Any DVC'rs do an Adventure by Disney?

[DISNEY FIX]

My first impression is, holy cow it is expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just clicked on the China trip 13 day trip for 5k per person(without airfare)?????? My MIL just put down a deposit for a similar 21 day trip airfare included for under $3,500. I'm sure these are great but you are going to pay through the nose. Any experiences out there?

 

[DVC Mike]

We're very interested in trying ABD. I've heard nothing but positive feedback. We're thinking of ABD in 2011.

 

[trampslady]

We did the Fairytale Adventure last October and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. It's just me and my husband, and we are in our early 40's. The trip was so magical. The places we stayed were first rate (and we are hotel snobs), the food was wonderful and regional, and the guides were positively wonderful in every way. In fact, we are already booked for the Austria and Prague trip next October, and two other couples that we were in Germany with have booked the same journey.

I can't say a bad thing at all about our experience. Disney does a great job with the balance of group time and personal time, and the activities are superbly selected and truly special.

 

[MrsG]

We did the Fairytale Adventure last October and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. It's just me and my husband, and we are in our early 40's. The trip was so magical. The places we stayed were first rate (and we are hotel snobs), the food was wonderful and regional, and the guides were positively wonderful in every way. In fact, we are already booked for the Austria and Prague trip next October, and two other couples that we were in Germany with have booked the same journey.

I can't say a bad thing at all about our experience. Disney does a great job with the balance of group time and personal time, and the activities are superbly selected and truly special.

I have to agree with all the above. Well said. DH&I went on the Quest for the West last year, just the two of us to celebrate our 50th b'days. It was incredible. It may seem expensive but the Disney touches and the places we got into and the fabulous guides made it a memory we will always treasure. We are looking into another ABD for 2011. We do one of us on points and the other on cash to soften the financial sting. But you will not regret it for an instant! Well worth every penny

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Me thinks I am in the wrong league..........

 

[nunzia]

We just got back last week from a Backstage Magic ABD. . Granted..it wasn't a big overseas one, but with early booking discount and plus insurance it cost about $4,000 for 2 of us. It was an amazing trip from start to finish and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Disney. Everything was top notch and made very special by our guides. There were surprises galore, the hotels were beautiful (2 Nights in Hollywood, at the Renaissance..right at the Kodak theater..then three at the Grand Californian) Food was great with about 80% of our meals covered and we even were allowed beer and wine at many meals. The experts were amazing. You could not duplicate this trip on your own for any amount. It was worth every cent.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

The experts were amazing. You could not duplicate this trip on your own for any amount. It was worth every cent.

That is what I was afraid of.

 

[Coach81]

Perhaps someday.. we are still enjoying WDW too much.

 

[Jynohn]

I've been dying to go on an ABD trip, and still hope to one day, but be careful booking with points. Disney has been cancelling a lot of the trips with only a few months notice due to them not filling up (economy maybe?). There's a poster on the ABD board right now who has lost her points due to Disney cancelling since she's at the end of her use year. Hopefully Disney will somehow make it right for her...

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Perhaps someday.. we are still enjoying WDW too much.

Yea us too, right after the wife gets a second job.

 

[nordkin]

We have been on both ABD and other guided trips and ABD won hands down. The other trips appear to be less expensive, but they get you with added costs once you are on the trip. For example with ABD you do not have to tip the step on local guides or bus drivers because Disney handles it and with other groups you are expected to tip the local guides as well as the bus drivers. We did tip our bus driver on our ABD trip because he was awsome. The accomodations with ABD were also far superior. Little touches like having water, snacks and sun screen provided by ABD was wonderful.

That is not to say we will not do another guided tour with another company, but we have another ABD trip booked for September.

 

[kjd469]

Have done other tours, but did our first ABD to Peru in October - all I can say is WOW!! Big differences are quality of hotels, quality of food, all the the little "extras"...tipping is included, but we would have felt cheap not tipping the local guides, bus drivers and hotel staff...most in our group tipped again, and wished it wasn't already included, as it's like tipping twice. Other than that you can't go wrong...absolutely worth every penny. We're booked on Southwest Splendours in July, and will probably do the South Africa tour next year...warning: ABD can be very addictive

 

[nunzia]

Yea us too, right after the wife gets a second job.

..that's what my second job pays for

 

[tomandrobin]

We have not gone yet, but are looking to book an ABD trip for fall of 2010. We just need to decide between Germany and Italy. We are happy to read that the Fairytale ABD was terrific.

We were all set on Italy, until we read the itinerary for Germany. We have until August to decide which trip to choose.

 

[LocustPoint]

My DH and I have done Southwest Splendors in 2007 and Backstage Magic in 2008. Both trips were amazing and were well worth the money. Sure we could have done Southwest Splendors on our own and more economically but we would not have had the experiences that we did with the local experts and the Disney touches. Backstage Magic is a trip that can not be duplicated on it's own and that is what makes it worth the money. We went to Imagineering, Disney Studios, backstage and Disneyland and California Adventure, was able to go into Walt's apartment and ride the private parlor car on the train(name escape's me). All this with people who "get" Disney and in the company of two fabulous guides. I highly recommend ABD to anyone who asks me.