Is this the decline and fall of ABD?

[Bobo912]

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.

We did the Tauck Bridges trip to Yosemite last summer. It was great. Austin-Lehman has added a Yosemite trip to their 2011 intineraries, as well.

 

[lindasikora]

Well based on the lack of customer concern displayed by ABD, I would say that they are not interested in retaining customers.

I just recently returned from a trip to Ecuador which was both a anniversary celebration and a milestone birthday celebration. We departed the States on 9/29/2010 and were to meet up with the Disney tour on 10/5. The day after our arrival, there was a strike of the national police force in Ecuador and it essentially shut the country down for a few hours. Anyone who has ever traveled to South American knows that this is not an uncommon experience.
Much to my dismay in less that 24 hours Disney had cancelled our trip. There we were in Ecuador and more than half of our trip was gone. Because we were already out the airfare and really wanted to go the the Galapagos, I requested that Disney provide us with assistance in booking another tour and I specifcally asked for longer time in the Galapagos. What Disney did offer was so inferior to the intially booked trip that we declined and instead returned home. Disney has returned our points to our vacation club and we have until 12/1/2011 to use these points but the kicker is they will not accomodate our request for airfare reimbursement so that we could indeed make that trip again. We then filed a claim with Travel Guard who provides insurance for the Adventures by Disney trips and were denied because they don't cover operator cancelled vacations. So buyer beware!! You certainly don't need to spend additional monies on travel insurance when they have no intention of covering your losses.

 

[WeLoveABD]

It would be nice to hear ABD's response to the situation you describe. I can see from their point of view the problems and liabilities created if they proceed with a trip during a police strike, that results in compromises to guest safety--and not knowing if and when the strike would stop, needing to make the "call" to cancel as soon as possible so that those not already there (the majority on the trip no doubt) could get as much heads up as possible. Not sure what is going on with your trip insurance--was it through ABD or did you get that on your own, or other agency? (We always decline the ABD one and get a policy through AAA--I'll have to now check those policies and the fine print).

 

[lindasikora]

I do understand there concern for safety and would not feel so angered if I felt that they would have considered the dilema they put us in and had provided us with some reasonable alternative or at the very minimum provided us with airfare to make a future trip. While I contacted several people throughout Disney's executive managment, in general I am being ignord. The only person who I have spoken with is Joseph Paris of Adventures by Disney executive office. He told me that Disney would not reimburse or replace the airfare and commented that he felt the only error Disney had made was to even consider provided me with an alternative while we were in Ecuador. He said they simply should have advised me of the cancellation and nothing further. I was appalled at the arrogance!

 

[carpenta]

Sorry about your trip but it happens all throughout the travel business. We had a cruise canceled on us (went to charter) after we bought our airfare. We were told by Royal Caribbean that we should have not purchased our tickets so far out (???) and it was our fault. The cruise line would not reimburse any fees due to change or cancellation. So we ate $400.00 to change our tickets as well as our vacation plans. Oh well some things are similar across the travel business.

 

[sayhello]

Sorry about your trip but it happens all throughout the travel business. We had a cruise canceled on us (went to charter) after we bought our airfare. We were told by Royal Caribbean that we should have not purchased our tickets so far out (???) and it was our fault. The cruise line would not reimburse any fees due to change or cancellation. So we ate $400.00 to change our tickets as well as our vacation plans. Oh well some things are similar across the travel business.

I get what you're saying, and it is very true. I think Royal Caribbean was out of line. (And I'm curious. *How* far in advance was this that they said you shouldn't have purchased airfare yet???)

But lindasikora had her tour canceled *5 days* before it was supposed to go. There's no way they can claim she shouldn't have had her airfare purchased at that point! Or that it was her fault for getting there a few days early!

Sayhello

 

[carpenta]

I get what you're saying, and it is very true. I think Royal Caribbean was out of line. (And I'm curious. *How* far in advance was this that they said you shouldn't have purchased airfare yet???)

But lindasikora had her tour canceled *5 days* before it was supposed to go. There's no way they can claim she shouldn't have had her airfare purchased at that point! Or that it was her fault for getting there a few days early!

Sayhello

My heart goes out to lindasikora's plight. One thing that we have to agree upon is that the police in central America is more of the military law enforcement rather than some "Barney Fife" sheriff's office. IMHO society could break down real fast if there is no legal authorities in charge much like a lot of areas in our country but with more inequity in some countries which adds a more complicated layer to the society. I'm sure that a police strike in America's eyes is no big deal but ABD felt a "worse case scenerio" and decided on safety over profits. Like most things the details are in the fine print. I would not want to take any tour in any country that could not at least provide a facade of safety.

P,S. RCL could not give me an answer on how far we should book our airfare.but we normally book 6 months out to TRY to get a good rate.

 

[ppiew]

After multiple ABD trips and loving every one, we concluded that each trip was on a downward scale from the previous one. Accommodations though not sub-=par were definitely of a lesser caliber on each trip. Activites were fun but again cheapened each trip, yet the price increased each time.. Cheaper hotels, smaller rooms and dinner meals really on the extreme low end. These are why we have looked to alternative trips.

 

[Bobo912]

After multiple ABD trips and loving every one, we concluded that each trip was on a downward scale from the previous one. Accommodations though not sub-=par were definitely of a lesser caliber on each trip. Activites were fun but again cheapened each trip, yet the price increased each time.. Cheaper hotels, smaller rooms and dinner meals really on the extreme low end. These are why we have looked to alternative trips.

Without a doubt the food on our Tauck trip last summer was superior to the food on our ABD trips and more meals were included than ABD now includes on most trips. We had a couple of buffets that were very good, and a couple of meals, like the one at the Monterey Bay Aquaium where we had appetizers and ordered our entree off a limited menu in advance (which was fantastic, btw), and at the hotel we ordered off the full menu. And the accommodations were excellent. If ABD wants to compete they need to keep the quality high.

 

[ppiew]

I also need to add that 4 people per room with only 1 bath is really unacceptable - especially when you are paying $14000 +. Just my take, but my opinion is that getting ready for breakfast or dinner is really chaos with that # of people in a room.

 

[sayhello]

I also need to add that 4 people per room with only 1 bath is really unacceptable - especially when you are paying $14000 +. Just my take, but my opinion is that getting ready for breakfast or dinner is really chaos with that # of people in a room.

I'm not sure I understand this. Are you saying that Tauck would have put you in 2 rooms, whereas ABD put you all in 1?

Sayhello

 

[mysumi]

This has been good information so far, I like to hear about the experiences you all have had from both sides of the spectrum. I was curious though, do any of you ever do ABD together?

 

[ppiew]

We were 4 to a room for Knights & Lights (twice) and also in Vienna & Prague. Yes, it was crowded. Once we had a double bed and two rollaways! I remember trying to walk over/around them and it was difficult. Seemed more like a dormitory to me. I do not know what Tauk would do, but this became inconvenient ie. daughter age 45, me age 68, son age 47, GD age 9.In France, first trip with one GD it was Dinner at the Eiffel tower, second with other child was lunch at the ET. Hotel was also downgraded and this was in only 2 years time span!!. I just feel that it is pricey enough to warrant first class accommodations and also very good dining. ABD is not cheap by any means, and when you add in airfare it takes a healthy hike.

 

[sayhello]

We were 4 to a room for Knights & Lights (twice) and also in Vienna & Prague. Yes, it was crowded. Once we had a double bed and two rollaways! I remember trying to walk over/around them and it was difficult. Seemed more like a dormitory to me. I do not know what Tauk would do, but this became inconvenient ie. daughter age 45, me age 68, son age 47, GD age 9.In France, first trip with one GD it was Dinner at the Eiffel tower, second with other child was lunch at the ET. Hotel was also downgraded and this was in only 2 years time span!!. I just feel that it is pricey enough to warrant first class accommodations and also very good dining. ABD is not cheap by any means, and when you add in airfare it takes a healthy hike.

Since the cost for ABD is per person, you could book 2 reservations for pretty much the same cost as 1. I don't think there is much, if any, discount for a 3rd & 4th person in a room (not like cruising). European hotel rooms just tend to be small. I know it was a huge issue in Barcelona before the Med cruise, with people trying to find rooms that would even *allow* them to have 4 people in a room. If you book 4 in a room, that's what ABD works to give you. Did you ask them about booking 2 separate rooms?

Sayhello

 

[ppiew]

Cost is abt. $3400 per adult and about $300 less for a child, so that is abt. $13,000. Also they no longer go to Versailles. The Eurostar is not first class anymore, they do not transport you to Disneyland Paris at the end of your tour anymore . It all adds up. Initially we really liked ABD but by the 3rd and 4th tour we decided to look elsewhere. Sorry because we really did like the concept initially.

 

[sayhello]

Cost is abt. $3400 per adult and about $300 less for a child, so that is abt. $13,000. Also they no longer go to Versailles. The Eurostar is not first class anymore, they do not transport you to Disneyland Paris at the end of your tour anymore . It all adds up. Initially we really liked ABD but by the 3rd and 4th tour we decided to look elsewhere. Sorry because we really did like the concept initially.

Are you sure you're not looking at the Gateway London & Paris trip? That trip does not do Versailles, or go first class on the Eurostar, or include transportation after the tour (it also doesn't go see The Lion King.)

The *regular* Knights & Lights trip still does all those things. Take a look at this comparison chart.

http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/general?name=LondonAndParisGatewayComparisonPage

If you look at the itinerary for the regular Knights & Lights tour, you can see that they do indeed have a private tour of Versailles, biking & lunch at Versailles, take the Eurostar first class to Paris, and your transportation to the airport after the trip is included (and when I priced the Disneyland Paris add-on a couple of weeks ago, they told me the transportation to DLP was included, along with transportation to the airport after the add-on).

The hotel in London is the same one they've been using since 2006 at least (the Renaissance Chancery Court London). The hotel in France is the same one they've had since at least 2009 (I can't find my 2008 brochure at the moment) the Hilton Arc de Triomphe.

It really sounds like you're talking apples & oranges, comparing the deliberately less expensive ($3400 per person), more on-your-own-time Gateway trip with the regular Knights & Lights trip ($4200 per person) you took previously.

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Since the cost for ABD is per person, you could book 2 reservations for pretty much the same cost as 1. I don't think there is much, if any, discount for a 3rd & 4th person in a room (not like cruising). European hotel rooms just tend to be small. I know it was a huge issue in Barcelona before the Med cruise, with people trying to find rooms that would even *allow* them to have 4 people in a room. If you book 4 in a room, that's what ABD works to give you. Did you ask them about booking 2 separate rooms?

Sayhello

Like ABD, the Tauck prices are per person, so it's up to you how many rooms you book fo 4 people. The one difference is that the price is less per person if you book a triple or a quad, so there is some savings if you don't mind squeezing your family into one room. That applies to all of their trips except the London/Paris trip for which they charge the same price per person regardless, so I guess rooms in those cities are at a premium.

 

[ppiew]

I do apologize, i did not realize there was a different London/Paris trip. ours was Knights and Lights about 4-5 years ago. I do know the second trip (the following year) we were NOT in first class on the Eurostar and the hotel in Paris had been changed from the Westin to the Hilton, Eiffel Tower was lunch and not dinner, and to go to Disneyland Paris we had to make our own arrangements or at least pay extra for them.

 

[ldo]

I think the economy is the issue, even for those who can afford ABD. We just went to Europe for almost 3 weeks for the cost of a week ABD trip. It took a lot of planning on my part, a comfort level of being in countries on our own, booking train tickets, etc. We also scheduled a few day tours to "feel" like we were on a tour--those were our best days. And, I spent 100s of hours planning the trip. So, that's the trade off and I think the economy is causing those who can DIY to go that route and others to postpone or find alternative, cheaper trips.

 

[2GirlsMama]

I am sad to read so much negative about ABD. I understand that there are two sides to every story, and I am not sure that we have heard the entire story. All I know is our own story.

We have been on two ABD trips. In the summer of 2009 we had a terribly unfortunate experience in China when they were placing people in quarantine for H1N1. We were pulled from our ABD trip and placed in quarantine by the Chinese government. It was an awful experience and completely terrifying. (You can read about it on other threads on the ABD section of the DIS) During the time we were confined ABD contacted us two times each day. One time from the Adventure Guides and one time from ABD management in California.

One of the men named in the complaint about ABD was instrumental in assisting our family during our time of trial. He was extremely compassionate and the ultimate professional. ABD personnel assisted us during the time we were confined, after we were released, and after we got home. They couldn't possibly have provided any more assistance. They thought of things we didn't!

We made no demands of ABD. We didn't assume that because something unfortunate happened to us that we deserved preferential treatment because the trip was so expensive. Part of international travel is understanding that risks are involved. ABD came through for us. They treated us professionally, and compassionately. We were contacted by management of ABD from both Florida and California. They were extremely supportive and helpful.

Our experience with ABD was opposite from the one mentioned in another thread on the board. We are currently planning our third ABD.