7/9/12 Viva Italia ABD changes hotel in Venice

[mickeee]

My family is on the 7/9 Viva Italia Trip and I'm disappointed that Disney has changed the hotel in Venice from Luna Bagiloni to Hilton Molino Stucky. Luna Baglioni was in the center of town near Piazza San Marco, the Hilton is not in the main tourist area but on Giudecca Island.

From what I read online LB is one of the oldest and steeped in Italian tradition where as the Hilton being nice doesn't seem to be in the same class..ugh.

Someone tell me that Hilton is a great hotel too and we won't be missing much!

FWIW my wife and I are Hilton Diamond members...any chance we will be eligible for an upgrade to a suite even though the room is booked as a package?

 

[jlou]

My family is on the 7/9 Viva Italia Trip and I'm disappointed that Disney has changed the hotel in Venice from Luna Bagiloni to Hilton Molino Stucky. Luna Baglioni was in the center of town near Piazza San Marco, the Hilton is not in the main tourist area but on Giudecca Island.

From what I read online LB is one of the oldest and steeped in Italian tradition where as the Hilton being nice doesn't seem to be in the same class..ugh.

Someone tell me that Hilton is a great hotel too and we won't be missing much!

FWIW my wife and I are Hilton Diamond members...any chance we will be eligible for an upgrade to a suite even though the room is booked as a package?

Huh??

Did you receive a letter or phone call informing you of this change? We are on the June 28 tour, and have not heard anything.

So sorry to hear about this, I would be disappointed too. I've booked two post nights, and wanted them to be at the Luna Baglioni (mainly for its location). Maybe "steeped in tradition" means it's not up to Disney standards?

I'm sorry, I can't offer you any info regarding the Hilton, it's our first trip to Italy.

JLou

 

[jlou]

The Hilton does have a rooftop pool, which might be nice for kids (I noticed you said that you're going with family, so maybe have children that would like a pool?)

It also looks like it gets great reviews on Trip Advisor, and they say that they don't mind being off the mainland, as they have a free water shuttle that runs regularly, and it was nice to be out of the hustle and bustle of the city.

 

[mapsd]

My family is on the 7/9 Viva Italia Trip and I'm disappointed that Disney has changed the hotel in Venice from Luna Bagiloni to Hilton Molino Stucky. Luna Baglioni was in the center of town near Piazza San Marco, the Hilton is not in the main tourist area but on Giudecca Island.

From what I read online LB is one of the oldest and steeped in Italian tradition where as the Hilton being nice doesn't seem to be in the same class..ugh.

Someone tell me that Hilton is a great hotel too and we won't be missing much!

FWIW my wife and I are Hilton Diamond members...any chance we will be eligible for an upgrade to a suite even though the room is booked as a package?

We're on the 7/9 trip as well and got the same letter yesterday.

I'm sure the Hilton is nice & my kids will like the pool, but for easy access to going out on our own for dining/sight-seeing, this will make it more difficult.

mickeee, we have our 2 girls (14 & 11) along. What do you have for kids?

 

[mickeee]

Yes I received a letter in the mail today. No explanation given. I did read the reviews about the Hilton online but I'm not really convinced that it will be as nice as the LB. Maybe I'm wrong but being a Hilton diamond member and traveling a lot on business I have never really considered Hiltons as overly upscale or culturally traditional! Granted that the service will probably be better, rooms bigger due to American standards but this is exactly why I was doing ABD to stay off track at non American hotels.

Trust me when I travel on business I only stay at American brands due to consistency, service and lack of BS from hotel employees but this is a vacation with ABD where I wanted to venture into more tradition and culture etc. I have over a million points in my HH account and I even went online to see award availability which is available during our time in Venice. I will even be upgraded to a suite, get free breakfasts, Internet etc with the Diamond status. Just get the feeling that it's not going to be unique.

Once again hope I'm wrong and Hilton has incorporated the local culture into this hotel. You are correct that the kids will enjoy the pool and we will feel at home at the Hilton but it is still disappointing! This is our first package vacation/ABD but we are very frequent travelers and I'm used to planning my own vacations in great detail and tHis is the first time I have let go at great cost so hence the apprehension.

 

[mickeee]

We're on the 7/9 trip as well and got the same letter yesterday.

I'm sure the Hilton is nice & my kids will like the pool, but for easy access to going out on our own for dining/sight-seeing, this will make it more difficult.

mickeee, we have our 2 girls (14 & 11) along. What do you have for kids?

Hi mapsd we have 1 girl who is 11 and my son is 21 (no longer a kid!)

 

[mapsd]

This is our first package vacation/ABD but we are very frequent travelers and I'm used to planning my own vacations in great detail and tHis is the first time I have let go at great cost so hence the apprehension.

Hi mapsd we have 1 girl who is 11 and my son is 21 (no longer a kid!)

My girls were excited to find out there are so many kids the same age in our group.

We are kindred spirits in that we travel frequently & I love planning every aspect of our trips. Was hard to turn it over to someone else, but I'm confident that ABD will do it right.

I'm getting my planning fix by doing extra days before and after (Pompeii/Amalfi Coast & London).

Look forward to meeting you all in July!

 

[GregThom]

We received the letter as well and I was surprised by the change. But, I have faith in Disney and the extraordinary lengths that they take to make everything they do "magical."

My wife, two daughters (14 and 10) and I look forward to meeting everyone in July.

 

[mapsd]

Sounds like it's only the 7/9 tour and due to overbooking at the original hotel.

 

[mickeee]

We received the letter as well and I was surprised by the change. But, I have faith in Disney and the extraordinary lengths that they take to make everything they do "magical."

My wife, two daughters (14 and 10) and I look forward to meeting everyone in July.

I agree that Disney will make it magical!

Looking forward to meeting everyone.

 

[ldo]

As I recall from last summer from Princess cruise, the Hilton has a private water launch (boat) that goes straight over to the main part of Venice--1 block from San Marco Square right next to the Princess cruise launch. It is a quick ride. One of the things "to do" in the Tourbook was to go have dinner and/or drinks at the Hilton--so I'm thinking it must be quite posh. Kids will love taking the water boat across the canal. I think it will be just fine. Have fun. Elaine

 

[Rmmc07]

Myself and dd who just turned 8. I'm looking forward to meeting you all
Ren

 

[sayhello]

Myself and dd who just turned 8. I'm looking forward to meeting you all
Ren

Hi, Rmmc07! And welcome to the DISboards and the ABD Forum!

Make sure & check out the sticky at the top of the forum, and join the Meets thread for Viva Italia. I'm adding you to the Roll Call there!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2933939

Sayhello

 

[CoolDisGuy]

Hi Gang,

I am considering my first ABD adventure. Do any of you know what the adventure guides for Italy are like (age, personality, etc)? How big are the ABD groups usually? I am considering doing VIVA italia next May on an adult only trip.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[sayhello]

Well, ABD groups *used* to be limited to no more than 40 people, but someone mentioned they were told their trip had more than 40 people on it, and I can't find that limit on the website any more. *Typically* (although not always) the Adults Only trips tend to not fill up. My first one had 14 people, and my second one had 15.

Sayhello

 

[lovetotravel]

.

 

[sayhello]

I just called ABD this Tuesday and they said the group limit is 44. BTW, Tauck said their limit was 38.

Yes, but I believe Tauck only has one Guide (they call them the "Tour Director"). I'd much rather have 44 people & 2 Guides than 38 people & 1 Guide.

Sayhello

 

[mickeee]

..and on the 7/9 Viva Italia trip we are maxed out at 44.

 

[Rmmc07]

My girls were excited to find out there are so many kids the same age in our group.

We are kindred spirits in that we travel frequently & I love planning every aspect of our trips. Was hard to turn it over to someone else, but I'm confident that ABD will do it right.

I'm getting my planning fix by doing extra days before and after (Pompeii/Amalfi Coast & London).

Look forward to meeting you all in July!

I have a pre night and a few post nights (also London) and I was thinking of Pompeii for the Pre night - when were you thinking of going and were you going take the train?

 

[mapsd]

I have a pre night and a few post nights (also London) and I was thinking of Pompeii for the Pre night - when were you thinking of going and were you going take the train?

We're arriving the morning of Sat, the 7th.
Taking car service from the airport to drop most of our bags off @ the Bernini Bristol and then heading right to the train station.
We're going to spend Sunday seeing the Amalfi Coast and then hit Pompeii on our way back to Rome on Monday.

If I only had a day, I'd look into Viator, who does a day trip by bus to Pompeii.
OR
Fodor's travel forum gives very good detailed directions on taking the train to Pompeii as well (switches to a local train in Naples).

Maybe we'll bump into you in Pompeii!