anyone planning ahead for 2011?

[HappyGrumpy]

http://http://egypt-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/safety_tips_for_tourists_in_egypt

This article gives a small bit o history as to why the security is so high with groups. I too am not crazy about the idea but I refuse to live in fear. I trust the Lord and ABD to keep us out of harm ways.

I do wonder though If we did see an escalation in incidents in the future how would ABD handle it. Does travel INS protect against who cover pre trip incidents like this. I know volcanos and hurricanes are not typically would something like that be handled different? It's more of a curiosity than anything. I could really see myself on the Egypt trip in April 2012.

 

[tksbaskets]

There are several places in this world I would love to see that do not require an armed guard. Until I've been to them all I think I would skip Egypt.

TK

 

[Diskidatheart]

There are several places in this world I would love to see that do not require an armed guard. Until I've been to them all I think I would skip Egypt.

TK

I couldn't agree with you more. I'll visit Egypt through all the trip reports we see in the next couple of years.

 

[sayhello]

There are several places in this world I would love to see that do not require an armed guard. Until I've been to them all I think I would skip Egypt.

TK

I tend to agree with you there, tk! Israel was hard enough, but Egypt is a whole 'nother kettle of fish! They aren't requiring that armed guard just for the fun of it! As much as I'd love to see the pyramids & the Sphynx, I think I'll pass for now. (I've also read in multiple reports that Egypt on the whole is amazingly dirty. This is all second-hand, but it's from people who have been there.) I'd be happy to be proven wrong on that one, but it's what I've been told...

Sayhello

 

[wdwsos]

I guess everyone has their own travel comfort zone that is tough to venture out of. I won't get in a helicopter, hate little planes and it took me years to get on a cruise ship, but I've been to the Middle East a few times and don't have a problem with that. It's all about the fear of not being "in control" for me (although, it's not as if I'm piloting the jumbo jets!), but in Lebanon and Egypt I never felt unsafe. Maybe I'm just oblivious. We have family who travel to Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia often without problems.

For what it's worth, Egypt isn't even on the travel advisory list: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html but Israel is. Being in the travel business, I hear of a lot of incidences and I'd be less inclined to visit Mexico (drug wars, intense violence) than Egypt. Lately, the stories have centered around the teenager killed in St. Thomas while on a Carnival Cruise excursion and the violence in Nassau that forced a few cruise lines (including DCL) to cancel excursions. If you look at history, you wouldn't visit London or Dublin either.

As HappyGrumpy said, I'm not going to live in fear. Otherwise, it'd be me, the remote and the Travel Channel. That said, I would never advise a client to visit a country where the planning would only cause stress instead of excitement! I wouldn't want anyone to force me into a helicopter either!

Dotti

 

[Bobo912]

Thomson Family Adventures, A & K and Wildland have Egypt trips in their family style travel (as well as regular adult travel for Wildland and A & K)and that's nothing new. ABD, isn't breaking ground offering Egypt. If it was all that dangerous, surely all these companies, and especially Disney, wouldn't offer it. Having said that, not sure I would be comfortable taking my child on a trip that requires an armed guard. Luckily, we have lots of other great destinations to choose from

 

[Q's My Princess]

Well said Dottie!

I am looking forward to the Egypt trip and am completely comfortable bringing my children with me! I applaud Disney's full disclosure regarding the travel security and appreciate others caution with regards to this destination. As you said, we each have our own travel comfort zone! Our family has traveled extensively in all parts of the world and Egypt has greater security than many countries. We have found that traveling with armed security was not scary. Quite the contrary.

I guess everyone has their own travel comfort zone that is tough to venture out of.

For what it's worth, Egypt isn't even on the travel advisory list: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html but Israel is. Being in the travel business, I hear of a lot of incidences and I'd be less inclined to visit Mexico (drug wars, intense violence) than Egypt. Lately, the stories have centered around the teenager killed in St. Thomas while on a Carnival Cruise excursion and the violence in Nassau that forced a few cruise lines (including DCL) to cancel excursions. If you look at history, you wouldn't visit London or Dublin either.

As HappyGrumpy said, I'm not going to live in fear. Otherwise, it'd be me, the remote and the Travel Channel. That said, I would never advise a client to visit a country where the planning would only cause stress instead of excitement! I wouldn't want anyone to force me into a helicopter either!

Dotti

 

[kjd469]

Well said Dottie!

I am looking forward to the Egypt trip and am completely comfortable bringing my children with me! I applaud Disney's full disclosure regarding the travel security and appreciate others caution with regards to this destination. As you said, we each have our own travel comfort zone! Our family has traveled extensively in all parts of the world and Egypt has greater security than many countries. We have found that traveling with armed security was not scary. Quite the contrary.

I agree!! Have a wonderful trip - it looks absolutely fabulous to me, and I am not-so-secretly jealous To those of you who are booked, I will be waiting to live vicariously through your trip reports!

 

[sayhello]

The Dreams Unlimited Travel on line calculator will be operation very soon.

This will allow you to price you ABD vacation.

Hey, are they ever going to set this calculator up so that you can get a quote for a Solo traveler with the Single Supplement?

Sayhello

 

[WeLoveABD]

My DW and I did our honeymoon trip 18 yrs ago on a crusie in the med that included a bus trip down to Cairo--and we had armed guards following in jeeps behind us. You tend to forget about it all after a while, and then the beauty and wonder of the pyramids and sphinx...oh my! We had initially decided NOT to do this ABD, and do Peru--but looking at the details, the three day river trip, etc, well, we may change our mind. (Cost is a LOT more, so kids, forget college).

 

[disneydan864]

The wife and I, Are going this november,and planning to go sept/oct 2011 for the magic kingdoms birthday.

 

[sayhello]

The wife and I, Are going this november,and planning to go sept/oct 2011 for the magic kingdoms birthday.

Which ABD are you going on?

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

My DW and I did our honeymoon trip 18 yrs ago on a crusie in the med that included a bus trip down to Cairo--and we had armed guards following in jeeps behind us. You tend to forget about it all after a while, and then the beauty and wonder of the pyramids and sphinx...oh my! We had initially decided NOT to do this ABD, and do Peru--but looking at the details, the three day river trip, etc, well, we may change our mind. (Cost is a LOT more, so kids, forget college).

Sayhello

 

[DisneyKevin]

Hey, are they ever going to set this calculator up so that you can get a quote for a Solo traveler with the Single Supplement?

Sayhello

We are working on it!

 

[sayhello]

We are working on it!

Cool! Thanks!

Sayhello

 

[WebmasterPete]

I was thinking about the Egypt trip, but I have to be honest - the whole "armed guard" thing is freaking me out a bit. We're considering China next May, but I'd also like to do at least one of the Italy trips.

Of course, we're planning a DIS'ers only Knights & Lights tour with Disneyland Paris add on for September or October of next year as well. ABD has turned me into an international traveler in less than a year LOL!

Pete

 

[Diskidatheart]

I was thinking about the Egypt trip, but I have to be honest - the whole "armed guard" thing is freaking me out a bit. We're considering China next May, but I'd also like to do at least one of the Italy trips.

Of course, we're planning a DIS'ers only Knights & Lights tour with Disneyland Paris add on for September or October of next year as well. ABD has turned me into an international traveler in less than a year LOL!

Pete

I hear ya Pete! I loved the Italy trip that we took so much, I really want to go back to Europe again next year. I used to be a beach vacationer, but after seeing Italy with ABD, I want to see more of the world!

 

[WebmasterPete]

I hear ya Pete! I loved the Italy trip that we took so much, I really want to go back to Europe again next year. I used to be a beach vacationer, but after seeing Italy with ABD, I want to see more of the world!

The best part about it for me is the "Disney Bubble". I'm a wuss when it comes to traveling outside the U.S. - not for security reasons as much as the language barrier. The ABD trips kind of wrap you in that 'Disney blanket' and take away much of that concern (at least for me).

That said, I'm REALLY torn on Egypt. I do trust Disney to not take us anywhere that we'll get mauled, but still - is anyone else put off by the whole 'armed escort' thing, or am I just being an ugly American?

Pete

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

I am so, so sad that the dates don't work out to do Backstage Magic after the PC REPO. The CM I spoke to back in February seemed so hopeful, and I really thought Disney would make it happen - it seemed so perfect. Oh well, I can only hope there will be a cruise/ABD package for Hawaii in 2012.
I am excited for all of you doing Egypt! I would love to go eventually, but DH and I have other places on the top of our list right now. I can't wait to read the trip reports!

 

[sayhello]

I was thinking about the Egypt trip, but I have to be honest - the whole "armed guard" thing is freaking me out a bit. We're considering China next May, but I'd also like to do at least one of the Italy trips.

Of course, we're planning a DIS'ers only Knights & Lights tour with Disneyland Paris add on for September or October of next year as well. ABD has turned me into an international traveler in less than a year LOL!

Pete

I was thinking China in May, too, but after the ABD/DCL Med cruise this year, and getting *so* sick on my return, I'm not quite sure I'm up to traveling that far away so soon.

HOWEVER, I am seriously considering Knights & Lights for this year, and would like more info, once you know, about this DIS'ers only trip! I could really get into that. What's the weather like in Jolly Old that time of year?

The best part about it for me is the "Disney Bubble". I'm a wuss when it comes to traveling outside the U.S. - not for security reasons as much as the language barrier. The ABD trips kind of wrap you in that 'Disney blanket' and take away much of that concern (at least for me).

That said, I'm REALLY torn on Egypt. I do trust Disney to not take us anywhere that we'll get mauled, but still - is anyone else put off by the whole 'armed escort' thing, or am I just being an ugly American?

Pete

I'm fond of the "Disney Bubble", too. It came in very handy in the Mediterranean. I never had to worry about where to eat, where to find bathrooms, the language barrier, etc. Worked for me!

And I have to admit, if I'd been remotely interested in the Egypt trip, the armed guard thing would have given me second thoughts. It freaks me out, too. Reminds me of MCO after 9/11, or the bus in Jerusalem... Makes me feel very uncomfortable. I don't think it makes you an ugly American to be concerned about your safety. They wouldn't require it if they didn't think it was necessary... And, quite honestly, that's not something I'd *WANT* to get used to.

Sayhello