Does everyone book their trips WAY in advance?

[OhanaCuz]

Hi everyone. I've still got my fingers crossed that we'll be able to take our first ABD trip (AND first Europe trip) this year. There is a little complication though in that I won't know if we'll even be able to go until mid-April. I'm getting a little nervous reading comments from people saying that ABD told them the Europe trips are going to full or close to full this year. Are there people who have waited until mid-April to book summer trips? There would only be two or three of us, so hopefully that works in our favor.

 

[paddles]

I didn't wait quite until mid-April when I booked my first ABD to Italy, but I did book in late Feb.

This was a couple of years ago when they offered free post-night hotel stay with certain trips, and I took advantage of it. We did pay slightly more for the trip vs. opening rates, but not by much.

I wish ABD would keep the same fare throughout....I think its ridiculous that the last tranche of people booking sometimes have to pay $1000 more per person for the exact same tour. So, you do risk of having the rate go up considerably the longer you wait to book a trip.

 

[Bobo912]

I do now because of the way they raise the prices. ABD had raised the price of my upcoming trip twice already when there were only 14 people booked, so there don't have to be many people booked before the price starts going up. The price is now $1000 pp more than what I paid for it. That is one reason I am unlikely to book another ABD in the future (and the upcoming trip will be my 5th). I don't like feeling compelled to book so early. I don't know of any comparable tour company that follows this practice. I undertand supply and demand, but I prefer to deal with a company that sets the price so they can make a fair profit and then leaves it there.

 

[RSM]

Hi everyone. I've still got my fingers crossed that we'll be able to take our first ABD trip (AND first Europe trip) this year. There is a little complication though in that I won't know if we'll even be able to go until mid-April. I'm getting a little nervous reading comments from people saying that ABD told them the Europe trips are going to full or close to full this year. Are there people who have waited until mid-April to book summer trips? There would only be two or three of us, so hopefully that works in our favor.

In terms of availability, my understanding is that most of the Europe trips allocate more double rooms than triple rooms. So, if you are booking late, it may be easier to get a double than a triple. If there are no triples, they will work with the hotel to try and convert a double to a triple, but there are no guarantees.

 

[OhanaCuz]

Thanks for the insight. I had no idea the trips could become more expensive the closer you got to the date similar to an airline ticket. Ugh.

 

[Bobo912]

Thanks for the insight. I had no idea the trips could become more expensive the closer you got to the date similar to an airline ticket. Ugh.

It's not the date. It's how many people have booked. In 2012 when ABD released the Scotland trip, it was very popular, and some of the dates went up by $1000 the first week.

 

[OhanaCuz]

It's not the date. It's how many people have booked. In 2012 when ABD released the Scotland trip, it was very popular, and some of the dates went up by $1000 the first week.

Wow, that's crazy.

 

[Calfan]

Thanks for the insight. I had no idea the trips could become more expensive the closer you got to the date similar to an airline ticket. Ugh.

Are you a DVC member by any chance? DVC members get opening day rates regardless of when they book. But space is not guaranteed.

 

[OhanaCuz]

Are you a DVC member by any chance? DVC members get opening day rates regardless of when they book. But space is not guaranteed.

That's good to know, but unfortunately I am not.

 

[abdmom]

Are you a DVC member by any chance? DVC members get opening day rates regardless of when they book. But space is not guaranteed.

Do you need to book through DVC to get those rates or can you book via another method?

 

[DisneyKevin]

Do you need to book through DVC to get those rates or can you book via another method?

You can book though any outlet.

I book DVC members all the time and it's combinable with the Dreams Unlimited Travel booking discount.

This scenario only works when paying cash/credit.

This does not effect DVC members using points.

 

[DisneyKevin]

In terms of availability, my understanding is that most of the Europe trips allocate more double rooms than triple rooms. So, if you are booking late, it may be easier to get a double than a triple. If there are no triples, they will work with the hotel to try and convert a double to a triple, but there are no guarantees.

For most of the ABD Adventures, finding anything larger than a double is rare.

There are exceptions of course, and things are easier when travel with small children, but a family of two adults and two kids would usually need two rooms.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Hi everyone. I've still got my fingers crossed that we'll be able to take our first ABD trip (AND first Europe trip) this year. There is a little complication though in that I won't know if we'll even be able to go until mid-April. I'm getting a little nervous reading comments from people saying that ABD told them the Europe trips are going to full or close to full this year. Are there people who have waited until mid-April to book summer trips? There would only be two or three of us, so hopefully that works in our favor.

My mom just booked a June Paris trip for my son and herself. She booked at the end of March and they leave June 14.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[OhanaCuz]

My mom just booked a June Paris trip for my son and herself. She booked at the end of March and they leave June 14. Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Awesome! Hopefully I will be doing something similar.