South Africa Safari: December 2009

[WeLoveABD]

For malaria--we had our then-7 yr old and 14 yr old take oral meds shortly before our ABD trip to China, without any problem. In China, ABD was very good about giving us bottled water, and they scout out areas for clean bathrooms, risk-free (and sanitary) restaurants and the like. One parent had a bout of stomach flu, but we don't know where that came from--probably more related to the long flight, or possibly airline food (there were a couple of internal flights where Disney had us take our own lunches rather than eat the airline's food). As I understand it, there are different ways to take the malaria drug--seemed like the most common was 4 doses spread over a number of days just before you travel (pills); difficult if your child has trouble swalling moderately sized pills. There may be a liquid--not sure about that.

 

[vacatravel]

For malaria--we had our then-7 yr old and 14 yr old take oral meds shortly before our ABD trip to China, without any problem. In China, ABD was very good about giving us bottled water, and they scout out areas for clean bathrooms, risk-free (and sanitary) restaurants and the like. One parent had a bout of stomach flu, but we don't know where that came from--probably more related to the long flight, or possibly airline food (there were a couple of internal flights where Disney had us take our own lunches rather than eat the airline's food). As I understand it, there are different ways to take the malaria drug--seemed like the most common was 4 doses spread over a number of days just before you travel (pills); difficult if your child has trouble swalling moderately sized pills. There may be a liquid--not sure about that.

Thank you for the response and feedback on how your children handled it. I checked the cdc website and it directed me to one of our local hospitals that has a travel clinic. I will be contacting them tomorrow to see what they suggest for our 9 year old. Thank you.

 

[vacatravel]

We are booked on the July 27th signature trip to S.A. I booked on Monday - tried to book Sunday, but they had a computer glitch. I had originally booked the regular trip on opening day for July 15, but then decided I wanted the signature. When I called on Sunday (2 days after bookings opened), all of the EBD's for the July 6th signature trip were gone. The ABD agent said that there are fewer EBD's available for the signature trips than for the regular trips.

IMO, the extras that come with the signature trips are well worth it at $600 pp. Right now, the EBD vs regular pricing difference is $400 pp. That could change depending on demand.

I found out about ABD around October/November last year. By then, all the EBD's for China, which was the only trip I wanted, were gone. I ended up paying $1000 pp above the EBD price.

It's hard to know whether there will be future discounts. I wouldn't count on it for the S.A. trips. Any other tour companies that I have looked at are in the $7000-$8000 pp range. There may be discounts on Alaska.

Perhaps you could book both and think it over in the 14 day grace period?

I called ABD today and they said that there are two other children on the trip so far - a 10 year old and a 13 year old. Are you traveling with children? Our daughter is 9 years old and I am wondering if there will be many children since the distance is so far. We are still within the 14 day grace period so we are trying to decide if we are definately going. I am a little leary about safety in Cape Town but I am assuming that Disney has it all checked out.

 

[abdmom]

Sounds like us. I'm also considering it long and hard during the 14 day grace period.

 

[vacatravel]

Sounds like us. I'm also considering it long and hard during the 14 day grace period.

Are you still contemplating going? My research tells me that tours are pretty safe. Most of the warnings are geared for single travelers or those traveling without a tour group. I also checked with ABD and the tour guide even flies with us back to the Johannesburg airport on the last day.
I have now turned my attention to the next stumbling block - airfares! We are near Boston, MA so I started checking airlines out of Logan and the fact that we are flying out of three different airports makes it challenging to check fares. My husband does not want to fly economy so I am checking into business class. Virgin Atlantic had some very reasonable fares but they stop flying into Cape Town at the end of March.
On a separate note, are your children excited about the trip? We told our daughter that we still have not made a final decision. If we cancel, my second choice is the Viva Italia.
Hope to hear from you soon.

 

[abdmom]

I haven't yet told the kids. Though I did consult dd as to which tour she would prefer. I was hoping to do a less expensive tour with their little brother who will be 4. Either the tours were not as good as I'd hoped or they were not appropriate for a 4 year old (or both). I hadn't considered the S.A. trip. But on August 1, as I was sitting at my computer, my sister who was visiting from out of town, volunteered that she would babysit the littlest one so that we could go on a trip with just the two older kids. So, I grabbed S.A. I'm still going over the pros and cons (especially the money aspect).

We're a few hours by plane west of you. The cheapest airfares that I have seen are $1500. But, it ranges up to $2400 per ticket. I find orbitz to be the easiest to check airfares for a multicity itinerary.

 

[PatriciaH]

The details are up for the Signature Adventure. Looks like a lot of nice extras for the price. It is showing an extra of $600pp so if you got $500 good job!

• Select alcoholic beverages for adults at included dinners
• Exclusive meet & greet at aircraft gateway by Adventures by Disney representative
• Private escort through luggage & customs
• Deluxe sedan transfer between airport & hotel
• VIP gift at Cape Grace Hotel
• Boy's Choir performance at Castle of Good Hope
• Gold of Africa Museum souvenir gift
• Tasting top-flight wines at the Spiers Estate
• "African Skies" dinner in George
• Dinner at Knysna Elephant Park
• Spa Wellness treatment at Kapama Main Lodge
• Children's Choir performance at farewell banquet
• Glass of Cap Classique made at Bramon Wine Estate
• Evening game drive with private "Sundowner" (drinks included)

This alone sounds worth it to me:

Dinner at Knysna Elephant Park
Venture to the land where gentle giants roam for a private feast on a platform surrounded by the bewitching Knysna forest and formidable Outeniqua mountain range. As you dine, the elephants stroll by to join the feast. The handlers will show you how to feed these beautiful beasts their own special snacks. It's an incredible, unforgettable meal!

 

[sayhello]

The details are up for the Signature Adventure. Looks like a lot of nice extras for the price. It is showing an extra of $600pp so if you got $500 good job!

Interesting, the Signature for Yosemite doesn't have nearly as many "extras".

• Select alcoholic beverages for adults
• Upgrade to two 5-star hotels
• VIP gift at St. Regis Hotel
• Exclusive rock climbing lessons
• "Camera walk" with professional photographer
• Lunch with historical character John Muir
• Upgraded menus for all included lunch and dinners
• Limo transfer from hotel to airport

It really looks like the "Camera" walk and rock climbing lesson in Yosemite are the only added activities (the lunch with John Muir is in place of the walk with John Muir you're missing because of the rock climbing lesson.)

Plus the upgraded hotels (in 2 of 3 spots). Granted, the Ahwanhee is a HUGE upgrade from the Yosemite Falls Lodge, but I was hoping for more activities, as this itinerary was a little short on them.

And it's an extra $1100 per person! Sounds like South Africa definitely gets the better deal as far as Signature goes!

Sayhello

 

[vacatravel]

I was pleasantly surprised to see that ABD posted the signature trips on their website. I had called to see if we are on our own at the airport and they actually checked with the supervisor for an answer. I was glad to see that you have someone meeting you at luggage and customs. This is a huge plus since I read some "interesting" stories about the airports in South Africa. I wish they offered some signature trips to the European destinations too.

 

[PatriciaH]

I was talking to a lady at work that is from South Africa today and told her we were thinking of booking the SA trip. She was shocked! She said Disney better make people sign waivers since they are taking a great risk going there. Made me a bit nervous but I am not really afraid to travel most places. I wanted to be a photojournalist for a long time She still has family there that can not get out and says she is scared for their lives. I guess they left a lot behind to flee to the US (land, family..) She said she has been all over the world and SA is still the most beautiful place she has ever seen but she would never take her own daughter there. She said the violence is crazy. Ugg. I really want to book. My parents think we are crazy for even considering Africa.

 

[vacatravel]

I was talking to a lady at work that is from South Africa today and told her we were thinking of booking the SA trip. She was shocked! She said Disney better make people sign waivers since they are taking a great risk going there. Made me a bit nervous but I am not really afraid to travel most places. I wanted to be a photojournalist for a long time She still has family there that can not get out and says she is scared for their lives. I guess they left a lot behind to flee to the US (land, family..) She said she has been all over the world and SA is still the most beautiful place she has ever seen but she would never take her own daughter there. She said the violence is crazy. Ugg. I really want to book. My parents think we are crazy for even considering Africa.

We have some of the same concerns. Everything I read said that SA is a very violent country. Having said that, I have also read that it is extremely beautiful and as long as you take sensible precautions you should be safe. Most of those precautions involve traveling in a group. Most of the violence involving tourists tends to take place in the townships and with tourists
traveling alone.

 

[vegs1]

For malaria--we had our then-7 yr old and 14 yr old take oral meds shortly before our ABD trip to China, without any problem. In China, ABD was very good about giving us bottled water, and they scout out areas for clean bathrooms, risk-free (and sanitary) restaurants and the like. One parent had a bout of stomach flu, but we don't know where that came from--probably more related to the long flight, or possibly airline food (there were a couple of internal flights where Disney had us take our own lunches rather than eat the airline's food). As I understand it, there are different ways to take the malaria drug--seemed like the most common was 4 doses spread over a number of days just before you travel (pills); difficult if your child has trouble swalling moderately sized pills. There may be a liquid--not sure about that.

Hello there...
I'm a little confused over the above posting...maybe it's how I'm reading it and if that's the case...my apologies.

You have mentioned taking the malaria oral meds and then talk about being given bottled water, risk free and sanitary restaurants, etc. Malaria is caused by mosquitos. Is there a connnection there that I'm missing? My understanding is that you should definitely also be taking Hepatitis shots to prevent those illnesses from restaurant workers who neglect to wash their hands...drinking unsanitary water or food, etc, as hoping that the restaurant is risk free doesn't mean it is if the workers don't maintain proper handwashing techniques.

Our travel medicine bureau here told me that malaria medications can cause quite a lot of harmful effects on children under 10 so that was definitely a concern of mine also.

We're still mulling this trip over as a result.

Sure sounds like an awesome adventure though!

 

[WeLoveABD]

It was intended to be broader than just malaria--mostly to provide assurance that Disney has traveler comfort AND safety well in mind, from everything we experienced on our two ABD trips to date. The frequently asked questions for each trip on the ABD website include questions re shots etc--although the impression I always get is best to check with your own doctor, or go to one of those travel clinics that provide shots specific to the countries you are travelling to.

 

[vegs1]

It was intended to be broader than just malaria--mostly to provide assurance that Disney has traveler comfort AND safety well in mind, from everything we experienced on our two ABD trips to date. The frequently asked questions for each trip on the ABD website include questions re shots etc--although the impression I always get is best to check with your own doctor, or go to one of those travel clinics that provide shots specific to the countries you are travelling to.

I figured you meant more than just malaria....thanks for the info. I'm sure hoping we can go. I'd love to do the Dec. 09 trip (Christmas and New Year's in Africa !) but can't imagine being away from the majority of our family at Christmas so it may be September if we end up going. No matter which one...I'm sure it will be absolutely fabulous. Hopefully, they'll continue it on past the April 2010 date.

 

[PatriciaH]

Have any of you made your final decisions yet? Did you keep the trip or cancel? Still trying to decide on a date and may book this week!

 

[abdmom]

I am keeping my reservation. This may always change. But, I figure with the discounts I got, and with what the tour includes, it is a good deal and I should keep it.

 

[cappygirl]

I was talking to a lady at work that is from South Africa today and told her we were thinking of booking the SA trip. She was shocked! She said Disney better make people sign waivers since they are taking a great risk going there. Made me a bit nervous but I am not really afraid to travel most places. I wanted to be a photojournalist for a long time She still has family there that can not get out and says she is scared for their lives. I guess they left a lot behind to flee to the US (land, family..) She said she has been all over the world and SA is still the most beautiful place she has ever seen but she would never take her own daughter there. She said the violence is crazy. Ugg. I really want to book. My parents think we are crazy for even considering Africa.

My FIL is South African but moved away when he was out of high school. He's been too afraid to go back so I was really excited when I saw that Disney is now offering this trip. I have total faith (too much? maybe!) in Disney and I seriously doubt they would offer a trip if they believed it to be too dangerous. I'm assuming they take EVERY precaution necessary.
We're booked for Ireland in '09 (my dream trip!!!) but I'm hoping in a few years this trip will still be around. Maybe if we give him grandchildren we can convince my FIL to take us all on this adventure!!

 

[sayhello]

Whoops, posted in wrong thread! Sorry folks!

 

[PatriciaH]

OK, I took the plunge and held the 9/14/09 Signature South Africa trip last night! I got the early booking discout, the $200 loyalty discount and the Costco gift card (will probably be $400.) I still have to join Costco and add the number to our reservation. The RES agent added a note that I would be doing that. He was great (Mo.)

I will think about it for the next few days, but I am pretty sure we are keeping it. I did not tell DH I held it because this one will probably be a Christmas surprise like our last one. He said he was interested in the trip if we could get a discount. If any travel agent discounts come out next year, I will just re-book and loose the deposit if they are a much better rate! I just wanted to be sure I got the space and EBD in case they do sell out. Final is not due until June so at least I have some time to pay it off!

Now I need to tell my friend to send me some programing work. That is how we paid for a lot of our trip coming up-extra work. I would love to make enough to pay for business class air too! I need to do more Expo-TV-ing.

I am nervous but really excited. Africa has been a dream of mine for a long time...

 

[disneynafrica]

Hi, all! For those of you who are nervous about coming to South Africa, Don't! We are an American family who has been living here in Cape Town for the last five years.....it IS beautiful, and I have personally been to the places that Disney has on your tour schedule!

I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about coming here....yes, right now it is winter time (although, technically yesterday was the first day of spring here in Cape Town).

I also have two small girls...we have never had a problem with malaria. It is very modern here, alot like San Diego (Cape Town is)...with weather being opposite seasons but alot like the mediteranean climate of California. No humidity.

What would you like to know? You're going to love South Africa....hakuna matata!!!!