Adventures By Disney

[Strmchsr]

So my wonderful 102 year old great aunt passed away a few months ago. She never married or had kids and she took me, as I was growing up, all over as her travel buddy. When she passed in her will she left an incredible gift - a trip to Europe for my family. She wanted me to take my boys and wife to experience all these great things she loved. So, we're doing Adventures By Disney Italy and then England/France tours back to back in June (with a side trip up into Austria and Germany on our own in between the two tours). I've never done an ABD tour. Does anyone have experience with it? I'm sure it will be wonderful, but was wondering what to expect. I'd appreciate any feedback.

[buzznwoodysmom]

So sorry for your loss. Your great aunt sounds like an amazing women.

I have no advice for you, but I wish you an amazing adventure!

[Hammer]

Chris, what a wonderful thing for your great aunt to bequeath to you!

I have not done an Adventures by Disney tour, but I think Nanci and some of the other Magical Journeys ladies have done these tours. As I think you saw last fall on Facebook, I went to Paris for 5 days, with a day trip to Reims to tour a couple of champagne houses. Not sure what tours are included when you are in Paris, but I recommend taking an evening Seine River cruise, even better if it is a dinner cruise. Admission to the Louvre is free on Sundays and is closed on Tuesdays.

What other stops do you have in France? If you go to Epernay/Reims, note that Moet and Chandon is not open for tours this year (they closed Nov 1, 2014) as the renovate the facility. We went G.H. Mumm and Pommery instead. Pommery's tasting room is very cool!

[Tink1]

I have done three ABD's - Viva Italia (Italy) , Southwest Splendors (Sedona, Grand Canyon and Moab, Utah) and Knights and Lights (London and Paris)

All 3 of these have changed since I have done them, but they were all amazing.

London and Paris was my first and I was hooked. Back then we saw Mary Poppins on London's West End which to me was the prefect place to see it. While the Tower of London, Westminster and all the other great sites were cool, and guides excellent, the best was something we did on our own. Now, I traveled with 2 teen boys so this may not be something that interests everyone - we did a Jack the Ripper Tour. There is a company called London Walks that does various walks. Jack the Ripper Tour takes place in the evening and is so unbelievably fantastic I would love to do it again. We were fortunate that night to have Donald Rumbelow "internationally recognized as the leading authority on Jack the Ripper." It was the really fantastic, but definitely not something that Disney could ever include.

Paris was Paris. Overwhelming and beautiful


The southwestern trip was again fantastic. While we could have done this without ABD, I wanted to see how a US one compared. For me, who does planning day in and day it, it was a welcome reprieve. TO be able to actually sit back and relax while someone else takes care of logistics is priceless.

Italy was never on my bucket list, but the opportunity arose and I went. I was actually very surprised how much I loved it. While I did not care for the location of the Rome hotel, Disney uses it because it is one of 4 hotels in Rome with a pool. I guess with kids that matters LOL. It was a lot of walking, more so I think than the other 2. There is just so much to see in Rome.

Florence you stay at a cute Tuscan Villa hotel whose Innkeeper is a hoot! Something different here was a Balsamic Vinegar tasting, wish I had bought the truffle balsamic but forgot. I also wished we spent more time right in Florence. I was intrigued by the stories of the Medici Family.

Venice- WOW, just WOW. My favorite of all Italy. There is no way to explain Venice. Hotel location great, food great, wandering ability great.

Oh, and we got lost at every stop in Italy, always ending up way off the beaten path and in regular neighborhoods. Found great restaurants that way, even if no one spoke English LOL

What questions do you have? I can tell you I never had a bad ABD guide and I would do another trip in a heartbeat. Do not even care where it goes

Nanci

[Strmchsr]

We'll be hitting Paris and Versailles in France. The nice thing about ABD is you get in without the tourists - private tours after hours, or going to places the general tourist can't go. Should be pretty nice. Thanks for the advice! We do have a couple of evenings on our own so we'll definitely be looking for things to do.

[Tink1]

Oh, in Paris I could have spent the entire day at Notre Dame. I cannot even begin to explain the hold it had on me. I am usually not a church person, but I had a feeling of peace here that I did not even get at the Vatican.

N

[Strmchsr]

What questions do you have? I can tell you I never had a bad ABD guide and I would do another trip in a heartbeat. Do not even care where it goes

Nanci

Thanks for the great feedback! My biggest question is on the "on your own" time. We had thought about doing a show or tour in London, but didn't know really how much time we'd have. I haven't seen a formal schedule for the tours yet just a "here's what you do/see each day."

And as a pastor I'm sure Notre Dame and all the cathedrals will be speaking straight to me!

[Tink1]

We'll be hitting Paris and Versailles in France. The nice thing about ABD is you get in without the tourists - private tours after hours, or going to places the general tourist can't go. Should be pretty nice. Thanks for the advice! We do have a couple of evenings on our own so we'll definitely be looking for things to do.

Wait until you see the looks you get when you walk past an entire block of people, the velvet opens and you walk through with the paddle of power! It feels great LOL

N

[Tink1]

Thanks for the great feedback! My biggest question is on the "on your own" time. We had thought about doing a show or tour in London, but didn't know really how much time we'd have. I haven't seen a formal schedule for the tours yet just a "here's what you do/see each day."

And as a pastor I'm sure Notre Dame and all the cathedrals will be speaking straight to me!

Google "London Walks". The great thing about them is you do not have to reserve in advance. You show up at whatever tube station is the meeting point and go. Halfway through the tour he took payment. Rumbelow did not even charge me for my teens since they were still students and this was his history class for them. Doubt they normally do that, but my 2 were the only kids there and asked him lots of intelligent questions while we walked.

Nanc

[Tink1]

Oh, and your guides will have suggestions as well for free time, dining etc.

N