"Is ABD worth the $$$?" Discussion thread

Ok, I’ll state my opinion on these.

luxury tours:

Yes. Luxury tours sound like they’d be stuffy and require one to give up their sense of fun. No thanks.

budget tours

Yes. Budget tours sound like they are going to require me to give up depth of quality. No thanks.

fishing tours?

Yes. Fishing tours sound boring and I’d sooner find more entertainment staring at a popcorn ceiling and discover hidden designs in the patterns.

I just never understood group tours. Eventhough Wildchina and Imperaial tours loo really good for china.
disclosure I know one of the wildchina guides through linkedin
 
Last edited:
I just never understood group tours. Eventhough Wildchina and Imperaial tours loo really good for china.
disclosure I know one of the wildchina guides through linkedin
I'm curious what it is that you like about WildChina and Imperial tours that you see lacking in ABD? ABD has a PHENOMENAL China itinerary.

Sayhello
 
I just never understood group tours. Eventhough Wildchina and Imperaial tours loo really good for china.
disclosure I know one of the wildchina guides through linkedin

To be honest, I’m not sure there is much to understand. If you don’t mind traveling with others who want to visit the same places you do, perhaps make new friends in the process and prefer not to plan everything on your own then group tours are a great way to do just that.

Visiting a country like China isn’t something I would be comfortable planning on my own. I’d want someone else to handle all the logistics, not worry about the fact that I don’t speak the language or might commit a cultural faux pas and also be with others who share a language with me as well. My safety would be a concern and I would have 100% faith in Disney putting safety as a top priority.
 
Guy Rubin of Imperial Tours speaks Chinese . He can also give you time to Olympic athletes and to dine on the Great Wall.
 


Guy Rubin of Imperial Tours speaks Chinese . He can also give you time to Olympic athletes and to dine on the Great Wall.
One of our Adventure Guides, Joe, was born and grew up in Beijing. Totally speaks Chinese, and knows TONS about living and growing up in China. The same is true our local guides: Bruce from Hong Kong, Kun from Chengdu, Jenny from Guilin (AMAZING!) and Flo from Shanghai. So I don't think the fact that Guy Rubin of Imperial Tours speaks Chinese makes them superior to ABD. We did not have time with Olympic athletes, but we did meet some other folks (that is a surprise I won't spoil). We didn't dine on the Great Wall (interesting idea!) but we did dine and watch fireworks from Club 33 in Shanghai Disneyland.

So I'm still curious. What it is that you like about WildChina and Imperial tours that you see lacking in ABD?

Sayhello
 


I'm not sure what this has to do with the conversation. Could you please explain?

Sayhello
It to show while I am not paid or being asked to mention them. Its to show that I know her and possible confliction of interest. I am guess I am interested in 'local' country based providers. More than multinational companies. I also find that local is the best way to go with tour companies. and with both you can do private travel.
 
I think the previous poster would rather give their money to local independent guides.

I did two ABD trips. Each had a local guide. They were worth paying for through Disney. Not sure what the difference is between paying a local guide who is employed by Disney and paying one who isn't employed by Disney.
 
I think the previous poster would rather give their money to local independent guides.

I did two ABD trips. Each had a local guide. They were worth paying for through Disney. Not sure what the difference is between paying a local guide who is employed by Disney and paying one who isn't employed by Disney.
Quality control!
 
My family hired a tour guide from one of the independent Disney tour companies. Honestly was the best money I have spent. Generally The Disney guides are $400-$750 per hour most independent companies are around $150 per hour with a 6 hour minimum. We covered Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom in tow easy days with No lines and a private guide that was escorting us all around the parks. We found hidden mickeys, behind the scenes vip access and had no issues getting dining reservations at Cinderella's castle. With the wait times 120 minutes (2 hours) you actually see more of the park I think but it is debatable since you will see the whole park in half the time if you choose. Our guide was Mia and the site was www.magicviptours.com (not sure if that is allowed but they are great. We go each year and the lines were crazy this year so we tried it.
 
My family hired a tour guide from one of the independent Disney tour companies. Honestly was the best money I have spent. Generally The Disney guides are $400-$750 per hour most independent companies are around $150 per hour with a 6 hour minimum. We covered Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom in tow easy days with No lines and a private guide that was escorting us all around the parks. We found hidden mickeys, behind the scenes vip access and had no issues getting dining reservations at Cinderella's castle. With the wait times 120 minutes (2 hours) you actually see more of the park I think but it is debatable since you will see the whole park in half the time if you choose. Our guide was Mia and the site was www.magicviptours.com (not sure if that is allowed but they are great. We go each year and the lines were crazy this year so we tried it.

Hi @Floridadad11 and welcome to the DIS. I see this is your first post. I think you might be responding on the wrong thread or may be confused about the topic. ABD - Adventures by Disney is a group tour company for both domestic and international travel destinations. These vacation packages range from 4 days for destinations like Denmark, Barcelona, Copenhagen, New York and San Francisco to 10-12 days for destinations like Australia, South Africa, China and Vietnam. Currently, they do not have an ABD itinerary that includes Disney World. The Disney guides you are referring to work for the VIP tours in the park. ABD is a separate entity of the Disney entity from the Disney Parks much in the same way Disney Cruise line is separate. The VIP park guides are $400 - $750 per hour with a 6 hour minimum for up to 10 people to be included in that price. The ABD group travel ranges from about $2,000 - $9,500 per person depending on the itinerary. Hope that clears things up.
 
We went to Peru and our most difficult time was when we wondered off by ourselves. Threatened when we didn't purchase from a peddler and unable to communicate due to to language barrier. After that we stuck with our guides!
 
Guess who's back with another price comparison!

ABD Australia
August 12-22, 2018
$8,599 pp x2 = $17,198 for 2 people, 1 room

Hotels:

All hotels assume 1 Queen/King or 2 doubles, whichever is cheaper, and double occupancy.

Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, 3 nights = $727

Sails in the Desert, 1 night = $532

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort and Spa, 3 nights = $737

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, 3 nights (includes breakfast)= $733

Hotel Total = $2,729

Transportation:

Opal Card for Sydney public transport, $12.09 x2 people, 4 days = $96.72

Flight from Sydney to Ayers Rock, $329 x2 = $658

Rental car at Ayers Rock, one day plus fuel = $120

Flight to Cairns, $473 x2 = $946

Rental car in Cairns, 3 days, plus fuel = $270

Flight to Brisbane, $146 x2 = $292

Rental car at Brisbane airport, 3 days plus fuel = $100

Transportation Total = $2,362.72

Meals (all prices are for 2):

Day 1
Lunch on your own
Dinner at The View Restaurant: $100

Day 2
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch Cruise
Dinner on your own

Day 3
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch on your own
Dinner at Tobruk Sheep Farm: $50

Day 4
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch at Cultural Center: $30
Dinner at Ilkari Restaurant: $140

Day 5
Breakfast at hotel: $80
Lunch at Gecko's Cafe: $60
Dinner at Pullman Palm Cove: $100

Day 6
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch on boat
Dinner on your own

Day 7
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch on your own
Dinner at Hartley's Crocodile Adventure: Private dinner, $120 estimate

Day 8
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch and Dinner on your own

Day 9
Breakfast included
Lunch at Byron Bay Pub: $50
Dinner on your own

Day 10
Breakfast included
Lunch at local farm: $100
Farewell Dinner at hotel: $140

Day 11
Breakfast Included

Food Total = $1,330

Activities:

Day 1
Taronga Zoo: $67

Day 2
Lunch Cruise: $160
Opera House Tour: $266

Day 3
Tobruk Sheep Farm Tour: $110

Day 4
Tours and visitor center at the park are free

Day 5
More free walking tours at Kata Tjuta

Day 6
Great Barrier Reef Boat Tour and Snorkeling: $408

Day 7
Tjapukai Cultural Park and Skyrail: $224
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures: $63

Day 8
On your own in Gold Coast

Day 9
Byron Bay Kayaking: $112
Cape Byron Lighthouse: Free

Day 10
Mt. Tamborine Experience: $142

Day 11
N/A

Total for all activities: $1,512

Summary:
Lodging: $2,729
Transportation: $2,362.72
Meals: $1,330
Activities: $1,512

Grand Total: $7,933.72

Price difference: $9,264.28

Things included in ABD but not included in booking on your own:

2 Guides familiar with the area acting as your personal concierge
Luggage service at all hotels and the airport
Private transportation that does not involve driving yourself
Several private meals at the restaurants mentioned above
Separate activities for children
Dinner at The View Restaurant, Tobruk Sheep Farm and Hartley's Crocodile Adventure are booked as private events and not normally available to the general public.

Well, that's quite a steep difference between the ABD price and booking on your own. There are a few things that might justify that number. First is the internal flights. ABD is dealing with the airlines, handling luggage and seat assignments, and taking care of the transfers to hotels, so it will probably be the least stressful 3 flights possible. Next is the private transportation. I assumed using public transit in Sydney, which is very good and the hotel is pretty close to most of the activities anyway. Then I included rental cars in the other 3 locations, which ended up being surprisingly cheap. That being said, between the physical activities and flights this trip is exhausting. Having a luxury coach waiting to take you everywhere instead of having someone drive has tremendous value. Last are the private after-hours meals at the zoo, Sheep Farm, and Crocodile rescue. These are some of the exclusive experiences you get with ABD that you really can't replicate on your own. Your group basically gets the venue to themselves.

So for the value of the trip? If you only had 2 weeks to see Australia, then I don't think you can get much better than this, except maybe adding a pre-night in Sydney, because there isn't much time there. I would probably spend 3 weeks to justify the length of the flight from Michigan. Add a few more nights in each city to allow for more cultural activities and unguided hiking. However, that is more vacation time than most people have to spare, so I understand having to trim it down. So if that was the case, then I think it's actually worth the money as a once in a lifetime chance to see Australia. Getting to see the best of a massive, diverse country in 11 days is a huge challenge, and this trip really fits in a lot. That doesn't mean I'll be doing it any time soon, but in the future this trip is a real possibility if it's paired up with pre-nights in Sydney.
 
Guess who's back with another price comparison!

ABD Australia
August 12-22, 2018
$8,599 pp x2 = $17,198 for 2 people, 1 room

Hotels:

All hotels assume 1 Queen/King or 2 doubles, whichever is cheaper, and double occupancy.

Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, 3 nights = $727

Sails in the Desert, 1 night = $532

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort and Spa, 3 nights = $737

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, 3 nights (includes breakfast)= $733

Hotel Total = $2,729

Transportation:

Opal Card for Sydney public transport, $12.09 x2 people, 4 days = $96.72

Flight from Sydney to Ayers Rock, $329 x2 = $658

Rental car at Ayers Rock, one day plus fuel = $120

Flight to Cairns, $473 x2 = $946

Rental car in Cairns, 3 days, plus fuel = $270

Flight to Brisbane, $146 x2 = $292

Rental car at Brisbane airport, 3 days plus fuel = $100

Transportation Total = $2,362.72

Meals (all prices are for 2):

Day 1
Lunch on your own
Dinner at The View Restaurant: $100

Day 2
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch Cruise
Dinner on your own

Day 3
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch on your own
Dinner at Tobruk Sheep Farm: $50

Day 4
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch at Cultural Center: $30
Dinner at Ilkari Restaurant: $140

Day 5
Breakfast at hotel: $80
Lunch at Gecko's Cafe: $60
Dinner at Pullman Palm Cove: $100

Day 6
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch on boat
Dinner on your own

Day 7
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch on your own
Dinner at Hartley's Crocodile Adventure: Private dinner, $120 estimate

Day 8
Breakfast at hotel: $60
Lunch and Dinner on your own

Day 9
Breakfast included
Lunch at Byron Bay Pub: $50
Dinner on your own

Day 10
Breakfast included
Lunch at local farm: $100
Farewell Dinner at hotel: $140

Day 11
Breakfast Included

Food Total = $1,330

Activities:

Day 1
Taronga Zoo: $67

Day 2
Lunch Cruise: $160
Opera House Tour: $266

Day 3
Tobruk Sheep Farm Tour: $110

Day 4
Tours and visitor center at the park are free

Day 5
More free walking tours at Kata Tjuta

Day 6
Great Barrier Reef Boat Tour and Snorkeling: $408

Day 7
Tjapukai Cultural Park and Skyrail: $224
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures: $63

Day 8
On your own in Gold Coast

Day 9
Byron Bay Kayaking: $112
Cape Byron Lighthouse: Free

Day 10
Mt. Tamborine Experience: $142

Day 11
N/A

Total for all activities: $1,512

Summary:
Lodging: $2,729
Transportation: $2,362.72
Meals: $1,330
Activities: $1,512

Grand Total: $7,933.72

Price difference: $9,264.28

Things included in ABD but not included in booking on your own:

2 Guides familiar with the area acting as your personal concierge
Luggage service at all hotels and the airport
Private transportation that does not involve driving yourself
Several private meals at the restaurants mentioned above
Separate activities for children
Dinner at The View Restaurant, Tobruk Sheep Farm and Hartley's Crocodile Adventure are booked as private events and not normally available to the general public.

Well, that's quite a steep difference between the ABD price and booking on your own. There are a few things that might justify that number. First is the internal flights. ABD is dealing with the airlines, handling luggage and seat assignments, and taking care of the transfers to hotels, so it will probably be the least stressful 3 flights possible. Next is the private transportation. I assumed using public transit in Sydney, which is very good and the hotel is pretty close to most of the activities anyway. Then I included rental cars in the other 3 locations, which ended up being surprisingly cheap. That being said, between the physical activities and flights this trip is exhausting. Having a luxury coach waiting to take you everywhere instead of having someone drive has tremendous value. Last are the private after-hours meals at the zoo, Sheep Farm, and Crocodile rescue. These are some of the exclusive experiences you get with ABD that you really can't replicate on your own. Your group basically gets the venue to themselves.

So for the value of the trip? If you only had 2 weeks to see Australia, then I don't think you can get much better than this, except maybe adding a pre-night in Sydney, because there isn't much time there. I would probably spend 3 weeks to justify the length of the flight from Michigan. Add a few more nights in each city to allow for more cultural activities and unguided hiking. However, that is more vacation time than most people have to spare, so I understand having to trim it down. So if that was the case, then I think it's actually worth the money as a once in a lifetime chance to see Australia. Getting to see the best of a massive, diverse country in 11 days is a huge challenge, and this trip really fits in a lot. That doesn't mean I'll be doing it any time soon, but in the future this trip is a real possibility if it's paired up with pre-nights in Sydney.

These are so awesome and helpful! Thank you so much for pulling it all together. I can't imagine the time that took! Pretty big premium on this one!
 
Next is the private transportation. I assumed using public transit in Sydney, which is very good and the hotel is pretty close to most of the activities an

For the rental cars, gas is outrageously expensive in Oz. It is prohibitive. Also, managing the travel time would be a nightmare. For us, we would go back to Australia on our own in a heartbeat. It's really easy to navigate and people are so, so nice! But for the first time, I needed all the extra help I could get. It's huge and it's just really hard to know where to go. You don't necessarily need a premium product like ABD (although it was great) but unless you know exactly where you want to go and what you want to do, a tour is the way to go!

If we go back to New Zealand (I really want to!), I would plan that one on my own but you really need at least 10 days.
 
For the rental cars, gas is outrageously expensive in Oz. It is prohibitive. Also, managing the travel time would be a nightmare. For us, we would go back to Australia on our own in a heartbeat. It's really easy to navigate and people are so, so nice! But for the first time, I needed all the extra help I could get. It's huge and it's just really hard to know where to go. You don't necessarily need a premium product like ABD (although it was great) but unless you know exactly where you want to go and what you want to do, a tour is the way to go!

If we go back to New Zealand (I really want to!), I would plan that one on my own but you really need at least 10 days.

The timing is really why I see the value in this trip more than some of the others, where mass transit is less available and walking isn't an option. I can get around a European city on my own, but coordinating multiple flights and cars is a ton of work.

I'm curious, how did ABD handle luggage on the internal flights? Did you have to check your own luggage in at the airport, or did you just show up and they took care of check in and handed you the boarding pass? Because bypassing the check in process is another huge time saver.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!










Top