Special ABD Gift for Annual Passholders?

[Mickey&JoshNut]

I saw this posted in the "News" section...

When Walt Disney World and Disneyland Annual Passholders book a 2014 Adventures by Disney vacation by 8/23/13, they will receive a special ABD gift pack! Offer is valid on all Adventures by Disney departures traveling between 3/22/14-4/24/15.

Is this something that is available only for annual passholders that book their ABD thru Dreams or is it something that is available to all annual passholders regardless who they book thru? TIA

 

[nunzia]

I saw this also and had the same question. Hopefully more explanation will come out and also more ABD dates! New York is not listed for next year, and since this includes travel as late as 2015 but must be booked this August, I hope more announcements and dates are coming soon.

 

[abdgeek]

I saw this posted in the "News" section...

When Walt Disney World and Disneyland Annual Passholders book a 2014 Adventures by Disney vacation by 8/23/13, they will receive a special ABD gift pack! Offer is valid on all Adventures by Disney departures traveling between 3/22/14-4/24/15.

Is this something that is available only for annual passholders that book their ABD thru Dreams or is it something that is available to all annual passholders regardless who they book thru? TIA

I think you can get it if you book with ABD directly or with a TA. I called and asked about it when I read the blurb here because I had already booked a 2014 trip. Unfortunately, I couldn't get it because I had already gotten the $100 booking credit for being an Adventure Insider who had taken at least 2 ABD trips.

 

[abdgeek]

I saw this also and had the same question. Hopefully more explanation will come out and also more ABD dates! New York is not listed for next year, and since this includes travel as late as 2015 but must be booked this August, I hope more announcements and dates are coming soon.

The NYC ABD trips are for DVC members only, so you won't see it on the ABD website. They may have one next year, but DVC members usually don't get notice that far in advance of the member trips. They're usually posted a couple of months before. I think the NYC trip was announced after the second member cruise in January.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

The NYC ABD trips are for DVC members only, so you won't see it on the ABD website. They may have one next year, but DVC members usually don't get notice that far in advance of the member trips. They're usually posted a couple of months before. I think the NYC trip was announced after the second member cruise in January.

It was announced during the cruise at the ABD session.

 

[TexasTravelGirl]

I asked my TA about it & she said she would do the research & see what is needed (other than the annual pass) typically disney wants to see the pass when you book rooms so I'm curious to see what it is... I'll let you know what I find out

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

My TA contacted ABD and was advised that I qualified for the special gift (yippee). My TA was advised that they did not know what the gift would be but that the gift will be sent AFTER you take your ABD so it looks like I will be waiting until June 2014 to find out what the special gift is.

 

[nunzia]

The NYC ABD trips are for DVC members only, so you won't see it on the ABD website. They may have one next year, but DVC members usually don't get notice that far in advance of the member trips. They're usually posted a couple of months before. I think the NYC trip was announced after the second member cruise in January.

I know. I had one booked and had to cancel because my DD is due the time we were going. I thought that if the DVC NY tours sold well they had plans to put them on the regular ABD trips schedule. My point was that you have to book by late August this year for trips that go into 2015 for the gift, but they don't have the schedule up for 2015 do they?
Plus, ABD needs to talk to DVC...most DVC owners, like us, have our trips planned out at 11 months for booking reasons, so it's often hard to plan a trip a couple months out when all the vacation time has been used up on DVC trips.

 

[Tigger1]

I have never been on a ABD trip. Looking at the DVC point prices I was shocked at the number of points required. Is cash price high also.

 

[nunzia]

I have never been on a ABD trip. Looking at the DVC point prices I was shocked at the number of points required. Is cash price high also.

I thought the New York ABD was pretty reasonable. 160 pp I think?

 

[west&east]

The ABD vacationista today did not know the details about the AP gift but thought it would be mailed before the trip. I found this info on the disneyland website:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/offers-discounts/adventures-by-disney-gift-pack-for-passholders/

Book your vacation to explore destinations around the world with Adventures by Disney and get a special gift. Annual Passholders who book a 2014 Adventures by Disney vacation before August 23, 2013 will receive an Adventures by Disney gift pack.*
Adventures by Disney Gift Pack may include:
Adventures by Disney sweatshirt
Adventures by Disney water bottle
Adventures by Disney bag
Adventures by Disney pen
Adventures by Disney keychain
Disney DVD
This offer is good for all available Adventures by Disney departures between March 22, 2014 and April 24, 2015.
Visit adventuresbydisney.com to discover the perfect vacation for your family.
To book your Adventures by Disney vacation, call: (800) 543-0865, or your travel agent. Please note that your Annual Passholder number must be verified by a Reservations team member.
This offer may be combined with Disney Vacation Club, Costco and Adventure Insider.
*Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort Annual Passholders will receive an Adventures by Disney gift pack when booking a 2014 Adventures by Disney vacation between May 23, 2013 and August 23, 2013 for travel between March 22, 2014 and April 24, 2015 through Adventures by Disney Travel Services, Inc. Eligible Passholder must travel on the land package booked. Gift pack will be mailed out at least thirty (30) days prior to departure of the Adventures by Disney vacation. Limit one (1) gift pack per household. Valid on new bookings only. Land packages are subject to availability. Passholder status subject to verification. Not transferable or redeemable for cash in whole or in part. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply, subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited. Not combinable with certain offers and promotions. Offer valid for U.S. residents only.

 

[Bobo912]

In prior years everybody got a pen, keychain, and water bottle either in the box or as a welcome gift. For any trip booked after Jan 2013 (2013 & 2104 trips) everybody gets a backpack and that's it. ABD has all this branded merchandise, why don't they offer some options? I don't need any more backpacks. I could use a sweatshirt though. I would wear it and it would be free advertising for ABD. The backpack will go into the closet with my other ABD backpacks, never to be seen again.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

We received our backpacks yesterday for the NYC trip. Sorry ABD but they are disgusting. No way would I use one on a trip. There is no structure to them and they are only drawstring. Not my thing. Personally, I am carrying my camera backpack and my husband and son are carrying our 2010 ABD backpacks.

I'm also not happy with the change in the welcome gifts. I didn't book ABD for the gifts/extras, but it was a nice perk that set them apart. To add to what they have taken away, the no including of the slideshow is just ridiculous. They keep going up in price but the customer is getting less and less. Not happy. Our box last night was disappointing (no luggage handle things either). We also have books that someone failed to proof. They list the activity for night two on night one yet include the description in night two - so we really don't know which night is Newsies anymore.

 

[sayhello]

We received our backpacks yesterday for the NYC trip. Sorry ABD but they are disgusting. No way would I use one on a trip. There is no structure to them and they are only drawstring. Not my thing. Personally, I am carrying my camera backpack and my husband and son are carrying our 2010 ABD backpacks.

I'm also not happy with the change in the welcome gifts. I didn't book ABD for the gifts/extras, but it was a nice perk that set them apart. To add to what they have taken away, the no including of the slideshow is just ridiculous. They keep going up in price but the customer is getting less and less. Not happy. Our box last night was disappointing (no luggage handle things either). We also have books that someone failed to proof. They list the activity for night two on night one yet include the description in night two - so we really don't know which night is Newsies anymore.

I don't know if it's the change in management or what, but there seems to be a great deal of last minute stuff going on this year, that has lead to a lot of problems and inaccuracies. I hope they get their **** together. At least it doesn't seem to have affected the trips themselves!

Sayhello

 

[dragonflymom]

I finally got my two pre-trip boxes mid-week last week for my trip this coming Monday. I called ABD three times and each time was told to expect it in a few days and it was only my third call that the ABD rep admitted they were behind and would 2nd day UPS the boxes to me. I had shown my kids the pictures of the backpacks from last year on the internet so they were looking forward to the more traditionally styled backpacks. We were all very disappointed in the collapsible waterproof packs that they sent which have no structure and the color is a non-descript olive green. There were no other "gifts" and no kids version of the bags--we got four of the same packs. We'll be bringing our own backpacks. Sorry, ABD, we're not going to wear these ugly packs so we won't be providing free advertising. I did call ABD to express my disappointment and the lady who took the call thanked me for providing the feedback. So if anyone else feels the same, please let ABD know so that they can make improvements.

 

[sayhello]

I finally got my two pre-trip boxes mid-week last week for my trip this coming Monday. I called ABD three times and each time was told to expect it in a few days and it was only my third call that the ABD rep admitted they were behind and would 2nd day UPS the boxes to me. I had shown my kids the pictures of the backpacks from last year on the internet so they were looking forward to the more traditionally styled backpacks. We were all very disappointed in the collapsible waterproof packs that they sent which have no structure and the color is a non-descript olive green. There were no other "gifts" and no kids version of the bags--we got four of the same packs. We'll be bringing our own backpacks. Sorry, ABD, we're not going to wear these ugly packs so we won't be providing free advertising. I did call ABD to express my disappointment and the lady who took the call thanked me for providing the feedback. So if anyone else feels the same, please let ABD know so that they can make improvements.

One of the really sad parts about this, is when I called & asked about making my "choice" of items for my Greece trip, and was told by ABD that they'd re-designed the backpack and therefore there were no choices anymore, he sounded really, REALLY proud of the new backpack they'd designed. Did they do *any* market research on it? I've not heard one person who liked them, and the only folks who brought them on our ABD were the family who were on their first ABD, with a father who never traveled.

Sayhello

 

[DVC Kathy]

FYI, if you have booked one of the DIS exclusive trips, you are not eligible for the special ABD gift for Annual Passholders.

Kevin asked about it for me, as I just booked one of the Backstage Magic trips, but my AP won't be active until Thursday.

Kathy

 

[TexasTravelGirl]

My TA contacted ABD and was advised that I qualified for the special gift (yippee). My TA was advised that they did not know what the gift would be but that the gift will be sent AFTER you take your ABD so it looks like I will be waiting until June 2014 to find out what the special gift is.

After???? BOO! lol Guess I will be waiting a LONG time for that. lol

 

[DisneyCruisin']

One of the really sad parts about this, is when I called & asked about making my "choice" of items for my Greece trip, and was told by ABD that they'd re-designed the backpack and therefore there were no choices anymore, he sounded really, REALLY proud of the new backpack they'd designed. Did they do *any* market research on it? I've not heard one person who liked them, and the only folks who brought them on our ABD were the family who were on their first ABD, with a father who never traveled.

Sayhello

When I talked to an ABD rep Monday I told her how unhappy we were with them. She told me to include that on our survey. My son is planning on taking one of our Castaway Club backpacks instead. He even told me to leave the two that are still in plastic that way and throw them on Ebay. As soon as he said it, he looked at me and told me to forget it, no one would want the. LOL. And he's only 12 and gets that they are horrible!

 

[sayhello]

When I talked to an ABD rep Monday I told her how unhappy we were with them. She told me to include that on our survey. My son is planning on taking one of our Castaway Club backpacks instead. He even told me to leave the two that are still in plastic that way and throw them on Ebay. As soon as he said it, he looked at me and told me to forget it, no one would want the. LOL. And he's only 12 and gets that they are horrible!

So very sad!

Sayhello