Portugal for non-drinkers/other options

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

It looks like plans A-D aren’t going to work for summer 2025 (scheduling conflicts) and I’m trying to pivot.

Thinking about other ABD options, we are considering Portugal as I have been before and really enjoyed it, but my family has not. However I was a bit concerned about the number of alcohol-centered activities on a supposedly family-centered trip. Port tasting, wine tasting, wine tours, etc. For those who have done the trip, do you think it would be worthwhile for a family (with kids) who are not interested in drinking? How does Disney entertain the kids during times like that?

My daughter is campaigning for England/France, but I struggle with the idea of paying the ABD premium for a trip that would be very easy to do on our own and where we have been to all of the places before.

Scotland also came up as a possibility as it is also on my bucket list, but my daughter did not seem super enthusiastic about it for some reason. I think that, unfortunately, we all still have our hearts set on A, so it’s hard to give that up.

 

[Mathmagicland]

It looks like plans A-D aren’t going to work for summer 2025 (scheduling conflicts) and I’m trying to pivot.

Thinking about other ABD options, we are considering Portugal as I have been before and really enjoyed it, but my family has not. However I was a bit concerned about the number of alcohol-centered activities on a supposedly family-centered trip. Port tasting, wine tasting, wine tours, etc. For those who have done the trip, do you think it would be worthwhile for a family (with kids) who are not interested in drinking? How does Disney entertain the kids during times like that?

My daughter is campaigning for England/France, but I struggle with the idea of paying the ABD premium for a trip that would be very easy to do on our own and where we have been to all of the places before.

Scotland also came up as a possibility as it is also on my bucket list, but my daughter did not seem super enthusiastic about it for some reason. I think that, unfortunately, we all still have our hearts set on A, so it’s hard to give that up.

I’ve not done Portugal trip, but a replying as a non-drinker about the NZ trip which included visits to two wineries.

First winery, they had juice or water for non-drinkers. Since it was an adults trip, I asked the guides what the options would be for kids on family trips. They offer an alternative like soda or chocolate or candy tastings for kids. The second winery seemed less prepared for non-drinkers on an adults trip, the alternative was water.

I found one tour was interesting as I learned some things, the second less so as it was a lot of repeat.

Re Portugal 2025, take a look at the revised itinerary from 2024. For 2025 Standard, there is only one wine tasting, on day 2. The second tasting on Day 7 has been removed. There is a cooking demo on one day and lunch at wineries, but my NZ experience with lunch only winery visits is they are more the location than heavy into a tasting process.

 

[meremac]

Portugal is famous for its wine, particularly port, so having a few wine-centered events on the itinerary makes sense to me. I do know that ABD is great about giving alternate beverage options for people who don't drink wine (or don't drink at all), though.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Portugal is famous for its wine, particularly port, so having a few wine-centered events on the itinerary makes sense to me. I do know that ABD is great about giving alternate beverage options for people who don't drink wine (or don't drink at all), though.

Thanks. I know that it makes sense to have port-centered activities, but I’m just curious whether we would enjoy the tour or if it would be too much.

 

[sheilafri]

Not really your question, but we did a northern England and Scotland tour highlighting Harry Potter locations with our young teenage son and he seemed to enjoy it. Probably a few too many gardens for his taste but otherwise good.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Not really your question, but we did a northern England and Scotland tour highlighting Harry Potter locations with our young teenage son and he seemed to enjoy it. Probably a few too many gardens for his taste but otherwise good.

Interesting. Was that ABD or through somewhere else?

 

[sheilafri]

I arranged it myself. I remember doing Alnwick Castle, Lindisfarne, Jedburgh (family came from there), Edinburgh for Tattoo Festival, Braemar for Highland Games (great fun), then drove cross country with a couple stops (we did go near Balmoral), to Loch Ness, then, Ft. William to take the Harry Potter Steam Train, then to Oban and flew out of Glasgow, iirc. It was about a two week trip. I know I’m forgetting a lot of stops.

 

[Eastridge]

The ABD guides are good at entertaining the younger kids while adults-only activities occur.

In my NZ trip, it was not adults only, so at the first winery they did not have wine tasting. At the second winery, the kids were supposed to have juice in another room but they instead played "Do You Love Your Neighbor?" (a rather, um, exuberant variation of musical chairs) and my son enjoyed that.

The Rhine cruise had some wine tasting activities but also many other options for those who don't drink.

 

[Woodview]

You might not know it yet BUT more & more Beers are going Zero Alcohol Level

It is due to the very strict Drinking & driving Laws in Europe

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I don’t need to add new bad habits. I have enough old bad habits.

I came up with backup plan E that everyone was happy with…but unfortunately it is already sold out. Back to the drawing board.