Is this the decline and fall of ABD?

[Grifdog22]

Curious to know the thoughts of others.

Several years ago, this site was teaming with excitement as people jumped into ABD trips, prompted by the early booking discount, promise of great service, and stunning trips.

Trips filled up fast and furious as well, or at least that is the impression we were given.

Many of us, myself included, were almost evangelical in our praise to family and friends of this new branch of Disney. As a large Disney stockholder, I as also really impressed with the quality of the programming and sales.

Then came the economic crash when ABD cancelled trips, left people hanging, and enforced rather publicly their harsh terms and conditions. Then they raised prices, cut back the number of trips, cut out some of the trip events, eliminated returning guest discounts and early booking discounts. Information became held back, leaving a sense of frustration and concern.

Now there is a very quiet ABD disboard without too many folks noting either new bookings and certainly the level of excitement has diminished. Instead, there are some compelling references to competitor family trips. Meanwhile, not a blink from Disney.

Okay, one blink. They've tried to start their own ABD style disboard, with I think poor results. My wife tried to post something, and it wasn't all complementary about misdirection she felt she received when she called to inquire about a 2010 trip. It somehow never saw the light of day of posting. Pretty chilling.

On the big corporate ship of Disney, is ABD a program destined for the dustbin? Is it to remain a tiny niche, just be allowed to wither away, or are we in a waiting period?

While most folks agree that the guide service was very well done, there has been a pretty steady beating of the administrative/back office side of ABD, all of it appearing to be well deserved.

I am curious to hear what others think.

 

[DisneyKevin]

We had two successful Dis exclusive ABD trips in 2010.

We currently, have three Dis exclusive Backstage Magic ABD trips in 2011 with a possible 4th and 5th trip to a different location, in development.

Our July 31st trip has filled to capacity. Our February 20th trip has just a few spots left and there is still space available on our April 17nd trip (but we have enough enrolled to guarantee departure).

I have booked guests for trips across the world in 2011.

I would not judge postings on this board as a sign of success or failure for ABD.

Of the many people that I have booked for 2011, a mere fraction post on this board.

 

[blondietink]

I for one cannot afford any ABD trip and can do them cheaper booking on my own. There are many reputable tour companies, espeically in Europe, that will give me a fantastic trip for a fraction of the price. No, they don't have many of the added perks that ABD puts in their itinerary, but for the price, I will stick with the way I do it now. I could never afford taking 4 adults on an ABD trip, unless I won the lottery. For those that can afford it, go for it.

 

[corky441]

In the grand picture of ABD, i am a relative newbie.

I just took my first ABD trip, Backstage Magic/Hollywood, this past April. Prior to that trip I didn't know much about ABD and I didn't even have a clue that this section of the DISboards existed.

In the months leading up to that trip, I had extensive postings with the others on the trip. We just didn't choose to post on this particular forum.

Eventhough I can't speak for everyone on that trip, I do know that a lot of us are contemplating other ABD trips in the future.

As far as noting the increase in the prices over time, I think a great part of that can be attributed to the constant fluctuation of the Dollar against the Euro and other foreign currencies. Disney, just like everyone else, is paying for foreign travel with a devalued dollar overseas. Don't get me wrong, I know Disney is making a buck, if they weren't they would stop existing altogether.

I also think a lot of people are now doing more and more on-line research before making commitments for travel. I wouldn't think of not checking out all viable options before making a final decission, especially with only a 14 day window for my deposit.

I would love to see and read a lot more banter on this forum. I check it every day and as soon I make my final choice for the 2011 ABD trip, I'm sure you'll all be quite sick of me by the time I travel.

I think Disney has found a niche for ABD - it might not be for everyone, but I think it'll be around for quite some time

 

[Bobo912]

I hope it's not the end of ABD, since I would love to take another trip with them in the future. After the first two ABD trips, it was my intention to continue to travel with them indefinitely, despite the fact that I was a victim of the 2009 cancellations, and if they had treated me like a valued customer, I would have. But now that I have experience with other companies, albeit some of it only backoffice experience, I will weigh my options carefully before I make travel decisions in the future. Our trip experience with Tauck Bridges was comparable to our ABD experiences. And the contact I've had with Lindblad, Thomson and Austin-Lehman researching and booking trips has been superior to ABD. They were much more attentive and forthcoming with information than ABD has ever been, even though I haven't traveled with any of them yet. ABD lost my business this past summer and the next trip is already booked with Lindlad, so they lost that one too. We may take another trip next summer and we definitely will be taking more escorted tours in the years to come. My patronage will go to whichever company tries the hardest to earn/retain my business. I would like for ABD to be in the running, but that remains to be seen.

 

[kristilew]

I take Disney's lack of concern over our small niche of dissatisfaction as a sign that they are doing just fine. If they were falling all over themselves to make us happy, I'd figure they were having a hard time getting customers elsewhere. But on the trips I've been on, nobody booked because of having heard about the trips on the Disboards.

Those of us who frequent this board tend to be travellers in general. There isn't a travel board on the Dis, so it's natural that we'd end up sharing our other experiences with those we've come to "know" and trust. (if we posted about a family guided tour on the community board, it would quickly devolve into a judgy discourse over the "poor parenting" involved in choosing to travel the world, I'm sure )

Just because we've been very candid in our opinions does not mean we hate ABD or that it's in its death throes. We're just a group who travels a lot and has high standards, imho.

 

[WeLoveABD]

I think there have been growing pains, but I don't see ABD going away, nor do I sense it is hurting as a travel group. There are some exciting things ahead, based on what I read on the cruise disboard--the Alaska/ABD combo, maybe an Eastern Med and ABD combo (??)...the Eygpt trip has certainly stirred a lot of interest. Maybe we have all just sort of settled in a bit?

 

[Tozzie]

I rarely post anymore because I am frankly tired of the negative comments and the comparisons with other tour companies. These companies, with the exception of Tauck do not offer comparable tours and lately it seems to me that people are just looking for reasons not to like ABD. I do not have rose colored glasses and I for one jumped on the negative ABD comments myself and infact said some not so nice things to other posters but after researching and listenng to reviews I don't see any other company I would rather book with. In my opinion there may be a reason ABD doens't have to off return booking discounts, remeber the posters on this board are only a fraction of the people who take the trips. In fact, there are only two tours I don't plan on using ABD for , one they don't offer (Japan) and the other is Austrailia, and that is becuse I am not spending 27 hours on a plane for a ten day tour.

I have my trip booked for next year with ABD and I am seriously considering a seocnd ABD next year the only thing stopping me from booking it right now is I just got a new boss and I have to see when he is going on vacation and work out the dates.

It seems to me some people are searching ways to make ABD a big bad monster which I don't think they are. The trip I went on this year was worth every penny and then some so there is no question I think the trips are worth it and will go on them.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have booked my second ABD but it's not for a year and a half so there won't be a lot of discussion about it yet.

 

[sayhello]

In a lot of ways, ABD is very seasonal, so there seems to be a natural lull between the orgy of discussing the new year's offerings, and when the tours actually start happening. And this year, Egypt was the only new offering, the rest was just subtle changes. I think most folks have either already booked, or are waiting until ABD announces whatever they're going to announce in November. Then there's not much going on until May. It's not like the DCL or Disney Parks forums where people go on cruises or visit the parks year-round. I'm not too worried. People show up & start talking when something happens, or something new comes up, and that just isn't happening right now. I'm still trying to finish my report from MAY!!!!

I'm not seeing any death throes yet...

Oh, and the Disney-sponsored ABD board, quite frankly, sucks. You couldn't pay me to post there. (Well, actually, yes, you probably could, but I wouldn't enjoy it! )

Sayhello

 

[Yvet]

Our July 31st trip has filled to capacity. Our February 20th trip has just a few spots left and there is still space available on our April 22nd trip (but we have enough enrolled to guarantee departure).

The April ABD trip is starting April 17th and end on the 22nd......

 

[Diskidatheart]

I rarely post anymore because I am frankly tired of the negative comments and the comparisons with other tour companies. These companies, with the exception of Tauck do not offer comparable tours and lately it seems to me that people are just looking for reasons not to like ABD. I do not have rose colored glasses and I for one jumped on the negative ABD comments myself and infact said some not so nice things to other posters but after researching and listenng to reviews I don't see any other company I would rather book with. In my opinion there may be a reason ABD doens't have to off return booking discounts, remeber the posters on this board are only a fraction of the people who take the trips. In fact, there are only two tours I don't plan on using ABD for , one they don't offer (Japan) and the other is Austrailia, and that is becuse I am not spending 27 hours on a plane for a ten day tour.


It seems to me some people are searching ways to make ABD a big bad monster which I don't think they are. The trip I went on this year was worth every penny and then some so there is no question I think the trips are worth it and will go on them.

Well said Tozzie! I agree with you completely and couldn't have said it any better! The Viva Italia trip was possibly the best vacation that I EVER had. It may be a little while before we take another ABD trip, but it certainly isn't because we don't like them or think they are failures. We've recently joined a vacation club and the cost for our vacations has gone WAY down. If there is somewhere that we really want to go and ABD offers it and our vacation club doesn't, I won't hesitate to book with ABD again and most likely will. I'm actually considering the Australia trip in the future and adding a week onto the trip using the vacation club. I agree 27 hours in a plane for 10 days isn't worth it.

 

[DisneyKevin]

The April ABD trip is starting April 17th and end on the 22nd......

Thanks for spotting that Yvette!

I've gone back and corrected the original post.

 

[Skatetigger]

I definitely don't think so. Literally just got back (yesterday) from the "Once Upon a Fairytale" Germany trip and had such a wonderful time, so much so that I can't wait to book our next ABD adventure, yes they maybe pricey and maybe some restrictions that other companies don't but to me well worth every penny. Many others on our trip also were talkign about their next trips with ABD. I also was looking at some of the trips for next year and some already have waitlists. So I definitely don't think it's the end.

 

[Bobo912]

Waitlist may mean that the trip is fully booked, but not necessarily. It may also mean that some group or travel agency has reserved that date, and ABD will only open it up to the waitlist people if the group/TA isn't able to come up with enough travelers to keep the trip exclusive. I called ABD earlier this year with some questions about a waitlisted date on one of their trips and was told for that particular date there was no trip scheduled and that ABD would add the date if their was sufficient interest. The ABD rep didn't seem to think it likely that the waitlisted date would be a go and strongly suggested I choose a different date. I think ABD will do just fine though. Some of the trips seems to be very successful and I'm sure they'll continue to tweek their offerings until they come up with a set of itineraries for which there is sufficient demand.

 

[crisi]

Every week tens of thousands of people go to Disneyworld. Thousands go on a cruise.

And a few hundred take an ABD trip.

These are expensive, their target market is MUCH smaller. But the model allows them to scope capacity to demand. The problem several years ago was that when the economy crashed, the capacity had been scaled to demand that wasn't there. A lot of people suffered, but that was an atypical period.

 

[Sharkbyte]

Yes, The early booking discounts and urgency to book was exciting. I do not like there new system with no discounts, so I haven't booked another ABD TRIP SINCE THE FIRST TWO. SAD, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BOOK ANOTHER AS MY CHILDREN ARE AT A PERFECT AGE but the costs are so high--without air. I'm looking into other options. I hope ABD doesn't wither and they are smart and change their program. Lots of potential..pls it's disney!

 

[carpenta]

just a note that ABD does run specials when booking. Last year we booked the Alaska tour and received a free cruise on the Dream. (3 people,3 nights). We chose to cruise this coming Feb. during our daughter"s vacation. DCL said it was a black out date so we declined another date. After a week we were contacted and the cruise was reinstated. Free room on deck 5 with everything paid..including taxes and tips. WOW! Disney went out of their way to give us a break and enjoy the new ship all for booking the Alaska trip. In our case if you figure the cost of a cruise discounted from the tour it was a bargain. Thanks Disney.

 

[Bobo912]

just a note that ABD does run specials when booking. Last year we booked the Alaska tour and received a free cruise on the Dream. (3 people,3 nights). We chose to cruise this coming Feb. during our daughter"s vacation. DCL said it was a black out date so we declined another date. After a week we were contacted and the cruise was reinstated. Free room on deck 5 with everything paid..including taxes and tips. WOW! Disney went out of their way to give us a break and enjoy the new ship all for booking the Alaska trip. In our case if you figure the cost of a cruise discounted from the tour it was a bargain. Thanks Disney.

The free cruise offer came out in Oct last year and I thought there might be something similar this year, but so far nothing. Maybe bookings are better this year.

 

[nunzia]

I've taken Backstage Magic and thoughtit was wonderful and worth the money. I'm not interested in traveling outside the US at this time, and the trip I was looking at and possibly planning is not offered (Yosemite) in the new schedule, so until they bring in one I might take, no need to post.