So I just got a package from ABD... and NEWS! (sort of)

[Bobo912]

Here is the list...

This special offer is only available on the following itineraries and departures

$500 Visa Gift Card

The Alps
06/05/11, 06/20/11, 07/03/11, 08/07/11, 09/11/11

Central Italy
06/01/11, 06/22/11, 07/27/11, 08/06/11, 08/24/11
09/21/11

Italy
04/25/11, 05/19/11, 05/23/11, 05/26/11, 06/09/11
06/16/11, 07/03/11, 07/18/11, 07/21/11, 07/24/11,
08/18/11, 08/22/11, 09/15/11

Italy Signature
07/14/11, 08/07/11, 08/14/11

England and France
04/22/11, 05/09/11, 05/27/11, 06/10/11, 06/13/11
07/04/11, 07/22/11, 07/29/11, 08/05/11, 08/08/11

Germany
05/23/11, 05/27/11, 06/10/11, 06/17/11, 07/08/11
07/22/11, 08/05/11, 08/12/11, 09/16/11

Ireland
05/21/11, 06/11/11, 06/14/11, 07/26/11, 08/02/11
09/20/11

Australia
03/26/11, 04/02/11, 06/11/11, 07/02/11, 08/13/11
09/10/11

South Africa
04/12/11, 04/26/11, 05/22/11, 06/19/11, 07/03/11
07/17/11, 08/07/11, 09/18/11

Galapagos
04/19/11, 06/14/11, 06/28/11, 07/19/11, 08/02/11

Costa Rica Classic
03/05/11, 03/26/11, 06/18/11, 06/25/11, 07/23/11
07/30/11, 08/06/11

Costa Rica Signature
03/19/11, 04/23/11, 06/11/11

Peru
02/15/11, 06/14/11, 06/21/11, 07/05/11, 07/19/11
08/23/11, 09/20/11

$300 Visa Gift Card

Gateway to London & Paris
07/08/11, 08/01/11, 08/22/11, 09/05/11

Gateway to Italy
04/06/11, 07/06/11, 08/03/11

Hollywood & Disneyland® Resort
04/03/11, 06/12/11, 06/26/11, 07/03/11, 07/17/11
09/11/11

Grand Canyon
04/30/11, 05/28/11, 06/14/11, 06/18/11, 07/05/11
07/16/11, 07/19/11, 08/06/11, 09/24/11

Wyoming - Yellowstone
06/15/11, 06/20/11, 06/29/11, 07/13/11, 07/20/11
07/27/11, 08/03/11, 08/17/11, 08/22/11

Washington, D.C.
05/24/11, 06/14/11, 07/08/11, 07/19/11, 08/09/11
09/16/11

Glacier & Banff National Parks
06/18/11, 07/09/11, 07/16/11, 09/03/11

Alaska
06/15/11, 06/24/11, 07/03/11, 07/13/11, 07/22/11
08/10/11, 08/19/11

 

[marcemch]

Here is the list...

This special offer is only available on the following itineraries and departures

$500 Visa Gift Card

The Alps
06/05/11, 06/20/11, 07/03/11, 08/07/11, 09/11/11

Central Italy
06/01/11, 06/22/11, 07/27/11, 08/06/11, 08/24/11
09/21/11

Italy
04/25/11, 05/19/11, 05/23/11, 05/26/11, 06/09/11
06/16/11, 07/03/11, 07/18/11, 07/21/11, 07/24/11,
08/18/11, 08/22/11, 09/15/11

Italy Signature
07/14/11, 08/07/11, 08/14/11

England and France
04/22/11, 05/09/11, 05/27/11, 06/10/11, 06/13/11
07/04/11, 07/22/11, 07/29/11, 08/05/11, 08/08/11

Germany
05/23/11, 05/27/11, 06/10/11, 06/17/11, 07/08/11
07/22/11, 08/05/11, 08/12/11, 09/16/11

Ireland
05/21/11, 06/11/11, 06/14/11, 07/26/11, 08/02/11
09/20/11

Australia
03/26/11, 04/02/11, 06/11/11, 07/02/11, 08/13/11
09/10/11

South Africa
04/12/11, 04/26/11, 05/22/11, 06/19/11, 07/03/11
07/17/11, 08/07/11, 09/18/11

Galapagos
04/19/11, 06/14/11, 06/28/11, 07/19/11, 08/02/11

Costa Rica Classic
03/05/11, 03/26/11, 06/18/11, 06/25/11, 07/23/11
07/30/11, 08/06/11

Costa Rica Signature
03/19/11, 04/23/11, 06/11/11

Peru
02/15/11, 06/14/11, 06/21/11, 07/05/11, 07/19/11
08/23/11, 09/20/11

$300 Visa Gift Card

Gateway to London & Paris
07/08/11, 08/01/11, 08/22/11, 09/05/11

Gateway to Italy
04/06/11, 07/06/11, 08/03/11

Hollywood & Disneyland® Resort
04/03/11, 06/12/11, 06/26/11, 07/03/11, 07/17/11
09/11/11

Grand Canyon
04/30/11, 05/28/11, 06/14/11, 06/18/11, 07/05/11
07/16/11, 07/19/11, 08/06/11, 09/24/11

Wyoming - Yellowstone
06/15/11, 06/20/11, 06/29/11, 07/13/11, 07/20/11
07/27/11, 08/03/11, 08/17/11, 08/22/11

Washington, D.C.
05/24/11, 06/14/11, 07/08/11, 07/19/11, 08/09/11
09/16/11

Glacier & Banff National Parks
06/18/11, 07/09/11, 07/16/11, 09/03/11

Alaska
06/15/11, 06/24/11, 07/03/11, 07/13/11, 07/22/11
08/10/11, 08/19/11

Are these discounts per person or per booking? Or is this a "up to" amount (not to exceed)?

 

[disneytraveler]

Interesting! Still nothing on the website (I even tried clearing my cache to make sure it wasn't just because it wasn't refreshing...) I wonder which "select" itineraries it will be? That's great for the folks who qualify for it. My hopes are to be taking the DU exclusive K&L trip next year, so I doubt it will qualify. And it won't qualify for DU's Gift Card, either. I missed out on the free cruise, too, although I wasn't too upset about that. Really don't care about a 3-night cruise to Nassau! But a $500 or $300 gift card? That would be nice to have.

Seems like you *are* a VIP! Although I'm not too sure about this whole philosophy of only being a VIP if you haven't signed up for a 2011 trip yet...

Sayhello

True ,its more like inviting us back to travel with ABD in 2011.

 

[WeLoveABD]

I called the ABD VIP line and was told that the VIP packages were going out to those past ABD travelers who haven't booked in 2011--since we did, we are not in line to get the mug. But more importantly, they told me the VIP program is just upping the personal service, and no reward system at this time. Next announcement likely for the Alaska cruise ABD add-on--and then, who knows. Probably August--although if the cruise ships announce a Magic itinerary to the eastern med I am still hopeful of an ABD trip to Greece/Turkey.

 

[It's always cold]

I will be interested to see if Canadian travellers are included in this, since we have to book through a travel agent, the travel agent's address is where all our stuff is mailed to (like backpacks, etc.)

Also wondering if this offer is for everyone or do you have to get a package to receive the offer, since it is not on their website yet.

 

[Tozzie]

I am seriously annoyed with ABD, I booked my trip in July for next year and the date I booked is listed as being elegible for the gift card. I could care less about being a VIP but the with the cruise promo last year and the gift card this year they seem to be saying wait to book and we will throw in an incentive. While I do love ABD and I really don't care for any of the other tour companies I have looked at so I don't compare what they offer, it seems that they are discouraging people from booking early. I don't expect anything from ABD in terms of returning guest discounts and such but when they turn around and have special offers months afterward well it is annoying to say the least. If I do a trip in 2012, planning on it but you never know, I will not be booking early.

 

[Bobo912]

Are these discounts per person or per booking? Or is this a "up to" amount (not to exceed)?

Gift Card is per booking. It's either $500 o $300. No "up to", just those amounts.

Also wondering if this offer is for everyone or do you have to get a package to receive the offer, since it is not on their website yet.

There was a link to the website in the email they sent out. There is no PIN or anything personalized in the email. In fact, it has a "forward to a friend" link at the top, so it appears that this offer is for anybody.

I called the ABD VIP line and was told that the VIP packages were going out to those past ABD travelers who haven't booked in 2011

Did they happen to mention what qualifies one as a VIP? I've taken 2 trips and I'm not booked for this year, but I didn't get the package. Apparently that's not enough.

 

[Bobo912]

Hmmm...is it just me or have all the 2011 dates disappeared from the website? Probably an indication that they are updating the website with a link to the new offer. I'm sure they'll be back later.

Or maybe they are raising the prices on all international trips by $500 and all US trips by $300.

 

[sayhello]

Hmmm...is it just me or have all the 2011 dates disappeared from the website? Probably an indication that they are updating the website with a link to the new offer. I'm sure they'll be back later.

Or maybe they are raising the prices on all international trips by $500 and all US trips by $300.

Not so funny, actually! But if they were going to do that, they'd've done it *before* announcing the incentive!

I'm not seeing any 2011 dates, either. That's odd. I wonder what it means.

I think it's funny that I'm this VIP, but I never got the promised email, nor do I see an announcement on the website. So far, this VIP stuff doesn't mean spit!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

I am seriously annoyed with ABD, I booked my trip in July for next year and the date I booked is listed as being elegible for the gift card. I could care less about being a VIP but the with the cruise promo last year and the gift card this year they seem to be saying wait to book and we will throw in an incentive. While I do love ABD and I really don't care for any of the other tour companies I have looked at so I don't compare what they offer, it seems that they are discouraging people from booking early. I don't expect anything from ABD in terms of returning guest discounts and such but when they turn around and have special offers months afterward well it is annoying to say the least. If I do a trip in 2012, planning on it but you never know, I will not be booking early.

The only advantage to booking early would be if the trip you wanted sold out. But I don't think very many trips sell out early. They have definitely deterred folks from booking early. It really makes so little sense.

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Not so funny, actually! But if they were going to do that, they'd've done it *before* announcing the incentive!

I'm not seeing any 2011 dates, either. That's odd. I wonder what it means.

I think it's funny that I'm this VIP, but I never got the promised email, nor do I see an announcement on the website. So far, this VIP stuff doesn't mean spit!

Sayhello

Still no dates this morning. You would think if they were just updating the website they would be finished by now. Very stange to send out an offer and then remove the dates & rates. BTW, the ABD email came to the adress I use for WDW reservations, not the one I gave to ABD. So it wasn't related to any past relationship with ABD. I never get any offers from them sent to that address, not even last year when they emailed the return guest offer.

 

[sayhello]

Still no dates this morning. You would think if they were just updating the website they would be finished by now. Very stange to send out an offer and then remove the dates & rates. BTW, the ABD email came to the adress I use for WDW reservations, not the one I gave to ABD. So it wasn't related to any past relationship with ABD. I never get any offers from them sent to that address, not even last year when they emailed the return guest offer.

Interesting. I use the same email address for both...

Sayhello

 

[marcemch]

By the way, my AAA travel agent just sent me an electronic flyer with this special, so it's not just for the folks that got the email!

(But I just booked my Tauck Bridges trip - still not enough of a discount to even be competitive with Tauck, IMHO.)

 

[KLondon]

I will be interested to see if Canadian travellers are included in this, since we have to book through a travel agent, the travel agent's address is where all our stuff is mailed to (like backpacks, etc.)

Also wondering if this offer is for everyone or do you have to get a package to receive the offer, since it is not on their website yet.

I would say 'yes' for Canadians. We're Canadian and we have NEVER booked ABD through a travel agent. We always book directly through ABD and they simply courier documents, bags, etc. directly to our home.

The same is true for the mysterious VIP package that arrived on our doorstep a few days ago.

 

[beansf]

I am seriously annoyed with ABD, I booked my trip in July for next year and the date I booked is listed as being elegible for the gift card.

I am in the same situation and also not pleased. I booked early because I wanted an "adults only" and there aren't too many of those, but I guess I should have waited...

 

[sayhello]

The dates & rates are back up... I don't know if they've changed or not...

I still don't see anything on the website about the Gift Card offer.

Sayhello

 

[corky441]

Here is the list...

This special offer is only available on the following itineraries and departures

$500 Visa Gift Card


Italy
04/25/11, 05/19/11, 05/23/11, 05/26/11, 06/09/11
06/16/11, 07/03/11, 07/18/11, 07/21/11, 07/24/11,
08/18/11, 08/22/11, 09/15/11


Well of course I would have loved to get a $500 gift card from Disney. But right now I'm glad at least that I've booked the 9/22/11 Adults Only trip and since that trip isn't in the promo listing I didn't loose out by booking already...

 

[Bobo912]

The dates & rates are back up... I don't know if they've changed or not...

I still don't see anything on the website about the Gift Card offer.

Sayhello

I checked several of the rates that I am familiar with and they haven't changed.

 

[abdalums]

We've done 4 adventures (3 international) each time with 4 to 6 people. We booked each trip by October. We didn't receive a letter etc. Like you. I was just thinking the other day that if I was working in the ABD marketing department I'd be contacting former travelers like me who haven't booked for 2011 to find out why and give 'em a reason to book now. I don't exactly know what makes anyone a VIP or not, maybe it's random...either way I am holding off on 2011. After our last trip (Germany) in August, I was feeling like the quality seems to have slipped over the years with each trip. Yes, there is still magic, but something seems to be missing. So, I will probably need a financial incentive to book for 2011. Am I alone in my thinking? And speaking of incentives: there were a few families on our Germany trip that booked to soon last year and didn't get the free cruise incentive. We booked through Costco--a first for us and so worth it--and got the free cruise and $1000 in Costco gift cards. Now that's an incentive! BTW each of those families were so mad they don't plan to be repeat customers.

 

[Bobo912]

We've done 4 adventures (3 international) each time with 4 to 6 people. We booked each trip by October. We didn't receive a letter etc. Like you. I was just thinking the other day that if I was working in the ABD marketing department I'd be contacting former travelers like me who haven't booked for 2011 to find out why and give 'em a reason to book now. I don't exactly know what makes anyone a VIP or not, maybe it's random...either way I am holding off on 2011. After our last trip (Germany) in August, I was feeling like the quality seems to have slipped over the years with each trip. Yes, there is still magic, but something seems to be missing. So, I will probably need a financial incentive to book for 2011. Am I alone in my thinking? And speaking of incentives: there were a few families on our Germany trip that booked to soon last year and didn't get the free cruise incentive. We booked through Costco--a first for us and so worth it--and got the free cruise and $1000 in Costco gift cards. Now that's an incentive! BTW each of those families were so mad they don't plan to be repeat customers.

The email was just a general mailing. There was no PIN like the offers they sent out last March. The website just says mention this offer to receive the gift card. So anybody should be able to get it as long as they know about it. This offer in combination with the Costco card would be a nice little discount. I'm seriously consdering it myself.