Which Disney Adventure would YOU take with a Kid (10 - 11)?

[englanddg]

So, a touch of backstory. I grew up in Germany from ages 5 - 10, and while there my parents took me (and my young little sister, who was born in Germany and was a dual citizen until age 16, when Germany makes you choose...the US allows for dual citizenship, Germany does not.)

We were there in the 80's. I saw a split Berlin, and East Germany. But, I also saw much of the country on weekend excursions (Tintin comics and trains anyone?...broken up with a Kinder Ei (er...Kinder Surprise, or Kinder Egg, if you need to google it)...the ONLY way to travel!).

Every trip on the Magical Express on the way away I see ads for Adventures by Disney, and it gets me thinking about the next years trip.

So, our 2012 trip was originally going to be a UK / France / Eurodisney (er, sorry, Disneyland Paris) excursion through Adventures by Disney, but due to some unforeseen financial issues (namely a series of surgeries I had to go through), I had to scrap that idea, so we did 3 days at Universal and Disneyworld. Not that I'm complaining!

Anyhow, this is unusual...normally I don't think about future years trips until this years trip is completed (for those unaware, we are doing WDW, Legoland, and a Disney Cruise on the Fantasy in August)...but for this type of trip, due to the finances involved and other matters, I am starting to think about it now.

So...I would like to go through Adventures by Disney (may not, but it's intriguing...not for the Disney aspect, but because of what they offer)...

So...here are my options, as stand for 2014...or, depending on the trip possibly 2015. These are in order of my own personal leanings at this moment...

And, my question is, which Disney Adventure would YOU take? (it may help me figure out which adventure I want to take)

Germany

I spent a lot of my childhood here, and am still fairly fluent in the language...and as I watch this video, I see so many places I went as a kid. Odd, how those images burned themselves into my mind. Also, the narrator's pronunciation of German terms annoys the CRAP out of me!

It would be nice to go back. Too bad it doesn't include Berlin though...but I was in Southern Germany (Heilbronn, actually), so their tour is actually very close to my heart.

The "real castle" at 0:55 is Burg Katz (Katz Castle, Burg = Castle in German). When I was a kid, they used to do a Falcon show from the tower there that was quite interesting (or, as a kid, I thought "cool"). I am not sure if that is stock footage, as it's a rather famous castle on the Rhine, or if that's where the Disney tour takes you...but I wouldn't mind going back.

Anyhow. List of memories goes on.

So...here's the Adventures by Disney - Germany



UK / France with a few days at Disneyland Paris

Nothing really to say here...I am more interested in the UK part of the tour than the French part, but then again, I just am not all that interested in France. Dunno why...

But, Versailles and the Louvre would be interesting. And I've never been to the top of the Eiffel Tower or seen Notre Dame in person. So, it would be fun. The kid would LOVE France...

Me personally, I'd rather see Stonehenge and London (and take her to Hamleys and see Tower Bridge again...)

So, here's that trip...



Egypt

This just looks interesting. Politics aside (that's the main reason I don't care to visit there at the moment, but hopefully in the next year or two it will calm down?)...

I've never been there, and who wouldn't want to sail down the Nile or see the Pyramids? valley of the Kings? Get out of here! This just looks fantastic.



Southeast Asia

Would be new for me and the kid. I have a few friends in Vietnam I can reach out to when there. Ankor Wat (Whattt!!!?!!)...the trip looks different and interesting...



Scotland

I suspect @real mad hatter will say this is the way to go (and then scold me for considering Adventures by Disney for this trip)...

But, my family is partially Scottish (Great Grandfather), and my grandfather is a Scottish Mason (and has the tartans all over his office and a kilt...and don't ask him to lift it when he's drunk!)...

It's a land I'd like to see, as I adore the food/music/culture from afar.

 

[englanddg]

China

My sister has been, many of my friends have been. I've never been...

The trip plan looks amazing, hitting the most famous aspects of the country. Plus, I have a friend in Guangzhou I haven't seen in years that I'd like to meet up with (though, not sure if they go there)...



Italy

I went to Italy when I was around 8 or so...and remember it distinctly. We did a bus/train tour that went all the way around the coasts.

Sad personal admission, but I actually shoplifted a cap gun from a vendor at the Leaning Tower of Pisa (the beginning of my very short criminal career, a very red bum when my parents found out, and two weeks of volunteer work for the local Y cleaning the bathrooms)...but, I do recall, I didn't want to ask my parents for the cap gun because they might say no, and I REALLY wanted it, and had no money...so...being 8, I thought...I'll just put it in my pocket (or something like that, I don't really remember taking it, I just remember the punishment when my parents beat the truth out of me)...

I thought, even then, the tour of the Vatican was amazing (but I'm Catholic, as is the kid)...even if you aren't, it's an amazing place. I do remember though, the cities themselves (especially Rome and Venice) were dirty. Even as a kid I noticed and remember how nasty they were outside of tourist areas. I hope that has changed.

Pompeii and the Ruins were my greatest memories from that trip. And, I still have a miniature marble David that we got on that trip sitting on my bookshelf in my study.

It would be interesting to go back.



Australia

Since a friend of mine from Australia joined me in Disneyland in Feb, and has shared a lot about how different things are there from here (she's not my only Australian friend, but by far the closest), this country has intrigued me. Especially since she sent me Bill Bryson's wonderful book "Down Under" (great read for anyone interested)...



Wyoming / Yellowstone

This takes me back to my Philmont days...



As an Eagle Scout, and someone who camped these exact woods, this is right up my alley, and certainly an experience I'd love to share with my kid.

That being said...it's nothing new to me (outside of nostalgia)...but, perhaps that's EXACTLY what I need to do with my soon to be teenager...plus, she's always asking if we can go camping and fishing! (odd, for a city girl...but she is MY kid!)

 

[englanddg]

Arizona and Utah

The American SW includes the most breathtaking places I've ever seen. Grand Canyon (overrated, I think), Monument Valley and Arches National Park (underrated) and the Red Rocks...simply amazing. Outside of being at sea, I can't think of a place where I've seen more startling night skies.

Plus, I haven't been rafting in years!



Costa Rica

Ok, I have no interest in this at all...Rainforests, Volcanos, I dunno...it seems interesting, but I know little about it.

Seems I can get a similar experience off some of the Disney Cruise Port Excursions...



So, which one would YOU pick (with a 10 year old)?

 

[PUSH]

Well I'd go France and the UK. You know how I am with French, and I'd love to see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, l'Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, etc. I choose this because I know quite a bit of French, obviously, and France has just amused me.

Of course this has nothing to do with your opinions, so feel free to disregard this.

 

[englanddg]

Well I'd go France and the UK. You know how I am with French, and I'd love to see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, l'Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, etc. I choose this because I know quite a bit of French, obviously, and France has just amused me.

Of course this has nothing to do with your opinions, so feel free to disregard this.

Nope, not disregarded! For the price of a trip like this (regardless of if I go through Disney or not), I'd like any input!

France...I just can't explain it...it just doesn't interest me!

The kid, however, would do cartwheels! She loves France and anything French and insists that I use the correct "french" accent when pronouncing the word when we are at EPCOT even ("Daddy, if Fr-ah-nce, not Fr-ants!")

 

[PUSH]

Nope, not disregarded! For the price of a trip like this (regardless of if I go through Disney or not), I'd like any input!

France...I just can't explain it...it just doesn't interest me!

The kid, however, would do cartwheels! She loves France and anything French and insists that I use the correct "french" accent when pronouncing the word when we are at EPCOT even ("Daddy, if Fr-ah-nce, not Fr-ants!")

I'm the same way with most Asian countries. Don't know what it is, just doesn't interest me.