Central Europe- live!

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Eating up every word of your posts and getting more excited every day! Would love to see a few of your pics!

We are taking this trip the exact week you are but we are taking it next year. Would love to know what kind of weather you experienced.

 

[SingingMom]

We are taking this trip the exact week you are but we are taking it next year. Would love to know what kind of weather you experienced.

Weather was very odd while we were there! The AbD rep who met us at the airport said the past week's weather was in the 90's. We experienced cool temps and spots of rain in our time in Prague. Nothing pouring, but enough for an umbrella or at least a hooded jacket. Then the weather would clear and the sun would be bright.

We had our rain jackets with us most days. Umbrellas not so much. Then Vienna had some pretty sunny days. We wore shorts & sundresses. DH said he wished he had packed less shorts and another pair of jeans instead.

But the following week got EXTREMELY hot - the next tour couldn't even make pretzels because the weather was too warm.

Bring layers and a rain jacket. You'll be good to go!

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

We always bring layers (unless we are in Florida in July/August LOL). We usually travel to Florida in November/December and have had everything from 85 and sunny to 30 and rainy.

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

We are taking this trip the exact week you are but we are taking it next year. Would love to know what kind of weather you experienced.

Wish you were going this year!
Will do when we get back. SingingMom...we are taking layers...and gloves!

 

[SingingMom]

Wish you were going this year!
Will do when we get back. SingingMom...we are taking layers...and gloves!

Yes - don't forget those gloves! (Of course, I did not need them, since I petered out at the Odel House!) dd & dh were happy they had theirs!

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Wish you were going this year!
Will do when we get back. SingingMom...we are taking layers...and gloves!

I do too but we did Backstage Magic in February and we are doing Disneyland in December. I didn't have enough vacation time!

Will definitely pack those gloves. We'll pack like we would for going to Florida in December. A little bit of everything and lots of layers.

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

SingingMom...We got our BOX!!! Do you still have your Booklet? In Vienna it says we're staying at another Hotel, but having breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton??? Can you look at yours and see if this typo exists?

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

SingingMom...We got our BOX!!! Do you still have your Booklet? In Vienna it says we're staying at another Hotel, but having breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton??? Can you look at yours and see if this typo exists?

I believe for 2015 there were 2 hotels listed for Vienna, the Ritz Carleton was one of them. In 2016 they only have the Ritz listed.

 

[SingingMom]

SingingMom...We got our BOX!!! Do you still have your Booklet? In Vienna it says we're staying at another Hotel, but having breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton??? Can you look at yours and see if this typo exists?

How exciting when THE BOX arrives!! ;-)

No, we didn't have a typo in our book about the Ritz-Carlton. But our guides did mention that the next tour was staying at the Kempinski (I think that was the one) because the Ritz was booked. I'm sure it will be equally beautiful!

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

How exciting when THE BOX arrives!! ;-)

No, we didn't have a typo in our book about the Ritz-Carlton. But our guides did mention that the next tour was staying at the Kempinski (I think that was the one) because the Ritz was booked. I'm sure it will be equally beautiful!

Thanks for looking! It is a bit puzzling. Doesn't matter, except to leave correct information for our Emergency Contacts at home!

 

[SingingMom]

****Some Final Thoughts****

All in all, this AbD was fabulous. There were hundreds of high points (Alps pun intentional!) and very few less than perfect moments. In no particular order, I'll mention a few things that come to mind when thinking back at this glorious trip...

Pros/Highlights:
*Our two extra nights in Prague before official start of AbD. - SO happy we did this! DH wanted to see Prague, and he usually does everything DD & I want to do, regardless of his likes/dislikes, so I was thrilled he got to do the choosing for once! It gave us a relaxing beginning to a whirlwind week!

 

[SingingMom]

****Some Final Thoughts****

All in all, this AbD was fabulous. There were hundreds of high points (Alps pun intentional!) and very few less than perfect moments. In no particular order, I'll mention a few things that come to mind when thinking back at this glorious trip...

Pros/Highlights:
*Our two extra nights in Prague before official start of AbD. - SO happy we did this! DH wanted to see Prague, and he usually does everything DD & I want to do, regardless of his likes/dislikes, so I was thrilled he got to do the choosing for once! It gave us a relaxing beginning to a whirlwind week!

Oops! Hit post by mistake! Continuing....

It also gave us an opportunity to see more of Prague than included in the AbD, which wasn't nearly enough! Seeing the Infant of Prague in person is a day I'll never forget. And the Jewish Quarter and museum tour was something not to be missed.

*Meals - we ate at the most interesting spots throughout this AbD! More so than on our other two trips. The atmosphere at each spot was so unique!

*The Sound of Music! - Oh, the hills were certainly alive!! As theatre lovers, and especially being fond of Rodgers & Hammerstein, AND adoring Julie Andrews, this part of the trip was heavenly. It was SO exciting to BE there!!! I would have loved another day in Salzburg - it was so "European"!

*Oh, Sisi!! - after having our introduction to the legendary Sisi, Empress Elisabeth, on our AbD in Germany, we returned home and researched her life a bit more. Therefore, it was wonderful to visit her actual Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and her winter AND summer palaces! There is nothing like standing in the exact spots you have read about in history books. Just amazing.

*Vienna! - I cannot begin to describe how incredibly beautiful I found this city!! It was truly everything I thought Paris would have been! I love London and Manhattan, but Vienna has stole my heart. We didn't have enough time to see all that we wanted, so I hope that means I can return someday!!

*Our Guides - Dean & Andy were wonderful hosts and knowledgeable guides. But, more than that, they were like traveling with your cousins - funny, cheerful, patient, kind. I'm always amazed how calm the AbD guides can remain in the midst of all the excitement & confusion that could occur traveling with such a diverse brood! Andy & DD had some great conversations about European history, and Dean & DD talked a lot about her upcoming Disney internship. Both were so helpful & friendly. We enjoyed their company!


Cons ? Probably not even the correct word. More like things I wouldn't pick as favorites. Lol

*Ice Cave Day - I will be one of a vast minority here, but I did NOT enjoy this excursion. Yes, I know it was beautiful, once in a lifetime, etc... But, it was entirely too strenuous for me. I am not in bad shape, but I'm not in great shape. The altitude and the steepness of the hike was just too much for me. I wish I had stayed back at the Kempinski that day and enjoyed the spa! So, I exhausted myself and only made it to the Oedel House, where I waited for everyone to return for lunch. Going back down was pretty intense, too and I tripped and skinned my knee. The next stop, Hofenwerfen Castle, involved lots of stairs. So, still exhausted, winded, and scraped, I climbed hundreds of steps and then twisted my ankle on a step I missed in the dark bell tower. Really, I should have stayed under the covers that day!!! Lol

*Missing Hitler's Eagle's Nest - because I was still out of sorts the next morning, I missed out on the optional excursion to the top of the mountain & the Eagle's Nest. While it was a smart move to sleep in and have a calm breakfast, I was disappointed to miss a bit of history at a spot I'll never be again. Oh well.

*Marionette Making - while this was a cute activity, we wouldn't have missed it had it been discontinued. More on your own time in Prague or a longer river cruise would have been our preference. (Ours are still in their boxes. What does one do with three marionettes?! Lol)

*Cesky Krumlov. - beautiful spot, not enough time!! The shops were adorable, the castle looked fascinating. We rushed to pick a spot to eat so we could shop a little, but our choice was disappointing. Only peeked in a few shops and had to board the bus. Another hour would have been nice.

*Vienna Zoo. - NOT ENOUGH TIME! Lol (common complaint. I know!). The oldest zoo in Europe and we saw maybe 5 animals. Skip the marionette show after the strudel making, use that time for oyo time in Vienna, then return to the zoo earlier, to see the pandas and at least 10 animals. Lol

*dinner at Emperor's Pavillion - gorgeous spot, amazing to be just our group there, but this was the worst meal of the trip. DH liked the goulash, but the other options were very unappealing. Dessert, however, was amazing!!! Sachre tort. Ahh......

* group size - 39 guests - that makes for long bathroom stops!


*Vienna - not enough time!!!! Of course, since our tour of the Spanish Riding School was unavailable (BIG disappointment for equestrian DD) the guides arranged a special excursion to Schloss Hof. It was a lovely visit and I'm glad we saw it, but it took time away from oyo time in Vienna. That being said.... I'd skip the Vienna Waltz lessons if I had to do it over again, so that we'd have had a chance to see inside St Stephens and stop in one of the art museums. But, that just means I must return to that beautiful city!!


All in all - we had a WONDERFUL trip! DD said she felt totally immersed in the culture on this trip. We found the locals friendly, the scenery breathtaking, the food delicious, the history rich. We had a terrific group of fellow travelers and even though it took a bit of time for bathroom stops, we managed. We had a lot of fun with them and plan on keeping in touch.

We would highly recommend this AbD!! Any questions, let me know! Thanks for reading along!

Auf Wiedersehen!

 

[Cousin Orville]

Great trip report! I'm glad you had a chance to spend some extra time in Prague. I was talking with a fellow guest on my ABD this summer who did the Austria/Germany/Czech ABD and they said the same thing about the waltz lessons. They wish they had skipped them. Nevertheless, it sounds like an amazing trip!

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Thanks for posting that great trip review! I loved the stories!

 

[sayhello]

Thanks for sharing your impressions, SingingMom!

Sayhello

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

Oops! Hit post by mistake! Continuing....

It also gave us an opportunity to see more of Prague than included in the AbD, which wasn't nearly enough! Seeing the Infant of Prague in person is a day I'll never forget. And the Jewish Quarter and museum tour was something not to be missed.

*Meals - we ate at the most interesting spots throughout this AbD! More so than on our other two trips. The atmosphere at each spot was so unique!

*The Sound of Music! - Oh, the hills were certainly alive!! As theatre lovers, and especially being fond of Rodgers & Hammerstein, AND adoring Julie Andrews, this part of the trip was heavenly. It was SO exciting to BE there!!! I would have loved another day in Salzburg - it was so "European"!

*Oh, Sisi!! - after having our introduction to the legendary Sisi, Empress Elisabeth, on our AbD in Germany, we returned home and researched her life a bit more. Therefore, it was wonderful to visit her actual Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and her winter AND summer palaces! There is nothing like standing in the exact spots you have read about in history books. Just amazing.

*Vienna! - I cannot begin to describe how incredibly beautiful I found this city!! It was truly everything I thought Paris would have been! I love London and Manhattan, but Vienna has stole my heart. We didn't have enough time to see all that we wanted, so I hope that means I can return someday!!

*Our Guides - Dean & Andy were wonderful hosts and knowledgeable guides. But, more than that, they were like traveling with your cousins - funny, cheerful, patient, kind. I'm always amazed how calm the AbD guides can remain in the midst of all the excitement & confusion that could occur traveling with such a diverse brood! Andy & DD had some great conversations about European history, and Dean & DD talked a lot about her upcoming Disney internship. Both were so helpful & friendly. We enjoyed their company!


Cons ? Probably not even the correct word. More like things I wouldn't pick as favorites. Lol

*Ice Cave Day - I will be one of a vast minority here, but I did NOT enjoy this excursion. Yes, I know it was beautiful, once in a lifetime, etc... But, it was entirely too strenuous for me. I am not in bad shape, but I'm not in great shape. The altitude and the steepness of the hike was just too much for me. I wish I had stayed back at the Kempinski that day and enjoyed the spa! So, I exhausted myself and only made it to the Oedel House, where I waited for everyone to return for lunch. Going back down was pretty intense, too and I tripped and skinned my knee. The next stop, Hofenwerfen Castle, involved lots of stairs. So, still exhausted, winded, and scraped, I climbed hundreds of steps and then twisted my ankle on a step I missed in the dark bell tower. Really, I should have stayed under the covers that day!!! Lol

*Missing Hitler's Eagle's Nest - because I was still out of sorts the next morning, I missed out on the optional excursion to the top of the mountain & the Eagle's Nest. While it was a smart move to sleep in and have a calm breakfast, I was disappointed to miss a bit of history at a spot I'll never be again. Oh well.

*Marionette Making - while this was a cute activity, we wouldn't have missed it had it been discontinued. More on your own time in Prague or a longer river cruise would have been our preference. (Ours are still in their boxes. What does one do with three marionettes?! Lol)

*Cesky Krumlov. - beautiful spot, not enough time!! The shops were adorable, the castle looked fascinating. We rushed to pick a spot to eat so we could shop a little, but our choice was disappointing. Only peeked in a few shops and had to board the bus. Another hour would have been nice.

*Vienna Zoo. - NOT ENOUGH TIME! Lol (common complaint. I know!). The oldest zoo in Europe and we saw maybe 5 animals. Skip the marionette show after the strudel making, use that time for oyo time in Vienna, then return to the zoo earlier, to see the pandas and at least 10 animals. Lol

*dinner at Emperor's Pavillion - gorgeous spot, amazing to be just our group there, but this was the worst meal of the trip. DH liked the goulash, but the other options were very unappealing. Dessert, however, was amazing!!! Sachre tort. Ahh......

* group size - 39 guests - that makes for long bathroom stops!


*Vienna - not enough time!!!! Of course, since our tour of the Spanish Riding School was unavailable (BIG disappointment for equestrian DD) the guides arranged a special excursion to Schloss Hof. It was a lovely visit and I'm glad we saw it, but it took time away from oyo time in Vienna. That being said.... I'd skip the Vienna Waltz lessons if I had to do it over again, so that we'd have had a chance to see inside St Stephens and stop in one of the art museums. But, that just means I must return to that beautiful city!!


All in all - we had a WONDERFUL trip! DD said she felt totally immersed in the culture on this trip. We found the locals friendly, the scenery breathtaking, the food delicious, the history rich. We had a terrific group of fellow travelers and even though it took a bit of time for bathroom stops, we managed. We had a lot of fun with them and plan on keeping in touch.

We would highly recommend this AbD!! Any questions, let me know! Thanks for reading along!

Auf Wiedersehen!

I'm a bit sad that you're done! We have about 30ish days left until we begin our Pre-days at DLP!!!

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

@SingingMom Just found out...We are now staying at the Ritz-Carlton!!! Also changed is the Hotel in Bertchesgaden...to Hotel Edelweiss.

 

[SingingMom]

@SingingMom Just found out...We are now staying at the Ritz-Carlton!!! Also changed is the Hotel in Bertchesgaden...to Hotel Edelweiss.

Report back how you like them!!!

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

Soon!

 

[carpenta]

Thank you for your great review. We also hope to return in the near future.