Questions about Viva Italy Trip

[going2dis]

I'm thinking of taking the Italy trip next year. Our group will be multi-generational (ages 7 to 80). I had a couple of questions for those who have already experienced the trip ?

1) What time does the touring start and stop for the day ?
2) How hot is it during July ? (the 80 year old works out daily but I want to make sure it will not be too difficult for the 7 or 80 year old to keep up with the group)
3) How are rooms arranged for families of 4 ? The literature mentions adjoining vs connecting rooms. I'm not sure of the difference.
4) We would be starting our trip in Naples and then meeting up with the tour in Rome. Gives us a few days to adjust to time and visit family. Did anyone do a pre-trip in another city ?
Thanks in advance for your helpful advice. The disboards are a great source of info.

Regina in Long Island, NY

 

[sayhello]

Welcome to the DISBoards and to the ABD Forum, going2dis! I haven't taken Viva Italia, so I can't answer your questions about the tour, but I can answer your other question.

Adjoining rooms are rooms that are next door to each other. Connecting rooms are not only adjoining, but they have an interior door between the two rooms that can be opened so you can "share" room space and have easy access to the other room without going out into the hall.

I'm sure people who have taken this trip will chime in for your other questions. Also, you might consider posting on this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2481615

We have a member who is actually an ABD Guide, who could also answer some of these questions for you.

Sayhello

 

[Diskidatheart]

I'm thinking of taking the Italy trip next year. Our group will be multi-generational (ages 7 to 80). I had a couple of questions for those who have already experienced the trip ?

1) What time does the touring start and stop for the day ?
2) How hot is it during July ? (the 80 year old works out daily but I want to make sure it will not be too difficult for the 7 or 80 year old to keep up with the group)
3) How are rooms arranged for families of 4 ? The literature mentions adjoining vs connecting rooms. I'm not sure of the difference.
4) We would be starting our trip in Naples and then meeting up with the tour in Rome. Gives us a few days to adjust to time and visit family. Did anyone do a pre-trip in another city ?
Thanks in advance for your helpful advice. The disboards are a great source of info.

Regina in Long Island, NY

The tours in Rome start relatively early. If I recall correctly, you met in the lobby around 7:30am - 8:30am depending on the day. This was also the case for traveling between cities and the last full day in Venice.

As far as the temperatures in July, this year it was in the upper 90's over there. I went in early May and it was in the low 70s each day.

We didn't do a pre-trip, but I think it's pretty common.

You are going to love this trip. Please keep in mind that it is ALOT of walking. I know there was a thread last year where someone calculated the amount of miles they walked each day and I know Rome and Venice were well over 5 miles per day. I would guess we walked around 40 miles the entire trip. With that being said, the guides are wonderful and that is the best part about having 2 guides. One will lead the group and the other will stay back and make sure everyone gets to where they are going without feeling rushed.

 

[pjacobi]

4) We would be starting our trip in Naples and then meeting up with the tour in Rome.

I was not impressed with Naples. The place seemed dirty and I was a bit concerned about my security. "Wanna buy a cell phone?" Did he just steal it from the guy in front of me? The Circumvesuvianna commuter train to Pompii included armed guards. I certainly would not recomend it by night.

I suggest saying in Rome and commuting by train to Naples (2hrs) for museum, Pompii and Vesuvius. This allow you keep the same hotel. Alternatively, you could stay Sorrento and take the train into Naples.

http://community.webshots.com/user/pjacobi


-Paul

Circumvesuvianna train station for Pompii

 

[helenk]

Most days in Rome we got the bus around 8:15- 8:30 except for the day we went to the Vatican, we had to be on the bus around 7:30 so that we could arrive at the Vatican by 8:00. The day we left for Tuscany we had to have our luggage out in the hallway by 7:30 I think we had breakfast in the hotel and then boarded the bus around 8:00. The day we left for Venice we were on the bus by 8:30.
There was a lot of walking in all the cities, in Rome especially. But even in Florence and Venice you did alot of walking as well.
There were 2 older women in our group, I would say they were in their late sixties early seventies and they really had a tough time after awhile.
Our guides did tell us though if there was something we did not want to do, to just let them know so that the group was not left waiting for someone. We never had anyone take them up on that offer though.
I would have like to have seen Pompeii but decided that I did not want to travel that far from Rome. We arrived a day early in Rome so that we could get acclimated. We really enjoyed Rome, far more than we thought we would.

 

[abdalums]

We did Viva Italia last July. Dh and I, our dd12 and ds10 and father-in-law and mother-in-law (mid-70s.) First, it was hot but not much worse than Long Island in a summer heatwave (like now.) We started our trip with five days on our own in Paris. Definitely recommend pre-days that allow you to adjust to the time and be ready for your first day of touring in Rome. Rome really was the most aggressive schedule of the trip but worth it. You seriously don't want to start the tour tired. There is plenty of down time when you get to the villa. My in-laws are in very good shape and the walking was taxing. But it was a great tour for them and the kids. The guides did a great job of helping my in-laws find alternate "routes"--like an elevator in the Colosseum while we climbed a lot of stairs. They were exhausted when they got home, but one year later they are still talking about it with stars in their eyes. We are about to leave on our 4th adventure, and the thing that brings us back again and again is Disney's attention to detail. I didn't have to worry about the kids or the "old folks" at all. It was also nice to sneak in the side door at the Vatican and St. Paul's in Venice--especially nice to skip the lines in the heat. BTW A family favorite was the mask making in Venice. In a million years, I would have never planned something like this (nor could I have) and it turned out to be a clear favorite. It was great to see the kids and grandparents show an artistic side. Very cool. All and all, it is a great multi-generational trip. Hope that helps.
ABDALUMS
2007 Ireland
2008 Wyoming
2009 Italy
2010 Germany

 

[going2dis]

Great information from everyone..especially abdalums since your group is very similar to mine. Thanks a bunch.