When do you realistically think ABD will start operating again?

[disneytwincesses]

Yes we were on same trip confirmed cancelled. ABD doesn’t seem to know much about much. I’m not rebooking with them.
As for the vaccine IMO it’s useless, everyone in our house is triple vaccinated and we all had it during Christmas. Same as my unvaccinated friends it was just like having the flu for 2 days. Frustrating to say the least. Been on with DVD for over an hour now as they have no clue what to do. I’ll update if this call ever ends

If you had Covid at Christmas, you can get a 90 day super green pass previous covid infection exempt. You can get more information off of Italy's public health page on what letter you need from your doctor. The letter works like a USA Covid Vaccine card.

 

[disneytwincesses]

Yes we were on same trip confirmed cancelled. ABD doesn’t seem to know much about much. I’m not rebooking with them.
As for the vaccine IMO it’s useless, everyone in our house is triple vaccinated and we all had it during Christmas. Same as my unvaccinated friends it was just like having the flu for 2 days. Frustrating to say the least. Been on with DVD for over an hour now as they have no clue what to do. I’ll update if this call ever ends

Did they tell you on the phone it was cancelled, my TA said they are not saying anything to her and this may be the closing of the booking window.

 

[sayhello]

If ABD takes your trip off the website that is in April is that a sign it is probably going to be canceled? My TA has not heard anything.

This far out, it's not a good sign.

Sayhello

 

[abdgeek]

Add Spain to the list of countries that will require a booster shot to enter. Saw this article yesterday. If more members of the European Union start doing this, it may make it challenging for ABD to run these trips.

 

[Magnum_PI]

Add Spain to the list of countries that will require a booster shot to enter. Saw this article yesterday. If more members of the European Union start doing this, it may make it challenging for ABD to run these trips.

Requiring the booster isn't too wild, but the "must be boosted within 6 months" thing is - all things considered - a pretty narrow window when it comes to international travel. Will be interesting to see how things evolve...!

 

[disneytwincesses]

Requiring the booster isn't too wild, but the "must be boosted within 6 months" thing is - all things considered - a pretty narrow window when it comes to international travel. Will be interesting to see how things evolve...!

exactly. I know some folks going in May freaking out they got their booster in the fall and Would be outside the six month window. Right now no talks of more boosters. So Italy is bumping up against USA timeline guidelines that is a problem ABD has got to address

 

[Magnum_PI]

Requiring a booster or even to be vaccinated is totally “wild” and a joke as it does ZERO to stop transmission. Zero. Not only that it does nothing to stop a person from acquiring the Omicron variant. I’m ”triple” vaccinated yet got Covid a few weeks ago. Thankfully I’m a healthy retired 55 year old, I’ve had worse colds.
I spent over 2 hours on phone today with ABD and DVC. I asked when ABD realistically believes tours for Italy will restart the supervisor bluntly told me her opinion was “maybe mid-2023” as they are now only cancelling one week at a time to limit the onslaught of calls.

I strongly recommend against anyone booking with ABD for at least the next year plus.

Our perspectives are likely different as I am immunocompromised. You are entitled to feel how you feel, of course. I personally am grateful for access to vaccines that reduce the odds of being hospitalized by ~90%. I’m sincerely glad to hear you are healthy and that you recovered easily from your recent covid case, that’s wonderful news.

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t recommend booking with ABD right now either. Dealing with them for two years trying to go to Egypt has unfortunately been a cycle of poor communication and questionable customer service. We’re also very turned off by the possibility of a mandatory quarantine in a foreign country.

I hope you’re able to work with someone else to take the trip you want to take.

 

[JGM]

I too hope we can get things worked out. Thanks

 

[JGM]

I‘m obviously not anti-vaccine, hell after 10 years in the military being pumped with everything from anti-anthrax shots to malaria shots to who knows what shots this was nothing. Don’t see this ever ending, it’s going to take natural immunity till it becomes just another version of the flu. Remember the regular flu shot is only 40-60% effective which has been around since 1945.

I so agree with you that Disney, ABD, and DVC have handled this situation horribly. Constant conflicting answers, rules that are constantly changing for the benefit of Disney not the customer. I understand this is unprecedented but they have had 2 years now to find amicable solutions.
If you look through ABD’s website you will see very very few trips are full. How long can ABD remain in business?

 

[TravelJunkieHubby]

I would have expected ABD to pivot more towards domestic itineraries (in addition to New England) since there is still demand for guided travel and many are reluctant to travel internationally.

As an aside, it would be interesting to understand the economics of each itinerary as we all know this certainly impacts decision making.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I so agree with you that Disney, ABD, and DVC have handled this situation horribly. Constant conflicting answers, rules that are constantly changing for the benefit of Disney not the customer. I understand this is unprecedented but they have had 2 years now to find amicable solutions.
If you look through ABD’s website you will see very very few trips are full. How long can ABD remain in business?

Thank you for your service! I totally agree about how horribly Disney in general (and ABD in particular) has handled things. I still can't get over how they handled the trips at the beginning of the pandemic, but even beyond ABD, the Disney-wide changes have been horrible. We were at WDW a couple weeks ago for the races, and my husband came up with the perfect summary: if it makes the company money, COVID doesn't exist, but it if costs the company money, "sorry, COVID." They have let so much in customer service/experience slide due to COVID, but they'll pack in people in the parks (the racing corrals were wall to wall) with no regard to COVID protocols at all. Regarding ABD continuing to be in business, I was talking with DH about it wondering the same thing. I suspect the larger Disney co is propping them up?

 

[JGM]

You are so correct that Disney is milking Covid for all it’s worth. Covid is never going away, influenza (the flu) never went away. Matter of fact the flu has been with us for over a hundred years now and when it started it was far deadlier then Covid killing 50 million people.
Fact is Disney has used Covid to get away with things they never would have.

 

[Gemini1131]

exactly. I know some folks going in May freaking out they got their booster in the fall and Would be outside the six month window. Right now no talks of more boosters. So Italy is bumping up against USA timeline guidelines that is a problem ABD has got to address

I definitely fall in this category. Supposed to be on the may 31 trip but boosted back in October. Looks like I need to reach out to the goddaughter. This high school graduation present is slowly morphing into a college graduation present

 

[Magnum_PI]

I‘m obviously not anti-vaccine, hell after 10 years in the military being pumped with everything from anti-anthrax shots to malaria shots to who knows what shots this was nothing. Don’t see this ever ending, it’s going to take natural immunity till it becomes just another version of the flu. Remember the regular flu shot is only 40-60% effective which has been around since 1945.

I so agree with you that Disney, ABD, and DVC have handled this situation horribly. Constant conflicting answers, rules that are constantly changing for the benefit of Disney not the customer. I understand this is unprecedented but they have had 2 years now to find amicable solutions.
If you look through ABD’s website you will see very very few trips are full. How long can ABD remain in business?

Thank you for your service! I agree that it's absolutely *not* been a customer-centered experience. We expected better and are really disappointed. ABD has been nothing like our interactions with other Disney brands. Unfortunately this was our first experience with them, and it candidly hasn't been great. I'm just glad to be off the roller coaster with them at this point. Have you been able to find any alternatives for Italy?

 

[disneytwincesses]

I definitely fall in this category. Supposed to be on the may 31 trip but boosted back in October. Looks like I need to reach out to the goddaughter. This high school graduation present is slowly morphing into a college graduation present

Good luck with ABD. When I called them about it they told me they couldn’t tell me what they would do and we all signed the terms and agreement when we booked. I am still a little shocked that was the response I got.

 

[disneytwincesses]

I agree they need to do more domestic trips. My sister asked if they do a Hawaii ABD (I know about their Dvc resort) but I am talking like a serious island hoping and great adventure! I would love to do a civil war trail ABD as my kids are now really into history and we have had a blast going outdoors to all the national parks lately. A guide, jeeps, extra private museum tours at fancy hotels would be amazing.
I do parks and DCL. This would have been our first ABD. I will admit I am a little put off by the lack of communication and openness and flexibility I have gotten from other travels over the past two years.

 

[sayhello]

I agree they need to do more domestic trips. My sister asked if they do a Hawaii ABD (I know about their Dvc resort) but I am talking like a serious island hoping and great adventure! I would love to do a civil war trail ABD as my kids are now really into history and we have had a blast going outdoors to all the national parks lately. A guide, jeeps, extra private museum tours at fancy hotels would be amazing.
I do parks and DCL. This would have been our first ABD. I will admit I am a little put off by the lack of communication and openness and flexibility I have gotten from other travels over the past two years.

Hawaii was actually one of the first ABD itineraries offered back in 2005/2006. It did not do well, I was told because they really couldn't arrange anything that couldn't be arranged by the resorts they stayed at, so they stopped offering it. Hawaii is particularly easy to set up excursions and transportation with independent tour operators, either through your hotel/resort or directly with the operators. There are TONS of options.

ABD used to be MUCH better. It's really sad to see what's happened to them throughout the pandemic. Although, honestly, they were starting to have issues even before that. It's a shame, because the product is so totally fabulous, as are the Adventure Guides, but the folks making the decisions, not so much.

That said, I would love to see more domestic trips. Maybe they could redeem themselves that way, with trips that don't involve the rules of foreign countries.

Sayhello

 

[JGM]

I agree they need to do more domestic trips. My sister asked if they do a Hawaii ABD (I know about their Dvc resort) but I am talking like a serious island hoping and great adventure! I would love to do a civil war trail ABD as my kids are now really into history and we have had a blast going outdoors to all the national parks lately. A guide, jeeps, extra private museum tours at fancy hotels would be amazing.
I do parks and DCL. This would have been our first ABD. I will admit I am a little put off by the lack of communication and openness and flexibility I have gotten from other travels over the past two years.

ABD has 4 day Disneyland tour which is basically 2 days that costs just over $3,000. Hardly seems worth it.

Hawaii ABD is an incredible idea!
Hawaii was not easy to travel to last fall. You basically have to get “permission” to visit, if you’re not “up to date” on your vaccine you have a mandatory 5 day quarantine If you haven’t submitted a negative test from the preceding 72 hours. Children 5 and over are required to be vaccinated as per CDC guidelines Or a negative test. Only State I know of that has these measures.
DVC Aulani issues you a wrist ban proving you’re vaccinated without it you cannot eat at any on site restaurants. The resort doesn’t require masks though everywhere else did and they were super strict about it.

ABD is horrible at working with customers. If it wasn’t for this forum I wouldn’t have known my trip was cancelled

 

[abdgeek]

Well, my hopes for traveling to Bali this summer have been dashed. Delta recently canceled my flight, so I’m really bummed but understand. it was interesting that the part of the flight that got canceled was the leg from SYD to DPS, but the flights still show on Virgin Australia’s website. Given that countries are opening up, I’m surprised (but grateful) that the flight was canceled this early. It makes me wonder what the airlines know that we don’t. Good luck to everyone else hoping to travel internationally this summer.

 

[sayhello]

Well, my hopes for traveling to Bali this summer have been dashed. Delta recently canceled my flight, so I’m really bummed but understand. it was interesting that the part of the flight that got canceled was the leg from SYD to DPS, but the flights still show on Virgin Australia’s website. Given that countries are opening up, I’m surprised (but grateful) that the flight was canceled this early. It makes me wonder what the airlines know that we don’t. Good luck to everyone else hoping to travel internationally this summer.

Did Delta tell you why they cancelled the flight?

Sayhello