Viva Italia on points

[Lizardbeth61]

Well, we just booked an Adventures By Disney trip to Italy and paid one fare with points and the other with a cash discount. We're very excited! It's a trip to celebrate DH's 50th birthday. We'd be even more excited if we had more info from people who had tried Adventures By Disney. As far as I know, there's only one trip report on this board and it was for a Western adventure several years ago. It sounded great, but I'm wondering if anyone on this board has tried ABD more recently and perhaps in Italy?

Anyone? Would love to hear more! Otherwise, we'll be among the first to post about it in October after we return!

 

[kimberh]

I haven't been to Italy through Disney but I was there last Nov. and you are going to LOVE your trip. I want to hear all about it and How Disney organizes the trip. Please keep us informed. Be safe and have so much fun!!!

 

[Lizardbeth61]

Will do. I can't wait to see Italy and if the Disney tour is as great as it sounds.

 

[mikayla73]

WOW, that sounds like a great trip! Be sure to post and tell us all about it! I have always wanted to go to Italy and the ABD sounds like a great way to do it. Somethings planned, but also free time as well.

Can I ask you a couple questions though?
How much was the cash discount? Was it a DVC discount? It includes everything except some meals and airfare right? What time if year are you going? I think the fall would be a great time to go, just after the busy summer season when the weather is still very nice.

 

[purpliequeen]

WOW. We definitely are thinking of touring Italy next summer with Globus or something. However, I didn't know Disney offers a tour that can be paid through points. That's so cool. I liked how you could use points and pay the rest at a reduced fare. That's awesome.

Please, please, please keep us updated. Have a great time.

 

[mikayla73]

WOW. We definitely are thinking of touring Italy next summer with Globus or something. However, I didn't know Disney offers a tour that can be paid through points. That's so cool. I liked how you could use points and pay the rest at a reduced fare. That's awesome.

Please, please, please keep us updated. Have a great time.

Here's the link for ABD.
http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/index

 

[Lizardbeth61]

Well, I don't think they have this all worked out completely because the times I've spoken with DVC and ABD, it seems a little like the left hand isn't sure what the right hand is doing all the time. Like I said, this is still NEW, but I called DVC because other than hearing rumblings about ABD, that's the first point of contact I actually had with ABD . . . through DVC. I think this spring we got a flyer talking about ABD's 1 paid adult/1-child free thing. It was offered on certain itineraries and had to be booked by 5/31 . . . I think.

Anyway, when I called DVC I was given a cash discount rate . . . it's about 10% off the price in the catalog and on line. Here's the catch . . . and this wasn't entirely clear to me when I was first trying to figure this all out . . . you have to use points for one reservation to get the cash discount for the rest of the party. I thought I could just book through DVC and pay cash for both and that's not the case.

It was 497 points for one of us and $3429.00 for the other. I know, I know. It's not cheap, but it is virtually all inclusive and if you check out the hotels at TripAdvisor, they look pretty swanky . . . and I'm a sucker for a nice hotel! I will definitely be posting ALL about it when I get back. However, I'm not sure where I should post . . . trip reports? DVC? There's no ABD forum . . .yet!

So, if you're DVC, you call Member Services and press the button for ABD info and they'll take your reservation and credit card info and then they connect you to ABD. EVERYONE we've talked to in connection with ABD has been effusively friendly.

However, there are a few flaws I see already. With Disney, you expect exceptional service and in terms of attitude it's there. However, DH and I are flying in a day early to try and be fresh for when the tour starts. Not only does ABD not care if you book air with them or not, they also can't make our hotel ressies for that extra day. That's something that virtually all of the tour companies out there will do for you. I thought it was surprising. So, I am now calling Rome to work out those details and am hoping that the hotel will offer me the discounted rate ABD is getting or our first night in Rome will be about $700.00! YOWSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like nice hotels, but I can't imagine one being worth THAT MUCH! That's about a 1/4 of our cash layout for the whole package! Wish me luck and maybe sprinkle me with some pixie dust!

Thanks for your enthusiasm and I'm thrilled to have an audience eager to hear about it. We leave 9/26 for the 9/28 tour!

 

[Lizardbeth61]

but we did get a box of goodies now that we're at 5 weeks an counting until we leave. They sent us a travel wallet, two luggage handles with lime green trim so they can recognize our baggage when changing hotels and two nice black backpacks with suede trim . . . all with the ABD logo on them. We also got a detailed itinerary and emergency contact numbers listed! That's an update!

 

[disney4me4ever]

What an awesome trip....I'm totally jealous (but in a nice way!). I got the information from ABD because I'm hoping that maybe we can go next Aug. for our 20th Anniversary. Do post a trip update when you get back, esp. on the hotels, as we sound like we're on the same wavelength as far as that goes.

 

[mikayla73]

Be sure to post in this thread where your TR ends up so we can find it! LOL

Thanks for the other info and have a great time!!

 

[Lizardbeth61]

I don't know what I liked the best . . . Italy, the people we travelled with or the way Disney handled every detail. It was the trip of a lifetime and I'm already planning my next "trip of lifetime." I'm hooked!!!!!

We had an opportunity to speak with at least one other couple who had toured with Globus among other tour companies, and by all comments, we made the best choice by going with Disney. I had never been to Europe before and so I didn't know if what I was getting was normal for a tour, but these people confirmed that we were getting the royal treatment.

Beyond the little goodies we got, we had lots of private tours and experiences that the normal tour goer doesn't get. We had a pasta class in a castle, a mask making class in Venice and the most amazing farewell dinner on a pirate ship . . . with just our group. It was really terrific.

More later!

 

[purpliequeen]

Wow!!! Glad you had an awesome time. How big was your group? Were there a lot of kids? The pirate ship and pasta making sounds amazing. Thanks for posting!

Raina

 

[allforpooh]

I really glad you had a great trip, we have been looking at several of the different options with ABD. Its great to hear you had exceptional service, did you get your first night in Rome worked out ok?

I am also interested in the group you went with and how everyone got along.

Did you feel like you did too much or was there enough down time?

We have never done a group tour, although we have gone on vacation with a group before but nothing as scheduled as these tours are.

Thanks,
Denise

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

It sounds like you had an awesome time. Happy to hear you made it home safely and are anxious to plan the next adventure!

 

[mikayla73]

I am glad you had a great time and I can't wait to hear all the details!

I am also glad that it sounds like it was worth the money. I may have to start trying to convience DH to go ... maybe for a 40th b-day or something. I have several years to work on him

 

[Lizardbeth61]

Enough down time? Hmmm. I figured a trip to Europe would involve a lot of touring time and little down time and I was right. It was very busy, but we did have blocks of time on our own. Two hours here or there or an evening to do as we pleased. In comparison to other tour companies, one of the best things Disney does is keep you several nights in the same hotel so you feel more settled. Some of the other companies have you in a different hotel EVERY night and I gather that's very exhausting. To tell you the truth, I was so excited to see everything that even when we did have time to chill, I wanted to go see MORE!

Our group was 22 or 24 . . . I never really counted, but it was a GREAT size. We had extra space when we were on a bus and it was easier to keep track of everyone. The best thing about the group, though, was the chemistry. We had a great bunch of people. We all got along great and some of us spent time together even when we didn't need to be together. Since it was Disney, I think it attracted the typical Disney lover. We were a diverse bunch, but all liked and expected the Disney quality we got and we were there to have fun, learn new things and have a great experience. It wasn't party city, retirement heaven or even kiddie city . . . just a group of people wanting a new experience in the care of an old friend.

Our group only had two children and they were the best behaved children I've ever seen. We went without our and I'm loathe to admit I doubt ours would have behaved as well. The guides tried to entertain them as well as us. I didn't get to talk to that family as much as some other people, but the kids didn't want the trip to end and the mother made an impassioned speech during our farewell dinner about how great the guides and our group had been to her children. If these kids loved Italy, I'm betting that ALL of the itineraries are great for children. We didn't take our and I don't regret that because it was very history and art intensive and while we expose ours to culture, I think it would have been a bit much for them. However, these kids did well, so I may be wrong about how ours would have responded. Still DH and I enjoyed our couple time!

On another note, I was pleased to have the priviledge of meeting webmaster John and Kevin Klose from the DIS. They were on the same adventure and we had lots of fun talking with them.

Did I miss any answers? Let me know.

I could talk about this ALL DAY!

 

[mikayla73]

I could talk about this ALL DAY!

Are you planning on writing a detailed report, no pressure because I know how time consuming they can be, but I would love to hear a detailed report

 

[Lizardbeth61]

. . . but I won't give away too many surprises!

Can I post that here or do I have to go to the trip report board?

 

[pouncingpluto]

. . . but I won't give away too many surprises!

Can I post that here or do I have to go to the trip report board?

Wow, looking forward to the trip report! We've thought about using ABD for someplace like Costa Rica, where we wouldn't be as comfortable exploring on our own as we are in European or North American destinations.

If you post it on the trip report board, could you post a link here?

Thanks!

 

[LSchrow]

It wasn't party city, retirement heaven or even kiddie city . . . just a group of people wanting a new experience in the care of an old friend.

nicely phrased

I could talk about this ALL DAY!

ohhhhhh, pretty-please-cherries-on-top, DO!!