Just back from Quest for the West-Amazing!

[PrincessK]

The trip is wonderful! The guides do a great job! We were on a trip with 33 people, 16 being kids ages 6-12. We made new friends and have awesome memories! Can't wait to book another ABD, just need to decide which one! If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask away. I'm not going to give away any of the special touches or surprises though!

 

[inkkognito]

Trip report...please...please!

 

[Computer Magic]

oaky here I go


1) The 2nd night you have dinner on your own. Where did people go? I was wondering if I should make RSVP ahead of time for a place to eat.
2) How many people fell out of the raft Is it best to buy a water proof disposble camera for pictures?
3) How many people did you lose on the trip?
4) What are your guides names?
5) How many people never rode a horse before and how many of those fall off the horse
6) Were there any couples that did not have kids?

I'm sure there is more, but that is a start.

15 more days until we are on our Quest.

 

[PrincessK]

oaky here I go


1) The 2nd night you have dinner on your own. Where did people go? I was wondering if I should make RSVP ahead of time for a place to eat.
2) How many people fell out of the raft Is it best to buy a water proof disposble camera for pictures?
3) How many people did you lose on the trip?
4) What are your guides names?
5) How many people never rode a horse before and how many of those fall off the horse
6) Were there any couples that did not have kids?

I'm sure there is more, but that is a start.

15 more days until we are on our Quest.

Okay...here I go
1) The second night is "on you" but on our tour it was changed. We ended up going rafting in the afternoon so they gave us dinner at the saloon/playhouse instead of lunch. There are lots of places to eat so I'm not sure about a need for a ressie beforehand. If there is a play at the playhouse, go see it! Very good! We saw 7 Brides for 7 Brothers.
2) Nobody fell out of the raft. You may to take a waterproof camera but they advise not to bring anything of value. There are 2 companies taking your picture on the biggest rapid. You can buy those from them.
3) No one was lost on the trip...the guides are constantly counting heads.
4) Our guides were Karen and Christy. I think you'll have the same ones. They're doing one tour without each other and then they're back together again. They are both very nice.
5) I think most adults had been on a horse, some kids had not. They will tie a rope to the child's horse and a rancher will lead the horse along the trail from his horse. Nobody fell off. They do warn you about the horses reaction should you see another animal along the way but we didn't see anything. It was really muddy due to a few storms that had gone through so we almost didn't get to go at all.
6) There were 2 couples without kids. They seemed to enjoy watching the kids having such a great time together.

Let me know if you have more questions. Not sure I'll do a trip report, they are so time consuming! But give me a couple days to get my laundry done and we'll see what happens!

 

[kpiper]

We also just got back from our Quest for the West Adventure! Our guides were Chris and Joanne (both were fantastic). Was Ray your bus driver? He was telling us that he was going to pick up your group in Jackson the day after he dropped us off at the airport. We wished we were you - just getting started!

As for the person asking about dinner reservations, etc. Our guides were great about providing recommendations in Jackson and about making reservations. We had dinner at the Merry Piglets - fabulous Mexican fare - it was crowded but worth the 30 minute wait. As for the night you are on your own in Yellowstone, they have that handled too (I don't want to give away too much of the magic).

We had a ball white water rafting and horseback riding! None of us had rafted before and neither my son or husband had gone riding. My son did fall out of the boat on the first rapid but held onto his paddle and made it safely back into the boat (rather quickly). Of course, he became rather famous for that fall for the rest of the tour. Our horseback riding was uneventful except for some rain which shortened our ride a little.

We highly recommend this trip. We too had 31 people on the tour including 12 kids. Everyone got on famously - most of us were Disney nuts! There were a few couples without children but they really seemed to enjoy having the kids around. Now the hard part is choosing which Adventure to do next!

 

[puggymom]

Thanks for these posts, I am on the 8/24 trip

On the rafting, is there a place to change your clothes afterwards before going to the playhouse, or do you go back to the hotel. Been trying to figure that one out.

My niece is so excited, she started packing 2 weeks ago!

 

[puggymom]

oaky here I go


1) The 2nd night you have dinner on your own. Where did people go? I was wondering if I should make RSVP ahead of time for a place to eat.

Good question, I even went and got the AAA guide book to use for restauranst.

 

[Computer Magic]

Thanks for these posts, I am on the 8/24 trip

On the rafting, is there a place to change your clothes afterwards before going to the playhouse, or do you go back to the hotel. Been trying to figure that one out.

My niece is so excited, she started packing 2 weeks ago!

Do you happen to know how many will be on our trip come Aug 24th? I was thinking of calling. Seems 30+ is a boat load of people

We have our suitcases out as well. Some of our fall clothes have been packed already (for when it gets to the 40's at night). We still need hiking socks, but all else is a go.

I'll see if I can spot you out of our group that evening.

 

[puggymom]

Do you happen to know how many will be on our trip come Aug 24th? I was thinking of calling. Seems 30+ is a boat load of people

We have our suitcases out as well. Some of our fall clothes have been packed already (for when it gets to the 40's at night). We still need hiking socks, but all else is a go.

I'll see if I can spot you out of our group that evening.

Just listen for the Jersey accent

I have a couple pairs of jeans packed, but plan on doing layers (hoodies with jean jacket etc.) HMM, maybe I should re-think some of my packing. Off to check out accuweather.

 

[kpiper]

At the end of the rafting ride there is a short hike up to the bus area - at the bus area there are restrooms/changing rooms. Some of the people on our tour used this option, some did not. It was a hot day so we just stayed in our swimsuits. However, if you have a chilly day you will want to have dry clothes to change into.

I promise you that our guides (we had Joanne and Chris) were fabulous about recommendations for dinner - and directions. If you can't find anything in your guide books as your guides for the 'real' scoop. Although, if you like Mexican food, you can't go wrong with the Merry Piglets!

Do plan to dress in layers. The mornings and evenings are cool and the afternoons are hot. Plus the changes in elevation effect the temperature. Although we primarily wore shorts and t-shirts (95% of the time), but things could be different on your trip.

I'll be anxious to hear about your trip when you get back!

 

[Computer Magic]

At the end of the rafting ride there is a short hike up to the bus area - at the bus area there are restrooms/changing rooms. Some of the people on our tour used this option, some did not. It was a hot day so we just stayed in our swimsuits. However, if you have a chilly day you will want to have dry clothes to change into.

I promise you that our guides (we had Joanne and Chris) were fabulous about recommendations for dinner - and directions. If you can't find anything in your guide books as your guides for the 'real' scoop. Although, if you like Mexican food, you can't go wrong with the Merry Piglets!

Do plan to dress in layers. The mornings and evenings are cool and the afternoons are hot. Plus the changes in elevation effect the temperature. Although we primarily wore shorts and t-shirts (95% of the time), but things could be different on your trip.

I'll be anxious to hear about your trip when you get back!

How did they divide the rooms at Brooe Lake Lodge. Did you have you choice of a room or cabin or was it assigned to you?

 

[kpiper]

They already had rooms/cabins assigned based on the number of people in your traveling party. Some of the cabins were smaller, like ours, and there was at least one large cabin - they put the family of 5 in there. We had one 'extended family' group of eight and they were split up in lodge rooms. All the rooms, the Wort and Snow Lodge included, were pre-assigned. I suggest if you have a preference on type of room that you call the Adventures by Disney people before your trip and let them know what you are interested in having.

 

[cegg1290]

Quest for the West is our plan for next year. Glad to hear it was so great! We just got back from the Spirit of America tour--FANTASTIC!!! Worth every penny. I highly recommend it. Experience our country's history the Disney way--for us, there is NO other way!

 

[Otterboybear]

To anyone who has gone on the Quest for the West. We are going on the 24th and I want to make sure I don't forget to pack anything. I know what ABD recommends in the booklets they send - but I was wondering was there anything that you, or anyone else on your trip really wished they had brought. I started a thread called "what to bring??" I would greatly appreciate a reply

 

[Otterboybear]

Puggymom, Computer Magic, and Otterboybear are posting from the Brooks Lake Lodge and all we can say is "ha, ha we are here and you are not!!!"

 

[kpiper]

Totally unfair!

I hope you are enjoying it as much as we did!

 

[Otterboybear]

Wow - what a trip!!! We are so glad we went on this amazing vacation!! Everyone on our adventure got along so well - kids and adults.
The Disney touches were magical (don't want to give any away!) I highly recommend this adventure to anyone!!!

 

[puggymom]

Wow - what a trip!!! We are so glad we went on this amazing vacation!! Everyone on our adventure got along so well - kids and adults.
The Disney touches were magical (don't want to give any away!) I highly recommend this adventure to anyone!!!

Well, yes the traveling companions were pretty awesome! I absolutely loved this trip and will definately do another ABD trip in the future.

 

[MrsG]

I just booked this trip for next July, just DH & I. It is our 50th birthdays so what better way to celebrate than to hike through Yosemite!!!!!

So glad to read the rave reviews!!!! Can't wait!!!

 

[ppiew]

Yosemite???? Don't think this trip goes to California too! The hike is thru Yellowstone I believe - please correct me if I'm wrong.