What's next?

[Donalyn]

I know they just introduced Japan and the Seine River Cruise. And Iceland is relatively new. But what do you think will be the next new ABD destination?

 

[EllinK]

NZ, Prague, Croatia?

Not sure if ABD is thinking of going to these places but I am!

 

[CrazyZeus1]

Croatia is high on our wish list too! I also wish they would develop an Antarctica trip and then they'd have a presence on all 7 continents! They could even partner with an existing outfit (similar to the Galapagos/Highlands trip where we are on the Santa Cruz II but Disney has tweaked our own adventure). That would be my dream... because once we do Australia & South Africa, I need SOMEBODY to take us to Antarctica and I'd prefer to go with ABD!

 

[Calfan]

NZ, Prague, Croatia?

Not sure if ABD is thinking of going to these places but I am!

Would definitely like to see New Zealand and Croatia. Both are on my (seemingly infinitely long) list. ABD technically already does Prague with the Central Europe/Austria, Germany & Czech Republic trip), but that ABD gives pretty short shrift to Prague (we spent 4 pre-days there and could easily have spent a few more -- we plan to go back at some point), so a more extensive Prague and Czech Republic trip would be great to see as well.

 

[Donalyn]

Great ideas. I was thinking of Morocco.

(My list is very long too!)

 

[EllinK]

\ I also wish they would develop an Antarctica trip and then they'd have a presence on all 7 continents!

This is my absolute dream trip!

 

[kristilew]

I’d love to see a Patagonia trip. Currently looking at Tauck and Austin trips for this.

 

[aggiedog]

My first thought was Croatia.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Morocco, New Zealand and Croatia are all on our to do list...

 

[carpenta]

I suspect that Disney will “spy” on their competitors, run the numbers and select a new trip that is both popular as well as financially rewardingly.

 

[EllinK]

I suspect that Disney will “spy” on their competitors, run the numbers and select a new trip that is both popular as well as financially rewardingly.

That sounds right. Any thoughts on what competitor tours are selling out?

 

[sayhello]

I've heard Thailand is an up and coming travel spot.

Sayhello

 

[CrazyZeus1]

Our dream trip is an ABD that hits all the Disney parks in the world.... just park hopping together all over the world. Logistically I'm sure it's impossible to fit within the time frame limits ABD prefers (like, a 3 week trip is probably a harder sell) but we would sign up in a nanosecond!

 

[Calfan]

I’d love to see a Patagonia trip. Currently looking at Tauck and Austin trips for this.

kristilew, how old are your kids? If they are old enough to hike, I'd strongly encourage you to look at an active trip for Patagonia. I think you really need to be able to hike to get some of the most spectacular "wow" scenery views.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I suspect that Disney will “spy” on their competitors, run the numbers and select a new trip that is both popular as well as financially rewardingly.

The only family tours Tauck or Abercrombie offers that ABD doesn't is Tanzania and Egypt. Egypt obviously isn't going to happen. I would love to see Tanzania. I kind of wonder why ABD isn't going there yet. It seems to be a commonly offered destination elsewhere. South Africa seems to have sold well in the past for ABD.

 

[RebelHawk]

I suspect that Disney will “spy” on their competitors, run the numbers and select a new trip that is both popular as well as financially rewardingly.

We had a WDW survey a few months back and one of the questions branched off into ABD territory. It expanded to include discussing competing brands and which we had heard of and have considered. ABD certainly is keeping an eye on their competitors.

 

[kristilew]

kristilew, how old are your kids? If they are old enough to hike, I'd strongly encourage you to look at an active trip for Patagonia. I think you really need to be able to hike to get some of the most spectacular "wow" scenery views.

I agree! The Tauck one we are looking at has quite a bit of hiking. Our only kid is about to turn 21 (how did THAT happen?!) so we are beginning to look at more trips for just DH and me. Schedules are getting more difficult to coordinate, and traveling 3 to a room is less comfortable than ever.

I also like the winery component of many Patagonia trips. The only thing I’m a bit down on is the rustic accommodations that pop up in a few places. This princess likes her comfort!

You make me realize I should re-research this area and widen my options to include Nat Geo and some of the other hiking oriented companies. Thank you!

 

[sayhello]

I agree! The Tauck one we are looking at has quite a bit of hiking. Our only kid is about to turn 21 (how did THAT happen?!) so we are beginning to look at more trips for just DH and me. Schedules are getting more difficult to coordinate, and traveling 3 to a room is less comfortable than ever.

I also like the winery component of many Patagonia trips. The only thing I’m a bit down on is the rustic accommodations that pop up in a few places. This princess likes her comfort!

You make me realize I should re-research this area and widen my options to include Nat Geo and some of the other hiking oriented companies. Thank you!

Just be sure you check out which of these active trips require you to carry at least a portion of your belongings in your backpack with you! I don't mind carrying a small amount of stuff with me, but *this* Princess expects my belongings to meet me in the next hotel, not travel along on my back! (Been there, done that, long since gave it up!!!)

Sayhello

 

[Calfan]

The only family tours Tauck or Abercrombie offers that ABD doesn't is Tanzania and Egypt. Egypt obviously isn't going to happen. I would love to see Tanzania. I kind of wonder why ABD isn't going there yet. It seems to be a commonly offered destination elsewhere. South Africa seems to have sold well in the past for ABD.

I would also love to see Tanzania, and I share you puzzlement as to why ABD doesn't offer a Tanzania itinerary. I totally thought we'd be going to Tanzania next summer until I shifted gears to Botswana, but Tanzania is still very much on the list. I'm not expecting my love affair with Africa to end after Botswana, lol.

I agree! The Tauck one we are looking at has quite a bit of hiking. Our only kid is about to turn 21 (how did THAT happen?!) so we are beginning to look at more trips for just DH and me. Schedules are getting more difficult to coordinate, and traveling 3 to a room is less comfortable than ever.

I also like the winery component of many Patagonia trips. The only thing I’m a bit down on is the rustic accommodations that pop up in a few places. This princess likes her comfort!

You make me realize I should re-research this area and widen my options to include Nat Geo and some of the other hiking oriented companies. Thank you!

Just be sure you check out which of these active trips require you to carry at least a portion of your belongings in your backpack with you! I don't mind carrying a small amount of stuff with me, but *this* Princess expects my belongings to meet me in the next hotel, not travel along on my back! (Been there, done that, long since gave it up!!!)

Sayhello

I definitely encourage you to take a look at Nat Geo, especially because it sounds like it will either be just you and your DH or three adults given the age of your "kid." Nat Geo has something like five Patagonia trips to choose from. CaliforniaGirl09 and I did their Patagonia Hiking Adventure last November and absolutely loved it. It was strenuous, but so amazing and so worth the effort to get to some of those stunning sites. I definitely hear you on rustic accommodations. I would put CaliforniaGirl and me squarely in the princess camp as well. The Nat Geo hiking trip includes two nights at refugios, which caused us a fair amount of angst heading into the trip. I will say our angst was a bit justified for the first night, which was very much a hostel environment. We did have a private room with bunks, but it was very bare bones and the bathroom situation was not ideal, to say the least. But staying at the refugios is really the only way to combine a couple of point-to-point hiking days in Torres del Paine, and we survived. The second refugio was much much better. We actually stayed in charming cabins (doubles), and the common areas of the second refugio were much more on the charming versus hostel side as well. Still a common bathroom, but again, we survived. The rest of the accommodations were not rustic at all. And, to address sayhello's concern, we never had to carry anything more than our hiking day packs. We did have to pack for the two refugio nights into fairly small stuff sacks while our main luggage went elsewhere, but even the stuff sacks were transported for us by porters who hiked with them. My DH and I are actually looking into one of Nat Geo's small ship trips in Patagonia for a few years down the road, since he opted to skip the Patagonia hiking adventure and now seems to regret it.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

The only family tours Tauck or Abercrombie offers that ABD doesn't is Tanzania and Egypt. Egypt obviously isn't going to happen. I would love to see Tanzania. I kind of wonder why ABD isn't going there yet. It seems to be a commonly offered destination elsewhere. South Africa seems to have sold well in the past for ABD.

I would also love to see Tanzania, and I share you puzzlement as to why ABD doesn't offer a Tanzania itinerary. I totally thought we'd be going to Tanzania next summer until I shifted gears to Botswana, but Tanzania is still very much on the list. I'm not expecting my love affair with Africa to end after Botswana, lol.

I am taking my dd to Rwanda (Volcanoes NP and Kigali), Tanzania and possibly South Africa (specifically Londolozi) in June, 2020. I am very specific about where I want to stay: Bisate in Rwanda (or possibly the soon-to-open Singita Kwitonda) for 4 nights to gorilla trek (2 treks with a day in between to recover), Singita Saskawa and Mara River Camp in Tanzania and Londolozi for 5 nights. I would not be able to sign up for a tour since my wants are very specific.

Ideally we would go Africa every year, but my dd really wants to go to Japan next year. So we will take a year off.

WRT to ABD in Antarctica, they would have to find a cruise partner with expedition ships. The other barrier is the number of ships / tourists in Antarctica is very strictly limited to protect the pristine environment. I doubt they would allow another tour company, so ABD would have to partner with an established company / business (maybe not so easy to do?).

I am not sure where ABD will go next. My dd was asking about doing the Danube ABD either next year or the year after (maybe before we head to Africa). She really enjoyed the Rhine one (me, not so much).