Tentatively Considering ABD...

[Rogue1677x]

I generally don't travel through tours as I prefer arranging my own travel and setting my own itinerary. We went to Iceland 3 years ago and loved it, so if you decide to go, I hope you enjoy it.

This past April on a trip to Paris, we did a day tour to Mont St. Michel. The tour itself was great, the majority of people were nice, but there was a couple who quite loudly complained about there being so many Asian people on the tour (in derogatory terms no less), why were they there, etc. My husband pointed out that if he was so annoyed that the other people on the tour were listening to the audio portion in their native language on the portable units provided then he was certainly welcome to listen to the tour in his native language too since he had one too. After all, the guy was from the U.S. and made sure everyone knew it.

 

[calypso726]

I agree with almost everything written above so I won't belabor those points.

The only downside/caveat and now thing that gives me a huge pause when considering ABDs (other than they have stale itineraries for areas I'm interested in traveling)...

*Disclaimer-I've only been on 5 ABDs so compared to some of the more ABD seasoned travelers above, I feel my opinion might hold slightly less weight, lol. Since my last ABD was a while ago-2019 for DH and my "empty nest celebration" , I don't know if there are still pins given out for the number of trips prior Adventurers have gone on or not. Anyhoo...this has brought out some bizarrely (to me) low key (or over the top for some) competitive behavior in otherwise one might think rational adults...the bragging rights for the number of prior trips that surround some of the other "adventurers" is sort of (okay, frankly completely) off putting and seems to become a facet of their identities for the entirety of the trip. As I said, I just find it odd and distasteful. I cannot imagine @sayhello @Mathmagicland or @calypso726 strutting around bragging about their "number" but on every single one of my ABDs, it's occurred-which was rather strange. I love travel too but DH and I agree that when we're with another group travel company no one goes to the extent of discussing their prior trips (number, itinerary, etc) as many, many of the prior guests traveling on ABDs. It's become so off putting to us (two DEFINITE introverts who like to live and behave modestly and are not on most of the more social media outlets) that ABD has fallen far down our list of tour company options.

If you can tune out that kind of nonsense or you're fortunate and don't have that sort of foolishness-I'm hoping some people will chime in and say they haven't been subjected to it (hopefully!), then I agree it's a great product overall when you can find a trip that works for you.

Post Covid, pins were mailed out before the trip. Recently I heard they are going back to handing out the pins during the trip. I can’t say that I’ve witnessed anything like the number of trips becoming a thing for the whole trip. On the trips where they gave out the pins some guides would ask those who had been on previous ABDs to mention their favorite at the welcome dinner during introductions. Of course anyone who was on their second or more ABD trip would be asked by other guests about their previous adventures or favorite as a point of conversation or wanting to hear the feedback on a different itinerary. I’ve been on trips with guests that were into their high teens and 20 something ABD and I’m sure I asked them what was their favorite or top 3 just like everyone else did. It’s always the same 3 trips they mention too. China, South Africa and the Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia trip.

 

[sayhello]

Post Covid, pins were mailed out before the trip. Recently I heard they are going back to handing out the pins during the trip. I can’t say that I’ve witnessed anything like the number of trips becoming a thing for the whole trip. On the trips where they gave out the pins some guides would ask those who had been on previous ABDs to mention their favorite at the welcome dinner during introductions. Of course anyone who was on their second or more ABD trip would be asked by other guests about their previous adventures or favorite as a point of conversation or wanting to hear the feedback on a different itinerary. I’ve been on trips with guests that were into their high teens and 20 something ABD and I’m sure I asked them what was their favorite or top 3 just like everyone else did. It’s always the same 3 trips they mention too. China, South Africa and the Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia trip.

As far as I know the "number" pins are still being sent out with the boxes, and not given out during the trips like the daily pins. That's just what I've read recently.

I remember Josh D'Amaro was so jazzed & proud of the Insider number pins (he hinted to me that they were introducing them, back when I had my crazy audience with him when I visited ABD in 2012.)

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

Hi all,

My family has decided to embark on a trip to Iceland in 2026. We have never been out of the country before, except for a few hours in the Bahamas on our most recent Disney Cruise, which is an entirely different ballgame. This is a lifelong dream of my mother's, however, all three of us work demanding, full-time jobs, and while I can plan a Disney trip with ease, planning an international trip feels overwhelming at best. My mother is not a Disney fan like my father and I, but she does like the current Iceland ABD itinerary, and is not opposed to booking it should something similar be offered in 2026. While I think we're capable of planning this trip on our own, I think we all like the idea of traveling with a tour company for our first major overseas experience, thus the appeal of ABD. We also haven't really found any alternative companies that offer a strong Iceland itinerary (though we are open to suggestions!)

1: My family's main concern is that there is not a strong guarantee that the trip is a for-sure thing if we book. My mother especially is concerned about investing time, money, and energy into this trip, for it to be cancelled with...not a lot of time left before our planned vacation dates to then essentially re-do the trip by ourselves. This is the main caveat to my mom agreeing to go, especially if we book airfare and then are left without a trip to go on!

2: We border on mid to upper middle class, and are decidedly not wealthy. This trip would be a big financial investment for us, thus the 2026 goal date. My family is pretty simple in our likes, dress, and tastes, and don't want to feel like we don't "fit in" with regular ABDers should that be the case. I am a former CM and know several people who have attended ABD trips, and while all loved them, a few of my former coworkers did say they felt ostracized from some of their traveling companions.

I appreciate any advice and insight, thank you!

I'll offer the insight I can. My disclaimer is that I've only been on the Southern California trip, which is very heavily Disney-focused and I assume has a different feel to the international trips.

When it comes to the guarantee, there are a few things I can offer. First, AbD is very good about giving refunds and offering to let you switch dates if a trip is cancelled. Most airlines also offer refunds or at least a credit for cancelled flights, so I honestly wouldn't worry too much about it. You'll have months' of advance notice if a trip is cancelled. I'm not sure if they still do this, but in the past, you could also ask how many people were on the trip and if it was guaranteed to run with that many while booking.

Most people on my trip were middle class. We had everyone from teachers to doctors to car salesmen to travel agents. I wouldn't consider any of them to be true upper class, mostly the higher half of middle class. When it comes to feeling ostracized, I definitely never felt shunned by anyone on the trip, but sometimes cliques can form based on what people are interested in. Some people are happy just to sit back and observe, others get really into every activity, and people with similar group dynamics are naturally going to stick with each other. I did both trips as a pretty introverted solo traveller, and both times I ended up making great friends and had plenty of people to hang out with during our free time. Any time there's a group of 40 people, there will probably be 1 or 2 you don't gel with, and that's OK.

When it comes to dress and tastes, AbD is pretty casual. The most you'll need on trips is a collared shirt and slacks for dinner, and you'll be good to wear a t-shirt and jeans for all the daytime activities. The only time you'd need more than that are if you're planning to do things on your own. There might be some exceptions to this, but that will be made clear in your guidebook that comes a few weeks before the trip. One thing I've found with "luxury" travel, both with AbD and other companies, is that people who pay for it aren't usually into dressing up every day or being overly proper. They pay money for access, reduced crowds/waits, and service. AbD is not inherently fancy, they just offer a better casual experience than you would get doing things on your own.

 

[AquaDame]

Hi all,

My family has decided to embark on a trip to Iceland in 2026. We have never been out of the country before, except for a few hours in the Bahamas on our most recent Disney Cruise, which is an entirely different ballgame. This is a lifelong dream of my mother's, however, all three of us work demanding, full-time jobs, and while I can plan a Disney trip with ease, planning an international trip feels overwhelming at best. My mother is not a Disney fan like my father and I, but she does like the current Iceland ABD itinerary, and is not opposed to booking it should something similar be offered in 2026. While I think we're capable of planning this trip on our own, I think we all like the idea of traveling with a tour company for our first major overseas experience, thus the appeal of ABD. We also haven't really found any alternative companies that offer a strong Iceland itinerary (though we are open to suggestions!)

1: My family's main concern is that there is not a strong guarantee that the trip is a for-sure thing if we book. My mother especially is concerned about investing time, money, and energy into this trip, for it to be cancelled with...not a lot of time left before our planned vacation dates to then essentially re-do the trip by ourselves. This is the main caveat to my mom agreeing to go, especially if we book airfare and then are left without a trip to go on!

2: We border on mid to upper middle class, and are decidedly not wealthy. This trip would be a big financial investment for us, thus the 2026 goal date. My family is pretty simple in our likes, dress, and tastes, and don't want to feel like we don't "fit in" with regular ABDers should that be the case. I am a former CM and know several people who have attended ABD trips, and while all loved them, a few of my former coworkers did say they felt ostracized from some of their traveling companions.

I appreciate any advice and insight, thank you!

We have been lucky so far in that the only tour that was cancelled on us was a river cruise for 2021 that we booked end of January 2020. You can imagine why it was.... I remember the horrible feeling as the PIF date came closer and closer without them admitting we would not be going, but they did eventually do the right thing and cancelled when we still had a little under a month to pay. At the time I was very mad that folk who cancelled of their own accord were not being offered refunds unless they were willing to play the game of chicken. I honestly don't know if they ever made it right or not. Most moved dates so its hard to say what would have been right anyway. That said, we ran into the same issue with a WDW reservation we had for 2020 and while we were able to recoup most of our money, we were not able to recover all of it. It is simply a risk when traveling, and is why many people decide to get trip insurance and do their best to keep upbeat and flexible. Airfare can be included in that if you book it on your own. Iceland is a very expensive place to visit, and depending on the time of year you plan to travel you may find hotels and such booked up. We visited the Westfjords in July last year and even with the luxury of time had a rough time finding affordable accommodations with availability that did not share a bathroom. If Disney cancels on you you'd get your money back, which maybe would lessen the blow... these are not cheap trips so anything OYO you need to put together may be far cheaper in the long run at least! Assuming its a go you really won't be investing much time or energy - that's a large part of why folk book these trips; someone else does that part.

Did you happen to ask why they felt ostracized..? It may not be what you think... We are also middle class and while I will freely admit the same, the reason is usually simple when it happens... we don't have kids. Most of the time it is one of the first things people ask out of habit and the number of times you could hear a pin drop when we say no... There are also always a few folk who compare notes about numbers and locations of trips, or talk about them ceaselessly even while ON a trip, but they are a minority and even then they're still lovely people. They just want to talk and we let them. I've yet to run into someone who I ever felt looked down their nose at me, or I couldn't have a nice chat with on the two ABD trips we've been on. We've done tours with other companies as well and I would say the same - everyone is there to have a good time. On an ABD, hey, they probably share a love for Disney too.

 

[Donalyn]

The no kids thing - that is probably a special category, particularly on summer trips, where there are so many kids. And people in general seem to be confused by Disney fans without kids (although I know a number).

On my first trip (Rome/Tuscany/Venice) - there were two couples without kids. The first were on their honeymoon. They got the trip as a gift and we feel that whoever booked it, generally didn't understand family group travel. They were a cute younger couple, and they stayed to themselves. The guides tried to make it special for them - like they had their own gondola, etc. But not a lot that the guides could do about bus times with kids being kids... There was also a couple, in their late 50s. They were nice - I talked to them a lot. Everyone else was traveling with a kid or more in toe, ranging from 6 to 22.

Then on the River Cruise - there was this younger couple sitting at the table next to us at dinner for the first half of the trip. They weren't married, in their 20s, just all in all, not the target market of an ABD summer river cruise. So very curious about their story. (She won the trip on a game show.) They found their group (another couple without kids) and hung out with them for most of the trip.

On the # of trips pin thing - I go back and forth about whether I think it is a good idea to do this on trips. I haven't had anyone flaunt it and I do think that it is interesting to chat with people about their past trips, their favorites, etc.

I will say that about 90% of my interactions with fellow ABD travelers have been good. For the other 10%, I'd say that most of those interactions were just people who were hard to talk to (or for whom our time chatting was just too long, like on a bus ride). (I mean, I normally can find things to chat with people about and find getting to know people's stories super fun, but some people aren't as happy to talk like that or maybe aren't really that interesting or maybe they didn't find me interesting, I don't know...)

I've only had 2 experiences where I really didn't like the fellow travelers. One guy broke the unwritten rule of group travel - don't discuss politics (basically going after me for the state that I live in due to its political leanings). After that, we avoided him - other than to observe that he was mean to his wife in public multiple times. We decided that he generally wasn't a very nice or happy person. The other guy was just a bit of a know it all and sort of wanted to be in charge.

Good luck with your planning/decision. There are pros and cons of group travel. The "box of chocolate" aspect of not knowing what your going to get, group-wise, is a con. But even if the group has a number of clique-y people who still act like they are in middle school (like one PP described), you can still have a great time.

 

[WeLoveABD]

We have been lucky so far in that the only tour that was cancelled on us was a river cruise for 2021 that we booked end of January 2020. You can imagine why it was.... I remember the horrible feeling as the PIF date came closer and closer without them admitting we would not be going, but they did eventually do the right thing and cancelled when we still had a little under a month to pay. At the time I was very mad that folk who cancelled of their own accord were not being offered refunds unless they were willing to play the game of chicken. I honestly don't know if they ever made it right or not. Most moved dates so its hard to say what would have been right anyway. That said, we ran into the same issue with a WDW reservation we had for 2020 and while we were able to recoup most of our money, we were not able to recover all of it. It is simply a risk when traveling, and is why many people decide to get trip insurance and do their best to keep upbeat and flexible. Airfare can be included in that if you book it on your own. Iceland is a very expensive place to visit, and depending on the time of year you plan to travel you may find hotels and such booked up. We visited the Westfjords in July last year and even with the luxury of time had a rough time finding affordable accommodations with availability that did not share a bathroom. If Disney cancels on you you'd get your money back, which maybe would lessen the blow... these are not cheap trips so anything OYO you need to put together may be far cheaper in the long run at least! Assuming its a go you really won't be investing much time or energy - that's a large part of why folk book these trips; someone else does that part.

Did you happen to ask why they felt ostracized..? It may not be what you think... We are also middle class and while I will freely admit the same, the reason is usually simple when it happens... we don't have kids. Most of the time it is one of the first things people ask out of habit and the number of times you could hear a pin drop when we say no... There are also always a few folk who compare notes about numbers and locations of trips, or talk about them ceaselessly even while ON a trip, but they are a minority and even then they're still lovely people. They just want to talk and we let them. I've yet to run into someone who I ever felt looked down their nose at me, or I couldn't have a nice chat with on the two ABD trips we've been on. We've done tours with other companies as well and I would say the same - everyone is there to have a good time. On an ABD, hey, they probably share a love for Disney too.

I agree-- starting with a shared interest (Disney fan, or interest in the parks or movies, D23 etc) helps with group dynamics, breaking the ice etc. And two guides helps a lot --they interact with everyone, and I think they are trained to spot anyone seeming to be on the outs. While we've done a number of ABDs (14, many with our kids, but some Adult exclusive), we've also traveled with Tauck (9) and recently with Trafalgar. We have an Odysseys Unlimited trip booked, too-- trying out different things. I have felt the "class" distinction only on Tauck-- recently on a Tauck trip I met another couple who were fans of Disney, so we hung out a bit-- and while doing so a woman in the group rolled her eyes and asked if we lived in Fantasyland. Another older woman in the group (retired Judge, with a small entourage) said she went to Disneyland, it was crowded, never again. Well, it is one thing to not like something (to each his or her own) but another thing to put someone down for their own likes. I now have a shirt that says "I live in Fantasyland " which I'll wear on my next ABD and probably a Tauck trip!

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

Having done both ABD tours( not in Iceland) and Iceland on my own, I would prefer Iceland on my own if possible. Iceland is a place that provides amazing natural sites and viewing. Some of my favorite moments in Iceland were just sitting and taking it all in for long moments, or wandering off down a trail to see what was at the end. ABD is group travel, and depending on if they are running behind schedule, you may end up with a shorter amount of time at a site than you want. It's just part of the deal. I would absolutely not want to feel rushed in Iceland. It's a place that just begs you to slow down.

Iceland has a great tour infrastructure, and you can hire multi-day guide companies to do private tours for a pretty reasonable price to specific areas that interest you. I've done a two day overnight tour to the south of Iceland as part of an "on my own" visit to Iceland and another all day guide to a remote area I wanted to see. It allowed the best of both worlds. I had a guide for part of the trip, and I was able to slow down and enjoy. Without a tour company you will need to be comfortable driving, its just the best way to see things in Iceland, but it's very similar to USA driving and shouldn't cause to much issue.

Also because getting between major areas in Iceland is generally a drive of several hours, I'd hamper to guess you'll be spending a decent amount of time on the bus in an ABD tour. It's something to consider.

I'm sure ABD offers a good Iceland tour, I just think for myself it's not a place I would want to do a group tour.

However you see Iceland, it is a spectacular place.

 

[sayhello]

Also because getting between major areas in Iceland is generally a drive of several hours, I'd hamper to guess you'll be spending a decent amount of time on the bus in an ABD tour. It's something to consider.

Personally, I'd rather spend that time relaxing on a luxury motorcoach, enjoying the gorgeous scenery, talking with fellow adventurers and playing trivia games, then spend that exact same amount of time driving by myself out in the middle of nowhere. But that's just me. It's not like you don't have to drive for several hours whichever way you travel. Or that there's a ton of places to stop along the way. Also something to consider.

Sayhello

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Of the ABDs we have done there has only been 1 family (the wife in particular, the hubby was a super nice guy) who was downright unpleasant. Ugh. Other than this person I can't recall anyone that was this blatantly rude and unpleasant. She was hard to avoid because she made sure that everyone knew when and why she was unhappy.

I have had issues with ABD and I've written about them here, so I won't go into detail, but I would absolutely recommend them if you are looking for a memorable and stress-free family vacation. When I reflect back on the trips, it is *always* the great times that I remember (heck I can't really remember what the issues with ABD I had are lol). I have soured on group travel in general, but that is because my kids are now 22 and 32 and I prefer doing what I want, when I want (I am a fiercely independent person). Having said that I am *finally* doing a Backroads cycling trip in New Zealand in February and am very much looking forward to it (I am not foolish enough to attempt a solo cycling trip in NZ). Thought about ABD, but didn't really want long bus rides and want to do an active vacation while I'm still able lol and the Backroads single supplement is only $1,200.

I'm thinking about either Portugal or Morocco ABDs with ds in 2025 (to use up a plethora of Disney GCs that I have accumulated). I want to add that both of my kids LOVED every single ABD we have taken.

 

[mathgeek]

I think you've gotten some great replies. Like @sayhello I'm also a solo traveler, so I will sometimes flit from group to group before I find someone I like to hang with for the trip.

Although I do see people buying more souvenirs and eating fancier OYO meals than I choose to, I've never felt like income was an issue on these trips (and I booked the lowest possible room category on the Galapagos with what had to be the smallest room - that single supplement is harsh).

As far as the number of trips, I don't see people flaunting it, especially now that the Insider pins are being sent in the pre-trip box. If the topic comes up people will typically ask which other trips you've done and ask which ones you liked best to help them plan for their next one. I do think it becomes a topic b/c the guides bring it up either at the Welcome dinner or at some logistical meeting early on in the trip, but I think they do it as a conversation starter.

I've only had one "bad" experience where the people I had been kind of hanging out with at the start of the trip started to not include me in their plans (after they had quite a night out on the town doing some "less than Disney" things). So I took the hint and found another family to hang out with. But one thing I do like about these trips is that there are usually enough other people to chat with or sit with at a meal, and most people have been very welcoming to include me.

 

[ajw28]

A few more points you might want to consider:

First, ABD adjusts the prices of trips based upon demand. Relative to the original announcement date, they increase the popular (high demand) destination/dates combos and sometimes offer discounts or other rebates for undersubscribed dates. There are no guarantees that they will drop any of the prices, but price drops can indicate that there are fewer adventures (than originally forecast) signed up for a particular departure date.

Second, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members often save up their points and use them to do ABD trips. I am not a DVC member, but I have been told DVC members pay no more than the announcement date prices (subject to availability) even if the demand pricing has caused the price to subsequently go up.

Lastly, if you are a member of Costco, you get a rebate if you book an ABD trip via the Costco travel department. When you call Costco travel, they record that you originally called via that line, but they connect you directly with the ABD vacationistas to do all of the trip planning. Once you take the trip, you get back a Costco gift card on the order of 3%-7% of the trip cost. On a trip like Iceland where the cost could be $9K per person (x2), that could mean getting a $1000 gift card for later purchases at Costco.

I know this is a few months old, but were you an executive member of Costco as well? If so, did you also get 2% of the trip back in your rewards check at the end of the year? We never got the trip included in our 2% rewards and every time we call them, we get a different answer.

 

[JRM815]

I know this is a few months old, but were you an executive member of Costco as well? If so, did you also get 2% of the trip back in your rewards check at the end of the year? We never got the trip included in our 2% rewards and every time we call them, we get a different answer.

Not an executive member. Just got the 7-8% cash back (in gift card form) a few weeks after completion of the trip.