Hawaii & Teton/Yellowstone? ANSWERED, Thanks!

[JimMIA]

Does anyone have a link to info on the new Adventure collection test offerings for guided tours to Hawaii and Jackson Hole/Grand Teton/Yellowstone?

I've seen a few hints, but no actual prices or details. I've tried Mousesavers, but couldn't find a thing there. A link would be most helpful, thanks.

 

[wtpclc]

Jim - There was a thread on this in the rumors and news board. You may want to check there.

 

[JimMIA]

I did, but got only sketchy information. Some people think it's cool, others think it is too expensive, but nobody tells you what it is!

EDIT: I should clarify that. I know it's guided, seven days, includes a bunch of meals and lodging, and costs $5-7,000. What I am looking for is more specific information. I already know it's cool and expensive.

I'm looking for a link to some accurate information. Supposedly there is info on itineraries, prices, etc, but I haven't been able to locate it.

 

[nicolem]

Try this link at Mousesavers. It gives details on where you stay and what you do each day. Does that help?

http://www.mousesavers.com/adventures.html

 

[JimMIA]

YES, Nichole, that's it. Thank you!

 

[Sammy]

Ouch! For my family of five (at the lowest rate available), it's $6895, NOT including airfare.

 

[wintergreen]

If this concept takes off, I wonder if it would ever be added as a DVC points option?

 

[Zurg]

these make our DVC WDW vacations look down right economical

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

these make our DVC WDW vacations look down right economical

OUCH!!!! Those prices seem very high. I would think we could duplicate the itinerary for less than half of that price. Even being that Disney is 'hosting' this the price seems extremely expensive. I will take WDW any day - for these prices I could even do V&A's.

 

[Alice Sr.]

these make our DVC WDW vacations look down right economical

I think our DVC is definetly starting (from an inflation point of view) to pay off. I was looking at getting an AP rate for the last weekend of our trip in June for the BC. It was something like $254 per night so I just kept our DVC ressies. It wasn't worth the hassle of converting to cash ressies for the $60 savings. Although I could be all wet because maybe that is the rate it has always been, I've only paid cash a couple of times since buying DVC

 

[Lesli54]

Just checked the website on the Yellowstone adventure and our family went out that way last summer for a lot less. Our trip was 2 weeks (part in Rapids City, South Dakota), with a good week in all the areas mentioned in the Disney Yellowstone adventure. We did almost everything on the adventure list (Jenny Lake, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, white water rafting the Snake River, etc.) and spent just over $3500 for a family of 6 for the entire 2 week trip. That cost included food and souvenirs, but you have to also take into consideration that we were RVing so saved some money on hotels.

I personally think the Disney adventure to Yellowstone is too pricy. But someone will probably do it and if it gets rolled into the DVC Adventurer Collection. It will probably be a hit with those who use their points that way since the area is very popular and very beautiful.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You know, if this is what the guides were hinting at when they said "think big, like Hawaii etc", I am a bit disappointed. I was hoping for a DVC timeshare, not a one time adventure that I can actually drive to for less money and time. True, the are is very beautiful, but even more so when you drive it. We have done it several times, and I would NOT pay that much to do it. I wouldn't even pay an inflated price for a HAwaii trip, since I have been there several times and know where to book etc.

 

[JimMIA]

I agree it's pricey, and there is no question that you could do the same trip for a lot less. And I'm not talking about RVing; you could do it for a lot less staying in the same hotels.

The Yellowstone/Teton trip does look like a good trip, but not the greatest value I've ever seen. One thing you have to keep in mind is that these prices do not include air to and from Jackson, WY, so you have to add that to the trip price. For me, from Miami, that would be +/- $400 per person usually.

There are a lot of meals included, as well as a number of the activities you would want to do on that trip, but the lodging they are providing - while the best available there - is not that expensive. I checked the National Park Service concessioners who run those hotels and found the room rates at the hotels they're staying in at Yellowstone range from $106-192, mostly depending on view. Grand Teton is more expensive at $173-249, again depending on view. All of the above rates are per room, not per person. They would be paying less because of the group discounts.

Also, for a guided tour - which this is - a lot will depend on the local knowledge of the guide and the quality of those activities. I have some reservations about the local knowledge part. For example, I would love to take that ferry across Jenny Lake to Yellowstone National Park - that must be some ferry! Jenny Lake, which I've backpacked on, is a small lake in the middle of Grand Teton. It's nowhere near Yellowstone, in fact, it's about 30 miles away! That has to make you wonder about the local knowledge, as do some of the other descriptions.

I can see paying extra for the magic at WDW, or on DCL, but I wonder how they will differentiate this offering to make it worth the price. Obviously they've done some market research, but before I signed on the dotted line, I'd sure check other options. It's not like Disney is the first company to offer tours to Yellowstone or Hawaii.

 

[Scott H]

This is interesting. Jim has some very excellent points, and is correct in his observations. I might differ in opinion with his assement on airfare. I consider myself lucky if I can get out of Jackson to FL for under $500. Maybe it is the direction we are traveling. Last month I did fly to MIA for $425 and was extatic about that fare.

I also want to ride the Jenny Lake Ferry to Jellystone (Yellowstone) Must be a new hovercraft.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's quite true that they aren't the first or only, that's why I am a bit surprised at this. I think these trips might be good for folks who have never been to Grand Tetons/Yellowstone, or Hawaii and don't plan to go again, but for folks who have been there before, it probably isn't the best idea.

 

[Lesli54]

I agree with Jim, a ferry on Jenny Lake to Yellowstone is impossible. I wonder what they are basing the price for this trip on if we know that you can do everything for much less (not counting airfare) if you book your room through a travel agent and just paid out of pocket for the local tours. Even renting a car for that length of time wouldn't cost that much. Sure you could put on the mileage throughout Yellowstone, but other than that, everything else isn't really all that far apart. Must be one heck of a fee added on for "making" this package.

At any rate, there are some that always book packages no matter what the cost because they don't want to mess with the details and are willing to pay the extra if it saves them personal time in planning.