Gateway Trips

[sayhello]

Whoa Nellie! Did I miss something, or did these just show up? I was looking at the Signature Italy trip vs the Viva Italia trip on the website (for a response to another post) when I suddenly realized, there's a GATEWAY Italy trip listed, also! They have a comparison page up, listing the differences between the Signature & regular Italy trips, and there it was! Gateway to Italy!

http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/general?name=ItalyGatewayComparisonPage

And it's under the drop-down, too.

Also a Gateway to London & Paris and a Gateway to Costa Rica!

Here's the page that lists all 3:

http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/region?name=GatewayLandingPage

I'll be back after I read through all the descriptions!

Sayhello

 

[Tozzie]

Whoa Nellie! Did I miss something, or did these just show up? I was looking at the Signature Italy trip vs the Viva Italia trip on the website (for a response to another post) when I suddenly realized, there's a GATEWAY Italy trip listed, also! They have a comparison page up, listing the differences between the Signature & regular Italy trips, and there it was! Gateway to Italy!

http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/general?name=ItalyGatewayComparisonPage

And it's under the drop-down, too.

Also a Gateway to London & Paris and a Gateway to Costa Rica!

Here's the page that lists all 3:

http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/region?name=GatewayLandingPage

I'll be back after I read through all the descriptions!

Sayhello

Those just showed up as they were not on the website yesterday when I was on it. There is a link on the ABD home page to the gateway collection

 

[minniebeth]

I literally just received an email introducing it and came here to find out the scoop. It'll be interesting to do some comparisons.

 

[Bobo912]

I wish they were offering more than just the 3 trips. We've already taken one of these and the other two weren't on the top of our list. Although, I'm sure we would love either of them. I haven't had time to look closely (I'm supposed to be working!) but the first thing that jumped out at me was no return transfer to the airport.

 

[sayhello]

I wish they were offering more than just the 3 trips. We've already taken one of these and the other two weren't on the top of our list. Although, I'm sure we would love either of them. I haven't had time to look closely (I'm supposed to be working!) but the first thing that jumped out at me was no return transfer to the airport.

Yes, the lack of return transfer was one of the first things I noticed also (along with the facts that the Italy trip is a day shorter than the regular trip, and the group size is increased to 50). I know a lot of people (me included) consider the airport transfers to be pretty important.

I'm sure if these are successful, they'll expand the offerings. At least they've learned not to be overly-ambitious.

I'd love to hear input from folks who've taken the regular versions of these trips, and whether they thought the missing activities were ho-hum, or a big part of the trip. (Like the England & Paris trip does not include the VIP seats for the Lion King, or the backstage tour. That looked like a great activity, and was one of the things I was really looking forward to when I was planning to take that trip. High tea at Harrods? Not so much.)

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Looking at the Costa Rica trip, the big difference is that you go to Tortuguero instead of Manual Antonio. So you're on the Atlantic coast instead of the Pacific. So maybe all the transportation is by bus and the difference in price is the internal airfare to the west coast. They still have airport transfers both ways. The only activity that was dropped was the gourd painting and the coffee plantation is replaced with the aerial tram tour. And of course you go to Tortuguero park instead of Manuel Antonio. So you get to see the sea turtles on the gateway trip. Almost makes me want to go again.

 

[jomat]

This is my first post. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this ABD discussion forum and gained a lot of information about all the ABD trips that I have not done so far. My opinion on the comparison of the Gateway and regular trips as far as the London/Paris trip is concerned is that the high points were definitely the Lion King Broadway show and the trip to Versailles. The high tea at Harrods was good too though I would not miss that too much.

 

[sayhello]

This is my first post. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this ABD discussion forum and gained a lot of information about all the ABD trips that I have not done so far. My opinion on the comparison of the Gateway and regular trips as far as the London/Paris trip is concerned is that the high points were definitely the Lion King Broadway show and the trip to Versailles. The high tea at Harrods was good too though I would not miss that too much.

Thanks, jomat, and welcome! I had a feeling that was true about the London/Paris trip...

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Looking at the Costa Rica trip, the big difference is that you go to Tortuguero instead of Manual Antonio. So you're on the Atlantic coast instead of the Pacific. So maybe all the transportation is by bus and the difference in price is the internal airfare to the west coast. They still have airport transfers both ways. The only activity that was dropped was the gourd painting and the coffee plantation is replaced with the aerial tram tour. And of course you go to Tortuguero park instead of Manuel Antonio. So you get to see the sea turtles on the gateway trip. Almost makes me want to go again.

So did you *not* see the sea turtles on the regular trip? I guess I don't get a feel for if the substitutions are better, worse or equivalent?

Sayhello

 

[disneytraveler]

Thanks, jomat, and welcome! I had a feeling that was true about the London/Paris trip...

Sayhello

The Italy trip does not have return transfer also. The hotels are different to. I took the Vivia Italia tour not the signature one. Some of the activites are different to or are not included with the gateway.

 

[Bobo912]

So did you *not* see the sea turtles on the regular trip? I guess I don't get a feel for if the substitutions are better, worse or equivalent?

Sayhello

There may be some sea turtles on the Pacific coast, but not where the ABD trip goes. When we were in Costa Rica, they told us the sea turtles were hatching at Tortuguero. But you have to be there at the right time to see them laying their eggs or hatching anyway. I think both trips look good. I didn't check out the accommodations though. I loved the Arenal Kioro, but the substitute hotel at Arenal may be good too. I think the Gateway tour is similar to the Tauck Bridges Costa Rica trip.

 

[minniebeth]

While the Gateway trips looked enticing at first, particularly the prices, I can see them being more for repeat customers who are already familiar and comfortable touring the destinations. As a first timer to Europe, I think I'd rather wait and save the money and spend it on having more tour guide time, less time on my own, and things like airport transfers, etc.
As with many things, you get what you pay for. It might be a while before we ever get there, but we think we will stick with the trips with more service.

 

[Tozzie]

I just compared the itineraries and to be quite honest , they don't appeal to me at all. Aside from the lack of return airport transfers (very important to me) There are many things offered on the regular trips that I would not want to miss, for instance if I were going to Paris, I would want a tour of the Effiel Tower not just have lunch there, the regular trip has the tour the gateway does not. I am sure they will appeal to people who want a lower cost trip or more on your own time but for me I think the regular trips are better.

 

[DisFan10]

I also prefer the regular itineraries. Plus, I'm not sure I'd enjoy being in a group of 50...

 

[Bobo912]

I just compared the itineraries and to be quite honest , they don't appeal to me at all. Aside from the lack of return airport transfers (very important to me) There are many things offered on the regular trips that I would not want to miss, for instance if I were going to Paris, I would want a tour of the Effiel Tower not just have lunch there, the regular trip has the tour the gateway does not. I am sure they will appeal to people who want a lower cost trip or more on your own time but for me I think the regular trips are better.

I agree with Tozzie. The Costa Rica initerary isn't really less, it's just different. But for the other two, if I'm going to pay the high airfare to Europe and several thousand for the tour, I would rather go ahead and pay extra for all the bells and whistles. The exclusive tours and behind the scenes activities are a big part of the experience.

 

[DisFan10]

I should add that the rate for my June 11, 2010 London & Paris AbD is only $910 more than the Gateway rate. When I compare the differences between the AbD and Gateway, I feel like I'm getting a real bargain!

 

[HappyGrumpy]

I don't have kids so its just me and the hubby when we travel. So the cost for us to take an ABD while high is not as high as say a family of 4. Don't get me wrong it's still pricey for us!! So I can understand families taking advantage of the Gateway Trips

As enticing as the prices are I want the full benefit of taking the ABD so I am more than willing to wait and save the pennies to pay a higher price to take the trip I want. I have put Italy on hold until the next time they offer the Med Cruise with ABD which I am hoping will be offered in 2012!!

Gotta Save Save Save my pennies for that one!!

 

[WeLoveABD]

I'm with you on all of that--saving pennies, and hooking the med cruise with ABD! We did the med with Disney, and my only gripe was the hit and miss with the off-ship guides. We can't do the med again--so we'll live it via SayHello and her reports! We have been saving many many pennies for the Baltic this summer--and there is no way an ABD can be offered for that, given it starts up in May and there have been no pre-existing ABD trips in that area. So--I'm looking at a lot of shore time on our own rather than with the offered excursions.

 

[kjd469]

I am so NOT impressed with the Gateway trips being offered. They are still charging a significant price and eliminating a lot of things. I still think the "powers that be" at ABD need to give their heads a shake, and come up with something more inticing! JMHO

 

[abdmom]

As a party of 4, I can be more enticed into the Gateways than the ABD's. I had pretty much written off many of the ABD's because of price. I'm saving up for the Galapagos trip for all 4 of us, but others were going to have to be in many years once my older 2 kids were out of the house and I was down to just me and the youngest. With the Gateways, I may book a trip for 4.