New trips are up!

[calypso726]

Yes we were told that the early booking discount was only available for the first 4 reservations. We are booked for Italy next year and were able to get the discount.

 

[TXTransplant]

To add insult to injury...I only received the "early booking" email reminder from ABD at 3:03 this afternoon. Of course, this email is promoting "book by June 18, 2016 save on select destinations and departures".

What a joke when spaces eligible for the early booking rate are limited to 2-4 per trip. This promotion "sold out" before I ever even received ABD's email. And, I guess this means if a family of 4 wanted to book a trip with only two "available" discounts, then they would only get the saving for 2/4 family members? Ridiculous, and makes me even more eager to look elsewhere for our future vacations.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm glad to see they start in HK and end in Shanghai. I want to say when I wrote my China trip report, I was hoping that ABD would consider restructuring it this way to give guests the opportunity to add pre or post days for HKDL and SDL. I think Shanghai warranted more time on my itinerary. It was my favorite city, and we just had 2 days there. Now at least you have the option of adding post days. I do see they took out M on the Bund in Shanghai which is a shame. I would highly recommend a reservation there on your own if you add post nights. M on the Bund is on an upper floor with a large balcony overlooking the Bund and skyline. Seeing the Shanghai skyline lit up at night is an absolute must do. It would be criminal to miss it. That AND HK are the best skylines in the world to see lit up. That's the biggest omission, but you can easily do that on your own.

They've added the Temple of Heaven in Beijing which we did on our own. That's a pilgrimage site for an Epcot fan. They've improved (fingers crossed) one of the dinners in Beijing... learn to like duck if you don't already. Peking Duck: duck in a pancake with sauce - how can that be wrong? Some of the hotels have been upgraded. They were already quite good. Most of the activities are unchanged. I'd just suggest adding more time in HK and Shanghai.

Thanks so much for the great reply, Cousin Orville, and chiming in with your thoughts. I thought it looked like good changes overall as well. The M on the Bund and the other lost paid for dinner were the two disappointments, but considering the addition of Shanghai Disney, I can live with it. I will definitely try to get a reservation on our own if we stay an extra day or two in Shanghai. So glad I waited a year on this trip--I'm super excited about the new park. It does make thinks a little complicated though as we booked the DCL British Isles for 2017 as well. I may need to start buying lottery tickets

I think all 4 of us like Peking Duck so we'll be set with that, LOL. We'll definitely add on at least a night in HK and one or two in Shanghai. Thanks and let me know if you think of anything else.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

To add insult to injury...I only received the "early booking" email reminder from ABD at 3:03 this afternoon. Of course, this email is promoting "book by June 18, 2016 save on select destinations and departures".

What a joke when spaces eligible for the early booking rate are limited to 2-4 per trip. This promotion "sold out" before I ever even received ABD's email. And, I guess this means if a family of 4 wanted to book a trip with only two "available" discounts, then they would only get the saving for 2/4 family members? Ridiculous, and makes me even more eager to look elsewhere for our future vacations.

Wow, that is not good. I received my insider email about the same time.

 

[mathgeek]

Can anyone comment on the changes to the Italy itinerary? It looks like a lot of the same activities are there, but it's a day shorter now.

I'm interested in seeing the changes, but my next ABD is getting delayed another year. DCL got their 2017 itineraries out last week and got my $$.

 

[Cousin Orville]

It does make thinks a little complicated though as we booked the DCL British Isles for 2017 as well.

Right there with you. We booked the Iceland Cruise (right before the 2017 British Isles I think). I dunno. DCL Europe $ has gotten insane. Easily 50% more than a couple of years ago for similar length cruises. Painful.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Right there with you. We booked the Iceland Cruise (right before the 2017 British Isles I think). I dunno. DCL Europe $ has gotten insane. Easily 50% more than a couple of years ago for similar length cruises. Painful.

Too funny--great minds--but agreed, the prices are crazy. You have to wonder if they are going to come down at some point. Lots of *GT rates this year.

 

[calypso726]

What a joke when spaces eligible for the early booking rate are limited to 2-4 per trip. This promotion "sold out" before I ever even received ABD's email. And, I guess this means if a family of 4 wanted to book a trip with only two "available" discounts, then they would only get the saving for 2/4 family members? Ridiculous, and makes me even more eager to look elsewhere for our future vacations.

It was explained to us that the early booking rate was available for up to four reservations, not four people. We booked for Italy today and received the discount for the 3 people on our reservation. Our friends booked for the same date we did and received the discount for their reservation which was for a party of two.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I booked the Rhine river cruise for June, 2017 which didn't have the early booking discount when I was on the website. Not sure if it had already sold out or if it wasn't available for this particular trip.

I think the price is high for the length of the trip, but I want to give it a try. The cities look very interesting, most of the meals are included, I like the options for half days and full days and really like the Amsterdam add-on (which we will definitely do). It will likely be our last ABD. I know I have said this before but I felt pressured to book something as ABD still has our deposit from our cancelled BSM trip this year.

I am hopeful I can talk ds into joining us. He thinks he is getting "too old" to travel with his mother (he will be 25 this summer). However he is an excellent travel companion and loves spending time with his little sister!

 

[TXTransplant]

It was explained to us that the early booking rate was available for up to four reservations, not four people. We booked for Italy today and received the discount for the 3 people on our reservation. Our friends booked for the same date we did and received the discount for their reservation which was for a party of two.

Good to hear that...it makes much better sense. But if ABD really wanted to do right by their loyal/repeat customers, they should have at a minimum offered those discounted rates to anyone who booked today.

 

[DCPhotoGal]

Good to hear that...it makes much better sense. But if ABD really wanted to do right by their loyal/repeat customers, they should have at a minimum offered those discounted rates to anyone who booked today.

I was able to get the discount for a Wyoming booking which I moved from 2016 to 2017... but it took me over an hour waiting on the phone to speak to someone. They must be booking tons of trips today! I was going to looking into another new booking but by the time I got someone on the phone I lost the energy to looking into another one.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

The return guest discount is not running at the same time as the early booking discount.

The early booking discount is not combinable with any other Disney promotion.

It is combinable with the increased booking discount offered by Dreams Unlimited Travel.

The return guest discount may reappear after the early booking discount window closes.

So not to be dense here, but the early booking discount IS combinable with the discount by Dreams Unlimited?

 

[aggiedog]

Just found out the river cruises are exempt from the ABD early booking discounts. Maybe that was obvious to everyone else? Bummer. The DU discounts still apply, as do the returning customer discount.

 

[MammaMurphey]

So the only thing that makes these Disney themed is that they are done through a Disney cruise line? Sorry, everything has changed so much from when I was a kid, it's a bit difficult to get all caught up.

 

[calypso726]

So the only thing that makes these Disney themed is that they are done through a Disney cruise line? Sorry, everything has changed so much from when I was a kid, it's a bit difficult to get all caught up.

Adventures by Disney trips are not all affiliated with DCL with the exception of the ones embedded or added on to a cruise. ABD is a separate business arm that offers group travel both domestically and abroad. Only a few of the itineraries have Disney elements included like Southern California, Walt Disney World, Norway and Scotland. The rest are not Disney themed and the Disney aspect is the quality, safety and service one expects with Disney. Hope this helps.

 

[DisneyKevin]

So not to be dense here, but the early booking discount IS combinable with the discount by Dreams Unlimited?

Yes. They are combinable.

 

[MammaMurphey]

Adventures by Disney trips are not all affiliated with DCL with the exception of the ones embedded or added on to a cruise. ABD is a separate business arm that offers group travel both domestically and abroad. Only a few of the itineraries have Disney elements included like Southern California, Walt Disney World, Norway and Scotland. The rest are not Disney themed and the Disney aspect is the quality, safety and service one expects with Disney. Hope this helps.

Ah ha. I see. Yes that helps a lot. Thanks.

 

[tgeorge]

I'm hoping the savings will still be offered for the BSM I submitted my request for tomorrow. Unfortunately, since my first ABD is 6 months away I have to wait until tomorrow to book. Oh well, if it is, then I'll just consider it an added bonus. If not, at least next year I'll be able to book early ;-)

I strongly considered the DIS exclusive China trip for 2017,but with a couple of other trips (nonABD) planned I just couldn't swing it. Although, I think I will strongly consider for 2018....especially with Shanghai Disney!

 

[danv3]

I booked today for Backstage Magic and did get the early booking discount.