Alli Talley

March 2, 2020

Is Adventures By Disney Worth The Cost? And Other FAQs From Our Trip

Alli Talley

March 2, 2020

Since coming home from our dream babymoon trip with Adventures By Disney, we’ve gotten quite a few questions about our experience and the logistics of our tour. From booking flights to age demographics to the food - we’ve gotten it all! So we figured what better way to answer all of your questions and share the highlights, than with a blog! This 10 day trip was an experience we’ll never forget, and we’re honestly still processing it. (If we sound too “gush-y” or overdramatic, it’s because we loved our experience THAT MUCH. Bear with us.)

What trip were you on, and what was the itinerary?

We were on the Adventures by Disney (ABD) Seine River Cruise, which consisted of ten adventure-filled (and absolutely pampering) days! We had a couple of nights in Paris, then boarded AmaWaterways’ Amalyra river cruise ship, which took us to Les Andelys, Le Havre (two nights), Rouen, Vernon, Giverny, and Conflans.

We toured a castle dating back to 1196, walked in the footsteps of Van Gogh, rode original WWII military vehicles to Omaha Beach, climbed the jaw-dropping cliffs of Étretat, ate our weight in croissants, spent a morning at Monet’s house and gardens, dined on multiple course meals with new friends, had movie nights and dance parties, and SO much more. The itinerary was busy, but meticulously planned and executed. Not once did we ever think “I’m bored”, or “I wish we’d done…”, the days were truly perfect in every way. (But more on that later.)

Enjoying Monet’s House and all the color

Would you recommend this trip to honeymooners or to people that have never been to Europe?

Yes and yes. This ABD itinerary in particular is amazing for honeymooners (we had a few on our ship) because not only is it a hassle-free and luxurious way to see France, but it’s also adult-only! And while the ABD team works hard to curate the daily itineraries, most days include optional tours and plenty of “On Your Own” time. Meaning your days can be as jam-packed or relaxing as you want them to be. Not to mention, what’s more romantic than a river cruise through France?

For first-time Europe travelers, we couldn’t recommend a ABD trip enough. Having now done two (Ireland as well), we can confidently say that it’s one of the best and easiest ways to experience a potentially overwhelming destination. From the moment you step off the plane the ABD team takes care of you, ensuring that you’re never lost, confused, stressed, or without guidance. We promise that after seeing Europe with the help of ABD guides, you’ll have the confidence and know-how to tackle Europe travel on your own.

It’s easy to find romance on an ABD trips

Does this ABD trip have a family option too?

Yes! There are four family-friendly Seine River Cruise tours happening in 2020. See rates and dates here.

What’s included in a ABD trip?

From luxurious hotel accommodations, to the attractions, transportation, private tours, VIP treatment and all of the little details and logistics that come with travel, you won’t have to lift a finger or open your wallet. Most meals are covered (and believe us when we say we could do a full blog post just on the food we were served during our ABD adventures), while guests typically have a few “On Your Own” dining options for enjoying local restaurants and cafes.

Hot towels and tea when you return from a day in port. The best!

How many guests were on board?

Because this ABD trip was a river cruise, it allowed for a bigger group. There were about 90 guests, whereas our Ireland adventure had about 30 guests. Because of the larger size, we had more Adventure Guides - eight to be exact! Speaking of which…

What’s an Adventure Guide?

Think of them as a fusion of a personal concierge and your new BFF. Adventure Guides are not only experts on the regions that you’re touring, they’re also intriguing storytellers, mesmerizing entertainers, slapstick comedians, and more. Many ABD trips have two Adventure Guides, while the larger river cruise itineraries have more. They’re one of our favorite things about ABD, and should we ever have a career shift, we’d probably apply. When we think about the “Disney Difference”, we immediately think of Adventure Guides. Which leads us to...

What’s the “Disney Difference”?

(Great question.) Until you travel with ABD and experience it first hand, it might be hard to explain - but we’ll do our best. The Disney Difference is what makes ABD stand out from every other tour company or organization, and is exactly why they will always be our go-to for group trips and adventures.

Not only are the itineraries top-notch in every way, they include insider perks and “backstage passes” to iconic museums and events. We’re not sure how Disney is able to pull such strings, but we’re constantly impressed and amazed at the VIP experience ABD is able to provide for their guests. There’s also a level of authenticity that ABD brings that we so admire and appreciate - guests are able to fully immerse themselves in the different cultures and surroundings that they’re in. That kind of experience is extremely rare in group travel.

Traveling by authentic WWII amphibious vehicles to Omaha Beach - the “Disney Difference”

A backstage pass at the Louvre… yes, please!

How was the food? Do they have vegan/gf options?

Like we said earlier, we could dedicate a whole blog to the food we ate during our ten-day tour, and we’re not opposed to the idea, but for now we’ll keep it (relatively) short.

We never had a bad meal. From the extensive and decadent breakfast buffets in the mornings, to cozy lunches in location or on the ship, to the extravagant dinners and mid-day snacks, we were eating constantly. The ABD team knows that the culinary experience is one of the most important elements when it comes to travel, so they take dining very seriously.

They take great note of one’s dietary restrictions, whatever that may be, and make sure that they always have plenty of options. Many of our friends onboard were vegan and gluten free, and they raved about the specials that the chefs would create especially for them!

We had access to plenty of yummy carbs :)

It’s always happy hour back on the ship!

Is ABD worth the cost?

Now, this is the golden question - and one that we got multiple times a day on our Instagram through our comments and DM’s. We realize that ABD trips are not cheap. But when you factor in the accommodations, meals, in-country transportation, and attractions plus the VIP service, concierge-style attentiveness, and the “Disney Difference” - we actually think ABD is a great value! And we can 1,000% guarantee that after you’ve traveled with ABD, you would agree. And you’d most definitely be hooked.

VIP service, new friends, delicious food, and all the sights… ABD is worth it to us!

It might not be the kind of trip that you and your family or significant other can take multiple times a year, but it IS the kind of trip that is worth saving up for. And if the specific itinerary that we took doesn’t appeal to you or is simply not doable, they have nearly countless tour options world-wide, from exploring the Amazon to the Canadian Rockies! They even have 2-5 day “Escapes” in destinations such as Amsterdam and Boston, which are a perfect (and more affordable) way to see if ABD travel is right for you.

Any other questions about our experience with ABD? Leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to answer!

Alli Talley

February 27, 2020

Disney, Cruising, Europe

Land or Water? The Differences Between Our Adventures By Disney River Cruise and Ireland Adventure

Alli Talley

February 27, 2020

Disney, Cruising, Europe

Having completed two very different Adventures By Disney tours, we are now self-acclaimed ABD experts. Ask us anything about ABD, and chances are we have an answer. (Check out our FAQ’s blog here.)

What we love about the two itineraries that we’ve done, Ireland and the Seine River Cruise, is how contrasting they are. From the amount of guests, to the modes of transportation, to adult only vs. kid friendly, we now have a solid grasp of what these different ABD trips entail. We loved and appreciated both itineraries for a multitude of reasons, so why not break it down a little? Here are the main differences between both itineraries, and why we’d do both of them again in a heartbeat. (ABD, please take us everywhere!)

ADVENTURING ON LAND VS. BY BOAT

One of the biggest differences between our Ireland trip with ABD and our Seine River Cruise was the mode of transportation. We spent eight days traveling through Ireland on a (very luxurious and plush) motorcoach. While we didn’t change hotels every night, we did move to different locations every couple of days. Typically we don’t enjoy moving around that much, but on this trip we didn’t mind one bit. The ABD team makes travel so easy and effortless, we never even had to move our bags, they did everything for us. We also weren’t sure how we would enjoy traveling by motorcoach, but we actually loved it. The big windows, the thoughtful and fascinating commentary by our Adventure Guides, the cozy seats… it ended up being a perfect way to see and experience the rolling green hills of Ireland.

Now for our Seine River Cruise, we spent eight days sightseeing through France on the breathtakingly chic AMAWaterways’ Amalyra. While we did hop on a handful of motor coaches during our river cruise, the majority of our travel was done by boat. This was our first time on a river cruise, and it definitely won’t be our last. The ride was incredibly smooth (Bobby never even thought about wearing his seasick bands or taking nausea meds!), and the views from our stateroom were ever-changing and consistently stunning. We loved that while we woke up to a new destination almost daily, we never had to pack/unpack. We always had our same charming room to come home to, and having the same “homebase” for eight days was really quite a treat.

Luxury motor coach with amazing guides is a great way to travel

On of our favorite spots in Ireland - Temple Bar!

We were obsessed with the rooftop spa aboard the Amalyra

SMALL GROUP VS. LARGE GROUP

Because of limited space on motor coaches and ample space on a river cruise, our trip along the Seine was over double the amount of guests than our Ireland adventure (90 guests on the cruise, 30 guests on the motorcoach).

Since the Ireland trip was significantly smaller, we became very close with most of the guests. Since we all did almost everything together, bonding was quick and easy. It was rare that our group was separated or split up, so it truly felt like one big family. Saying goodbye at the end of the trip was emotional - how were we supposed to travel without each other?! If you’re looking for a more intimate experience, the ABD land trips are the way to go.

On the Seine River Cruise, we never felt like there were “too many people”. If anything, we were surprised at how easy it was to make friends and get to know the other passengers. While we obviously couldn’t become best friends with everyone on board, by the end of our trip we felt like we knew a good majority of the guests. We’d take turns sitting with different familiar faces at dinner, and find ourselves chit-chatting with other couples on the many excursions and activities. There was always someone new to talk to - which we loved.

Regardless of the tour size, you’re bound to make new friends!

FAMILY TOURS VS. ADULT ONLY

One thing that we really love and appreciate about ABD itineraries is how well they cater them for families and for adults. The Adventure Guides are pros at engaging and entertaining guests of ALL ages - which is quite a talent! In Ireland, we had kids in our group from ages four to twelve, and all of them had the time of their lives. We loved seeing history come to life for them, and seeing their faces light up with each new location. From chocolate making classes to scavenger hunts around ancient ruins, the “Junior Adventurers” were never bored, and the parents always seemed very thankful for the extra childcare! ;)

We were really curious to see how an Adult-Only itinerary varies from a family trip (especially since our adult-only days are growing increasingly numbered). We were pleased to find out that the adult focused trips are just as fun as ones with families, but in a different kind of way. Walking tours usually included some sort of wine or liquor tasting, evenings typically had a social hour, and dinners felt a tad more refined and elegant. If you don’t have kids or are looking for a getaway without your littles in tow, the ABD adult-only trips are the way to go.

We’ll be back with our little ones some day!

TWO ADVENTURE GUIDES VS. EIGHT ADVENTURE GUIDE

The other big difference between our two ABD trips is the amount of Adventure Guides we had. Since Ireland was a smaller group, we had two Adventure Guides (we miss you Landon and Stephen!) with us the entirety of the trip. We got to know both of them extremely well, and we still find ourselves referencing their jokes or silly quirks on the daily. By the end of the trip, we felt weird traveling without them. Who was going to tell us the historic facts, or feed us the “snack of the day?” It was a grieving process for sure…

Having had such a special bond with the two of them, we were a little uneasy by the dynamics of having so many Adventure Guides on our Seine River Cruise. How were we ever going to click with them like we did with Landon and Stephen?! Well friends, spoiler alert, we clicked. With all of them. Having eight Adventure Guides was actually incredible, as we got to know all of them individually throughout the trip. We learned that Michaela has a witty response for EVERYTHING, that Veronika has a full-circle life story that will make you cry, that Hugo would eat creme brulee for the rest of his life if he could, that Clement knows the absolute best places to go in Rouen… need we continue? The Adventure Guides each brought something unique to the group that had us excited for our daily debriefs. Consistent with our guides from our land adventure (and we now believe all ABD adventures), they all had such energetic and fun personalities, and we really can’t imagine the trip without each one of them.

We can’t stress enough how amazing the Adventure Guides are!

BREAKING IT ALL DOWN…

Ultimately, both trips solidified our love (and obsession) with Adventures By Disney. And if we’re being honest, we’re pretty sure we can’t do an accurate ABD review until we’ve gone on ALL the tours. So, hit us up in about ten years, after we’ve traveled with the ABD family to Egypt, Austria, Peru, China, South Africa, Iceland, Australia, Vietnam, Spain….

Alli Talley

September 10, 2018

Ireland, Europe, Disney

Touring Ireland with Adventures by Disney - Day by Day

Alli Talley

September 10, 2018

Ireland, Europe, Disney

We’ve had SO many questions about our trip to Ireland with Adventures By Disney. Questions about how the tour works, what you do, where you go, how you get there, what’s the food like, does Mickey Mouse make a surprise appearance… you get the picture. We figure what would be most helpful is to give you a clear snapshot of our Ireland Itinerary, day by day. Be forewarned: this blog is long. There’s just too much to share!! So grab an Irish coffee, turn on some celtic tunes, and let’s get started!

DAY ONE: ARRIVE IN DUBLIN

We arrived at the Dublin airport to an Adventures By Disney representative, holding a bright sign with our names in bold (not sure why we are always so thrilled by that, but something about it makes us feel important). We were instantly whisked away to our hotel, The Westin, located right in the center of town. It was beautiful. Out of the corner of our eyes we saw two jolly looking men, sitting at a colorful table filled with props, toys, and gadgets. Judging by the smiles on their faces and the disney pins on their shirts, we knew they're our guides.

Meet Stephen, an Irish local, who’s had a lengthy career of giving luxury tours of the Emerald Isle. He’s smart, witty, obsessed with Irish culture, and is a walking, breathing, wealth of information (If you ever meet him, have Stephen tell you about the fairies in Ireland. Fascinating stuff.). Then there’s Landon. He’s a veteran Adventures By Disney Guide who has guided groups all over the world. He’s kind, goofy, and knows your needs before you do. Hungry? Thirsty? Tired? Cold? Hot? Landon to the rescue!

It only took about 20 seconds of chatting with Stephen and Landon to know that we were going to be instant BFF’s… and that this trip was going to be unlike anything we’d ever done before!

That afternoon we toured around Dublin on our own. We grabbed pints of Guinness at The Temple Bar, we danced to live music, and “oo-ed and aww-ed" at the colorful flowers lining every street. It really is an incredible city!

Before we knew it, it was time to meet our Adventures By Disney group for dinner back at our hotel. We were both a little anxious/excited to see who we’d be spending the next seven days with! Not only did they have a feast prepared for us, the room was sparkling with elegant decor, and a harpist serenaded us with traditional Irish tunes! We made fast friends with the other families and couples, and talked for hours about our lives, what we do, what we were excited to see/learn, and how amazing this experience already was. And it had only just begun!

DAY TWO: EXPLORING DUBLIN

Day two started with a breakfast buffet feast our hotel (still dreaming about their croissants!) and an early call time to begin our day of sight-seeing. First stop was The Epic Museum, which chronicles the history of Irish emigrants who have left their homeland and gone on to impact countries all over the globe. We’re not always big “museum people", but we didn’t want the tour to end! It was fascinating, interactive, and beautifully displayed. Oh, and the best part? We had the whole place to ourselves. When you travel with Adventures By Disney, you’re basically traveling like a movie star (Or in Disney lingo - you travel with an everlasting Fast Pass). No standing in lines, no fighting crowds, no hassle. Ever. We were in and out before the museum even opened!

Next stop was tea, coffee, and pastries galore at Bakehouse Dublin. ABD (Adventures By Disney) knows the way to our hearts.

Next, it was time to walk off all of those said pastries on a walking tour around the city. We wore nifty little earpieces that made us feel like secret agents, and allowed for us to clearly hear our guide - even from hundreds of feet away! We saw government buildings, walked through farmers markets, explored Dublin Castle, walked by a Kanye mural (obviously), and kissed in front of the palace. Dreamy. We ate fish and chips in a famous old pub, and then hopped into a roomy, air-conditioned bus to head to one of Bobby’s favorite places in Ireland. The Guinness Factory!

WOW. If you haven’t been, it’s worth a trip to Ireland just to see that! It’s huge and at first glance rather overwhelming. But like we said before, nothing is overwhelming when you’re with ABD. They had a tour guide ready for us, and we followed them as they taught us the history of Guinness, how it’s made, and even how to properly pour a pint! (It’s an art, and we passed with flying colors. We have the certificates to prove it)

That night was dinner on our own, and after a much-needed nap (partially because of jet lag, partially because of Guinness), we went off to explore the city. We found a cozy little Italian restaurant just a few blocks from our hotel (we know what you’re thinking - Italian food in Ireland?! We were craving pizza, ok! Sue us.), and had a romantic carb-filled dinner. YOLO.

Later that night we met with the adults in our group for a traditional Irish Pub Crawl. Filled with Guinness, music, dancing, Stephen’s quick-witted sarcasm, and Landon’s punny one-liners. Oh, and Murphy’s Ice Cream. We’d go back to Ireland just for a scoop of that creamy, flavorful goodness.

DAY THREE: JOURNEY TO KILLARNEY

Time for our next destination! Landon and Stephen instructed us to have our luggage out of our room by 8am, so that they could have everything loaded up and in the bus.

You’re probably thinking “Cool story”, or “That matters because…?” but just let that sink in. The ABD team does EVERYTHING for you. They handle your luggage. They give you water bottles and snacks. They educate you. They give you hand wipes. They even SING to you. It’s glorious. Well, maybe not Landon’s singing but that’s beside the point. It’s stress-free travel at its best.

We hopped back onto our beautiful air-conditioned bus to start the trek to the quaint little town of Killarney. Prior to our destination, we had a hurling lesson, ate lunch in Kilkenny, and we toured the famous Rock of Cashel. We’re telling you, these days are crammed full of adventure!

First things first, let’s talk about hurling. It’s way harder than it looks. Alli’s dream of being a professional hurler went out the window the second she picked up a hurley, but we had a blast learning the history of the sport and playing a good old fashioned hurling match. Even with Alli’s poor form and lack of skill, our team still managed to win. The Irish fairies were on our side!

We celebrated our victory at a Irish sports pub in downtown Kilkenny, followed by celebratory Murphy’s ice cream (thanks Stephen & Landon, we’re hooked). We walked up and down the colorful streets, took photos along the water, and worked on our Irish accents. The accents improved daily (don't ask us to prove it).

Next was a tour through the Rock of Cashel. The little ones in our crew went on a shamrock hunting adventure, and the “older folks” learned the history of this iconic place. The buildings date back to the 12th and 13th century, and it reputedly was the site of the conversion of Aenghus the King of Munster by St. Patrick in 5th century AD!

Our “home” for the next few nights was the gorgeous Great Southern Killarney. Our ABD team had our luggage sent to our hotel, and hosted us for another beautiful dinner in one of the grand ballrooms of the hotel. Yet again, we felt like movie stars. It was exquisite.

DAY FOUR: THE DAY BOBBY DISCOVERED HIS SECRET TALENT: CHOCOLATE MAKING

The mornings in Ireland were early, but we have never been more eager to get up! Every day the itinerary just kept getting better… and day four is no exception.

After breakfast at the hotel, we headed off to the breathtaking Ross Castle on Lake Leane. There we split up onto a handful of fishing boats, where local Irish fisherman took us on a scenic boat ride down Lake Leane, the “Lake of Knowledge”. It’s the largest of the three lakes in Killarney, and is home to the famous monastery on Innisfallen Island, where our boat tour docked and let us to explore.

There’s something so enchanting about seeing old ruins, running your hands across so much history. We could imagine monks walking through each room, praying alongside the water. It was beautiful.

We took the boats back to shore and headed to the quaint town of Kenmare, where we explored on our own and grabbed lunch at our leisure. We found a restaurant with salads and avocados (we sure do miss avocados when we travel!), and spent some time meandering around the cobblestone streets.

As if this day couldn’t get any better, next on the agenda was a chocolate tasting and workshop at Lorge Chocolatier. We spent the rest of our afternoon not only learning how to make fancy chocolates, but we got to make our own as well! (Bobby would like everyone to know that he won the chocolate making competition and you can call him the “Chocolate Master”, thank you very much.)

The night ended with dinner on our own Killarney. We stumbled upon a cute little pub with live music, and spent the rest of our night snacking on french fries and singing along to Journey covers. Basically living our best lives.

DAY FIVE: FLYING BOATS, IRISH COFFEE, AND LIFE IN A CASTLE

Chances are you’ve never heard of Foynes before. You’ve probably never heard of Foynes Museum either. Neither had we. One of the many reasons we love Adventures By Disney is that they take you to places you never knew existed… and they blow you away.

Day five began with a trip to Foynes, home of the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, the only aviation museum in Ireland and the only “Flying Boat Museum” in the world. Flying boat? That’s ok, we’d never heard of one either! From 1937 to 1945, Foynes was the hub for these gigantic flying boats that would be flown across the Atlantic. They have a replica of one of the boats (or planes?), and it is incredible! Especially for over 75 years ago!

If that wasn’t enough, Foynes is also where the first Irish coffee was made! We learned how to make real, authentic Irish coffees (shoot us a DM for the secret recipe) and they were absolutely delicious!

Now it’s time for our favorite part of the trip. The whole ABD team really hit it out of the park with this one… three nights and three days in a castle. Yep, a castle!!

We arrived at the historic Dromoland Castle wide-eyed and jaws-dropped. It’s everything we could’ve dreamed and more! Built in the 15th century, Dromoland is not only dripping with history, but with luxury as well. The rooms are stunning, they treat you like royalty, and the amenities are endless. We’re still pinching ourselves that this place is real!

Day five ended with an authentic Irish farm dinner, complete with cheese tasting. scone making, sheepherding,and a traditional Irish sing-along. Is that the dream or WHAT? Alli kept repeatedly thanking Stephen and Landon for taking us there - it was something out of a movie!

We honestly can’t put into words how incredible the night was. So, we’ll let these photos do the talking. It was an evening we’ll never, ever forget.

DAY SIX: A LEISURELY DAY AT THE CASTLE

This morning began with a leisurely breakfast in the castle (obviously), and a Birds of Prey Demonstration complete with hawks, owls, and falcons. Dromoland Castle has a team that is dedicated to the art of falconry, and their knowledge and care of the birds is truly remarkable. Not to mention they’re absolutely stunning creatures! (The birds, not the staff.)

Mesmerized by the sheer vastness of the property, we then embarked on a walking tour around Dromoland Castle. Our quirky and charming guide taught us the history of Dromoland, showed us around the grounds, and entertained us with his quick Irish wit. And this was all before noon!

The rest of the day was spent at our leisure. The ABD team gave us a plethora of entertainment options… We could go golfing, partake in archery, go on a “Hawk Walk”, go fishing, indulge in a spa treatment, and so much more. Being the over-achievers that we are, we tried to cram in as MANY activities as possible. And we did a darn good job.

Bobby Golfed…

Alli went to the spa…

And together we went on a hawk walk, where we got an advanced lesson in falconry and learned how to train a falcon. We definitely scored a few cool points for that!

Dinner was in a formal dining room in the heart of the castle. The layout of our trip was a little different than typical ABD Ireland adventures (since many guests were media/staff), so what they call the “Farewell Dinner” happened tonight. We were greeted with bagpipes, entertained by the Irish version of The Von Trapp family (they were AMAZING), and traditional Irish dancers. Bobby’s been attempting to imitate their dance moves ever since! (Still not close)

The ABD team even put together a special slideshow with photos from our trip so far. Reflecting on how much we’d done in 6 short days was unbelievable. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. And we still had one more day!

DAY SEVEN: CAN WE PLEASE EXTEND THE TRIP?

Day seven. The day we’d been dreading because it meant our ABD adventures in Ireland were about to come to a close. Even now it brings tears to our eyes. But nonetheless, we went out with a bang.

Our ABD family ventured to a spot that’s been on our bucket list for years: The Cliffs of Moher. Standing 700 feet above the sea, it’s one of those places that instantly takes your breath away.

In true ABD fashion, we rolled right up before the crowds (Everlasting Fast Pass!), had tickets in hand, and explored the majestic cliffs before half of the tour buses and groups even arrived in the parking lot. We spotted puffins, took hundreds (maybe even thousands) of photos, and sat to take in the sheer greatness of these cliffs. Photos don’t do them justice. (Even though we have enough to fill five photo albums!)

Even though we didn’t want to leave the Cliffs of Moher (we’ll be back!), it was time for lunch. The ABD team brought us to a traditional Irish pub in the small town of Droolin, that’s been run by the same family since 1867. How they find such hidden gems we’ll never know!

We ended the afternoon with a tour through Ailwee Cave - one of the oldest caves in Ireland. Our private guides taught us about the history of the caves and how they formed. They even turned off all the lights inside and has us stand there in pure, black darkness. It was terrifying and totally awesome.

And just like that, we reached our final dinner with our ABD family. As amazing as our itinerary, lodging, meals, and experiences were… the people we met during this week-long adventure were the real highlight of the trip. There’s something so bonding about experiencing new cultures with a group of strangers. Even though we’d only spent a week with these people, they already felt like family! We hugged, cried, exchanged information, and cheers-ed to the trip of a lifetime. It really was just that.

Alli Talley

August 2, 2018

Europe, Disney, Ireland

The Happiest Tour on Earth - Meet Adventures by Disney

Alli Talley

August 2, 2018

Europe, Disney, Ireland

Us talking to friends and family:

“Guys, guess what! We’re going to Ireland with Disney!”

Their responses:

“Wait what?”

“Do they have a Disneyland there?”

“Like on a cruise?”

“Does Mickey lead the tour?”

“But you don’t have kids!”

To be fair, we had never heard of Adventures By Disney either - and initially had a similar response. (Up until we got the itinerary, Bobby thought we were going on a cruise!) And while Disney does have a cruise line, (that we have yet to experience - but we’ve heard great things!) Adventures By Disney is something entirely different.

Imagine going on a trip to a country you’ve always wanted to visit (Ireland), and all of the logistics are taken care of for you.

You stay at the nicest hotels (even a castle!)
You visit the best museums, monuments, historical sights, etc, and you do it all away from, or before the crowds.
Everywhere you turn you’re learning about the history and culture you’re experiencing from your local guide who’s with you the whole trip (Stephen can you learn about the whole world and please come on every trip with us?)
Simultaneously, your personal concierge is handing you snacks, water bottles, sunscreen… you name it. He knows your needs before you do (Landon, you are a master of logistics, snacks, and stories - we need you).
Every time you venture to a new location, your luggage is handled for you. You arrive at the next hotel (or castle!), and your luggage is already in your room.
You never have to worry about renting a car, driving on the opposite side of the road, scheduling your itinerary, etc.. It’s all handled. Every little detail.
AND… you’re eating the best food in the country, at the coolest local spots (like a castle!! Sorry, we still can’t get over it). And you’re dining with all of the new friends you’ve made.

Honestly, we could go on and on… but you get the picture. Having traveled to Europe numerous times, and always on our own, going with Adventures By Disney (from now on we’ll refer to as ABD) was the ultimate treat.

Speaking honestly, we were worried that being on a tour might frustrate our wanderlusting, adventurous selves, or that traveling with a group of 30 people might get old. But friends, we loved every minute of it.

The ABD crew does a phenomenal job planning these trips itineraries - and here’s why. They send several scouts to each location to find not only the best local guides in the area, but the best places to see. Then they figure out the best times to see them, the best ways to avoid the crowds, the best local places to eat and explore, and the best way to pack it all in one trip. The result? A fast-paced (but also relaxing) adventure that leaves you smiling ear-to-ear, ten pounds fatter (SO many snacks!), feeling like a local expert, with a million memories and a couple dozen new best friends.

Can you tell we LOVED ABD?!?

While we’d love to go through our Ireland Itinerary day-by-day, this blog post would quickly become 20 pages long, so we’ll save that for another day. (You can check out the detailed itinerary here)

In closing, we’ll leave you with a highlight reel of our trip. ABD does trips for families, and adult-only. Another couple on our Ireland trip did an ABD adult-only tour for their honeymoon and had a ball. So whether you’re a family of four or planning your next adventure with your significant other, we highly recommend Adventures By Disney. Their trips range from a weekend in New York City to a 12-day adventure in China! Whatever your interests are, we guarantee there’s something for you. And we guarantee you’ll be hooked like we are. Now we just have to decide which ABD adventure to go on next!!

(Ireland day-by-day with Disney blog coming up next!)