Any positive changes to 2016 dates?

[alldiz]

Thanks for all the input everyone
Looks like Scotland got the brunt of the changes.
Sounds like China trip got better which is great.
Not sure if removing Stonehedge is a good thing though.... Unless it took a lot of uncomfortable traveling to see it??
Thanks
Kerri

 

[fosterkittymom]

I posted this on the other thread, but very disappointed with the December offerings for the Amazon Galapagos trip. We were planning to book and I had to catch my TA and tell her to call it off because they shifted the dates so much as to make it impossible to work the winter break trip with school schedules. The only other December offering came out waitlisted, so I assume is a private trip. Boo!

Not sure we will do an ABD after all for next year, as we feel the European ones aren't very kind to families of 3.

In what way do you feel they aren't kind to families of 3? I went to China in 2013 and had no complaints. We are going to Italy next month and am now wondering what to expect.

 

[kristilew]

In what way do you feel they aren't kind to families of 3? I went to China in 2013 and had no complaints. We are going to Italy next month and am now wondering what to expect.

There have been a few threads where we have discussed this ad nauseum. The European ABDs put the third person in a room on a small rollaway. This makes for a crowded room and the subpar sleeping experience for the third person. Especially if he or she is a full grown teen or adult. Yet unlike other companies, Disney still charges full price for third in a room.

We just did the Italy trip and that was my only complaint. Other than that it was perfect. But I'm not willing to spend another chunk of cash for my DD to sleep with her feet hanging off a cot.

 

[TXTransplant]

There was also a post in another thread by a poster who tried to book Norway for 2016. The poster was told by ABD that no triple rooms were available and the poster would have to book a double and a single - with the full single supplement - in order to accommodate the poster's family of three.

The post is in the Waiting for 2016 thread, on page 3.

 

[alldiz]

There have been a few threads where we have discussed this ad nauseum. The European ABDs put the third person in a room on a small rollaway. This makes for a crowded room and the subpar sleeping experience for the third person. Especially if he or she is a full grown teen or adult. Yet unlike other companies, Disney still charges full price for third in a room.

We just did the Italy trip and that was my only complaint. Other than that it was perfect. But I'm not willing to spend another chunk of cash for my DD to sleep with her feet hanging off a cot.

Wow....same price. That's ridiculous!
I can understand why you wouldn't want to pay that again. With very active itineraries a good sleeping experience is important. Not that sleeping is ever not important LOL
Kerri

 

[hilarys]

My ABD contact indicated that Guests did prefer more time in Prague. And that you are SO RIGHT about packing up the marionettes!

Sayhello

Now they just need to remove the waltz lesson in Vienna. That was by far my least favorite activity of the tour although I was dealing with really grumpy exhausted kids at that point (last day of the trip).

 

[Calfan]

Now they just need to remove the waltz lesson in Vienna. That was by far my least favorite activity of the tour although I was dealing with really grumpy exhausted kids at that point (last day of the trip).

I so agree with you, hilarys. I hated the waltzing lesson too.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Change for southern CA...no listing on detailed itinerary for the apartment and dream suite on the Disneyland day....It was listed on this year's itinerary...also this year's does not show the lillibelle and it was listed for 2014.

Sadly we did not do the Lillibelle last December. I remember it being on the official itinerary, but there was no mention of it. Not sure about the apartment or Dream Suite. We saw them in December. I kind of assumed those VIP activities weren't guaranteed and were subject to availability. When we visited the apartment, our wonderful guide said they were restricting access now. For example, it used to be a stop on one of the Disneyland tours... no longer. Cast members who knew the right people could visit it. All that apparently is stopped now. She said ABD was about the only way you could see it now. I hope Disneyland continues to allow ABD access. It's very special to see and one of the highlights.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Change for southern CA...no listing on detailed itinerary for the apartment and dream suite on the Disneyland day....It was listed on this year's itinerary...also this year's does not show the lillibelle and it was listed for 2014.

We did not do the Lillie Belle in 2015. Also the lack of Dream Suite and Walt's apartment could have to do with them being in use for the Diamond Celebration

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We did not do the Lillie Belle in 2015. Also the lack of Dream Suite and Walt's apartment could have to do with them being in use for the Diamond Celebration

Good point, but still a big miss. I hope what happened to Club 33 doesn't happen with this. After the Club 33 renovation it doesn't seem they've brought groups back. It was hit or miss I know anyway, but sad that it seems to be "off" the possibility list. At least I haven't heard about any groups going recently...

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Good point, but still a big miss. I hope what happened to Club 33 doesn't happen with this. After the Club 33 renovation it doesn't seem they've brought groups back. It was hit or miss I know anyway, but sad that it seems to be "off" the possibility list. At least I haven't heard about any groups going recently...

Is Club 33 in Disneyland or California Adventure? We went into the private club that is located next to Carthay Circle Theatre Restaurant.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Is Club 33 in Disneyland or California Adventure? We went into the private club that is located next to Carthay Circle Theatre Restaurant.

That was 1901. Club 33 is in New Orleans Sq.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

That was 1901. Club 33 is in New Orleans Sq.

Right. We walked by Club 33 cause I remember seeing it. We did spend quite a bit of time in the Dream Suite though so that was a plus.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

That was 1901. Club 33 is in New Orleans Sq.

Right. I was referring to Club 33. We visited 1901 and while cool, it is NOT club 33. I've been dying to go there and was disappointed that they seem to have stopped "surprising" some groups with breakfast there.

 

[White Rose]

We did not do the Lillie Belle in 2015. Also the lack of Dream Suite and Walt's apartment could have to do with them being in use for the Diamond Celebration

Well, they are on our itinerary for 2015...we are going in Oct.

 

[White Rose]

Right. I was referring to Club 33. We visited 1901 and while cool, it is NOT club 33. I've been dying to go there and was disappointed that they seem to have stopped "surprising" some groups with breakfast there.

Every year they seem to remove something else from the itinerary. Lillibelle, the trains at griffin park, el capitan is not available it seems this year or next, club 33...in years past a personalized drawing of your favorite character...but from what I can tell the price rises. I am glad we are going this year before something else disappears...

 

[Rapunzellover]

Thanks for all the input everyone
Looks like Scotland got the brunt of the changes.
Sounds like China trip got better which is great.
Not sure if removing Stonehedge is a good thing though.... Unless it took a lot of uncomfortable
traveling to see it??
Thanks
Kerri

Stonehenge wasn't bad travel, but since they seemed to have cut out the countryside, it makes sense. It's really not that awesome.

Scotland's change peeved me. I was gonna book it but decided on Spain instead.

 

[calypso726]

Stonehenge was another highlight for me last year! So glad we did that one already. I hope they keep China as is until we book in 2018!

 

[disneyphx]

The marionettes were a disappointment- it was quite complicated and then everyone had to lug them around.
The change in the China welcome dinner looks awesome! When we went in 2010 our lunch in Xian was at the

 

[disneyphx]

Oops - iPad user error!
Our Xian lunch was at the tea house - a box lunch from Starbucks.....at least it was quick.
The London/Paris change looks great to me - more time in the cities.
Ugh, the waltz lesson in Vienna is such a bad last event.....
Not sure where we will head in 2016 - or if it will involve ABD