Hi again folks. I promised to post my opinions/thoughts on the trip, in addition to the trip report I did:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2262868
I have waited to write this to reflect more on my feelings about the trip and to analyze the "why" I feel as I do. My 9 yr old daughter and I traveled together and we have done one other ABD last summer in Germany.
First let me preface my comments with the fact that we had a PEAK experience last year in Germany. It exceeded my expectations in so many ways the surprises, Disney Touches and how well the kids bonded. I expected it to be a GOOD tour group experience, instead it was a GREAT, magical experience in so many ways (maybe a lot of it was due to the nature of the trip and the fact that it was our first ABD experience).
That said, what we experienced in Alaska in August 2009 was a good tour experience. Alaska is truly the last frontier, beautiful and wild, and this trip does a good job exposing you to many aspects of it. That said, in my opinion (and Im interested in others opinions who took children), Im not sure its the best trip for an active child. While we were always moving (in a bus, train, boat, raft), it wasnt ACTIVE movement. As with most kids her age, beautiful scenery doesnt hold her attention long. The train is slow and stops often I have to say that I was really looking forward to it, but it was a disappointment. When you raft, you dont have paddles, so it is a sedentary activity as well. Her favorite activity was the hike to the glacier, which was an optional activity (not on the itinerary - so that was an extra special touch that I was so grateful for).
Unfortunately, my daughter didnt really hit it off with the other kids her age, so Im sure if she would have had a buddy, both of our overall trip experiences would have been enhanced. And perhaps, working with other parents, we would have found opportunities for free playtime/space for the kids, which seemed to be lacking on this trip. The guides were super nice and knowledgeable, but maybe a little bit more could have been done to entertain the kids on the train or bus rides?
Not many surprises on this trip either, although I certainly understand how Germany, with its storybook theme, lended itself better to surprises. I thought for sure there would be more focus on the Native Alaskans - perhaps an Indian storyteller? There was almost no mention of Native Americans except for the entertainment on the last evening. The focus was definitely on nature/wildlife and scenery.
I was a little disappointed with the food too, not so much with the quality, which was fine, but the settings. I guess I envisioned meals in beautiful scenic spots or with local flavor, but there was not a lot of that. Two dinners and one lunch (aside from 4 morning breakfasts) are at the Aleyska Resort. Nice scenery, but the same view for 7 meals. I understand that options are limited in this sparsely populated area, so perhaps thats the best that can be done while maintaining Disney standards. Maybe hotel food IS the best you can get there.
The hotels were fine I have no complaints there, and if anything, they were better than I expected, given what I had heard about hotels in Alaska. I think ABD got the best that Fairbanks and Denali have to offer, and I understand that we can't expect luxury in these areas. Aleyska Resort is very nice the best Alaska has to offer.
There is a lot of territory to cover in Alaska and they try to show you a lot of it. Therefore, I think its challenging to do a tour there, and there is, by nature of the vastness of the land, alot of travel time. Theyve done a good job arranging various independent local tour companies to give you lots of different experiences. Many other tour companys trips focus only in the Southeast area and dont go to Fairbanks, but I was glad we went there (and very happy that we had a free day there to explore the area in a rental car). You see another side of Alaska that you dont see south of Anchorage.
I guess that sums up my thoughts. I hope my comments gave folks one persons realistic view of the trip, and you can do with it what you want. I welcome bobo912s comments as she took her son, as well as others who took children. So much of your trip experience is about expectations, and I really understand that. The bar had truly been set high by our experience last year (I came home and booked this years trip a week after returning!) Had I gone on the Alaska adult only trip, I also think my perspective would be different.
So what this has taught me is to look closely at the trip and to better evaluate it in terms of what works for our family, and whats important to us. (We need more physically active trips - even if it's just walking through quaint towns and castles!) One thing Ive learned from these boards is that there are definitely different reasons that ABD trips work (or dont work) for people certain aspects of the tour (hotels, food, guides, activities, airport pickups, etc) are more important to some than others - and so we each have to figure out whats best for our vacation $ and experiences.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2262868
I have waited to write this to reflect more on my feelings about the trip and to analyze the "why" I feel as I do. My 9 yr old daughter and I traveled together and we have done one other ABD last summer in Germany.
First let me preface my comments with the fact that we had a PEAK experience last year in Germany. It exceeded my expectations in so many ways the surprises, Disney Touches and how well the kids bonded. I expected it to be a GOOD tour group experience, instead it was a GREAT, magical experience in so many ways (maybe a lot of it was due to the nature of the trip and the fact that it was our first ABD experience).
That said, what we experienced in Alaska in August 2009 was a good tour experience. Alaska is truly the last frontier, beautiful and wild, and this trip does a good job exposing you to many aspects of it. That said, in my opinion (and Im interested in others opinions who took children), Im not sure its the best trip for an active child. While we were always moving (in a bus, train, boat, raft), it wasnt ACTIVE movement. As with most kids her age, beautiful scenery doesnt hold her attention long. The train is slow and stops often I have to say that I was really looking forward to it, but it was a disappointment. When you raft, you dont have paddles, so it is a sedentary activity as well. Her favorite activity was the hike to the glacier, which was an optional activity (not on the itinerary - so that was an extra special touch that I was so grateful for).
Unfortunately, my daughter didnt really hit it off with the other kids her age, so Im sure if she would have had a buddy, both of our overall trip experiences would have been enhanced. And perhaps, working with other parents, we would have found opportunities for free playtime/space for the kids, which seemed to be lacking on this trip. The guides were super nice and knowledgeable, but maybe a little bit more could have been done to entertain the kids on the train or bus rides?
Not many surprises on this trip either, although I certainly understand how Germany, with its storybook theme, lended itself better to surprises. I thought for sure there would be more focus on the Native Alaskans - perhaps an Indian storyteller? There was almost no mention of Native Americans except for the entertainment on the last evening. The focus was definitely on nature/wildlife and scenery.
I was a little disappointed with the food too, not so much with the quality, which was fine, but the settings. I guess I envisioned meals in beautiful scenic spots or with local flavor, but there was not a lot of that. Two dinners and one lunch (aside from 4 morning breakfasts) are at the Aleyska Resort. Nice scenery, but the same view for 7 meals. I understand that options are limited in this sparsely populated area, so perhaps thats the best that can be done while maintaining Disney standards. Maybe hotel food IS the best you can get there.
The hotels were fine I have no complaints there, and if anything, they were better than I expected, given what I had heard about hotels in Alaska. I think ABD got the best that Fairbanks and Denali have to offer, and I understand that we can't expect luxury in these areas. Aleyska Resort is very nice the best Alaska has to offer.
There is a lot of territory to cover in Alaska and they try to show you a lot of it. Therefore, I think its challenging to do a tour there, and there is, by nature of the vastness of the land, alot of travel time. Theyve done a good job arranging various independent local tour companies to give you lots of different experiences. Many other tour companys trips focus only in the Southeast area and dont go to Fairbanks, but I was glad we went there (and very happy that we had a free day there to explore the area in a rental car). You see another side of Alaska that you dont see south of Anchorage.
I guess that sums up my thoughts. I hope my comments gave folks one persons realistic view of the trip, and you can do with it what you want. I welcome bobo912s comments as she took her son, as well as others who took children. So much of your trip experience is about expectations, and I really understand that. The bar had truly been set high by our experience last year (I came home and booked this years trip a week after returning!) Had I gone on the Alaska adult only trip, I also think my perspective would be different.
So what this has taught me is to look closely at the trip and to better evaluate it in terms of what works for our family, and whats important to us. (We need more physically active trips - even if it's just walking through quaint towns and castles!) One thing Ive learned from these boards is that there are definitely different reasons that ABD trips work (or dont work) for people certain aspects of the tour (hotels, food, guides, activities, airport pickups, etc) are more important to some than others - and so we each have to figure out whats best for our vacation $ and experiences.