Any tips for getting a better price on ABD?

[Tdad]

Cannot believe there still so many people can affort such an expensive entertainment spending in such a economic,
that's why Disney wont give any discount.
Mm, I must be the 99%

 

[tink70]

Cannot believe there still so many people can affort such an expensive entertainment spending in such a economic,
that's why Disney wont give any discount.
Mm, I must be the 99%

That's why I'm asking, it's a very expensive trip! But I'm happy for others that can do it. I'm thinking it will be a special family trip as we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. A trip to remember I am hoping! But trafalgar and others look more reasonable. I think I will be getting my Disney fix on a cruise or at the parks, not unfortunately through Disney adventures.

 

[sayhello]

That's why I'm asking, it's a very expensive trip! But I'm happy for others that can do it. I'm thinking it will be a special family trip as we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. A trip to remember I am hoping! But trafalgar and others look more reasonable. I think I will be getting my Disney fix on a cruise or at the parks, not unfortunately through Disney adventures.

You don't specify if you are strictly looking for a trip to London & Paris, or if that was just the one that caught your eye. Knights & Lights is one of ABD's most expensive trips (there are trips that *cost* more, but they are much longer trips. On a per-day basis, I think Knights & Lights is close to tops in price per day, if not *the* top). There are lots of other ABD's that are not going to cost you $18,000 for a family of 4. It's still not cheap, but looking at the most expensive trip doesn't give you an accurate picture.

But yes, there are other tour companies out there that are good, reputable companies, that will do London & Paris cheaper than ABD. You're the only one who can decide if what ABD offers is worth the extra money or not.

But I also feel compelled to say, traveling with ABD is not about "getting your Disney fix". The trips are *very* un-Disneyfied. You don't see Mickey & Minnie and Donald at Trafalgar Square. Really, the only nod to Disney is the pins you get on every trip. For ABD, "Disney" is about the *quality* and the access that Disney has. It's not about the Disney characters, etc.

I hope you have a wonderful trip, whoever you end up traveling with!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

$720 in tips! Trafalgar is looking better all the time!

Have you checked out the cost for tips on Trafalgar? It's true you only have one Guide to tip (I believe they call them the Tour Director), but Trafalgar's cost does not include tipping the bus driver or the local tour guides. ABD includes the bus driver, all local guides, all included meals, etc in the tips they cover. The only tips not covered with ABD is the Adventure Guides. From what I can see, Trafalgar doesn't include much, tip-wise. So in the end, tips might be a wash.

Sayhello

ETA: OK, I found this on Trafalgar's site:

Suggested tipping rates (per person traveling) for your Trafalgar team in Europe/UK are €4/£3 per day for your Travel Director, €2.50/£2 per day for your Coach Driver, and €2/£1 per half-day for a Local Guide.

That totals to €8.5 a day, so about $11 per person, per day. So, using the same example, it's $11x10x4 = $440. So I guess it's not *as* "bad" as ABD, but it's still not cheap with Trafalgor, either.

 

[tink70]

You don't specify if you are strictly looking for a trip to London & Paris, or if that was just the one that caught your eye. Knights & Lights is one of ABD's most expensive trips (there are trips that *cost* more, but they are much longer trips. On a per-day basis, I think Knights & Lights is close to tops in price per day, if not *the* top). There are lots of other ABD's that are not going to cost you $18,000 for a family of 4. It's still not cheap, but looking at the most expensive trip doesn't give you an accurate picture.

But yes, there are other tour companies out there that are good, reputable companies, that will do London & Paris cheaper than ABD. You're the only one who can decide if what ABD offers is worth the extra money or not.

But I also feel compelled to say, traveling with ABD is not about "getting your Disney fix". The trips are *very* un-Disneyfied. You don't see Mickey & Minnie and Donald at Trafalgar Square. Really, the only nod to Disney is the pins you get on every trip. For ABD, "Disney" is about the *quality* and the access that Disney has. It's not about the Disney characters, etc.

I hope you have a wonderful trip, whoever you end up traveling with!

Sayhello

I realize no characters, etc. I mean disney fix also by quality. I always say there are no surprises with Disney quality.
Also, I picked the Paris/London trip because it's a dream trip for me. Did not realize its one of the more expensive trips. Figures!
Maybe we will look at a different trip, still up in the air about our trip, just really want to do something very memorable. I don't have that many trips left with my teenage son!
Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[emilymad]

Thanks so much for all the options! It is a great place to start researching. We would love to do ABD but can't stomach the premium price associated with it. I am sure it is fantastic but paying almost 30-50% more than the same trip on your own is a lot of stomach. I still love reading all the trip reports though!