This blog isn’t just about trends and tech, it’s about interesting things. That’s why I’m mentioning Adventures by Disney, a brand new travel program created exclusively by Disney. If you love travel but the planning of it oft
en makes for a holiday that is a more stressful one, Adventures by Disney puts the imagination and quality of Disney into a planned-for-you, worry free travel adventure.
Launching officially in May, Adventures by Disney will take you on week long (or longer) adventures to places like Italy, Costa Rica, Oahu, London and Paris, or the Canadian Rockies. The trips have beautifully crafted itineraries to keep you busy with excitement. Costs include transportation once at the destination, accommodations, activities, and meals. And with that Disney touch, they also accommodate special dietary needs and even take care of gratuities and tips, one less worry for the traveler.
There are seven destinations in total with very nice itineraries. The prices are a bit costly per person but one does need to keep in mind it does include everything while there. The first departure is to Oahu & Kauai on 28 May. Will it be successful? The steep costs of this may only appeal to a few, maybe not even families, but certainly a different audience. Disney Institute was once a wonderful idea but the idea of learning or taking a class to learn something new on ones vacation didn’t go far for many. Adventures by Disney will definitely be quality. How could one resist an opportunity for a completely planned vacation adventure hosted by an expert guide?
2 Comments
24 Mar 2006 at 00:35
We were some of the first guinea-pigs who wasted our money on this ill-heeded Adventure by Disney to Hawaii last year. Yes, we were part of the “pilot” program and wish we had used our hard-earned money on pig foot than having taken this trip. In other words, we would have had more fun watching pigs eat, than what “Disney” offered us for our money.
First of all, none of the trips include airfare, so besides the high-prices for attending, add on air fare. But that’s nothing yet! We were picked up at the airport by a limousine, and thought “Wow, we’re in for the adventure of our lives!” Well, that was as exciting as it got! For the $7,000+ we wasted, we could have put a down payment on our own.
Once at the first hotel, we were greeted by a couple of Disney tour guides not more than 25 years old. What do they know about Hawaii? Nothing!
All of the activities were hosted on the hotel’s property!! Feed the sharks? 12″ long sharks located in the hotel’s lobby. Feed the stingray? Again, located in the hotel’s lobby. Swim? Hotel pool. Eat? Hotel restaurants, half of which you also have to pay for.
The first day consists of walking up Diamond Head. What fun on a 90 degree day full of humidity. Yes, Oahu does get humid. We chose to go shopping on our own, which was a much better choice and we met back up with the group later. Dinner that night? A party on the hotel’s lawn and dancers not more than 10 because it’s cheaper to hire young dancers than the older more mature Hawaiian dancers.
Luau? Forget it! That’s right, folks!! No luau! When asking about it, I was told by the 24-year old guide that “we want to keep everyone contained.” That was while walking to a boat where three other groups of parties were allowed to embark, too! What containment? What a joke!
While midnight family snorkeling was promised on the itinerary, what we got was only the brave adults could go out into the dark water’s of the hotel’s bay and the children could only play at the water’s edge in the sand. Why? No life-preserving equipment was offered to anyone — neither adults or children!
Petroglyph tour? Again, held on the hotel’s property. This walk was hot and hot. Did anyone have water? Yes, the Disney tour guide! Did he bring any water for us? No! Did he tell us we should bring water? No!
Surf lessons were held on a private beach, as promised, but for those of us who do not surf, what other activities were planned? Give up? Answer: None! Our only choice was to sit under a sun roof while the others went in the water. Could we swim? No way, the surf was too strong at the water’s edge for that. Our only choice was to sit under a sun roof. There was supposed to be scheduled a luau at this event, but there were only a few Hawaiian musicians who sat and sang a few songs. No food was provided! Only water (this time water was provided) or fruit juice. No luau! We were given little snack packs on the way to the van at the end of the day with a granola snack and some cookies. Is this Disney’s way? No way! But this is the way we were treated.
Movie under the stars was another event I was looking forward to, but it turned out to be another disaster. Which movie did they show? I’ll give you a hint: Lilo & Stitch I or Lilo & Stitch II? Well, they showed … drum beat … bet you guessed that being Disney that they flew out the new Lilo & Stitch II movie for all their guests. Well, you guessed wrong! It was the old movie that we have all seen 1,000x before. More than half the people went back to their rooms, even the Disney guides left!! Did they bring out any live Lilo & Stitch characters for the kids? No way!
That brings up another point! This is a Disney trip, right? Wouldn’t you expect to see some Disney characters for the kids — young and old? Well, not one — that’s right — not one live Disney character during the entire 7 day trip!! NOT ONE! As a matter of fact, the only time we saw anything that closely resembled a Mickey Mouse character was a watermelon carved into Mickey’s head. THAT’S IT!
There were a lot of Disney executives on our trip, so who did the guides cater to? They catered to the Disney executives because they would determine where they’re next job assignment was going to be. Those of us idiots who paid the BIG BUCKS for this trip, were treated like cattle. No, I think cattle were treated better.
I’ve been to Hawaii and to Disney many times in my life, and I thought, “Wow, Disney in Hawaii, what could possibly be better?” To me it was going to be the trip of a lifetime. Instead it was living hell. All of the activities were held on the hotel’s property. I never stay on a hotel property when in Hawaii or Florida or California!!
There was a trip on the Big Island of Hawaii to see the volcanoes. But there was no stop in the Visitor Center there. It wouldn’t have pulled the history of the volcanoes together for me if I hadn’t been there before. I felt Disney missed the boat here, too. They had a guide, but most of the time, he was at the front of the pack and by the time we got to what he was talking about, it lost it’s flavor.
I’ve been to Hawaii 18 other times and this by far was the #1 worse trip I’ve ever taken there. I don’t know how others felt about this trip, but there were so many disappointments for me on this trip, I feel it best to let others know what to expect, so you won’t be as disappointed as I was.
I wrote and called all of this in to Adventures by Disney when we returned from our trip. What was their response to my being so utterly disappointed? NOTHING! That’s right. No response. I paid for what I thought would be a fun trip, and when I responded that I was not happy, they have never called me back or wrote me back even one word.
So, don’t expect anything on this trip other than being in Hawaii with 20 year-old Disney guides who cater to their bosses, activities on the hotel grounds, and no Disney characters, so that you won’t be disappointed with the money you waste.
My suggestion: Don’t go! Plan a vacation at Disney World, Disney Land and your own trip to Hawaii with the money!! You’ll get three for the price of one, and have a great time too!
Most sincerely!!!
27 Mar 2006 at 08:47
After reading the above review, I wanted to give my perspective on the trip.
Maybe it was because it was my first trip to Hawaii and I didn’t have any expectations and therefore I LOVED EVERY MINUTE. I went with a friend and we left the kids at home. All we could say was “Could it get any better than this”. The accomodations were top notch. Almost everything was included.
The above poster forgot to mention the excursions that I remember most. The trip to Pearl Harbor was fabulous and on Kauai we did a 7 1/2 hour sight seeing cruise that was spectacular.
I enjoyed the trip so much I am taking my son back this summer. The benefits of the trip included not having to plan anything besides getting to Honolulu and not really having to spend much money besides an occasional meal. After that everything was taken care of for you.
I have priced a trip similar to the one that Disney provides and while the cost of the Disney trip is not much less it does take out the hassle of planning the trip, having to rent a car, worrying about what to do next. I find it well worth the money. I do realize that since there are just two of us it is easier to afford but I feel that it is worth every penny.
Thanks