Could any of you DISers out there tell me what you think the advantage of an
ABD trip is over a regular trip planned on your own or by a
travel agent? We are considering an ABD trip sometime in the next few years and are just curious! Any opinions are much apreciated!
Well, honestly, the advantages really depend on what kind of vacation you like. There are lots of threads here where we've discussed the pros & cons of ABD, and whether it's worth the price or not. Some of us say "Absolutely!" others say "Not so much".
First off, if you're a control freak who has to make all the decisions, and take care of everything, don't sign up for an ABD!
ABD has already researched the area, and found top quality venues and local tour guides. You can generally see more in a day with ABD than you can on your own, because ABD gets VIP access to a lot of places, and you get to bypass the lines that lots of people who are traveling on their own need to stand in.
Having someone else (the fantastic, fabulous Adventure Guides) take care of transportation, shlepping your luggage, checking you in & out of your hotels, dealing with entry fees and tickets is a really nice way to travel. Usually, if you're traveling on your own, someone ends up driving, and doesn't really get to enjoy the sights.
ABD also has access to some activities that you would not be able to book on your own, even through a TA.
But really, the top, top advantage of ABD is the Adventure Guides. They are a marvel, and really, truly *make* these trips. They are personable, knowledgeable, hard working, and just all-around fun. If anything goes wrong, it's nice to know you have the Adventure Guides right there, working to find a solution to the problem, whatever it is. I certainly feel safer & more secure knowing I'm traveling with a small group of people, being led by these well-trained Guides.
For me, ABD means less stress, less worries, more time to enjoy myself.
If those things aren't important to you, then ABD probably isn't your cup of tea. If they are, like they are for me, you'll have a hard time traveling any other way again.
Read my trip reports (links in my signature) if you'd like a better idea of what the
Adventures by Disney experience is like!
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