Disappointed in New Backpacks

[mcgrawfamily]

We are going on our 3rd ABD trip July 8th. We just received our pre-box this week and we were so disappointed with the quality of the new backpacks. Though the color is nice the bags are flimsy and you can't even put anything expensive in them for fear it will break. The bags from our prior trip had places for laptops and multiple zippered areas. The new ones have no structure and only one main area that would be fine for clothes but that is about all. So disappointed given how expensive these trips are. Not good Disney!

 

[carpenta]

Sorry you feel that way. Having traveled with other "family-centric" companies at least Disney gives you a gift. For secure bags we purchase bags such a "pacsafe" styles and use them for secure travel. The bags from ABD we view as some that you use going to the beach etc. for non-essential items as towels, flip-flops and sunscreen. In our world unless the backpacks are constructed with carbon fiber than we go through a number of backpacks just for school travel during the school years.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

We aren't happy with the new style either. We've pulled out our old ones for DS and DH for this trip. I'm using my camera backpack either way. Not happy with some of the changes this year. We had already decided to go to Aulani next year and are happy we have made those plans. Not sure what prompted some changes this year - but they are not for the better. Previously, we loved our "box" and the goodies you got when you arrived. As I understand it, nothing but a duffle awaits us on the 2nd.

 

[sayhello]

We aren't happy with the new style either. We've pulled out our old ones for DS and DH for this trip. I'm using my camera backpack either way. Not happy with some of the changes this year. We had already decided to go to Aulani next year and are happy we have made those plans. Not sure what prompted some changes this year - but they are not for the better. Previously, we loved our "box" and the goodies you got when you arrived. As I understand it, nothing but a duffle awaits us on the 2nd.

Under New Management.

You get an ABD pen, too!

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Under New Management.

You get an ABD pen, too!

Sayhello

I didn't get a pen.

 

[sayhello]

I didn't get a pen.

SERIOUSLY???? Oh, good grief!

I can't believe you didn't even get the pens...

Sayhello

 

[JacksGirlz]

Yep, no pen. The box seemed so big with just the backpacks and the itinerary in it.

 

[sayhello]

Yep, no pen. The box seemed so big with just the backpacks and the itinerary in it.

No, actually we got the pens the first night with the duffle. Not in the box with the backpacks...

Sayhello

 

[Joan1]

everyone should write in with their thoughts on it. If they don't know people are displeased they cannot fix it

Wonder why Josh is no longer there. He seemed like a good person wanting to take ABD to the next level. He was the first one to suggest releasing the dates for the following year much earlier than August

 

[Bobo912]

Nobody books an ABD for the backpack (or pen or water bottle either). But ABD keeps raising their prices by leaps and bounds, and it seems to me that the quality of everything, from the box to the arrival gifts to the photo CD to the trips themselves, has deteriorated. Even when I asked them to mail my 2014 travel agreement (which they said they would do), all I got was an email with an attachment. I’m paying almost $5000 pp for a tour and they can’t pay the postage to send my paperwork through the mail? And when I asked them if there were any choices besides the backpack for 2014 because I don't need another backpack, they told me no, but I if I didn't want the backpack I could give it away. Thanks for the great advice! Sorry, I'm feeling kind of cranky today.

 

[carpenta]

Wow...we spend about $5000.00 for a week at WDW and we get nuttin'....no backpack and the only pens are the ones we "lift" out of our room. Like Bobo states nobody books for the backpacks.

 

[Bobo912]

I pulled the invoice out of my photo CD and noticed that there is a photopass id on it. I went to the photopass website and entered the id and the photos from our trip are online. But it's only about half of what was on the CD, so none of the missing photos are there. I know the guides took many more photos, but I guess those won't be available. So my fault for missing the photopass id, but it's of no use anyway since the missing photos aren't there.

Tobi - did your guide in Greece indicate that we would have to start paying for the photos again? I don't see any way to get any of the photos without paying extra for them.

 

[carpenta]

Thanks for the heads up. We will just bring extra chips so as not to rely on ABD. There must be a reason why ABD went ahead and gave each member a CD of pictures in the past. Maybe ABD wasn't making the money they figured on paying for pictures in the past and that is why the changed policy and now after replaying the same mistake they will again reverse themselves and give away the picture CDs in the future. One can hope.

 

[sayhello]

I pulled the invoice out of my photo CD and noticed that there is a photopass id on it. I went to the photopass website and entered the id and the photos from our trip are online. But it's only about half of what was on the CD, so none of the missing photos are there. I know the guides took many more photos, but I guess those won't be available. So my fault for missing the photopass id, but it's of no use anyway since the missing photos aren't there.

Tobi - did your guide in Greece indicate that we would have to start paying for the photos again? I don't see any way to get any of the photos without paying extra for them.

Bobo, no, there was no intention indicated of charging for the photos. What Landon said was something along the line that people wanted easier/quicker access to the photos, so they were putting them "on the cloud". Basically, there's a website, and you're given a code, and within 7-10 business days, the photos will all be online, and available via this website for 90 days. They are all available for download. You can either flag photos as favorites and download those, or download zip files (1 per day). I haven't had a chance to compare the zip files to what's viewable online yet. Hopefully they are the same. It looks like all the Guides' photos are online.

It actually took about 12 business days, but that's probably not too bad considering how ABD has been doing so far.

The odd thing I noticed is that it's not an "account" like with photopass. There's no logging in, just entering the code. I checked at work yesterday, because I was going to call ABD to see why they weren't out there yet, but figured I'd check one last time before I called. And there they were. So I spent my lunch hour looking through the photos, marking an occasional favorite. But when I got home & entered the code, none of the favorites were there! I didn't get a chance to check today to see if the favorites were still there on my work laptop (cookies?) or if they are only there while the session is open. I'll let you know what I find out.

Thanks for the heads up. We will just bring extra chips so as not to rely on ABD. There must be a reason why ABD went ahead and gave each member a CD of pictures in the past. Maybe ABD wasn't making the money they figured on paying for pictures in the past and that is why the changed policy and now after replaying the same mistake they will again reverse themselves and give away the picture CDs in the future. One can hope.

They may yet go back to CDs, but the intention (from what I was told) was to make them easier to get. Personally, I'd still rather have the CD, but the website is not bad. When I did Knights & Lights in 2011, they gave us a thumb drive with the photos and the slideshow. We were told it was an experiment. I didn't hear anyone else say they got that, so I'm assuming it was a failed experiment. (We also got the CD when we got home. So maybe people had issues with them. Mine eventually died, but it was long after I'd downloaded everything to my harddrive.

Sayhello

 

[carpenta]

.....anything on the "cloud" and having to "access" leaves me in the dust. You are hearing from someone who is not even on Facebook. I'm so 19th century......

 

[Bobo912]

Bobo, no, there was no intention indicated of charging for the photos. What Landon said was something along the line that people wanted easier/quicker access to the photos, so they were putting them "on the cloud". Basically, there's a website, and you're given a code, and within 7-10 business days, the photos will all be online, and available via this website for 90 days. They are all available for download. You can either flag photos as favorites and download those, or download zip files (1 per day). I haven't had a chance to compare the zip files to what's viewable online yet. Hopefully they are the same. It looks like all the Guides' photos are online.

It actually took about 12 business days, but that's probably not too bad considering how ABD has been doing so far.

The odd thing I noticed is that it's not an "account" like with photopass. There's no logging in, just entering the code. I checked at work yesterday, because I was going to call ABD to see why they weren't out there yet, but figured I'd check one last time before I called. And there they were. So I spent my lunch hour looking through the photos, marking an occasional favorite. But when I got home & entered the code, none of the favorites were there! I didn't get a chance to check today to see if the favorites were still there on my work laptop (cookies?) or if they are only there while the session is open. I'll let you know what I find out.

They may yet go back to CDs, but the intention (from what I was told) was to make them easier to get. Personally, I'd still rather have the CD, but the website is not bad. When I did Knights & Lights in 2011, they gave us a thumb drive with the photos and the slideshow. We were told it was an experiment. I didn't hear anyone else say they got that, so I'm assuming it was a failed experiment. (We also got the CD when we got home. So maybe people had issues with them. Mine eventually died, but it was long after I'd downloaded everything to my harddrive.

Sayhello

I can download them too, but it would cost me $170 just like ordering a CD. But mine are definitely on the regular photopass website, just like photos on a WDW photopass or the old ABD CDs that we paid for. Maybe it's just because our trip was on the cusp between CD and cloud. Anyway, it's just a subset of the photos that were on the CD, so my hopes are pretty much crushed that the missing photos will be available to download.

 

[carolinadj]

I posted this in another thread. It probably should go here instead:

Re: backpacks- We still have ours from the first Taste of Tuscany trip years ago. My husband carries it to work. It is still in great shape. Super sturdy! So now they have different ones that are flimsy & basically useless? When I think of all the free advertising my husband has given ABD lugging that backpack (& wearing the free hat), it makes me wonder what value ABD is getting out of gifting a product that will end up in the trash bin.

Re: First Day gifts- The added touches are one of the reasons I went with ABD. Without them, they are one step closer to being like the other tour companies.

 

[Love to Cruise DCL]

We are going on our 3rd ABD trip July 8th. We just received our pre-box this week and we were so disappointed with the quality of the new backpacks. Though the color is nice the bags are flimsy and you can't even put anything expensive in them for fear it will break. The bags from our prior trip had places for laptops and multiple zippered areas. The new ones have no structure and only one main area that would be fine for clothes but that is about all. So disappointed given how expensive these trips are. Not good Disney!

I could not agree with you more! This is our first ABD and I had someone lined up to embroider the backpacks when they came...I just stuck them back in the box and put the box away. They are not useable for anything!
I so wish I had not built up my son's expectations for the "cool" backpack he was going to get.
While at an ABD training last week I let the "regional manager" know that they come off as cheap and as a new travel agent that after a client would pay $$$ for an ABD trip to receive this will be tough.
Steph

 

[carpenta]

What is ABD training? If you go on a trip they train you?

 

[sayhello]

What is ABD training? If you go on a trip they train you?

I believe it's training Travel Agents go through to learn the product so that they can be more knowledgeable when booking customers on ABD's.

Sayhello