Italy

[SparklesofHope]

We are headed to Italy next year--but still trying to decide how to get there!

I initially booked a DCL 7-day Med cruise for next June. We are not exactly cruise people--we went on a short Carnival cruise a few years ago and didn't really like it. However, I realize Disney cruises are MUCH better so we decided to give cruising another try. We also booked the cruise because w/excursions, it's about half the cost of ABD, thought it would be a good introduction to Europe for our boys, ages 9 & 11 (I'm sure they'll enjoy the kids' clubs), and we would all be able to stay in the same room together.

However, it looks like we may be able to afford ABD next year and we would love to be immersed in the culture. But we would still prefer to all stay in the same room together, rather than splitting up and staying in 2 separate rooms. Has that been an issue (or a non-issue) for anyone else??

 

[sayhello]

I can't answer the room question, sorry (I travel solo). But having taken the Med cruise (with the ABD add-on), I have to say, given the choice, I'd take the ABD. I really did love all the activities we did with the ABD add-on (several of which were "borrowed" from the 2 ABD Italy itineraries). But there's something about actually staying in a place for a few days, being there at night, staying in the middle of things, that I really missed. We walked past where the ABD stays in Florence, and it was such an amazing location.

The cruise had the advantage of visiting more countries than the ABD does, but the disadvantage of long travel times (the ports in general aren't where you want to tour), wanting you back on board late afternoon/early evening and just not doing any place in depth.

Just my opinion. The cruise is definitely not a bad option. Have you looked into doing the ABD add-on for the cruise?

Sayhello

 

[corky441]

Just a quick point of view from someone who has taken 2 ABD Viva Italia trips -

Do it, do it , do it

Don't let the room issue dissuade you.

You'll find that the time spent in your room is minimal. It's such a wonderful trip, you'll hardly have time to sleep in it.

 

[SparklesofHope]

I can't answer the room question, sorry (I travel solo). But having taken the Med cruise (with the ABD add-on), I have to say, given the choice, I'd take the ABD. I really did love all the activities we did with the ABD add-on (several of which were "borrowed" from the 2 ABD Italy itineraries). But there's something about actually staying in a place for a few days, being there at night, staying in the middle of things, that I really missed. We walked past where the ABD stays in Florence, and it was such an amazing location.

The cruise had the advantage of visiting more countries than the ABD does, but the disadvantage of long travel times (the ports in general aren't where you want to tour), wanting you back on board late afternoon/early evening and just not doing any place in depth.

Just my opinion. The cruise is definitely not a bad option. Have you looked into doing the ABD add-on for the cruise?

Sayhello

Thank you for your reply. That is exactly why we would prefer the ABD over a cruise. I did look into the ABD add-on, however, at $8K more, I would most likely just book the ABD. We're also seriously considering the Tauck Bridges Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento tour. That itinerary is more appealing to me vs. the Amalfi Coast/Tuscany ABD. I thought our decision to take the cruise was final, but I'm still having second thoughts!

 

[SparklesofHope]

Just a quick point of view from someone who has taken 2 ABD Viva Italia trips -

Do it, do it , do it

Don't let the room issue dissuade you.

You'll find that the time spent in your room is minimal. It's such a wonderful trip, you'll hardly have time to sleep in it.

Wow, 2 ABD Viva Italia trips! Must be a truly wonderful trip!

I'm sure we'll be exhausted at the end of the day, so maybe staying in two rooms, isn't such a huge issue.

 

[jcb]

I was with Corky### on her second ABD Viva Italia trip. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2817546

I completely agree with her (and Sayhello) about doing ABD over a cruise, even a Disney cruise. The immersion in Italy makes a huge difference over a port experience.

I suspect you'll need separate rooms, however, as the rooms (photos from May 2012 on the linked thread) are geared toward 2 people. I suppose there are family size rooms, I just didn't see them.

 

[paddles]

I agree that an ABD tour may be better than the cruise + ABD add-on. Its really wonderful having free time during the tour to do a little shopping or try a restaurant, etc.

We did the Bella Italia trip last summer, when my kids were approx 7 and 9 years old - and they loved it. We booked the trip as a quad, so in Sorrento, we got a room with 2 double beds and in Florence, we were given a 1 bdr suite (there were basically 2 bedrooms, but no sitting area), and it was great.

However, for our Scotland tour next summer, I booked as 2 doubles because it was only a few hundred dollars more (which surprised me) and I really felt like we could use the space. They try and give connecting/adjacent rooms if possible. When you have to be up and ready and down to breakfast at ~7:30am each morning, its nice to have an extra bathroom (and privacy) to get ready.

Good luck with your vacation plans!

 

[SparklesofHope]

I agree that an ABD tour may be better than the cruise + ABD add-on. Its really wonderful having free time during the tour to do a little shopping or try a restaurant, etc.

We did the Bella Italia trip last summer, when my kids were approx 7 and 9 years old - and they loved it. We booked the trip as a quad, so in Sorrento, we got a room with 2 double beds and in Florence, we were given a 1 bdr suite (there were basically 2 bedrooms, but no sitting area), and it was great.

However, for our Scotland tour next summer, I booked as 2 doubles because it was only a few hundred dollars more (which surprised me) and I really felt like we could use the space. They try and give connecting/adjacent rooms if possible. When you have to be up and ready and down to breakfast at ~7:30am each morning, its nice to have an extra bathroom (and privacy) to get ready.

Good luck with your vacation plans!

I didn't realize that booking the trip as a quad was an option. Was that only for last summer? Do the hotels they use generally have connecting/adjacent rooms?

 

[mapsd]

I didn't realize that booking the trip as a quad was an option. Was that only for last summer? Do the hotels they use generally have connecting/adjacent rooms?

We did Viva Italia with our 2 kids this past summer. ALthough they don't promise it, they do make every effort to accomodate your request. We either had a quad or adjacent/adjoining rooms for our whole trip.

Like you, we really wanted the cultural experience and wound up arriving several days early and stayed in Sorrento (much cheaper than staying in Rome) for a few days prior to taking the train to Rome to catch the beginning of our tour.
Were able to experience much of the Bella Italia intinerary on our own (and much cheaper). Spending a fews days on our own was a great way to start & made us appreciate the tour even more.

The Hilton Sorrento Palace had great quad rooms and had my kids' most favorite pool of all time!

 

[SparklesofHope]

We did Viva Italia with our 2 kids this past summer. ALthough they don't promise it, they do make every effort to accomodate your request. We either had a quad or adjacent/adjoining rooms for our whole trip.

Like you, we really wanted the cultural experience and wound up arriving several days early and stayed in Sorrento (much cheaper than staying in Rome) for a few days prior to taking the train to Rome to catch the beginning of our tour.
Were able to experience much of the Bella Italia intinerary on our own (and much cheaper). Spending a fews days on our own was a great way to start & made us appreciate the tour even more.

The Hilton Sorrento Palace had great quad rooms and had my kids' most favorite pool of all time!

Thank you for sharing! I never even thought about staying in Sorrento. We really want to see Pompeii as well so that sounds like a great idea.

Was it difficult to explore on your own? Did you fly into Naples or Rome?

I've been to Europe (London & Paris) before kids, and did just fine without a tour. But bringing 2 kids along makes me a little nervous.

 

[mapsd]

Thank you for sharing! I never even thought about staying in Sorrento. We really want to see Pompeii as well so that sounds like a great idea.

Was it difficult to explore on your own? Did you fly into Naples or Rome?

I've been to Europe (London & Paris) before kids, and did just fine without a tour. But bringing 2 kids along makes me a little nervous.

What we did:
-Landed in Rome @ 8AM, car service picked us up, dropped the majority of our bags @ the ABD hotel in Rome, & then dropped us at the train station.
-Took the bullet train (fun!) to Naples-switched to local train to Sorrento
-Arrrived at Sorrento Hilton with enough time for a long swim, short nap, & walked into town for dinner (Hilton had a great advance-purchase deal, 159/night for a family suite-no water view, but dirt cheap compared to Rome)
-Hired a private driver to take us down the Amalfi Coast for the day-best decision we made!
-Next morning woke up early and stopped @ Pompeii on our way back to Rome - we all loved it, despite the heat
-Arrived back in Rome & had time for a quick shower/nap before our kick-off ABD dinner

No regrets, I'd do it exactly the same way

 

[SparklesofHope]

So....yesterday I received a full refund on our cruise airfare because US Airways apparently changed their flight schedule causing us to miss our 2nd leg to Barcelona. (I only found out because my in-laws wanted to join us but couldn't find the same flight.) Now that I don't have any money tied up anywhere (DCL cruise deposit is still refundable until March), maybe I can book my ABD dream trip! The cost of the trip is tough to swallow, but I know it's worth it. The challenge is convincing DH and FIL that the trip is a good value.

For those of you who have done Viva Italia, did you find it to be too 'museum-heavy' or were there plenty of other sights/activities to keep everyone engaged? Did you feel there was a good balance between touring and free time?

I know I'm putting too much weight on this trip, but I really want everyone to enjoy every aspect of the trip! Probably not realistic, but one can hope!!

 

[sayhello]

So....yesterday I received a full refund on our cruise airfare because US Airways apparently changed their flight schedule causing us to miss our 2nd leg to Barcelona. (I only found out because my in-laws wanted to join us but couldn't find the same flight.) Now that I don't have any money tied up anywhere (DCL cruise deposit is still refundable until March), maybe I can book my ABD dream trip! The cost of the trip is tough to swallow, but I know it's worth it. The challenge is convincing DH and FIL that the trip is a good value.

For those of you who have done Viva Italia, did you find it to be too 'museum-heavy' or were there plenty of other sights/activities to keep everyone engaged? Did you feel there was a good balance between touring and free time?

I know I'm putting too much weight on this trip, but I really want everyone to enjoy every aspect of the trip! Probably not realistic, but one can hope!!

I haven't done Viva Italia, although I have done some of the activities on the Med cruise Add-on (which I loved). But I will say that Viva Italia is one of ABD's most popular trips. If you look at their catalog, they have *32* departures of this trip! Which is way more than any other itinerary they have (the only other trip that comes close is Knights & Lights at 27). And it's been virtually unchanged over the years. I think that speaks a lot as to the universal appeal of this trip. I'm sure the folks who have actually taken the trip will chime in, but I really don't see how you could go wrong here. And honestly, if I was trying to pick a trip that will let me please a lot of other people without going crazy myself? I'd choose ABD. Because that is what ABD and the Adventure Guides excel at!

Sayhello

 

[jcb]

So....yesterday I received a full refund on our cruise airfare because US Airways apparently changed their flight schedule causing us to miss our 2nd leg to Barcelona. (I only found out because my in-laws wanted to join us but couldn't find the same flight.) Now that I don't have any money tied up anywhere (DCL cruise deposit is still refundable until March), maybe I can book my ABD dream trip! The cost of the trip is tough to swallow, but I know it's worth it. The challenge is convincing DH and FIL that the trip is a good value.

For those of you who have done Viva Italia, did you find it to be too 'museum-heavy' or were there plenty of other sights/activities to keep everyone engaged? Did you feel there was a good balance between touring and free time?

I know I'm putting too much weight on this trip, but I really want everyone to enjoy every aspect of the trip! Probably not realistic, but one can hope!!

I agree with Sayhello.

I was the one in our family who had to convince DW that the cost was worth it. One of the reasons I jumped at the DIS Viva Italia excursion for our first ABD trip was because I knew DW wanted to return to Italy and I knew this would be a great introduction to ABD for us. The cost was certainly a concern for DW (and me) but after all was said and done, we both felt that it was an incredible experience and well worth the expense. We both want to return.

I didn't feel the trip was "museum heavy." Officially, you see the Vatican Museum in Rome, which is overwhelming in itself, and the Accademia in Florence. Unofficially, you have numerous other museum opportunities, not to mention that Rome, Florence and Venice could be considered museums in their own right. The trip is anything but a stuffy museum experience.

Before leaving, I was actually concerned about having too much "free time" but, especially since we went to the DIS, no one on our trip seemed to feel we were over or under tasked. Some of us went to Florence our first day in Tuscany while others stayed at the Villa's "stables" (inside joke, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2817546&page=48) but both groups felt the time was well spent. We were among the folks who added museums.

I only have two fundamental critiques of the ABD Viva Italia. The primary one is that, for Florence (unless you go in Winter), you do not stay in Florence but in what ABD describes as an "enchanting Tuscan estate." While the Tuscan estate is in a gorgeous location, it is more than an hour's drive from Florence. That means you spend about 3 hours a day driving to and from Florence.

Second, and somewhat related, I found myself wishing the trip spent more time in Orvietto (which was totally charming) and in Venice. We had a day and a half in Venice. It was simply not enough, though I can't really criticize ABD for this. Several folks stayed another day or two there.

If you want some blow by blow details, I suggest you read this thread (starting on page 45) http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2817546&page=45

 

[DisneyKevin]

Hi there,

I have been on three Viva Italia including trips with jcb and corky.

Quad space, while limited is available as long as both children are under the age of 12. This is the rule in Italy and not that of ABD.

Dreams Unlimited Travel is offering a $200 booking discount and a $300 Amex gift card promo per reservation.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Just drop me a not at Kevin@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[love280mickey]

what happens if you have 2 adults and only one child? She would be a teen at time of travel. Thanks.

 

[carpenta]

what happens if you have 2 adults and only one child? She would be a teen at time of travel. Thanks.

When we traveled to Europe we either got 2 full size beds or a king and a roll out bed delivered to our room. We had the same family size and always had one room. Hope that helps.

 

[kristilew]

what happens if you have 2 adults and only one child? She would be a teen at time of travel. Thanks.

We just did the Ecuador ABD with our teen daughter. In the more traditional hotel, we just had two queen beds in the same room. In the Hacienda in the mountains, we had a large room that had a king and a separate alcove with a twin. There were two bathrooms. On the ship, we had a king and a twin as well.

But as an only child, DD loves making new friends on these trips. She actually ended up doing a sleepover with another pair of teen girls who were in their own room.