Can the prices be right???

[NJ2Boardwalk]

I was looking at an e-mail I received this morning for London/Paris trip. The cost was somewhere in the neighborhood of $3000. Is that each???? So it would cost $12,000 plus airfare, gratuities, spending money etc?? Approximately $15,000 for a family of 4?? (with 2 children over 12)

I can't imagine anyone could/would pay that??

Couldn't find anywhere that stated if the prices were per person. It said based on double/triple/quad occupancy. Any ideas?

 

[jlou]

I was looking at an e-mail I received this morning for London/Paris trip. The cost was somewhere in the neighborhood of $3000. Is that each???? So it would cost $12,000 plus airfare, gratuities, spending money etc?? Approximately $15,000 for a family of 4?? (with 2 children over 12)

I can't imagine anyone could/would pay that??

Couldn't find anywhere that stated if the prices were per person. It said based on double/triple/quad occupancy. Any ideas?

Don't feel bad. You've just gone through the sticker shock we've all had. Read on to hear why most folks here think it's worth it.

 

[Bobo912]

I was looking at an e-mail I received this morning for London/Paris trip. The cost was somewhere in the neighborhood of $3000. Is that each???? So it would cost $12,000 plus airfare, gratuities, spending money etc?? Approximately $15,000 for a family of 4?? (with 2 children over 12)

I can't imagine anyone could/would pay that??

Couldn't find anywhere that stated if the prices were per person. It said based on double/triple/quad occupancy. Any ideas?

That is the Gateway, i.e., cheaper trip. The regular London/Paris trip is over $4000 per person. And yes there are many of us on this board and elsewhere who pay for these trips and think it is worth it, for many reason. They are totally worry free, no stress, vacations that make you feel very pampered. In some cases you have exclusive access to sights and activities and you never have to stand in line for anything. I have to get ready for work and don't have time to go into details , but we have a lot of people on this board who can tell you why it's worth it to them.

 

[clarabelle]

International travel is expensive.
If you look around at other companies some will be less some more.
You are talking hotel (usually centrally located and expensive,transportation, admission to several attractions a day. All parking fees, front of the line admissions, roughly two meals a day, services of two guides and a few special touches

When you break it down it as not as bad as you think

 

[airbear]

I thought the prices were crazy expensive too but after reading everyone's trip reports on this board, it looked like too much fun to pass up. My husband and I are going on the southwest trip in July so I will know then if it was worth the money. Something tells me it will be well worth the money. 5 months to go!

 

[kristilew]

I was looking at an e-mail I received this morning for London/Paris trip. The cost was somewhere in the neighborhood of $3000. Is that each???? So it would cost $12,000 plus airfare, gratuities, spending money etc?? Approximately $15,000 for a family of 4?? (with 2 children over 12)

I can't imagine anyone could/would pay that??

Couldn't find anywhere that stated if the prices were per person. It said based on double/triple/quad occupancy. Any ideas?

Certainly makes a trip to regular old Disney World seem like a "cheap" vacay, doesn't it?

For our family of 3, one of the midrange trips totalled around $13,000 all-in. It was the trip of a lifetime and totally worth it to us. Of course, we didn't go anywhere else that year.

It depends on your means and your values for your family. We don't get very much into money discussions on this board (other than bemoaning the fact that none of us can ever afford as many of these trips as we wish we could), but I'd be willing to bet that most of us place travel over other big ticket items in our buget priorities. Personally, I know I'd far rather go on a great trip than drive a fancy new car.

 

[sayhello]

Certainly makes a trip to regular old Disney World seem like a "cheap" vacay, doesn't it?

For our family of 3, one of the midrange trips totalled around $13,000 all-in. It was the trip of a lifetime and totally worth it to us. Of course, we didn't go anywhere else that year.

It depends on your means and your values for your family. We don't get very much into money discussions on this board (other than bemoaning the fact that none of us can ever afford as many of these trips as we wish we could), but I'd be willing to bet that most of us place travel over other big ticket items in our buget priorities. Personally, I know I'd far rather go on a great trip than drive a fancy new car.

I absolutely agree with this. We all wish everyone could afford to go on these trips, but know that's not realistic.

For those of us who place travel as one of the top priorities for our money, it's money well spent. I have a 6 year old car that I plan to keep for quite a while (the previous one lived well for 15 years!). I own a small home I bought before prices went up, with a pretty low interest rate. I haven't updated the house much in the 16 years I've owned it beyond what I could do myself. To me, traveling and having wonderful, relaxing, memorable vacations is where I want to (and can) spend my money. However, I'm not taking an around-the-world cruise on Cunard; I'm not staying at the Waldorf Astoria.

But I *am* taking a kind of pricey vacation that allows me to go places & do things I might not otherwise see or do, in the comfort and security of a group trip. I've traveled on my own, making all the arrangements myself, staying at the cheap hotels, and I find I like the ABD mode of travel much more. Yes, they stay at hotels that are pricier than what I'd book for myself, but that's actually a plus. It's *nice* to stay at nice hotels, but I find I don't do it when I'm making my own arrangements.

I like being able to look at the scenery as I travel rather than watching the road & the other cars. I like already being checked into my hotel room when I arrive at a hotel, and having my suitcase magically appear in my room. I like having Guides constantly plying me with water and snacks. I like knowing that the tours and outside providers have already been checked out by Disney, and they've already figured out & verified how long it takes to get from here to there. I like having Guides to deal with the unexpected. I just plain like having the Guides around, as they are personable, knowledgeable, energetic, enthusiastic and fun. I'm willing to give up a certain amount of control of my vacation for the convenience and comaraderie of the trip. And for me, the money is worth it to have all these benefits. It *really* depends on what's important to you, and what your priorities are.

Yes, it can be a lot of money. Yes, for some of us, it is worth it. You'll have to work out if it's worth it to you.

Sayhello

 

[glassslipper2004]

I just read one of the above posters saying "makes a WDW vacay seem cheap" -- that's so true! I really couldn't believe how much money an ABD costs, especially compared to what we used to spend on vacations, but you do get what you pay for. Luckily we have been able to treat ourselves to several really amazing trips with ABD, although we can't do it as often as we'd like.

...and comparing it to WDW is difficult -- we went back to WDW after two years of ABD in a row, and it is hard to wait in all those lines after being so very pampered with ABD.

 

[StitchFan73]

I have not been on a ACD trip yet, but although it does look expensive-if you've even been to Europe you realize that a one price package is worth it's weight in gold.

Not to mention I remember more than 8 years ago when my SO and I went to England/Ireland to visit family we went through a few thousand dollars for just the two of us and we stayed with family! My first almost pass out was when I exchanged $1000 US dollars and got just about 600 Pounds!!

 

[Q's My Princess]

Travel for our family is a high priority...I believe it gives our kids an insight into the world at large. We are taking our first ABD trip this spring (China) and will be using our DVC points. So, no outright cash layout (I did that three years ago!)

When we travel internationally I normally arrange everything myself (Europe, Central & South America), however, when it came to traveling to China I wanted someone else to take care of the details the first time. After speaking with a friend who took her teenagers on an ABD Italy trip, I was sold. She said "although it was expensive, the experience for her and her kids was well worth it and she would take another ABD vacation in a heartbeat". After reviewing our trip details for China, I know ABD has us staying in some of the nicest hotels. We love fabulous hotels...

Good luck!

 

[Q's My Princess]

Travel for our family is a high priority...I believe it gives our kids an insight into the world at large. We are taking our first ABD trip this spring (China) and will be using our DVC points. So, no outright cash layout (I did that three years ago!)

When we travel internationally I normally arrange everything myself (Europe, Central & South America), however, when it came to traveling to China I wanted someone else to take care of the details the first time. After speaking with a friend who took her teenagers on an ABD Italy trip, I was sold. She said "although it was expensive, the experience for her and her kids was well worth it and she would take another ABD vacation in a heartbeat". After reviewing our trip details for China, I know ABD has us staying in some of the nicest hotels. We love fabulous hotels...

Good luck!

 

[Momto2boysSC]

Thank you for being wide eyed at these costs, too!

We'd like to do the Grand Canyon in 2011, so I thought I should start saving now. You can go to Paris for what we'd have to pay as a family of 4 for the Grand Canyon trip.

Yes, I know, I know, well worth it, no stress, blah, blah, blah. But the simple fact is that it will be incredibly HARD for us to save $12K for a trip. Inevitably, that will be necessary money - like to fix a roof, or to pay some kind of medical expense that will pop up (a certainty with two boys!).

And yes, we drive old cars, live in a modest house, I wear clothes from Target, etc.... We have very few splurges except for eating out.

The best thing - when I told my DH how much it would cost, he did say, "Wow, makes a week in Florida seem downright affordable!"

 

[3littlepeas]

Family of 5
We went on Southwest splendors 2 years ago and Down Under last year. You can imagine how much that was!!!
We are Canadians, so you have to factor in the exchange rate as well !!!
a few years ago, we decided to stop the birthday presents and the Christmas presents, instead we take one big trip per year...
The kids remember each and every one of them and still talk about them
We are now divorced (1 year now) the first thing the kids asked when we told them about our decision: "will we still travel?"
We are building memories with these trips. Yes they are expensive but SO WORTH IT!!! I will never say it enough!!
I am now saving for the next one, just me and the boys this time!!!

 

[Diskidatheart]

My wife and I also had sticker shock when we saw the price of the ABD trips. We don't have any kids, so instead of saving for college, we save for vacations. I'd love to do an ABD trip each year, but this year will be our first. I don't have first hand experience at whether these trips are worth it, but all these people can't be wrong. We've been wanting to travel to Europe, but didn't want to take a typical bus tour through Europe. We wanted to experience Europe rather than just see it. If I'm going to spend $6,500 for a "cheap" trip for the two of us to Europe, why not spend another $1,000 and go with ABD, where you know the company that is offering the trip. As everyone else has basically said, it's all depends on what your priorities are and how you "can" spend your money.

 

[RNtheRN]

I'm waiting for those years(when the kids are out of college and not yet married, family, that sort of thing) when the wife and I can take those nice international trips by ourselves. We love the trips we get to take now, but the big expense now is the kids tuition. And I don't see that letting up until at least after high school. When they are on their own, or at least employed, that is when we will take our trips together. I can't wait to see Rome.

 

[tigger_ttfn]

Yes, it is very expensive compared to other European Guided tours. But, worth every penny and then some. It is top-rated hotels, wonderful guides, and behind the scenes look at the true culture of the area.

We went on our 1st one last June and have our 2nd one booked for this June. We are 30-something DINKs that love to travel. I used to love quantity of trips, but as I grow older, I am all about the quality.

If you can afford it and appreciate Disney's flair for authenticity and service, then you will not be disappointed.

 

[catne]

I was looking at an e-mail I received this morning for London/Paris trip. The cost was somewhere in the neighborhood of $3000. Is that each???? So it would cost $12,000 plus airfare, gratuities, spending money etc?? Approximately $15,000 for a family of 4?? (with 2 children over 12)

I can't imagine anyone could/would pay that??

Couldn't find anywhere that stated if the prices were per person. It said based on double/triple/quad occupancy. Any ideas?[/Q

Yeah, I would guess that's per person, and yes, people will pay that. Some people pay $10,000 to stay at Disneyworld for a week (ever priced out concierge level with no discounts for the week of Christmas...eye opener!) And well, don't know about Dis trips, but I do know European trips are expensive. My daughter flew to London last September for a semester abroad,and paid about $900 round trip (with a ticket purchased well in advance at a decent discount.) I could see the costs running $3000 each if you're adding in the cost of hotels, excursions, and additional travel between London & France...it ain't cheap to travel in Europe. On a side-trip to Paris, daughter stayed at a fairly cheap (by French standards) hotel near many tourist destinations...for a "continental breakfast" which was one croissant and one 6 oz cup of coffee, they wanted $9.50. So going from there you can see the costs will really add up.

Would I have spent that kind of money on a family trip...well, no. Never had that kind of money when kids were little.

 

[Wonders10]

I went on my first ABD last summer to Ireland. See my siggie for my trip report, if interested. It was hands down the best vacation of my life. My mom and I scrimped and saved for months and months to go and a lot of it got put on the good ol Disney Visa but not once during our vacation did I stop and think if it was worth the cost. It was worth it and more. I've started getting the ABD bug again and I'm thinking of what one to start scrimping and saving for for Summer 2011!

 

[Christyvoltron]

We are about to take our third ABD trip (11 day Mediterranean tour in May 2010) -- we have done Backstage Magic and Knights and Lights -- and we felt that although the trips are pricey they are worth every penny and our last name is NOT Rockefeller. Like Sayhello said if things go wrong they fix it. If some plans don't work out for various reasons, they fix it. For example, my husband and I live in Southern California -- so on Backstage Magic we wanted our car to be at the Grand Californian Hotel so we could go home after the tour. Well we do not know what happened but they forgot to pick us up at the hotel even though it was prearranged. So when we called they sent us a stretch limo for just us and gave us a way yummy cheese plate at the hotel to compensate us for our inconvenience. You don't have to worry about anything. And the guides are absolutely fantastic. By the end of every trip they are more friends than guides. And they screen all the local guides so you get the very best. We stayed in the best hotels, ate in super nice restaurants. In Paris they arranged for us to have our final dinner at La Duree and we had entertainment and super yummy food and the restaurant was closed except for us and they opened the store and let us buy what we wanted. You could not do that on your own. Things happen, to be sure, and they are not perfect but we have felt that both trips have been trips of a lifetime and we would not have changed a thing. Is it expensive? Sure. Could you do it cheaper? Absolutely. But we would do it all again in a heartbeat and not change a thing.