Just back from China and loved it

[Kez250]

and I have to say that it was one of the most awesome trips we have had as a family.

It was our first time traveling in a group situation, and we were all a little nervous - however it was fantabulous, everyone got along really well, kids and adults alike.

Our guides James and Joe were amazing and fantastic and awesome, the local guides were also fab.

We did so many wonderful things and saw so much.

We were so spoilt, i don't think i could consider doing another group tour other than ABD unless they don't go where we want to.

I loved that Tinkerbell just moved the luggage seamlessly from one hotel to the next, now if she could only pop over and do all the laundry that came home with me that would be excellent

Even my DH has admitted that Disney just does it right

We're having a lively debate as to where we will be going next summer.

 

[sayhello]

Yay! So glad you had a fabulous trip. The China trip is definitely on my bucket list!

You will find that ABD's are definitely habit forming! Once you've been under the care of Disney Adventure Guides, it's hard to travel any other way!

I really hope you'll do a Trip Report for us, and tell us all about your awesome trip!

Sayhello

 

[tsgirl]

Kez250, how was your weather? Someone recommended to me that it was best NOT to go in August, as it was too hot. Also, what were the average ages of the kids on your trip? Mine are on the older side. Finally, how was the food? Thanks in advance We are definitely considering this trip.

Cindy

 

[cgncga]

Kez250, how was your weather? Someone recommended to me that it was best NOT to go in August, as it was too hot.
Cindy

I'm not the original poster, but I am currently in China (arrived Aug 18th) on a privately arranged tour. The weather has been great (about 24 - 30 degrees Celcius each day) in Beijing, Xian and Chengdu. Our guides have been telling us that August is a good time to travel to China since it's cooler than earlier in the summer. As we head futher south, though, I do expect the weather here to get a bit warmer.

We would have loved to have taken an ABD tour, but I was afraid the trip would have been too tiring for my younger daughter who has several medical challenges and is currently (7:50 p.m. China time) asleep in our hotel room.

 

[Kez250]

The weather was completely doable, we were concerned that we would be completely wiped out by it but not at all. We found that Shanghai was the most humid place. Our guide James was saying that it had been a lot hotter and so much more humid on a couple of the previous trips he had led. The guides make sure that you have plenty of water and rest periods.

There was a 6 yo some 8 yos 9,10 and a couple of 11yo then a 13, 14, 17 and I think a 20yo, and a couple of younger adults with their parents. So we had pretty much a full range, the kids all got on really well together.

The food was plentiful and mostly very tasty. The only thing we would of liked is for there to be less western meals, or at least a chinese option at those meals. I didn't travel round the world to eat steak and roasted potatoes. However that is just us, quite a few people had had their fill of chinese and were very welcoming of the western style meals.

there were some tired kids on the trip at times, so they napped on the planes or at times didn't go to an evening activity - having said that most of the evening things were over relatively early so that you could get a good nights sleep - i think the only nights that didn't happen were when we went to see shows.

If you have any other questions please let me know

Kerry

 

[pxlbarrel]

The weather was completely doable, we were concerned that we would be completely wiped out by it but not at all. We found that Shanghai was the most humid place. Our guide James was saying that it had been a lot hotter and so much more humid on a couple of the previous trips he had led. The guides make sure that you have plenty of water and rest periods.

There was a 6 yo some 8 yos 9,10 and a couple of 11yo then a 13, 14, 17 and I think a 20yo, and a couple of younger adults with their parents. So we had pretty much a full range, the kids all got on really well together.

The food was plentiful and mostly very tasty. The only thing we would of liked is for there to be less western meals, or at least a chinese option at those meals. I didn't travel round the world to eat steak and roasted potatoes. However that is just us, quite a few people had had their fill of chinese and were very welcoming of the western style meals.

there were some tired kids on the trip at times, so they napped on the planes or at times didn't go to an evening activity - having said that most of the evening things were over relatively early so that you could get a good nights sleep - i think the only nights that didn't happen were when we went to see shows.

If you have any other questions please let me know

Kerry

I agree that the food could have been a bit better and more diverse. At first, you think that all you're going to get are Chinese meals and then after leaving Chengdu, you begin to wonder when the next time you'll have a Chinese meal! It's a bit weird. I think they could have found an alternative to tuna sandwiches that would have been just as safe to eat and Chinese. I indiciated this in my survey.

And you had Joe! I think our tour was the best tour (I'm biased) because we had Joe and Stephen shadowing Daisy and Jennae. We got to experience 4 ABD guides.... and they're just amazing.

 

[glassslipper2004]

What was it like with all of the flights to get from city to city? Did it seem like you spent a lot of time dealing with airports? This trip looks fabulous, but I worry that once you take away all the internal transport time, you don't have a lot of time left for sightseeing - and for me, the stress that goes along with each transfer might impact the day negatively. On the other hand, I imagine that having Disney take care of it could make it fairly stress free.

 

[Kez250]

So basically what happened was that you were told to put your bags outside of your room by x time, with your ABD tags on them - you were given a meeting time of y - enough time to eat breakfast, pay for any room service charges, etc etc.

You are taken by coach to the airport and depending on what airline they are using you are either

a. given your boarding passes, all go through security together, are then given a meeting time at the gate - get on the plane, all meet once off the plane for restroom stops etc, get on the next coach, are taken to your hotel, given your room keys, they check in for you. Shortly after your bags appear at your doorway. or

b. you meet by check-in, the guides call each family up one by one, generally only one member per family, they bring your luggage to you, you confirm it's yours, the check-in people tag your bags and give you your boarding passes. You wait for everyone else to do the same and then all proceed to security together , and the rest is as above

we had one small flight delay at the airport for about 20 mins and another on the plane for I want to say an hour or so, but there are cushions built into any days with flying involved.

it was totally pain and hassle free - just remember to take any spare batteries in your carry on - i took some spare AA and had to take them out of my checked bag and show them, after that i carried them in my carry on. Oh and at one of the airports my husband got scolded for not taking his umbrella out of his carry-on when putting it through the x-ray machine - it was one of least hassle free airport/luggage trips that we've done and we travel fairly often

 

[lightmark]

Chinese Food has many categories. As a Chinese, I recommend you to try more. Chengdu food is spicy.