Who's booking this morning?

[Ginamarie]

I'm ready to call!! :)

[trampslady]

On hold now!

[Ginamarie]

On hold now!

Me too :)
What trip are you looking at?

[abdmom]

I'm on hold too! Has anyone gotten through?

[jenbadeaux]

Gotten through, but all the computers won't let them book a 2009 reservation. Some kind of glitch. They are calling a manager to the floor and then calling me back.

[Ginamarie]

Gotten through, but all the computers won't let them book a 2009 reservation. Some kind of glitch. They are calling a manager to the floor and then calling me back.

Uh oh! It's been that kind of week for me.. computer glitches everywhere. At least they said they'd call you back.
We're still on hold.

[trampslady]

I'm on hold with Costco--no live person yet. We are interested in Ireland and Czech Austria trip.

[wdwsos]

I'm on hold too! Has anyone gotten through?

I just booked four trips with the early booking discount and I'm waiting on the fifth. I have the confirmation number on one only, but I'm on hold waiting on the others while he processes them. Hopefully, the glitch mentioned in this thread doesn't affect these because we've been doing really well so far!

Dotti

[DaddyBrady]

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go....

At least the hold music is good! You'd think they'd have tested the booking system....

Ready to book Peru.

It's a small, small world....

[zachsmomie]

I just booked four trips with the early booking discount and I'm waiting on the fifth. I have the confirmation number on one only, but I'm on hold waiting on the others while he processes them. Hopefully, the glitch mentioned in this thread doesn't affect these because we've been doing really well so far!

Dotti

I hope one of those is mine! :cool1:

[redzinner]

Top 'o the mornin' to ya ...

Yep, tis Ireland I've booked :woohoo:

Mother/Daughter trip this time around!

[mwebsite]

Just got off the phone with my Viva Italia booked for June 4 departure. Was on hold about 30 minutes. Couldn't book days before or after tour yet.

[tickledtink33]

I just booked four trips with the early booking discount and I'm waiting on the fifth. I have the confirmation number on one only, but I'm on hold waiting on the others while he processes them. Hopefully, the glitch mentioned in this thread doesn't affect these because we've been doing really well so far!

Dotti

I hope one of these is mine as well.:banana:

I also noticed that pre and post nights are not available for my tour. I guess it is because the first place we are staying is 2 hours from the airport. But with people arriving from all over the world, you would think that ABD would make pre nights available at a hotel close to the airport. Some folks may need to arrive a day early because flights from their city won't arrive in time to catch the tour. I have done a little research and have found 4 hotels that offer complimentory shuttle service from the airport. I will pick one of them for my pre night.

Good luck everyone in getting the trip you want, for the dates you want, with the early booking discount.

[wdwsos]

I hope one of those is mine! :cool1:

Of course! :) :) :)

Dotti

[abdmom]

I spent 45 minutes on hold before booking mine. In my eagerness to book, I couldn't navigate the Costco travel phone system. They didn't open until 7 a.m. PT anyway. So, I booked on the regular ABD line. I got the early booking discount PLUS a $100 per person loyalty disco!unt since we had gone on a trip this year. I called back on the Costco line and was able to add the $500 Costco cash card to the reservation. Woo Hoo!

[wdwsos]

I hope one of these is mine as well.:banana:



Yes, it is! I'm writing an email to you right now!

Dotti

[sayhello]

I spent 45 minutes on hold before booking mine. In my eagerness to book, I couldn't navigate the Costco travel phone system. They didn't open until 7 a.m. PT anyway. So, I booked on the regular ABD line. I got the early booking discount PLUS a $100 per person loyalty disco!unt since we had gone on a trip this year. I called back on the Costco line and was able to add the $500 Costco cash card to the reservation. Woo Hoo!Huh? If you booked through ABD, how did you get the Costco cash card?

Sayhello

[DaddyBrady]

...I booked on the regular ABD line. I got the early booking discount PLUS a $100 per person loyalty discount since we had gone on a trip this year.

Wow! I didn't know about a loyalty discount. We're going on Southwest Splendors in September. Woo hoo indeed!

After a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g t-i-m-e on hold, presto! we're into booking Peru for next September. Not yet confirmed ("computer glitch"), but we've got it, four of us. THe agent said they very busy this morning.

[mwebsite]

ABD mom,
How did you get the Costco discount on the 2009 trips? I looked at the website and thought it was only valid on select 2008 trips. I booked through ABD, but is there some way I can get the Costco card now?

[TewEpcot]

Top 'o the mornin' to ya ...

Yep, tis Ireland I've booked :woohoo:

Mother/Daughter trip this time around!

And thankfully, I am that daughter! 293 days and counting!
:shamrock: :drinking1 :mickeyjum

[abdmom]

I called through the Costco travel number. Even though the 2009 trips are not up on the Costco website, they are able to book the new trips and do give the $500 cash card for booking through them. Their number is: 1-877-849-2730. The lady on the regular ABD line said that if I converted it to a Costco reservation today, I would keep the early booking discount. So, I just called the Costco line after I finished. The wait time was about 20 minutes on the Costco line. Otherwise, it would depend on availability.

It appeared that not all agents were familiar with the loyalty discount. The Costco one that I talked to had to go back and add it back in after she had converted it and hadn't added it.

[trampslady]

I wonder if they will honor loyalty discount if your 2008 trip hasn't happened yet? Mine is next month, and they have to call me back to finish my 2009 booking as the Storybook trip is not pricing out for them yet.

[PatriciaH]

OMG! South Africa is less than I thought it would be! It is not much more than Alaska. Now I don't know what to do. I would love to do SA but I can not imagine that flight:(

[sayhello]

OMG! South Africa is less than I thought it would be! It is not much more than Alaska. Now I don't know what to do. I would love to do SA but I can not imagine that flight:(I feel the same way about China!

Anyone have any idea how expensive a flight to China from the US is?

Sayhello

[redzinner]

I wonder if they will honor loyalty discount if your 2008 trip hasn't happened yet? Mine is next month, and they have to call me back to finish my 2009 booking as the Storybook trip is not pricing out for them yet.

Yes, they will honor your loyalty discount if your 2008 trip hasn't happened yet. You are 'paid in full' for next month so as far as they are concerned you are a 'loyal' customer. ;)

Our Viva Italia trip is next month and I booked Ireland for May 2009. They gave me the discount.

[trampslady]

Yah! All set for Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna next year, and they did honor the loyalty discount! The price is super--cheaper than last year, and they've altered the itinerary to start in Prague, end in Vienna and added a salt mine tour. Sounds like they listened to past guests and made some changes for the better!

[cappygirl]

Thanks to Dotti - we're booked for Ireland in May!!!!

[sayhello]

So, after an hour and a half spent chatting with the *most* marvelous ABD concierge agent, I have booked the Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales Adult Only trip for next year. :cool1: It was the one I was most interested in, going into this morning, and the more we went over & discussed the itinerary, the more I liked it. So, yeah, booked! Got the EBD and the loyalty discount. Woohoo!

Sayhello

[disneytraveler]

I reserved the Storybook Tour in Germany. I looked at the S African tour and wished i could do it. Maybe another time. I have traveled to Germany probally 20 yrs ago . I always wanted to stay at Caslte hotels so i next summer i will.:goodvibes Nice discounts with the ebd and loyalty one to.

[trampslady]

Disneytraveler--we will have to swap tales--you are going to Prague and Austria in September of this year and I'm doing the Germany Fairytale trip at the same time. And, we are flipping trips next year! I promise to do a trip report!

[DaddyBrady]

So, after an hour and a half spent chatting with the *most* marvelous ABD concierge agent, I have booked the Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales Adult Only trip for next year. :cool1: It was the one I was most interested in, going into this morning, and the more we went over & discussed the itinerary, the more I liked it. So, yeah, booked! Got the EBD and the loyalty discount. Woohoo!

Sayhello
Sayhello, I'm curious what changed your mind? On the other thread you didn't seem as enthused. I'm interested in how much information the concierge agent was able to give you. It hadn't occurred to me that they would have much morning information than is available on line.

Glad it'll work out for you. We're off to Peru next year. If my partner doesn't enjoy Southwest Splendors it'll be a very long year!

[CinderALLIE]

I booked last night (morning for you) I was on hold for about 5 minutes listening to a dream is a wish your heart makes. The rep I got was very helpful. I've booked Backstage magic for 20-25th October. Adults Only and I'll be travelling solo.

Can't wait!! When I go back to work on Monday everyone will be hearing about it. And they thought it was bad enough already with my Disney World in Dec talk:rotfl2:

[jacksparrowfan]

I just booked four trips with the early booking discount and I'm waiting on the fifth. I have the confirmation number on one only, but I'm on hold waiting on the others while he processes them. Hopefully, the glitch mentioned in this thread doesn't affect these because we've been doing really well so far!

Dotti


Five trips? Wow! :goodvibes Where are all the places you will be going?

[sayhello]

Five trips? Wow! :goodvibes Where are all the places you will be going?She's a travel agent.

Sayhello

[sayhello]

Sayhello, I'm curious what changed your mind? On the other thread you didn't seem as enthused. I'm interested in how much information the concierge agent was able to give you. It hadn't occurred to me that they would have much morning information than is available on line.

Glad it'll work out for you. We're off to Peru next year. If my partner doesn't enjoy Southwest Splendors it'll be a very long year!I think part of the issue was having a pre-conceived idea of what the itinerary was going to look like, and, when I saw it, thinking there wasn't much "to do" on the trip. She *did* have more information (the concierges actually have Q&A sessions with the people who come up with the trips, so they learn a lot of the details. She had durations of activities, travel time, and just a bit more detail as to what specifically was being done and when.) I *really* wanted to go to the Canadian Rockies/Banff, and once she helped me realize there *was* a lot going on, I decided to book. I'm not *positive* that I'm 100% committed to this trip (I *do* have 14 days to change my mind) but I'm happy with the decision.

If your partner doesn't enjoy Southwest Splendors... well, how committed *are* you? ;)

Sayhello

[kristilew]

Sayhello, Please keep us posted on your thought process as you go through the next two weeks. I too am interested in your change of heart. We've also calmed down over our initial dismay, but are now looking at Yosemite or Southwest Splendors.

DaddyBrady, You will LOVE Peru! It is the best trip we have ever been on. We are seriously considering just going back to the Sacred Valley instead of doing an new trip next year!

KristiLew

[tksbaskets]

We booked the August 2-8 Quest for the West. Wasn't on hold at all - my great TA did all the booking ;) said that the pre-booking days are not in the comuter yet. Planning on flying in a day or two early :yay:

A bit surprised that this is costing the same as a week's Disney cruise....I do like that we don't have to pay 'extra' for excursions!

I'm pumped. This is our graduation from HS gift for our twins.

TK

[Wall-E1]

We booked the Peru trip for December 19th - the 27th. Looks like we'll be celebrating Christmas in Cusco!!!

[cindy18]

We booked Quest for the West for August 23rd. Say Hello, I thought about Montana and the Canadian Rockies a lot too. It seemed like a good follow-up to Southwest Splendors. Maybe that's coming after I read your trip report next year! Alaska also looked very appealing. I guess we're just very focused on this part of the US now.

Also, I did not get a loyalty discount offer (even though we did get early booking, after being on hold for 45 minutes), and our trip happened less than a month ago. Any reason not to call back with my reservation number and ask for one?

[Computer Magic]

We booked Quest for the West for August 23rd. Say Hello, I thought about Montana and the Canadian Rockies a lot too. It seemed like a good follow-up to Southwest Splendors. Maybe that's coming after I read your trip report next year! Alaska also looked very appealing. I guess we're just very focused on this part of the US now.

Also, I did not get a loyalty discount offer (even though we did get early booking, after being on hold for 45 minutes), and our trip happened less than a month ago. Any reason not to call back with my reservation number and ask for one?We were looking Montana and the Canadian Rockies, but it's not an easy place to fly to. SO we are looking at North CA. That seems very similar to Quest for the West that we went on last year. It will be hard to beat Wyoming.

However, not impressed with the selections, extensive time on a bus, added box lunches and the cost. I can tell Disney has scaled back due to the economy.

[arbonnette]

My fabulous TA, Kelly, booked the Knights and Lights trip for 9 of us for next June with the early booking discount. We are going to add Disneyland Paris but that information wasn't available yet.
We are super excited!

Congrats to everyone who booked everyone who booked for '09! :goodvibes

[sayhello]

We booked Quest for the West for August 23rd. Say Hello, I thought about Montana and the Canadian Rockies a lot too. It seemed like a good follow-up to Southwest Splendors. Maybe that's coming after I read your trip report next year! Alaska also looked very appealing. I guess we're just very focused on this part of the US now.

Also, I did not get a loyalty discount offer (even though we did get early booking, after being on hold for 45 minutes), and our trip happened less than a month ago. Any reason not to call back with my reservation number and ask for one?I was also toying with Quest for the West, and may still change my mind. :) I haven't been to Yellowstone since I was a kid myself. I really didn't look *too* closely at Alaska, as I did the most fabulous cruisetour there 2 years ago. If it had been a significantly different itinerary, I still might have considered it, but a lot of it was similar. I still might, in a few years. Alaska is very, very cool.

I was not "offered" the loyalty discount. I asked about it, since I'd read other people saying they'd got it. She may have offered it to me later, but I'd already asked about it, so I'll never know. :)

I would definitely call back & ask them to apply the discount.

Sayhello

[cindy18]

Follow-Up: I called ABD this morning and asked about the loyalty discount. The cast member I spoke with said that word had not definitively gone out until the end of the day yesterday that returning tour goers would get the discount, so they were going through all the 2009 reservations today and applying the discount where appropriate. She didn't even ask for my reservation number, she just assured me that the loyalty discount would be applied. We'll see when I get the materials, but it was pretty reassuring.

[sayhello]

Follow-Up: I called ABD this morning and asked about the loyalty discount. The cast member I spoke with said that word had not definitively gone out until the end of the day yesterday that returning tour goers would get the discount, so they were going through all the 2009 reservations today and applying the discount where appropriate. She didn't even ask for my reservation number, she just assured me that the loyalty discount would be applied. We'll see when I get the materials, but it was pretty reassuring.Good to know! Fingers & toes crossed for you.

Sayhello

[sayhello]

Sayhello, Please keep us posted on your thought process as you go through the next two weeks. I too am interested in your change of heart. We've also calmed down over our initial dismay, but are now looking at Yosemite or Southwest Splendors.You know, I'm going to be *really* happy after the 14-day period is over, and the final decision is made. I 95% know I want to take this trip. It's actually a really nice itinerary. I've looked at some other tour companies like Tauck, and their "similar" trips are way more expensive, and don't seem to "do" as much. But right now I have 2 issues running through my head.

1) I read that the reason they canceled the original Canadian Rockies trip after the first year was because Canada wouldn't let them run the tour with Disney trained Guides, and they had to rely on contractors who just weren't as good. Someone speculated if that was why the tour now starts in Montana, which would make sense. But I really need to call ABD and verify that. The Guides are DEFINITELY a HUGE part of why I'm booking this tour with ABD. If we're not going to have Disney Guides, I'm not doing this tour.

2) The first hotel we're in is "rustic", because it's an historic hotel. No A/C, teeny, tiny bathrooms, etc. But, from what I've read, that's pretty much true of all of the hotels in Glacier National Park. So I can live with that. Plus, the location is supposed to be to die for. But what bothers me is that the other hotel we're staying in, in Banff, is apparently not what I'd call a great hotel. I know there are nicer hotels in Banff, although I really don't know how much they cost, or how convenient they are. The hotel we'd be staying at is walking distance to downtown & the shops & restaurants, but off the street, so it's quiet. It just seems to me that if we're "roughing it" for the first 3 days, they could give us a little luxury in Banff. But that's definitely not as big an issue as the Guides issue.

I think I'm just enjoying driving myself insane...:headache: I've always wanted to go to Glacier, and to the Banff area. And this seems like a good trip. In some ways, having to make a decision "so quick" is both a blessing and a curse. It has to be decided one way or another soon, but if I had longer, I could just let it sit for a while, and not feel like I'm so "pressured" to decide... Comes with the territory, I guess!

ACK!
Sayhello

[PatriciaH]

How are the decisions going now that the 14 days are up for some of you? Did most of you hold the trips you had booked, switch, or cancel? We are still deciding on Alaska or South Africa!

[trampslady]

We kept our reservation. We are headed to Austria and the Czech Republic in September 2009. But, in just five short weeks, we will be en route to Germany on our very first ABD trip! Yah!

[wii fit mama]

We changed the date but kept the trip. We leave on my daughter's last day of school to go on the June 16 Southwest Splendors trip.

[kristilew]

Yay! We are on that Southwest Splendors trip, too! Myself, DH, and DD11 (by then)

Looking forward to meeting you!

[2RGR8]

Hey Arbonnette -

What date are you doing Knights & Lights? We are on the June 22nd tour.

[sayhello]

How are the decisions going now that the 14 days are up for some of you? Did most of you hold the trips you had booked, switch, or cancel? We are still deciding on Alaska or South Africa!So far, I'm pretty sure I'm keeping my Canadian Rockies reservation. It really is a great trip. And I got some great discounts. I'm still a bit iffy about the hotels, but that would be a silly reason to cancel...

Sayhello