Disney expands Adventures offerings

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Disney expands Adventures offerings

Scott Powers and Christopher Boyd | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted March 6, 2006

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is attempting to extend its vacation empire to Canada, London, Paris, Italy and Costa Rica.

Under a test program started last year, Adventures by Disney sends vacationers on guided trips to popular tourist destinations that Disney would like a part of without having to build a park. Last year Disney quietly began the program in Hawaii and the Yellowstone Park region of Wyoming, with a marketing program that chiefly targeted frequent Disney visitors.

Now starting its second year of a two-year test, Adventures by Disney is expanding to include trips through Calgary, Jasper, Banff and Yoho along the Canadian Rockies; London and Paris; Rome, Tuscany and Venice in Italy; and San Jose and the rain forests of Costa Rica.

Disney contracts with high-quality resorts and facilities and provides a Disney guide to make the trips into Disney-style family vacations, spokesman Donn Walker said. Prices range from $2,699 to $3,699 per person, depending on itinerary, not including transportation to and from the destination.

Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger last week described the program as the company's "family travel business to destinations we were competing with."


Scott Powers can be reached at 407-420-5441 or spowers@orlandosentinel.com. Christopher Boyd can be reached at 407-420-5723 or cboyd@orlandosentinel.com.

 

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I just got my Disney Insider e-mail with an article about the "Adventures by Disney."



It's A Small World After All

Maybe the phrase “Disney vacation” conjures up certain images in your mind – a beaming toddler in Mickey ears, hugging Winnie the Pooh. Fireworks backlighting a fairytale castle against a nighttime sky. An elegant cruise ship sporting those familiar ears on the smoke funnel. But dinner in the Eiffel Tower? Hiking a volcano? Hand-feeding manta rays?

The definition of “Disney travel” has gotten a whole lot wider, thanks to Adventures by Disney. These new vacations give travelers with an itch for exploration the chance to visit some of the world’s most exciting destinations, with unique experiences that could only be arranged by Disney. Preview trips began in 2005, with excursions to Hawaii and Wyoming.

Disneyphiles with wanderlust need not despair, because in 2006 Adventures by Disney will continue with more trips to Hawaii and Wyoming, as well as Italy, Costa Rica, and one including London and Paris.

What makes an Adventures by Disney trip different from a run-of-the-mill package tour? We asked Peter Kerr, who ought to know – he took the Wyoming vacation last summer and now works for Adventures by Disney.

Peter says that Adventures by Disney are set apart by the high quality of service and friendliness that Guests have come to expect at Disney resorts, cruises, and theme parks. With groups of no more than 40 Guests for each adventure and two Adventure Guides along, Guests are ensured plenty of individual attention and the little bumps and jolts of traveling are smoothed out. “We like to think of Adventures by Disney vacations as a near-effortless adventure. All of the details have been planned and taken care of, so that you and your family can enjoy the magic of the destination,” Peter tells us.

To ensure smooth sailing, Disney provides scheduled meals and activities, luggage is moved from location to location, and hotel check-in and departures are arranged.

But Adventures by Disney aren’t just easy – they are designed for maximum fun. Each provides access to activities and experiences that solo travelers rarely enjoy. The team of experienced Adventure Guides makes sure that the trips are unforgettable learning experiences, and local experts take Guests through in-depth explorations. For instance, in Hawaii, Guests explore a volcano with a local expert volcanologist or learn how to surf. In Wyoming, Guests will learn the history and features of Yellowstone National Park from local Adventure Guides and park rangers and ride horses with ranchers. Italian trips provide the opportunity to learn to make pasta in Tuscany and explore timeless works of art, and in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Guests will have lunch with an Olympian at the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics Games and enjoy the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

“Most other guided tours are designed for adults, not families,” say Peter – but Disney is all about family, and so are these adventures. There are plenty of activities for the kids on each adventure, and the destinations are chosen to appeal to the whole family. However, for those who prefer to travel in grown-up company, each Adventure Itinerary in 2006 will conduct a limited number of 18-and-over-only departures.

This year’s weeklong Adventures begin as early as May 21 – and there are departures right up through December for some destinations. So whether it’s surfing the crystalline waves of Hawaii or pondering the grandeur of Roman ruins, this might be the time to make your most adventurous dreams come true.