Are Adventures by Disney Trips Worth It? (After 8 Trips)

An Adventures by Disney guided trip is an expensive purchase. If you are used to Disney Cruises and Disney Parks visits (which are already a splurge), you may get sticker shock when you see the cost of an Adventure by Disney (AbD) trip for your family.

But when you look at the cost of an AbD vacation, you really need to know exactly what's included, what makes it different, and what the alternative would cost before deciding to take the trip. Based on the eight Adventures by Disney trips that I have taken with my family, here's my assessment of whether Adventures by Disney trips are worth it.

Disclosure: While I paid for my 7 longer Adventures by Disney trips, I did attend a complimentary media "long weekend" trip to NYC. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, and a purchase through one of these links can result in a commission paid to me at no additional cost to you

Are Adventures by Disney Trips Worth It?

For content, I've been on the following Adventures by Disney trips:

• The Amalfi Coast and Florence
• Greece
• England and France
• NYC Long Weekend
• Portugal
• Northern Italy and Switzerland
• Costa Rica
• Colombia

What is Adventures by Disney, and What Makes It Different From Other Vacations

Adventures by Disney is the guided tour arm of the Walt Disney Company. These are curated, guided trips to various locations around the world, from Colombia to Australia.

When you go on an Adventures by Disney trip, you won't see Disney characters or ride attractions (unless your trip specifically includes time at a Disney theme park). Instead, you'll get the same level of service that you expect from Disney, including special experiences, exclusive access, knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guides, and high-quality, family-friendly hotels.

It's different from other vacations because you'll be in a group, and you'll have a schedule to follow. Everything will be planned for you, so you won't need to worry about making reservations (except for your flights and any extras before or after your trip). You also won't have any say in where you stay, where you eat (except for "on your own" meals), and what attractions you visit.

These trips are planned to be BUSY, so you won't have much free time. There aren't typically any leisure days, so you won't be spending time just hanging around the hotel. That's why I like to plan an extra day at the beginning and/or end of the trip, just to relax at the hotel a bit.

What Do Adventures By Disney Trip Prices Include and Exclude?

Before deciding if an Adventures by Disney trip is worthwhile, you'll need to consider exactly what is included and excluded in the price. It's easy to see the full price and immediately think it's too expensive, but there's a lot included in that single price.

Here's what an AbD includes:

• Hotel stays for the entire length of the trip
• Transportation during the trip, including from city to city. This may include bus, train, boat, or plane travel.
• Two dedicated guides, including one local guide
• Access to photos taken by the guides during the trip
• Admission to all of the activities listed on the itinerary, including some exclusive access
• Local guides in the destinations
• All gratuities during the trip, except for your two AbD guides
• All meals that are included in your itinerary
• Breakfast at each destination
• Transportation to the airport when you arrive and back to the airport when you leave

Here's what's not included:

• Airfare to and from your home to the destination
• Gratuities for your two AbD guides
• Pre and post-trip hotel stays
• Any on-your-own meals (meals that aren't listed in the itinerary)
• Alcoholic is typically not included, but sometimes is. It's always included when the itinerary mentions it.

Because the trip includes so much, it's important to compare the total price of any trips you are considering.

Who is Adventures by Disney Best For?

Adventures by Disney trips are best for families who want to experience a destination (or multiple destinations) without the stress of organizing or handling logistics. In addition, these trips are great for:

• Families who enjoy meeting others on vacation
• Families who want an immersive experience
• Those who want to fit in many different points of interest in a short amount of time
• Families with dietary restrictions or allergies who want a local guide to help communicate those
• Families who don't want to spend their trip coordinating
• Families who don't want the hassle of planning every aspect of their trip

These trips aren't the best option for the following:

• People who just want to relax at the resort
• Families who only want to stay in one place
• Families who'd prefer to travel on their own
• Families who are very familiar with a destination and know exactly what they want to do
• Families who are planning to spend a lot of time visiting with friends or family on their trip

When is Adventures by Disney Worth It?

Since I've been on 7 Adventures by Disney trips at my own cost, it's probably obvious that I think they are worth it to me. Personally, I feel that saving the stress of planning and organizing this type of large-scale vacation is worth the cost.

In addition, my family has always enjoyed the immersive experiences, like learning to make arepas in Colombia and stomping grapes in Santorini. We've also really enjoyed the exclusive experiences. Visiting Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, after hours (when we were the only ones there), for instance, is something we couldn't replicate on our own.

Both of my kids have food allergies, and we've felt more comfortable with our guides arranging meals in advance. It's always comforting to have a local guide talk to the chef in the country's native language to arrange safe options.

Have you been on an Adventures by Disney trip?