ABD- worth it or no?

[princesserinrose]

I've been looking into a couple ABD trips, like Norway and Scotland for example, and was a bit shocked at some of the prices. Anyone here have any experience? I guess my question is if I can afford it, should I go the ABD route or just travel to these places without Disney? Are the Disney atmosphere and tour guides really worth the price? Thanks

 

[sayhello]

Welcome to the ABD forum!

Here's a link to the sticky with links to some past discussions on this topic:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3045636

You'll get different opinions from different folks. My feeling is, if you can afford it, and it's the way you like to travel, it's worth it. Not everyone can afford it, nor does everyone like group travel. The Adventure Guides, the VIP access, the "carefree" travel, the cultural experiences, all make it worth it to me.

Sayhello

 

[knewton64]

I've been looking into a couple ABD trips, like Norway and Scotland for example, and was a bit shocked at some of the prices. Anyone here have any experience? I guess my question is if I can afford it, should I go the ABD route or just travel to these places without Disney? Are the Disney atmosphere and tour guides really worth the price? Thanks

YES.







T.T.F.N.
&
Cheers Y'all







"MY VERY 1ST TRIP 2 WDW / DISNEY WONDER" 01-07-09 to 01-15-09 (w/pics & video)
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2062857
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and.......

 

[abdgeek]

It is so totally worth it! I travel solo and, while I am fine traveling solo in the US, I feel safer traveling overseas with ABD. I'm a consummate planner when it comes to trips. However, even I can't re-create what ABD does on their trips myself.

For my first DCL Mediterranean Cruise, I did the ABD add-on. Wow. Sometimes we did the equivalent of 3-4 excursions in one day. When I did my second DCL Med Cruise two years later to see what I didn't get to see before, I didn't do ABD because the first 5 days was what I had already done. Let me tell you, the DCL excursions I booked weren't anywhere near as comprehensive as the ABD one's. With the regular excursions you're basically taken to the spot and turned loose. The guide who is with you often doesn't know the history or feel it is their responsibility to give you any info on the site. They just tell you what time to meet them next. You don't get that with ABD. They always have an expert countryman with them to give you all the info you need.

As sayhello said, you will have to decide if ABD is for you. I've done three ABD trips thus far(Med Cruise add-on, Greece, DVC NYC trip--lived near there for years and had been but definitely never did the things ABD did on the trip) and have my fourth this summer, ABD Italy Signature. IMO, you can't go wrong with ABD!

 

[calypso726]

I've been looking into a couple ABD trips, like Norway and Scotland for example, and was a bit shocked at some of the prices. Anyone here have any experience? I guess my question is if I can afford it, should I go the ABD route or just travel to these places without Disney? Are the Disney atmosphere and tour guides really worth the price? Thanks

We did the Scotland ABD last year and thought it was totally worth it. There is no way on earth we could have re-created that itinerary on our own. I posted a trip report that I wrote day by day during our trip and including our 3 day pre-arrival. I did leave out the extra surprises that are not listed on the itinerary so there are no spoilers.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3150065

We enjoyed ABD so much that we are traveling twice with them this year. In May we will be part of the New York DVC ABD exclusive and in September we will be on the London/Paris excursion with a pre-trip stop in Scotland on our own since I fell in with the country last year.

We are by no means wealthy and went through sticker shock when we started looking at ABD years ago. The release of the Scotland itinerary pushed me from thoughts of "ABD one day" to "ABD now, so figure it out." Fortunately, I found a way to get creative on our vacation budgeting and discovered how to fly via collecting airline miles and paying very little for flights.

 

[OhanaCuz]

We did the Scotland ABD last year and thought it was totally worth it. There is no way on earth we could have re-created that itinerary on our own. I posted a trip report that I wrote day by day during our trip and including our 3 day pre-arrival. I did leave out the extra surprises that are not listed on the itinerary so there are no spoilers.

Thank you for sharing that link. I'm seriously considering an ABD trip. Other trips have been at the top of my list but your trip report might make me reconsider that order. Your journey looked amazing.

 

[calypso726]

Thank you for sharing that link. I'm seriously considering an ABD trip. Other trips have been at the top of my list but your trip report might make me reconsider that order. Your journey looked amazing.

You are welcome. I am glad you enjoyed it It certainly was. I am hoping ABD will come up with another Scotland itinerary. They have several for Italy, so why not Scotland

 

[OhanaCuz]

You are welcome. I am glad you enjoyed it It certainly was. I am hoping ABD will come up with another Scotland itinerary. They have several for Italy, so why not Scotland

My mother has always wanted to visit Scotland and I showed it to her. She said that your enthusiasm was infectious.

 

[bliscum]

I have been traveling with ABD since 2008 and my Chine excursion. I am a single female who loves to travel. I feel that it is worth every penny. Yes I pay more as I am single but still worth it. It is very safe. I meet lots of wonderful people and the guides are awesome. I love how they pick up local guide in each city. The planning that Disney does for these trips is extensive they try to anticipate everything.