties Offered

Ushering in the New Year in style is quite easy to do with the variety of New Year’s Eve packages offered by Orange County hotels and restaurants. Many celebrations sell out weeks in advance, so early reservations are recommended.

Following is a list of some of the available packages. (Some prices quoted include tax and gratuity; others do not. Also, some events have dress codes. Check when making reservations.)

Anaheim Hilton and Towers,777 W. Convention Way, Anaheim. A five-course dinner with wine is offered in the Pavia restaurant, with seating at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $80 per person, which includes dancing to a live band and a champagne toast at midnight. For $55 per person, revelers get a four-course dinner with wine in the Hastings restaurant, a midnight champagne toast and party favors. The Pulse Lounge offers dancing to a live band from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.; the $35 fee includes a midnight champagne toast, party favors and a 2 a.m. continental breakfast. Information: (714) 740-4790.

Balboa Pavilion,400 Main St., Newport Beach. The familiar landmark overlooking Newport Bay will feature a buffet dinner, followed by dancing to music by the Charles Butler Band. Cost is $24 per person. Information: (714) 673-4633.

Cannery Restaurant,3010 Lafayette Ave., Newport Beach. The restaurant offers a steak-and-lobster dinner in the restaurant and a cruise around Newport Harbor. One package offers a 5 p.m. dinner and a 7 p.m. cruise; the other starts with a 9 p.m. cruise and ends with an 11 p.m. dinner. Cost for both packages is $59 per person. Information: (714) 675-5777.

Dana Point Resort,25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point. The new resort’s New Year’s package includes a room, cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, four-course dinner with wine, dancing to music by Signed, Sealed and Delivered, champagne and party favors. The cost is $444 per couple, and includes a breakfast buffet the morning after. Information: (714) 661-5000.

Disneyland Hotel,1150 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim. A five-course dinner at Granville’s will be followed by a party with dancing, open bar, champagne and party favors at the hotel’s Pavilion Lounge. Prices per person are $79 for the dinner, $49 for the party and $119 for both. A supervised party for children 4 to 12 years old, with games, food and activities, is offered at $30 per child. New Year’s festivities are also planned in Sgt. Preston’s Yukon Saloon and Dancehall, the Wharf Bar and the Mandarin Lounge. Information: (714) 956-6709.

Doubletree Hotel,100 The City Drive, Orange. Dinner in Dover’s Restaurant, including live entertainment, party favors and a midnight champagne toast is $65 per person. Information: (714) 634-4500.

Emerald Hotel,1717 S. West St., Anaheim. A price of $49 per person includes dinner and dancing to a big band in the Pacific Room, with champagne and party favors. Special room rates available. Information: (714) 999-0990, Ext. 7298.

Four Seasons Hotel,690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. A five-course dinner with wine in the Pavilion and live entertainment is $150 per person; a four-course dinner in the Cabana Cafe is $50 per person. Both prices include dancing in the Conservatory Lounge and a midnight champagne toast with party favors ($25 cover charge for the party only). Special room rates available. Information: (714) 759-0808.

Grand Hotel,7 W. Freedman Way, Anaheim. The Grand Dinner Theatre will offer a four-course dinner, a production of the Cole Porter musical “Kiss Me Kate,” dancing and a 2 a.m. buffet breakfast for $95 per person. In Green’s Cafe and Saloon, a four-course dinner and dancing are offered for $65 per person. Information: (714) 772-7777.

Hornblower Dining Yacht,Newport Beach. This black-tie event includes a four-course dinner, champagne, live music and party favors--all aboard a dining yacht as it cruises Newport Harbor. Price is $150 per person. Information: (714) 548-8700.

Le Meridien Hotel,4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. One package includes a deluxe room, five-course dinner in the Cafe Fleuri, dancing, a hosted bar, a midnight champagne toast and party favors for $298 per couple (available with room only). Another package includes a five-course dinner in Antoine’s, live entertainment, champagne toast and party favors--$380 per couple with a deluxe room, $140 per person without. A 6 p.m. seating for dinner in Antoine’s is available for $60 per person. Information: (714) 476-2001.

Hyatt Regency Alicante,100 Plaza Alicante, Garden Grove. The deluxe package includes dinner at Geppetto’s and a party in the Atrium with two cocktails and a midnight champagne toast for $275 per couple with room, $175 without. A buffet dinner in the Cafe Alicante, with admission to the Atrium party, is $189 per couple with room, $99 without. Admission to the Atrium party is $25 per person. Information: (714) 971-3000.

Irvine Hilton and Towers,17900 Jamboree Blvd., Irvine. Two seatings in Morrell’s restaurant are offered. The 6:30 p.m. seating includes a four-course dinner, wine, classical music and entrance to the Zot nightclub for $80 per person; a 9 p.m. seating includes a six-course dinner, wine, a midnight champagne toast and dancing in the Lobby Lounge for $125 per person. For $55 per person, revelers will enjoy a buffet dinner with wine, a midnight champagne toast and dancing to a jazz combo in Le Cafe. Dancing to music by the group Oldies But Goodies in the Wimbledon Ballroom is $35 per person; admission to the Zot nightclub is $10 per person. Information: (714) 863-3111.

Irvine Marriott Hotel,18000 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. A charity fund-raiser for Orange County-based Turning Point, a social service group for adolescents and their families, will include a cocktail reception, a four-course dinner and awards reception, Monte Carlo-style gaming tables, dancing, a midnight toast and party favors, a prize auction and 1:30 a.m. buffet breakfast. The price is $200 per person; special room rates are available. Information: (714) 965-3693.

Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club,900 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. A three-course dinner, dancing to big band and contemporary music, free champagne and unlimited cocktails is offered for $225 per couple. Information: (714) 640-4000.

Newporter Resort,1107 Jamboree Blvd., Newport Beach. In the Plaza Ballroom, dinner with wine, dancing to the Sanada Big Band, a midnight champagne toast and party favors is offered for $75 per person (limited dance-only tickets are available for $25 per person). In the Jamboree Cafe, guests will be provided with a five-course dinner, champagne, party favors and entertainment by the Shelley Moore jazz ensemble for $49 per person. Information: (714) 548-0932.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel,33533 Shoreline Drive, Laguna Niguel. The seaside hotel offers New Year’s activities in four restaurants. In the Ballroom, a cocktail reception will be followed by a five-course dinner and dancing to the Barry Cole Band. Price is $175 per person. In the Dining Room, dinner with musical accompaniment by a harpist will be $120 per person. In the Club Grill and Bar, there will be two seatings. The 6 p.m. seating is $85 per person; the 9 p.m. seating, with dancing to the John Mallon Band, is $120 per person. The Cafe will also offer two seatings--$50 per person for the early seating, $75 for the late seating (with dancing). Information: (714) 240-5008.

Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel,666 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa. The 6 p.m. seating in Alfredo’s is $65 per person, including dinner and entertainment by a harpist; the 8:30 p.m. seating is $100 per person and includes dancing to a five-piece band, a midnight champagne toast and party favors. Information: (714) 540-2500. A package that includes a concert by the Pacific Symphony at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and a post-concert gala at the hotel ranges from $69-$150 ($29 for the concert only). Information: (714) 973-1300.