Viva Italia June 2009?

[mwebsite]

Hello All,
I know it's early to plan, but we are looking into Viva Italia June 2009, pretty open on which week. Our daughter will be just turning 13 at the time. Anyone else looking this far ahead?
Monica

[wdwsos]

Hello All,
I know it's early to plan, but we are looking into Viva Italia June 2009, pretty open on which week. Our daughter will be just turning 13 at the time. Anyone else looking this far ahead?
Monica

Hi Monica!

I'm working with the AbD group department right now to get a tour for sometime in the first two weeks in June, and we're looking at Roma and La Costa Bella. A bunch of us from our 2006 Viva Italia trip want to do another Italy trip together. So, yes, I'm planning that far in advance! I always need another vacation to look forward to, no matter how many are already booked. :)

Dotti

[mwebsite]

Dotti,
It's great to know that so many of you had a great time together on Viva Italia that you want to travel together to Rome and La Costa Bella. That trip looked wonderful too, would love to get to the Amalfi Coast, and the cost is less expensive than Viva Italia. But for our first trip to Italy, we felt like the Viva Italia covered the places we need to see, the Vatican, Florence, Venice. The fact that so many of you have such positive comments about ABD to Italy makes me feel we are making the right choice.
Monica

[dpmessinger]

Our family is also planning to take this Adventure vacation in June of 2009. We have 3 boys. At the time of the trip they will be 15, 13 and 6. We also looked at taking this trip in August since the prices were a little less expensive but I hear that it is hot and crowded as well since everyone is on vacation in Italy in August.

[slg]

We have 3 boys also! And we want to take an ABD next year, but not sure which one yet. Whichever one is cheapest I think.

My boys would love to do Italy, I'm leaning toward Austria or Ireland, but we'll see when the rates come out.

My boys will be 13,10,7.

[mwebsite]

I didn't realize the trip was less expensive in August, I just can't wait that long next year to make the trip! Also noted the Tuscany trip and La Costa Bella were much less expensive in June, non peak rates, but they just didn't offer some of the things we want to see, though I've always wanted to see the Amalfi coast, which is closer to where my relatives are from. Are your sons excited about Italy?

[the who #3]

to wdwsos

hi dotti, i am looking forward to another trip with our viva italia group. i hope it works out. if not let me know if your planning another abd trip that i can connect with.

thanks, hope to see you again at wdw.

anne

[wdwsos]

to wdwsos

hi dotti, i am looking forward to another trip with our viva italia group. i hope it works out. if not let me know if your planning another abd trip that i can connect with.

thanks, hope to see you again at wdw.

anne

I'm working on it! It'll be a little while before I know the date, but I've asked for something in the first two weeks of June. Dave and David are in, Amy, Mary and Len are interested, and Sue and family are also hoping to join us! I haven't even emailed the rest yet -- was hoping to have the dates first!

I have an AbD group going to Ireland in August, but I'm not on that one, I'm just organizing it. I did email you about France this year, but that one sold out fast. I'm really looking forward to our trip in 2009 -- it'll be great to see everyone again!

Dotti

[KyleRayner]

I'm working on it! It'll be a little while before I know the date, but I've asked for something in the first two weeks of June. Dave and David are in, Amy, Mary and Len are interested, and Sue and family are also hoping to join us! I haven't even emailed the rest yet -- was hoping to have the dates first!

I have an AbD group going to Ireland in August, but I'm not on that one, I'm just organizing it. I did email you about France this year, but that one sold out fast. I'm really looking forward to our trip in 2009 -- it'll be great to see everyone again!

Dotti

Hi Dotti :wave2: :wave:

[mickey&minniealways]

We are waiting till they post the new trips and itineraries, please excuse the spelling, sometime in August. It will be a first trip for us without kids, 25th aniversary. I would have gone with September as there are fewer kids at that time but I need someone to stay with mine and my inlaws and mother both go back to Florida at that time of year. They don't do New England winters anymore.

[the who #3]

to mickey&minniealways

we did have a wedding anniversary couple ( 5th i think) on out viva italia trip in 06 and i think they enjoyed it. they were terrific.:goodvibes

[wdwsos]

to mickey&minniealways

we did have a wedding anniversary couple ( 5th i think) on out viva italia trip in 06 and i think they enjoyed it. they were terrific.:goodvibes

Anne, it was mine and Tony's also on that trip! 30th by the Justice of the Peace, and 25th in the church (long story...). Other than one very short trip to WDW, it was our only vacation without the boys!

Dotti

[the who #3]

sorry dottie, i did not know it was you and tony's anniversary also. wow!! we really had a special group didn't we? say hello to tony and those beautiful boys of yours.:goodvibes

join me for halloween again if you can.

anne

[the who #3]

dottie, since if did not know that it was your and tony's anniversary, for fun, i wondered where we were on your anniversary date or two dates. i hope it was one of those beautiful days, but i guess they all were beautiful, even the day it rained was beautiful.

you probably should have had the rooms we had in rome. they had to be the bridal suite or something.

anne

[MiceRNice]

I thought I was way ahead of myself, so it's great to see other long-range planners out there. We (hubbie and 12-yr. old) will be taking the Viva Italia tour in 2009, although I'm not sure about dates. I would really like to follow-up with the Imperial City tour while we're in that neck of the woods. I sure wish we had the tour times and prices already!!:cool1:

[mwebsite]

mice r nice,
Is your 12 yo a girl or boy? We'll need to book this trip later this summer when the rates are released, hope the cost doesn't go up too much with the value of the dollar issue, and gas prices. Did you look at La Costa Bella, too? The idea of swimming off the island of Capri sounds so cool, but there isn't much time in Rome, and would hate to miss Tuscany and Venice. The cost was quite a bit less though. Hope your Imperial Cities plans work out, wish we could do it all!
Monica

[MiceRNice]

Michael (boy) will be thirteen when we go (Feb. birthday). I've been to the Isle of Capri. It is fabulous! There's a fantastic Blue Grotto people boat into and the best tiramisu on the planet. However, we are going more for the traditional experience with the Viva Italia tour. I'm leary about summer because of the heat, crowds and August closures. The prices are gross then, too, aren't they? If August is cheap, it's because nothing's open then! Every guidebook tells me September is the best month, which means Michael misses the beginning of grade eight. Are your dates flexible?

Karen

[mwebsite]

Karen,
If it was just my husband and I, September would be perfect, but there is no way I can take my daughter out of school for a week, they hate that! She's in a Catholic school, but I think even if I said we had a private meeting with the Pope at the Vatican they would be unhappy. She actually gets out of school in May, so I am planning on sometime probably in the first half of June. I couldn't stand waiting until July! My husband says this won't be the last trip to Italy and we can do the Amalfi coast next time, but it's hard to imagine getting back to Italy, as long as it has taken me in my lifetime to get there. I have relatives somewhat close to Naples, I understand they make olive oil. Would love to buy some while we're there.
Monica

[glassslipper2004]

Someone on this thread mentioned August closures - I have also read about this in a guide book - does anyone know how Disney handles this? Dottie, do you have any information? I'm getting a little nervous - will we get to do everyone on the itinerary, or will they make changes?

[wdwsos]

Someone on this thread mentioned August closures - I have also read about this in a guide book - does anyone know how Disney handles this? Dottie, do you have any information? I'm getting a little nervous - will we get to do everyone on the itinerary, or will they make changes?

I think that most of what you'll see closed in August will be the family run businesses and restaurants, and smaller museums and art galleries, but not the major tourist attractions. August is a huge holiday month for Italians, and they all take off for the beach or the mountains. However, it's also peak travel time for everyone else, so you may even see extended opening hours for places on your tour. I wouldn't worry too much.

[NancyCB]

We're also thinking about Viva Italy in summer '09. But our kids will still be on the young side (5 & 8). Were there kids that young on last trip? If so, how did they handle the walking, sightseeing, etc. Also considering Germany in '09, becasue of the fairy tale/princess connection. Seems more kid-firendly. Any input would be welcome sine this would be the kids' 1st European trip!:rotfl:

[zachsmomie]

I know this is a bit older thread but we are waiting for the dates and hoping to do Viva Italia in mid June 2009. It will be my husband, self and son and it will be a whopper of a celebration for me. I am graduating from graduate school and turning 40 and my son is turning 16. Italy has been my dream! I hope the prices don't change too terribly much.

[mwebsite]

Hi zachsmommie,
I started this thread months ago, now our trip is less than a year away! We won't be celebrating anything special next year like you, just finally a trip to Italy! My husband now has a business meeting smack in the middle of June, and because we want to go out a day early, we are now looking at going the end of May or end of June. And now he really likes the La Costa Bella tour, but I am afraid to miss Florence, Tuscany, and Venice. Looking forward to seeing what they have for 2009, or any other Italy changes. I priced the airfare early, about $1200 or so, and will have Disney make the reservations, in case of changes in the schedule. Hope the prices aren't much higher. Even though everyone says we're in a recession and there are special deals on various things out there, I haven't found any deals on anything I've done in the last few months.

[zachsmomie]

Hi zachsmommie,
I started this thread months ago, now our trip is less than a year away! We won't be celebrating anything special next year like you, just finally a trip to Italy! My husband now has a business meeting smack in the middle of June, and because we want to go out a day early, we are now looking at going the end of May or end of June. And now he really likes the La Costa Bella tour, but I am afraid to miss Florence, Tuscany, and Venice. Looking forward to seeing what they have for 2009, or any other Italy changes. I priced the airfare early, about $1200 or so, and will have Disney make the reservations, in case of changes in the schedule. Hope the prices aren't much higher. Even though everyone says we're in a recession and there are special deals on various things out there, I haven't found any deals on anything I've done in the last few months.

I have been dreaming of Italy for EVER! I hope we get to go. I am anxiously awaiting the pricing info and I hope it is similar to the 2008 pricing. I've checked the airfare sites that were recommended to me (but they don't go out that far) and am getting @1400pp. I am going to have Disney do the air if we go because it is worth the piece of mind for me to have things taken careof by one source in case flights get cancelled and changed.

I haven't found any deals yet either :-( I haven't even talked to hubby about this yet. I am waiting until we are on vacation later this month. Hopefully the new rates will be out then.

I teach elementary school and our last day isn't until 6/18/09 so I am kind of limited.

[Whiskers]

Hi everyone
I have just today discovered that Disney does Adventures by Disney tours to Italy! I have been trying to plan a family group tour to Italy for a few weeks now and it didn't even occur to me that Disney does this type if thing. I am so excited!:cool1:
Of course rushed to DIS and there was even a forum. :) We have done a few Disney cruises and been to DL and WDW lots of times so it is so great that we can start seeing Europe with Disney.
We have two boys 13 and 11 and will be going in Aug 2009. Does anyone have any idea when the 2009 bookings will start?

[wdwsos]

Does anyone have any idea when the 2009 bookings will start?

The latest we're hearing is that they'll be available in August. The agents who were trained on the new and changed itineraries aren't "on the floor" yet, but that should be fairly soon. As for changes, Roma and la Costa Bella will be a bit different -- probably others as well, but that's the one I know about because I'm working with the AbD group department on a date in early June. I have a bunch of folks waving their credit cards at me and ready to book as soon as it's available - lol! That's what happens when you do one of these -- you come home and plan the next one!

I know this doesn't belong in this thread, but we just returned from Flavors of France, our third AbD, and it was wonderful! Trip report and photos coming soon. I have to go through the 1100 photos and make a photo gallery that people who weren't on the trip would like to see. Most of the photos are of people having a great time with each other, but we do have an occasional shot of scenery. :)

Dotti

[rotary2808]

We're planning on doing Viva Italia in either April or May. My parents did it earlier this year for their 30th anniversary and now they want to take me and DH.:thumbsup2

Viva Italia is supposed to have some changes from what they were told. Next year supposedly it's supposed to include a trip to Pisa to the Leaning Tower.

I'm really looking forward to this trip. I've already started looking at airfare and just daydreaming in general.:cloud9:

[zachsmomie]

We're planning on doing Viva Italia in either April or May. My parents did it earlier this year for their 30th anniversary and now they want to take me and DH.:thumbsup2

Viva Italia is supposed to have some changes from what they were told. Next year supposedly it's supposed to include a trip to Pisa to the Leaning Tower.

I'm really looking forward to this trip. I've already started looking at airfare and just daydreaming in general.:cloud9:


Going to Pisa too! That would just be the icing on my cake (or perhaps the pepperoni on my pizza would be a better analogy:rotfl: ) Now I have to go back and refigure the "proposed" budget and add another $1000 for that stop.:rotfl2:

Serioulsy, I think if Disney Adventures had caller ID, they would not answer when I call. I am so excited about the prospect of booking, at this point, that I have to call at tleast once a week to make sure they aren't releasing dates/rates earlier than the mid-August they keep quoting me.

I am also working on my plan to convince the hubby. :idea:

[rotary2808]

Going to Pisa too! That would just be the icing on my cake (or perhaps the pepperoni on my pizza would be a better analogy:rotfl: ) Now I have to go back and refigure the "proposed" budget and add another $1000 for that stop.:rotfl2:

Serioulsy, I think if Disney Adventures had caller ID, they would not answer when I call. I am so excited about the prospect of booking, at this point, that I have to call at tleast once a week to make sure they aren't releasing dates/rates earlier than the mid-August they keep quoting me.

I am also working on my plan to convince the hubby. :idea:

When my parents were there in May/June one of the ABD higher ups was there for part of the trip and said he couldn't neither confirm or deny that a trip to Pisa was being added. He said that was one thing people had been asking for.

It never hurts to call because most of time you get a different answer each time you call. Our TA said she is going to start calling the first of August to check on booking.

Good luck convincing your hubby, why wouldn't he be for it?

[zachsmomie]

Good luck convincing your hubby, why wouldn't he be for it?

He will be for it until he hears the price. We can pay for the trip and make memories and still have debt to pay off or we can pay off the debt and wait to make the memories. He'll go for it (I hope:scared: ).

[rotary2808]

I'm sure he'll go for it. Good luck!!!!