Italy: Viva Italia Meets Thread

[carpenta]

In Florence you have a lot of leather vendors located in the straw market. Also located two bocks from the train station is a "farmers" type market that sells all kinds of prepared foods, wine, candy and wines. Really delicious.

 

[georgiagirl2]

We did this trip this year and the after hours tour to the Vatican was worth the price of the trip alone.
It truly was awesome!

Hi richflour!


It was a pleasure getting to know you and your sweet daughter on the trip! We had a great "family" to travel with, didn't we?


Have you decided where you'll go next?

 

[richflour]

Hi richflour! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your sweet daughter on the trip! We had a great "family" to travel with, didn't we? Have you decided where you'll go next?

We enjoyed meeting you and your family as well !
Just booked Norway 6-13-15

 

[gosshaus]

Hello! Anyone going on Aug 7-15 trip? My mother is taking my DS (15) and I'm helping them make the plans. Also wondering if anyone on this thread has a copy of the ABD Vacation Protection Plan in .pdf or electronic format? We are trying to get specifics so we can make best choice between that plan or an independent plan. Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

Hello! Anyone going on Aug 7-15 trip? My mother is taking my DS (15) and I'm helping them make the plans. Also wondering if anyone on this thread has a copy of the ABD Vacation Protection Plan in .pdf or electronic format? We are trying to get specifics so we can make best choice between that plan or an independent plan. Thanks!

The terms and conditions of the ABD Vacation Protection Plan changed just a few months ago; I don't know how extensive the changes are. The big difference I've been told about is that now, in order to get a pre-existing condition waiver, you have to buy the insurance AND Pay in Full for the trip within 14 days of making your reservation. (They don't buy the insurance for you, and it is not in effect, until you pay in full). It used to be priced exceptionally well, but it isn't anymore. I'm pretty sure you can do better purchasing it independently, as a lot of other plans cover kids for free.

Let me know when they're booked, and I can add them to the Roll Call for their trip on the first post of this thread!

Sayhello

 

[kristilew]

For those who have done the trip this year, can you tell me what time the welcome dinner started?

Our early morning flight into FCO was just cancelled and BA booked us on their next one that puts us in an hour past the suggested time (we get in at 2pm). Our TA called and Disney will still provide transfers but said we may miss the start of the welcome dinner. Wondering if it takes hours to get from the airport to hotel, and if the dinner starts really early...

I can probably find another flight but would rather just keep what we have.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[twentyco]

For those who have done the trip this year, can you tell me what time the welcome dinner started?

Our early morning flight into FCO was just cancelled and BA booked us on their next one that puts us in an hour past the suggested time (we get in at 2pm). Our TA called and Disney will still provide transfers but said we may miss the start of the welcome dinner. Wondering if it takes hours to get from the airport to hotel, and if the dinner starts really early...

I can probably find another flight but would rather just keep what we have.

Thanks for any advice!

I haven't taken the trip yet, but am signed up for June 22. ABD told me that the reception starts at 5:30, and dinner at 6:30.

 

[richflour]

For those who have done the trip this year, can you tell me what time the welcome dinner started? Our early morning flight into FCO was just cancelled and BA booked us on their next one that puts us in an hour past the suggested time (we get in at 2pm). Our TA called and Disney will still provide transfers but said we may miss the start of the welcome dinner. Wondering if it takes hours to get from the airport to hotel, and if the dinner starts really early... I can probably find another flight but would rather just keep what we have. Thanks for any advice!

Seems like it took about an hour and a half from the time the plane landed until we arrived at hotel
We were just on the trip in May .

 

[kristilew]

Thanks, twentyco and richflour. This info jibes with my feel for the situation. I think we will be fine, assuming our flight is on time.

I would be more worried if we were flying all the way from the US and arriving exhausted, but we will be stopping over in London for a few days and, with this later flight, even get to sleep in before an easy 2.5 hour direct flight. So even if we are running late, we'd still be able to go directly to reception if we needed to.

Richflour, will you be doing a full trip report? It's been awhile since we've had one for this trip!

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

Thanks, twentyco and richflour. This info jibes with my feel for the situation. I think we will be fine, assuming our flight is on time.

I would be more worried if we were flying all the way from the US and arriving exhausted, but we will be stopping over in London for a few days and, with this later flight, even get to sleep in before an easy 2.5 hour direct flight. So even if we are running late, we'd still be able to go directly to reception if we needed to.

Richflour, will you be doing a full trip report? It's been awhile since we've had one for this trip!

You should be fine...and ABD will take care of any problems! Hope you get Marco B. as your guide...he is Fantastico!

 

[kanadar]

Can't believe it but we leave on Tuesday!! It's finally here! I feel like my sister and I have been talking about this forever, which we kind of have been we started talking about it October 2012 haha. Looking forward to wine, food, and especially the gelato!!!

 

[sayhello]

Can't believe it but we leave on Tuesday!! It's finally here! I feel like my sister and I have been talking about this forever, which we kind of have been we started talking about it October 2012 haha. Looking forward to wine, food, and especially the gelato!!!

ENJOY yourselves! (That's pretty much a given! ) Please come back and tell us all about it when you get back! Safe travels!

Sayhello

 

[Jenncram]

I agree, I would love to see a full trip report, especially since they've changed the villa. We just found out that although there are 21 kids on our trip, only 5 others are boys! My boys would really like to go to Pisa, and I'm considering a side trip on the Florence afternoon. I've researched how to get there by train (faster than driving) but I'm worried about getting back to Florence in time to catch the later bus to the villa. Can any recent travellers tell me what time the later bus left? And how difficult would it be to get to the villa on our own if we missed it? I'm sure the guides will help me but I'm trying to plan as much as I can now. Ooh, and on your Rome walk, do you go by the "Bocca Della Verita" (the very touristy Stone face on the wall that you stick your hand in to tell if you're telling the truth - my son saw it in a kids Rome book)? I don't want to wait on one of our pre-day walks if we're doing it with Disney. Thanks!

 

[georgiagirl2]

Can't believe it but we leave on Tuesday!! It's finally here! I feel like my sister and I have been talking about this forever, which we kind of have been we started talking about it October 2012 haha. Looking forward to wine, food, and especially the gelato!!!

I hope you have a wonderful time! There are so many great things about this trip, including the wine, food, and gelato! If you plan on bringing back wine, you may want to pack some bubble wrap and large zip-loc bags. We brought home four bottles and all of them made it safely. And despite all the wine, food, and gelato, we only gained a pound or two due to all the walking.


The Luna Hotel Baglioni in Venice is wonderful! The location is terrific and the rooms are just gorgeous. The two rooms we were in had beautiful Murano glass chandeliers. Very special.

 

[georgiagirl2]

I agree, I would love to see a full trip report, especially since they've changed the villa. We just found out that although there are 21 kids on our trip, only 5 others are boys! My boys would really like to go to Pisa, and I'm considering a side trip on the Florence afternoon. I've researched how to get there by train (faster than driving) but I'm worried about getting back to Florence in time to catch the later bus to the villa. Can any recent travellers tell me what time the later bus left? And how difficult would it be to get to the villa on our own if we missed it? I'm sure the guides will help me but I'm trying to plan as much as I can now. Ooh, and on your Rome walk, do you go by the "Bocca Della Verita" (the very touristy Stone face on the wall that you stick your hand in to tell if you're telling the truth - my son saw it in a kids Rome book)? I don't want to wait on one of our pre-day walks if we're doing it with Disney. Thanks!

I really don't have time right now to do a full trip report, but I will tell you that we loved the villa (Borgo di Cortifreda). It is in a beautiful setting. Try to catch the sunset one evening. There is nothing like it.


The beds were firmer than we are accustomed to, but we all seemed to sleep well. The pool area is very nice with a gorgeous view of the Tuscan countryside, and we had a couple of great dinners in the restaurant. Other trip reports in the past have mentioned doing laundry at the other villa. We did not have an opportunity for this. I washed a few shirts in the sink (the quick drying microfiber kind) when we arrived in Venice and they dried easily by the next morning. Oh, and the string you will find in all the showers is not a clothesline! It is an alarm that signals the front desk that you are in distress, and the staff will call your room to check on you if you pull it. One of our fellow travelers shared this valuable information with us at breakfast one morning.


One of the families on our trip decided to go to Pisa on the Florence day. They took a carry-on with them on the coach ride into Florence, stayed with the group through the morning touring and lunch, then took a cab to Pisa where they toured and then spent the night. They met us at the train station in Florence the next morning before our ride to Venice. The only parts of the itinerary they missed were the tour of Palazzo Vecchio and the free time in Florence. They set it up the day before with the help of one of the guides.


The first bus left Florence at 6:30 and the second one at 9:00pm. Everyone in our group opted to take the first bus back to the villa.


I don't remember our group seeing the stone face in the wall, although it sounds familiar. I think I read about it in a guide book before the trip.


Hope this helps!

 

[tufbuf]

I agree, I would love to see a full trip report, especially since they've changed the villa. We just found out that although there are 21 kids on our trip, only 5 others are boys! My boys would really like to go to Pisa, and I'm considering a side trip on the Florence afternoon. I've researched how to get there by train (faster than driving) but I'm worried about getting back to Florence in time to catch the later bus to the villa. Can any recent travellers tell me what time the later bus left? And how difficult would it be to get to the villa on our own if we missed it? I'm sure the guides will help me but I'm trying to plan as much as I can now. Ooh, and on your Rome walk, do you go by the "Bocca Della Verita" (the very touristy Stone face on the wall that you stick your hand in to tell if you're telling the truth - my son saw it in a kids Rome book)? I don't want to wait on one of our pre-day walks if we're doing it with Disney. Thanks!

I've seen the Bocca Della verita but from the bus. If you have pre-days, you can walk it to take a photo. The main sights in Rome are within walking distance. When we did Viva Italia (way back when), ABD did not stop to see the stone face on the wall.

 

[kanadar]

I will try to do a trip report when we get back, hopefully with the help of my sister! This summer I am just babysitting a few hours a day and working on planning my disney wedding so I should have some time to write a report! And good to know about the string!! I'm sure one of us would have pulled it!

 

[tracyv]

Hi there! My husband and I just booked our first ABD trip to Italy oct 11-20 2014. We are beyond excited! It has always been a dream of mine to go. I have heard how awesome it is! Can't wait to meet new friends as well.

 

[sayhello]

Hi there! My husband and I just booked our first ABD trip to Italy oct 11-20 2014. We are beyond excited! It has always been a dream of mine to go. I have heard how awesome it is! Can't wait to meet new friends as well.

Hi, tracyv! Welcome to the DISBoards and the ABD Forum! Congrats on booking your fist ABD! The Italy trip is, indeed, awesome, and was made even more awesome for 2014! I've added you to the Roll Call on the first post of this Thread.

Sayhello

 

[georgiagirl2]

I will try to do a trip report when we get back, hopefully with the help of my sister! This summer I am just babysitting a few hours a day and working on planning my disney wedding so I should have some time to write a report! And good to know about the string!! I'm sure one of us would have pulled it!

Our fellow adventurer learned about it the hard way! The front desk called her room and awakened the rest of her family.


I hope you will write a TR, kanadar.