Positive reviews.

[dizneekrazee]

A fellow Disney friend of mine & I were talking about his honeymoon ideas next year. They were considering WDW, or a cruise. I then mentioned DCL, which he had never heard of, so I then mentioned ABD. During our conversation, he asked me which one(s) were the best. Never have taking an ABD, I couldn't answer firsthand. So it made me wonder, which itineraries seem to get the best reviews? I feel like I never see anything negative for China, South Africa, or Greece.

Please, chime in....

 

[paddles]

I also think Italy (both trips) and Knights & Lights (London/Paris) - get awesome reviews. And Paris or Italy would be so romantic for a honeymoon!

 

[sandhya]

And Ofcourse, Greece. We have done Viva Italia, but Greece trip looks more romantic.

 

[sayhello]

Based strictly on the number of departures for ABD's for the 2014 season (I figure they wouldn't offer a ton of departures if it wasn't popular!) they rank in this order:

Italy - 33
England & France - 24
Costa Rica - 18
Southern California - 17
Yellowstone & Wyoming - 14
Arizona & Utah - 12
Germany - 12
Peru & Machu Picchu - 12
Scotland - 11
Cambodia, Vietnam & Laos - 10
China - 10
Italy & the Amalfi Coast - 9
France - 9
Greece - 9
Ireland - 9
Austria, Germany & Czech Republic - 9
Equador & Galapagos Islands - 8
Australia - 6
South Africa Safari - 6
Italy & Switzerland - 6
Alaska - 5
Montana & Canada - 4
Winter in Wyoming - 4

Now, take it with a grain of salt that the exotic ones like China, Australia, South Africa & Cambodia, et al, are longer trips, more expensive and much harder to get to. So that's probably why there are fewer departures for that one. But when you look at *33* departures for Italy (Viva Italia) then that says a lot about it's popularity. The next closest is 24!

That said, *any* of the trips would probably be great. Some people have issues with certain parts of a trip (even the Italy trip!) but I've never heard anyone say "I hated that ABD!"

Also, another option he may want to look at, depending on when he wants to take his honeymoon is the ABD add-ons to the DCL Mediterranean cruises. Very romantic! Very popular (they tend to sell out a lot).

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

And Ofcourse, Greece. We have done Viva Italia, but Greece trip looks more romantic.

The Greece trip is phenomenal! I highly recommend it!

Sayhello

 

[Cousin Orville]

All ABD's seem to be highly regarded. Why not travel to a place that interests them?

 

[dizneekrazee]

All ABD's seem to be highly regarded. Why not travel to a place that interests them?

They are like me, everywhere interests them!! Lol
I did mention adult only departures, since they are honeymooning, and wedding is in May. It seems a large portion of adult trips take place in May, as well.

Thank you all for your input. I'm sorry if my question was vague. I had no intention of implying that any ABDs were "bad", or "hated", but, when asking people who have been on multiple ABDs, it seems some are more favored over others. For example, let's say someone has done the Peru, China, and France ABD. I would more often here raves about China. Am I making any sense? I am in my head. Lol

 

[Cousin Orville]

Well I can understand that. On the Southeast Asia ABD a number of guests felt it was their favorite ABD they've done.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Well I can understand that. On the Southeast Asia ABD a number of guests felt it was their favorite ABD they've done.

That's the kind of answer I was looking for. Thank you. I know you've been on a few, right? Which was your favorite?

 

[tchrrx]

I love ABD, but I don't think that I'd want to do that type of trip for my honeymoon. On my honeymoon, I didn't want to be on anyone else's time table. Anyways, you may want to let your friend know that there isn't a lot of down time or alone time on some of the trips.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I love ABD, but I don't think that I'd want to do that type of trip for my honeymoon. On my honeymoon, I didn't want to be on anyone else's time table. Anyways, you may want to let your friend know that there isn't a lot of down time or alone time on some of the trips.

That's a great point. I don't think I'd do an ABD as a honeymoon either.

 

[Cousin Orville]

That's the kind of answer I was looking for. Thank you. I know you've been on a few, right? Which was your favorite?

I've only been on 2 so I don't think my opinion carries much weight. Of France and SE Asia I liked SE Asia a little better, but they're vastly different from each another.

 

[SingingMom]

I ADORED our two ABD trips and can't wait to choose our third (Knights & Lights and Once Upon a Fairytale) but it would NOT be our choice for a honeymoon. After all the stress and excitement of a wedding, a week on the beaches of Bermuda was what we needed. Lol. "SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[dizneekrazee]

I ADORED our two ABD trips and can't wait to choose our third (Knights & Lights and Once Upon a Fairytale) but it would NOT be our choice for a honeymoon. After all the stress and excitement of a wedding, a week on the beaches of Bermuda was what we needed. Lol. "SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Which ABD did you enjoy more?
Unlikely they will do ABD, I think he went #2 on himself when he saw the price tag lol.

 

[SingingMom]

Which ABD did you enjoy more? Unlikely they will do ABD, I think he went #2 on himself when he saw the price tag lol.

Hard to say. Last year was our first time in Europe. The trip was a gift for our daughter, who always wanted to see London.& Paris. We loved every minute of it! She is now in her junior year of college, studying this semester in London and really enjoying the experience. It was a great introduction to European travel. After the first ABD, she even decided to minor in European studies because she loved it so much! She also decided she wants to work for the Disney Company after graduation.

This July we went to Germany and adored the experience. The landscape is breathtaking. We felt really a part of the culture. Our guides were fabulous, as were the ones in London & Paris. Our fellow travelers were loads of fun. We keep in touch with several from both trips.

I can't say that we preferred one adventure over another, but I will say, we are hooked. We will continue to travel with ABD until we exhaust their itineraries! , ;-)

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[WeLoveABD]

Hard to say. Last year was our first time in Europe. The trip was a gift for our daughter, who always wanted to see London.& Paris. We loved every minute of it! She is now in her junior year of college, studying this semester in London and really enjoying the experience. It was a great introduction to European travel. After the first ABD, she even decided to minor in European studies because she loved it so much! She also decided she wants to work for the Disney Company after graduation.

This July we went to Germany and adored the experience. The landscape is breathtaking. We felt really a part of the culture. Our guides were fabulous, as were the ones in London & Paris. Our fellow travelers were loads of fun. We keep in touch with several from both trips.

I can't say that we preferred one adventure over another, but I will say, we are hooked. We will continue to travel with ABD until we exhaust their itineraries! , ;-)

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I wonder if Norway will be the only new trip ABD will roll out this year? (I imagine there will be current trips that will be tweaked/changed). We did China in 2008 just before the Olympics--and loved everything about that trip; since then, ABD has added a side trip to see the Terracotta warriors which we would have loved to have done, (On the other hand it looks like they don't stay at the Hotel of Modern Art, which was a fantastic place to stay and roam about). We also tried a couple of trips over the Christmas holiday--very different from a summer trip (and some things in the regular itinerary had to be changed). But like you SingingMom, we are hooked! (And as for a honeymoon trip...well, guess that depends on the couple, and the trip--Greece had some down time and very lovely settings; I bet the Italian Lakes trip would be nice too.)

 

[sayhello]

I wonder if Norway will be the only new trip ABD will roll out this year? (I imagine there will be current trips that will be tweaked/changed). We did China in 2008 just before the Olympics--and loved everything about that trip; since then, ABD has added a side trip to see the Terracotta warriors which we would have loved to have done, (On the other hand it looks like they don't stay at the Hotel of Modern Art, which was a fantastic place to stay and roam about). We also tried a couple of trips over the Christmas holiday--very different from a summer trip (and some things in the regular itinerary had to be changed). But like you SingingMom, we are hooked! (And as for a honeymoon trip...well, guess that depends on the couple, and the trip--Greece had some down time and very lovely settings; I bet the Italian Lakes trip would be nice too.)

Well, from what I can tell, the new Norway itinerary is for 2014, just announced rather late. They already rolled out the rest of 2014, including the new Central Europe itinerary. So I guess the question becomes, did they hold out on it until "Frozen" was ready to be released? Does it mean there will be no new itineraries for 2015? Only time will tell, I guess!

Sayhello

 

[WeLoveABD]

Well, from what I can tell, the new Norway itinerary is for 2014, just announced rather late. They already rolled out the rest of 2014, including the new Central Europe itinerary. So I guess the question becomes, did they hold out on it until "Frozen" was ready to be released? Does it mean there will be no new itineraries for 2015? Only time will tell, I guess!

Sayhello

True that! Probably a mix of movie and cruise ship tie-ins. If there are 2015 trips I would hope to see those soon (although March might be the rollout timeframe)

 

[sayhello]

True that! Probably a mix of movie and cruise ship tie-ins. If there are 2015 trips I would hope to see those soon (although March might be the rollout timeframe)

So far, May has been the earliest we've seen a new year's departures rolled out.

Sayhello

 

[WeLoveABD]

I hope it is earlier than May-we are type A planners and will have 2015 figured out by then!