There were small things that were pushing us to start looking at other companies but there were 2 major incidents on our most recent trip that put the final nails in the ABD coffin and buried it six feet under.
While I've also had issues with the areas that were specifically within the scope of an ABD tour, and have not been quiet about them, those were things like the airport pickup taking us to the wrong place in a country where we did not speak the language, and simply dropping us many miles from where we were supposed to be (Peru) , or the key portion of a program we came on the trip to see simply dropped with no explanation (Hayden Valley 1/2 day tour in Winter Wonderland), the problems were rare and pale in comparison to the things ABD does right, again, within the scope of a trip. Having now travelled with lots of other tour companies as well, it is my family's opinion that the pluses of ABD overall far outweigh the individual issues we have seen with us and others. I didn't think I would ever get over missing the Hayden Valley tour at Yellowstone. I travelled back with another tour company for a similar tour, and they only had one guide. Our Hayden Valley tour there was cut short when one of our fellow guests got sick. With ABD, I believe that when that happens, the tour continues with one guide for the moment. I guess my seeing the Hayden Valley in Yellowstone in winter was just not to be! So I got over my disappointment and will return one day on my own.
People that complain that Disney did not assist them in issues arising with transportation before a trip starts need to take a bit of personal responsibility. Disney recommends, and many of us pay a lot of money for it, trip insurance on those things outside of the scope of the Disney trip program. That is specifically what that is supposed to do. I really thank this board community for their postings as I would NEVER have found or gotten the broad insurance coverage I feel I needed without the help, recommendations and stories from the poster's to this board. I recall one poster who was quarantined upon her arrival in China - again, there is only so much Disney can do to assist on things outside the scope of their program, but they generally go far above what most other travel companies offer, and I believe they did so in that case too. I've been on a trip that cost nearly x3 what ABD provides, and those trips do provide more assistance than ABD for many things, but you are absolutely paying for it, but more importantly, it is clear within the scope of the travel agreement what they are providing!
I used to bristle a little as I read the detailed travel agreement ABD puts out and requires guests to sign as a condition of accepting their reservation, but now I also see why they do it. There is always a level of personal responsibility for people. Some Americans more and more don't seem to get that.
ABD makes clear that they cannot "take care" of an individual that requires constant assistance, and that individual should probably have a full time nanny to assist them, whether the limitations are physical or otherwise, if that level of care is demanded.
I have always understood that this board is generally for those that are taking or looking at a trip, and the sharing of good and bad experiences, so others can learn and work within the terrific community sharing that the Disboards has become for trips and adventures. It is invaluable. I travelled with another tour company based on this specific blog's comments. They were very good; but the "sparkle" was not quite there for us. But I don't think when this board's sponsor,
Dreams Unlimited, (An amazing travel company BTW) set this blog up, they intended it to be a bashing blog.
There is adventure out there! The glass is indeed at least half full.
