Big news. New ABD for 2013 - Asia

[sayhello]

I'm glad to see ABD is expanding in Asia...I really wish they would create a Japan or India tour. I would sign up for either in a heartbeat!

I agree! Especially the Japan one. I'd be all over that!

Sayhello

 

[Jitzy]

I agree! Especially the Japan one. I'd be all over that!

Sayhello

I've lived here in Japan these last four months. I think you could visit Japan easily without a tour group if you wished. Maybe a do it yourself add-on to the Southeast Asia Tour? Finishing up of course, at Tokyo Disney and Disney Sea.

The hardest part about Japan? The only place I can get a proper Diet Coke is from the commissary and they only sell cans. I took a suitcase to Kyoto/Hiroshima/Miyajima Island full of soda. Seriously....

 

[sayhello]

I've lived here in Japan these last four months. I think you could visit Japan easily without a tour group if you wished. Maybe a do it yourself add-on to the Southeast Asia Tour? Finishing up of course, at Tokyo Disney and Disney Sea.

The hardest part about Japan? The only place I can get a proper Diet Coke is from the commissary and they only sell cans. I took a suitcase to Kyoto/Hiroshima/Miyajima Island full of soda. Seriously....

Thanks, Jitzy. Maybe I could, but I don't think I *would*. I travel by myself, and there's no way I'd go that far, to a place I don't speak the language, by myself. I really would want the security & help of those ABD Guides.

Sayhello

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

SayHello...

O/T sort of ...but I really enjoy your trip reports. It is enough to make me consider doing an ABD adventure even though I am a solo!

(so hurry up and finish the London/Paris/Disneyland trip....)

 

[sayhello]

SayHello...

O/T sort of ...but I really enjoy your trip reports. It is enough to make me consider doing an ABD adventure even though I am a solo!

(so hurry up and finish the London/Paris/Disneyland trip....)

Thanks, ThePhantomsGirl! Go! You'll love it (and my evil plan will have worked! )

And yes, my RL has kind of eaten my free time, but it's gotten much better, so I *REALLY* do need to finish the Knights & Lights Report. Thanks for the nudge!

Sayhello

 

[2BNDisney]

Still hoping for Scotland to come on board ... or even better a Scotland/Ireland combo lol. I have been holding out for ABD so far hoping they will offer one. The new trip sounds really cool though to the East.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I'm not so interested in this new Southeast Asia tour ... probably because I've never really had a desire to visit these countries. I think the humidity would cause me to have an actual meltdown.

I asked about Japan and I was told that for ABD to do what ABD does on tours, Japan might be too costly ... even for ABD.

After my China trip, I'm actually considering saving up for a South African trip. Hopefully, when I'm able to afford it (in time and money), it'll still be offered. In the mean time, we'll wait and see how much the ABD add on for the Med cruise is ... and if the itinerary is worth pursuing.

 

[sayhello]

I'm not so interested in this new Southeast Asia tour ... probably because I've never really had a desire to visit these countries. I think the humidity would cause me to have an actual meltdown.

Now that's funny, because I heard the same thing about the humidity in China. Do you mean Southeast Asia is *MORE* humid than China?

I asked about Japan and I was told that for ABD to do what ABD does on tours, Japan might be too costly ... even for ABD.

Wow! Considering how pricey some of the trips like Knights & Lights are, that would have to be *really* expensive for ABD to think that!

After my China trip, I'm actually considering saving up for a South African trip. Hopefully, when I'm able to afford it (in time and money), it'll still be offered. In the mean time, we'll wait and see how much the ABD add on for the Med cruise is ... and if the itinerary is worth pursuing.

A lot of people have reported wonderful things about the South African trip! And as you probably know, I did the ABD add-on to the Med cruise, and thought it was worth every penny!

Sayhello

 

[pxlbarrel]

Now that's funny, because I heard the same thing about the humidity in China. Do you mean Southeast Asia is *MORE* humid than China?

Wow! Considering how pricey some of the trips like Knights & Lights are, that would have to be *really* expensive for ABD to think that!

A lot of people have reported wonderful things about the South African trip! And as you probably know, I did the ABD add-on to the Med cruise, and thought it was worth every penny!

Sayhello

There's humidity and then there's HUMIDITY! LOL. Hong Kong, this past week when we were there, was at 91-94% humidity. It was barely tolerable for me. China itself wasn't humid but that's probably because we're still in April.

Back in 1977, when I was just a kid, we went to Malaysia in the summer...ugh. I still remember staying at my grandmother's house wishing that this vacation would end. Thankfully, my parents had also become spoiled westerners by then and we hightailed it to a beach hotel where there was .... AIR CONDITIONING! We lounged with German tourists in the comfort of AC. I'm going to assume that Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand will be the same type of humidity and maybe worse. I am avoiding Orlando in the summer because of the humidity ...
I know, I'm a wuss but I'm a dry one!

As for Japan being expensive for an ABD. When you think of what and how ABD plans a tour, I have no problem thinking that Japan may be cost prohibitive. A room in Tokyo which has the square footage of a walk in closet costs a small fortune. I stayed in a hotel in Tokyo where the washroom was smaller than the washroom on the Magic! And it was expensive!! Can you imagine a hotel that is worthy of ABD ... how much would that be?

That being said, I don't believe that there's ever a "never" in Disney language (except Neverland ...) For all we know, somebody's diligently working up a plan for it as we speak ... greasing some palms and sweet talking the locals. I've seen the power of the Mouse and it is great.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I've lived in Japan for 3 yrs, and I'd still being interested in an ABD there. Tokyo is certainly expensive, but they have tours in Paris which is crazy expensive too. I'm sure they could make it happen.

 

[Muslickz]

I agree! Especially the Japan one. I'd be all over that!

Sayhello

I would be very interested in the Japan one as well.... I think I could get on board sounds like a great time

-M

 

[WeLoveABD]

It would be fascinating to see what they put together if ABD does Japan--when we were on the 2008 China trip with Dusty, he said they had scouted it out and gave a lot of consideration to Japan, but the costs didn't pan out. Not sure if the current economy there helps at all--I am sure they'd have the group stay at least one or two nights at the Disneyland resort there....maybe it would be combined with another country? Maybe part of the development of guides for a yet-announced Disney cruise itinerary in the Far East?

The ABD rep we talked to a few weeks ago made it sound like there would be an ABD announcement around May 20 or 21...but that could be in conjunction with the 2013 Disney Magic cruises in the med and the as-yet revealed details for the ABD add-on (pre-cruise Barcelona/Madrid mini ABD vacation).

 

[Cousin Orville]

Maybe part of the development of guides for a yet-announced Disney cruise itinerary in the Far East?

Another trip that would be very difficult to pass up.

 

[lrweaver]

For those of you who have mentioned the South Africa trip, my daughter (then 12 years old) and I did this trip last summer, and it has to be the best trip we have ever taken. We have traveled a lot and usually travel on our own. But for Africa, I wanted to be with a group. We had never done a Disney trip before but LOVED the trip so much that we are going to Alaska this summer. Vietnam is on my list of places I want to visit. I'd decided that this summer would be our last Disney trip (because of the cost) but, a trip to Vietnam? I would do that in a heartbeat. Can't wait for the details so that I can find out how much money I need to save.

 

[JJsmama]

I've lived here in Japan these last four months. I think you could visit Japan easily without a tour group if you wished. Maybe a do it yourself add-on to the Southeast Asia Tour? Finishing up of course, at Tokyo Disney and Disney Sea.

The hardest part about Japan? The only place I can get a proper Diet Coke is from the commissary and they only sell cans. I took a suitcase to Kyoto/Hiroshima/Miyajima Island full of soda. Seriously....

I agree. I don't think ABD is necessary for Japan at all. It is very simple to travel and get around there! Things are SO well organized and clean! The hardest part is that there is not as much English as I expected, but that was easily overcome.

I don't live in Japan, but we have lived in China for 6 years now. We have visited Japan as a family and felt like it was paradise compared to China. I was 7.5 months pregnant with #3 and had two other young kids in tow and it was still easy. My husband has to go frequently on business and sends me phone message taunts about how nice it is to be there again.

China has more English in Beijing and Shanghai than Tokyo does, but in the smaller cities in China, things would be tougher for a foreigner traveler than Japan is. The facilities and infrastructure are just not of the same class- not even close.

Japan is also pretty small and the rail system is like Europe - clean, orderly, dependable, simple to figure out. (Ok, obviously avoid the subway in big cities during rush hour...)

If Disney had an ABD for Japan, I certainly would not discourage anyone from doing it, but since it does not, I suggest to those of you who would love to go there: it is really not very tough to do at all. AND for a mid trip break, book into Tokyo Disney for a couple days. I wanted to do a ABD Europe this summer (so that someone would move my luggage .) Unfortunately, they are all booked up. I had already told my son that we would go, so we are blazing our own trail this summer too.

 

[Jitzy]

I agree. I don't think ABD is necessary for Japan at all. It is very simple to travel and get around there! Things are SO well organized and clean! The hardest part is that there is not as much English as I expected, but that was easily overcome.

I don't live in Japan, but we have lived in China for 6 years now. We have visited Japan as a family and felt like it was paradise compared to China. I was 7.5 months pregnant with #3 and had two other young kids in tow and it was still easy. My husband has to go frequently on business and sends me phone message taunts about how nice it is to be there again.

China has more English in Beijing and Shanghai than Tokyo does, but in the smaller cities in China, things would be tougher for a foreigner traveler than Japan is. The facilities and infrastructure are just not of the same class- not even close.

Japan is also pretty small and the rail system is like Europe - clean, orderly, dependable, simple to figure out. (Ok, obviously avoid the subway in big cities during rush hour...)

If Disney had an ABD for Japan, I certainly would not discourage anyone from doing it, but since it does not, I suggest to those of you who would love to go there: it is really not very tough to do at all. AND for a mid trip break, book into Tokyo Disney for a couple days. I wanted to do a ABD Europe this summer (so that someone would move my luggage .) Unfortunately, they are all booked up. I had already told my son that we would go, so we are blazing our own trail this summer too.

Totally agree! I think that if you have booked a China trip and could afford it, Japan is worth a stop, if you've flown all that way, why not? Five days in Tokyo, a couple in Kyoto and one for Hiroshima and possibly one for Miyajima Island. If you've seen one shrine/temple, you've seen them all! Just don't come over during Golden Week. The offices shut down and it gets crazy with traffic. The Japanese people are so productive, until they go on vacation. Then they like to have fun!

 

[familygoboston]

I agree. I don't think ABD is necessary for Japan at all. It is very simple to travel and get around there! Things are SO well organized and clean! The hardest part is that there is not as much English as I expected, but that was easily overcome.

I don't live in Japan, but we have lived in China for 6 years now. We have visited Japan as a family and felt like it was paradise compared to China. I was 7.5 months pregnant with #3 and had two other young kids in tow and it was still easy. My husband has to go frequently on business and sends me phone message taunts about how nice it is to be there again.

China has more English in Beijing and Shanghai than Tokyo does, but in the smaller cities in China, things would be tougher for a foreigner traveler than Japan is. The facilities and infrastructure are just not of the same class- not even close.

Japan is also pretty small and the rail system is like Europe - clean, orderly, dependable, simple to figure out. (Ok, obviously avoid the subway in big cities during rush hour...)

If Disney had an ABD for Japan, I certainly would not discourage anyone from doing it, but since it does not, I suggest to those of you who would love to go there: it is really not very tough to do at all. AND for a mid trip break, book into Tokyo Disney for a couple days. I wanted to do a ABD Europe this summer (so that someone would move my luggage .) Unfortunately, they are all booked up. I had already told my son that we would go, so we are blazing our own trail this summer too.

I think it's wonderful that people live in a place for a time and learn to get around and learn the language. But I don't think you can advise people that they "could easily do it on their own".

When you live in a place for a time, I'm sure you'd have lots of time to explore by trial and error; I think people who are taking ABD's are often doing a "survey" of the place for future longer trips, or visiting for just a short time. While most of us strive to learn a little language and read up in the guidebooks about the places we are visiting. There is just not the time in a week or 14 day time frame to learn your way around. People with only a 2 week vacation don't have that luxury and might prefer the assistance of excellent guiding and having the itinerary all set for them!

 

[sayhello]

If Disney had an ABD for Japan, I certainly would not discourage anyone from doing it, but since it does not, I suggest to those of you who would love to go there: it is really not very tough to do at all. AND for a mid trip break, book into Tokyo Disney for a couple days. I wanted to do a ABD Europe this summer (so that someone would move my luggage .) Unfortunately, they are all booked up. I had already told my son that we would go, so we are blazing our own trail this summer too.

All European ABD's are booked up for this summer? Wow! Good for ABD! I'm sorry there was nothing available for you, but I'm glad ABD is doing so well!

Sayhello

 

[LionKingRules84]

I would be very interested in the Japan one as well.... I think I could get on board sounds like a great time

-M

Yeah Japan is a dream destination for me and trying to plan for a trip there is just nuts! I could spend a week in Tokyo alone. If they do decide to do Japan I hope they include Tokyo Disneyland and the Ghibli Museum since they distribute those films here.

From what I hear Tokyo Disneyland rivals Disney World and the Original Disneyland in California as the best Disney park! Tokyo Disney Sea is gorgeous!

I watch NHK a lot and they do a bunch of tourist destinations on there every once in awhile(they did Tokyo Disney Sea once too) and the more I watch the more I want to drop what ever I'm doing and fly to Japan. I absolutely love Asian Art I about wanted to live in the Japan Pavilion in Epcot on my last trip.

Also I love your signature image Muslickz!

 

[RSM]

All European ABD's are booked up for this summer? Wow! Good for ABD! I'm sorry there was nothing available for you, but I'm glad ABD is doing so well!

Sayhello

Our Central Italy tour for 6/17 doesn't show up on the Rates/Dates link anymore. But I know it is only 54% booked. Maybe they start to take the tours down or close them when they get inside of a window.