Gack! My Backstage Magic is Cancelled!

[MJGirl]

My website is banned here so I won't be able to link to the full and sordid details of our trip. I'll at least post some highlights here tho'.

i plan on blogging it myself although i'm not very good at that sort of thing

Can you please pm me with the links so I can follow along with ya! Thanks!

 

[Aunt Cawa]

Hi
A June 3 person here. Would love to get details from any trips prior to ours. Feel free to PM with details to links. We are so excited about this trip. We did Southwest Splendors last summer and it was fabulous. And the chance to do Jim Henson Studios is just too much for this Muppet person to pass up. (Ok my ringtone is "Moving right along" but you didn't hear it from me )

Thanks!

 

[bradk]

i plan on posting whatever on stitchkingdom.com

i just need to figure out the logistics.

 

[dingoballs]

My website is banned here so I won't be able to link to the full and sordid details of our trip. I'll at least post some highlights here tho'.

Why was your website banned here?

 

[konslerg]

i plan on posting whatever on stitchkingdom.com

i just need to figure out the logistics.

Blogspot.com is a pretty easy blog site to use.

 

[inkkognito]

Why was your website banned here?

I don't think I'm allowed to say (and I'm not 100 percent sure myself anyway!)

 

[bradk]

i can take another look at blogspot.com, i just figured it'd be easier to implement my own.

i gotta figure out what i want to do. i'll have my laptop and my ipod. if i can get wifi, i'll be able to send emails from the ipod so it'd be nice to be able to at least send emails to post.

 

[RJake1]

I'm working with a travel agent now and she's telling me that a lot of the Adverture Tours to Europe in August are sold out, so that should be good news if you're worried about cancellation.

 

[inkkognito]

Good news for Europe anyway. But Hollywood/Disneyland doesn't seem to be at the same level of popularity. That surprises me...I thought it would be big among Disney fanatics (like myself).

 

[bradk]

i think if you look at the microcosm that is DIS, you'll find that a good percentage of people look at Backstage Magic as a way to pay 'HOW MUCH for Disneyland?!?'

the same thing occurs on the ABD Q&A site. I've seen questions where people wonder why it costs more when they can do the same things on their own for less. and the poor ABD folk have to constantly remind people that they CAN'T do most of these on their own.

but i can't say i'm shocked either. i doubt most go to USH because it's a working studio, it just happens to be something else going on in addition to The Simpsons ride. I've spoken to Sony and WB and asked about their tours and how far to book in advance and they speak to me like I have 7 heads (which I take offense to as I only have 5). They get enough traffic to keep the programs alive, but there aren't enough people in the world all that interested in going to a movie studio.

I'm sure once the tours start happening and people start reporting back on specifics, interest will grow. But I think us guinea pigs make up the minority.

 

[dingoballs]

i think if you look at the microcosm that is DIS, you'll find that a good percentage of people look at Backstage Magic as a way to pay 'HOW MUCH for Disneyland?!?'

the same thing occurs on the ABD Q&A site. I've seen questions where people wonder why it costs more when they can do the same things on their own for less. and the poor ABD folk have to constantly remind people that they CAN'T do most of these on their own.

but i can't say i'm shocked either. i doubt most go to USH because it's a working studio, it just happens to be something else going on in addition to The Simpsons ride. I've spoken to Sony and WB and asked about their tours and how far to book in advance and they speak to me like I have 7 heads (which I take offense to as I only have 5). They get enough traffic to keep the programs alive, but there aren't enough people in the world all that interested in going to a movie studio.

I'm sure once the tours start happening and people start reporting back on specifics, interest will grow. But I think us guinea pigs make up the minority.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. If cost was the ONLY factor, AbD would be out of business. But it's not, and that's why we are hooked on these Adventures.

We're looking forward to reading your trip report... please include the good, the bad & everything in-between.

I'm also interested to hear what you think of your AbD backpack, so please post your thoughts when you receive it okay?

 

[Joan1]

I think you've hit the nail on the head. If cost was the ONLY factor, AbD would be out of business. But it's not, and that's why we are hooked on these Adventures.

I have said this before and will note it again

Most people with 4 or more people in the family these are very cost prohibitive unless they are well off and most times those people have been to many of the places that ABD go to already. Normal every day people and even people with a little more in the pockets maybe that stay at the deluxe hotels at Disney with or without a discount still find it cost prohibitive when looking at 4 people.

We always stay at deluxe hotels at Disney but can't justify the costs of the ABD. We traveling each year and travel extensively, we don't stay at value hotels but more at hotels that offer more amenities and more of what we like. Example, we don't go to Europe and stay at hotels that are 100 or less euros per night because they don't offer what we are looking for

To give an example the Backstage Magic tour for 4, 2 adults, 2 children age 11 and younger, would cost $9876 in value season, which is almost $2000 per night. This goes to $11,396 during peak season ($2800 per night) when most schools are out and families can travel. That is only for a 5night vacation. This is NOT including any airfare. A 6 night ABD to Tuscany during value season is less then the Backstage one for 5 nights. Furthermore these prices include the early booking discount they are higher if the discount is not available. Even the China one is less per night then the above. During peak season China averages at $1700 per night for a family of 4

We are taking a 15nt Panama Canal DCL cruise in a verandah room for 4 in August for the same amount. Personally I wouldn't spend almost 10K on a 5nt vacation. Two weeks yes but not for less then one week no matter how big of a fan we are of Disney products and destinations

For two people traveling I can see where most people will find it a good value but for 4 or more they are pricing themselves out of most middle to upper middle incomes.

Everyone has to do what is right for them but personally I have travelled to Europe many many times even before the internet existed to search for travel information. I cannot see paying over $2000 per night on some of these tours especially after the hotel they stuck us in on the Southwest Splendors (the Grand Hotel). I would never pay more then $100 per night for that hotel and the food on some parts of the tour really did leave a lot to be desired.

I can stay at a Four Seasons somewhere for $600 & up a night and get an amazing room and service if I wanted to go that route of paying a lot for a night somewhere

On our Southwest Splendors tour there were more couples, granted we went in May, then families and 50% of the people on the tour were using their DVC points to pay for the ABD
The friends we travelled with were also using their DVC points