For those who have booked a DCL/ABD add-on

[kgsmith]

After booking the ABD add-on with DCL, do you receive anything (a confirmation, welcome, postcard, etc.) from ABD?

I booked the ABD add-on to our Alaskan cruise a couple of months ago. The total dollar amount shows up on my reservation as "Adventures by Disney," but I've never heard anything directly from ABD.

I'm just curious, as I've read about the disconnect between the two companies.

 

[sayhello]

Wow. I don't remember. I'm going to have to go home & look through the paperwork from last year's Med cruise and let you know.

I know that I didn't get one of the ABD folders they send you for the regular trips, but I don't remember if that was because they didn't send any papers or because they didn't send them with the folder. I always use the folders to stash all the paperwork, including my flight itinerary, hotel confirmations, etc. Since we didn't get one, I called ABD, and asked if they could send me one, which, of course, they did.

I'll let you know!

Sayhello

 

[disneymath]

After booking the ABD add-on with DCL, do you receive anything (a confirmation, welcome, postcard, etc.) from ABD?

I booked the ABD add-on to our Alaskan cruise a couple of months ago. The total dollar amount shows up on my reservation as "Adventures by Disney," but I've never heard anything directly from ABD.

I'm just curious, as I've read about the disconnect between the two companies.

Great question ... I was wondering the same thing! (We haven't received anything either - yet I've gotten 2 or 3 "snail mail" items for the cruise itself.)

 

[kgsmith]

Wow. I don't remember. I'm going to have to go home & look through the paperwork from last year's Med cruise and let you know.

Thank you, Sayhello!

Disneymath -- I paid the remaining balance this morning, and the confirmation email had the following paragraph about the ABD:

"The Adventures by Disney Alaskan Wonders package includes a private welcome reception, special shipboard activities, and a guided shore experience in every port of call. Approximately 30 days prior to your voyage, you will receive an Adventurers by Disney pre-departure booklet that will highlight the exciting experiences you will have each day of your adventure. Please note that this booklet will arrive separately from your Disney Cruise Line documents. We reserve the right to cancel the Adventures by Disney portion of the cruise up to 90 days prior to the vacation commencement date. In the event of a cancellation by us, we will issue a full refund for the Adventures by Disney portion of the cruise. Cancellation of the Adventures by Disney package is subject to the cruise cancellation fees listed in the Reservations Confirmation Terms and Conditions."

 

[sayhello]

Thank you, Sayhello!

Disneymath -- I paid the remaining balance this morning, and the confirmation email had the following paragraph about the ABD:

"The Adventures by Disney Alaskan Wonders package includes a private welcome reception, special shipboard activities, and a guided shore experience in every port of call. Approximately 30 days prior to your voyage, you will receive an Adventurers by Disney pre-departure booklet that will highlight the exciting experiences you will have each day of your adventure. Please note that this booklet will arrive separately from your Disney Cruise Line documents. We reserve the right to cancel the Adventures by Disney portion of the cruise up to 90 days prior to the vacation commencement date. In the event of a cancellation by us, we will issue a full refund for the Adventures by Disney portion of the cruise. Cancellation of the Adventures by Disney package is subject to the cruise cancellation fees listed in the Reservations Confirmation Terms and Conditions."

That's typical of all ABD's, that you get a package about 30-45 days prior to the trip. The packages for the ABD add-on were pretty underwhelming compared to what we got for "regular" ABD's, but then they gave us the backpack you'd normally get in the package when we got to the ship. There was no count-down calendar, which I really missed. If they send you one this year, please let me know, because I may bug ABD for one! (I've kept them from all of my ABD's so far, up on my desk at work. Reminds me of why I work ). I think all it really was was a rather skimpy (in comparison) booklet about the trip, and a single keychain (one per reservation. Not even one per person ).

However, ABD normally sends you a package well before that (usually within a few days of signing up) asking you to sign a contract, and with other items, such as a reading list and a confirmation of the trip & what you've paid/still owe, etc. I don't *think* I got that for the Med ABD add-on, but I'm still looking for last year's paperwork. (I know I have it, it's just a matter of finding it!)

Sayhello

 

[kgsmith]

However, ABD normally sends you a package well before that (usually within a few days of signing up) asking you to sign a contract, and with other items, such as a reading list and a confirmation of the trip & what you've paid/still owe, etc. I don't *think* I got that for the Med ABD add-on, but I'm still looking for last year's paperwork. (I know I have it, it's just a matter of finding it!)

Sayhello

Thank you -- I appreciate it!

I really enjoyed reading & seeing the photos from your Alaska and Med trip reports. We are anxiously awaiting our Alaska cruise!!

 

[disneymath]

Congrats on paying off the trip ... I plan to do the same in the next few weeks. Thanks for the info ... so we should expect something around mid July then!

Thank you, Sayhello!

Disneymath -- I paid the remaining balance this morning, and the confirmation email had the following paragraph about the ABD:

"The Adventures by Disney Alaskan Wonders package includes a private welcome reception, special shipboard activities, and a guided shore experience in every port of call. Approximately 30 days prior to your voyage, you will receive an Adventurers by Disney pre-departure booklet that will highlight the exciting experiences you will have each day of your adventure. Please note that this booklet will arrive separately from your Disney Cruise Line documents. We reserve the right to cancel the Adventures by Disney portion of the cruise up to 90 days prior to the vacation commencement date. In the event of a cancellation by us, we will issue a full refund for the Adventures by Disney portion of the cruise. Cancellation of the Adventures by Disney package is subject to the cruise cancellation fees listed in the Reservations Confirmation Terms and Conditions."

 

[tracyz]

Ok, we're now on the verge of booking the cruise add-on...boy, this trip just gets more expensive (and more once-in-a-lifetime) every day!

A question for sayhello, or anyone else who might know: is it really true that you get all the pictures taken on the ship as part of your package? That is worth some serious money right there...$$$

 

[OhioDisneyDavid]

Ok, we're now on the verge of booking the cruise add-on...boy, this trip just gets more expensive (and more once-in-a-lifetime) every day!

A question for sayhello, or anyone else who might know: is it really true that you get all the pictures taken on the ship as part of your package? That is worth some serious money right there...$$$

You are correct, you not only get the pictures taken on board but the pictures that the ABD cast members take during your excursions. The value of just the cruise picts is $399 but it is actually much more when you factor the build in pictures from the on-shore trips.

You are doing what I did to justify the total cost. It is difficult to put a price on everything you get, it is simply a VIP experience.

I am looking forward to my ABD cruise add on in August!

 

[carpenta]

....just a note on the pictures..we did the ABD this past summer in Alaska. We also were told we would receive all the pictures BUT to date and going back and forth on the phone with Disney, we never received any photos but the DVD that was put together at the end of our trip. We were disappointed but you can only speak to so many people and answer the same questions over and over before you give up. I hope they (ABD) clears this promise up and you do get your photos.

 

[sayhello]

Ok, we're now on the verge of booking the cruise add-on...boy, this trip just gets more expensive (and more once-in-a-lifetime) every day!

A question for sayhello, or anyone else who might know: is it really true that you get all the pictures taken on the ship as part of your package? That is worth some serious money right there...$$$

Yep! We got the CD of all of the onboard photos from Shutters on the last day of the cruise, included in the cost of the ABD add-on. We also received a DVD with the photos that the guides took, a couple of weeks later, also included in the cost of the add-on. Quite a good value.

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

....just a note on the pictures..we did the ABD this past summer in Alaska. We also were told we would receive all the pictures BUT to date and going back and forth on the phone with Disney, we never received any photos but the DVD that was put together at the end of our trip. We were disappointed but you can only speak to so many people and answer the same questions over and over before you give up. I hope they (ABD) clears this promise up and you do get your photos.

Are they saying that you weren't supposed to get the photos? Or that you already have? Because I got all the photos, on the same DVD as the slideshow. What is ABD saying?

Sayhello

 

[carpenta]

Are they saying that you weren't supposed to get the photos? Or that you already have? Because I got all the photos, on the same DVD as the slideshow. What is ABD saying?

Sayhello

They said that we were to get the all the photos but the DVD that was mailed to us did not have the photos.It did have the photos set to music and that was all. We called and told them and they said they (ABD) would send us a new DVD with the photos. Waiting a month we never received a new DVD so called back. Went through the same drill and had the same reply....on and on this went around and finally I gave up because I don't have the time to chase this ghost. Oh well maybe we will have better luck this upcoming ABD trip.

 

[tracyz]

Ok, sold! I'm calling this morning to add the ABD.

David, which cruise are you on? We're sailing August 20th.

 

[OhioDisneyDavid]

Ok, sold! I'm calling this morning to add the ABD.

David, which cruise are you on? We're sailing August 20th.

We will be getting on when you are getting off, you will have to tell me how you liked it. We sail on Aug 27th. We were originally on the Sept 3rd sailing until we got bumped for the chartering of the Magic.

I am also booking my ABD this week, hopefully today. Waiting on my $500+ on my Chase Rewards card to help defer the cost. I have to pay for entire cost of the ABD because I am going through DVC for my DCL booking.

Have a great time! I hope to do the same.

 

[WeLoveABD]

They said that we were to get the all the photos but the DVD that was mailed to us did not have the photos.It did have the photos set to music and that was all. We called and told them and they said they (ABD) would send us a new DVD with the photos. Waiting a month we never received a new DVD so called back. Went through the same drill and had the same reply....on and on this went around and finally I gave up because I don't have the time to chase this ghost. Oh well maybe we will have better luck this upcoming ABD trip.

We've been on 4 ABD and never were offered all of the photos--we got the disk with the slide show etc, and the other photos were available on line for purchase. This is different than the cruise/ABD add-on, which apparently includes all photos and not just those that the guides selected for the slide show at the end.

 

[sayhello]

They said that we were to get the all the photos but the DVD that was mailed to us did not have the photos.It did have the photos set to music and that was all. We called and told them and they said they (ABD) would send us a new DVD with the photos. Waiting a month we never received a new DVD so called back. Went through the same drill and had the same reply....on and on this went around and finally I gave up because I don't have the time to chase this ghost. Oh well maybe we will have better luck this upcoming ABD trip.

I'm sorry you're having such an issue. If you want to PM me the details I could try & pursue it for you.

Ok, sold! I'm calling this morning to add the ABD.

David, which cruise are you on? We're sailing August 20th.

Congrats! I think you're going to love it!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

We've been on 4 ABD and never were offered all of the photos--we got the disk with the slide show etc, and the other photos were available on line for purchase. This is different than the cruise/ABD add-on, which apparently includes all photos and not just those that the guides selected for the slide show at the end.

Including the guide's photos with the DVD was new for 2010. I was told it was standard for all ABD's from now on. I think I need to check with ABD on this.

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

We will be getting on when you are getting off, you will have to tell me how you liked it. We sail on Aug 27th. We were originally on the Sept 3rd sailing until we got bumped for the chartering of the Magic.

I am also booking my ABD this week, hopefully today. Waiting on my $500+ on my Chase Rewards card to help defer the cost. I have to pay for entire cost of the ABD because I am going through DVC for my DCL booking.

Have a great time! I hope to do the same.

Go for it!!!!

Sayhello

 

[WeLoveABD]

Including the guide's photos with the DVD was new for 2010. I was told it was standard for all ABD's from now on. I think I need to check with ABD on this.

Sayhello

Well, that explains it for us--we didn't do an ABD in 2010 (and went through withdrawal!)--looking forward to Peru in August. So...has anyone heard anything other than the usual speculation that the 2012 trips will be announced in August?