Golden Rose
Princess by Choice
- Joined
- May 8, 2007
- Messages
- 1,093
We've been looking at ABD for a few years, but just as our son was old enough for us to start to be able to bring him along, we adopted our daughter. Now our daughter is 4, and by the time we're looking at a trip, she'll be 5 or 6. So it's coming into the realm of reasonable again. We travel with my mother, and so we've been trying to balance our daughter's youth with my mother's health, particularly for some of the active vacations. We really wanted to do ABD to Galapagos next summer, but our daughter will only be 5, so we booked Celebrity instead.
We can't go this year; we're cruising (so easy with a 4 year old!) twice instead. So we're looking at 2016 and/or 2017.
We don't mind booking in advance. (We're used to it; we have DVC.) Is it generally better to book right when the itineraries are released, or better to wait and see if prices drop or trips fill?
We would have a party of 5 or 6, depending on the itinerary. (My step father will come with on some of the trips, but not all.) Do you have to pay a single supplement if you have an odd number of people? Do they have rooms that will consistently sleep 3 or 4?
Are there any discounts or small perks for DVC members?
The trips we are seriously looking at are Australia, South Africa, and the new river boat cruises. The kids would be 5/6 and 11 next year at the times we are looking, and 6/7 and 12 the following year.
It looks like they are about to announce the 2016 trips. Is about halfway through the year pretty typical? Are the trips likely to change significantly? If we're thinking South Africa in 2017, can I plan on it being more or less the trip currently offered, or does it change enough from year to year that I shouldn't even bother studying itineraries.
So, I know this is getting long, but I wanted to ask specifically about Australia, since my mom is really pushing for it. I've been to Australia, but not in almost 20 years, and no one else in our party has been. Do you really feel like ABD has a real value add for Australia? We speak the language, and the people are super friendly. I know some of the ABDs clearly get you into places or do things that you couldn't have done on your own easily if at all. Is that as true there? I could plan a really amazing Australia trip. In fact, I've done so. I know DD would prefer to be on a trip with other children. I don't know a) if there will be lots of children on an Australia ABD trip, or b) if her desire for company is worth paying about twice what I could plan the trip for. Any advice would be appreciated!
We can't go this year; we're cruising (so easy with a 4 year old!) twice instead. So we're looking at 2016 and/or 2017.
We don't mind booking in advance. (We're used to it; we have DVC.) Is it generally better to book right when the itineraries are released, or better to wait and see if prices drop or trips fill?
We would have a party of 5 or 6, depending on the itinerary. (My step father will come with on some of the trips, but not all.) Do you have to pay a single supplement if you have an odd number of people? Do they have rooms that will consistently sleep 3 or 4?
Are there any discounts or small perks for DVC members?
The trips we are seriously looking at are Australia, South Africa, and the new river boat cruises. The kids would be 5/6 and 11 next year at the times we are looking, and 6/7 and 12 the following year.
It looks like they are about to announce the 2016 trips. Is about halfway through the year pretty typical? Are the trips likely to change significantly? If we're thinking South Africa in 2017, can I plan on it being more or less the trip currently offered, or does it change enough from year to year that I shouldn't even bother studying itineraries.
So, I know this is getting long, but I wanted to ask specifically about Australia, since my mom is really pushing for it. I've been to Australia, but not in almost 20 years, and no one else in our party has been. Do you really feel like ABD has a real value add for Australia? We speak the language, and the people are super friendly. I know some of the ABDs clearly get you into places or do things that you couldn't have done on your own easily if at all. Is that as true there? I could plan a really amazing Australia trip. In fact, I've done so. I know DD would prefer to be on a trip with other children. I don't know a) if there will be lots of children on an Australia ABD trip, or b) if her desire for company is worth paying about twice what I could plan the trip for. Any advice would be appreciated!