Cool New Family Travel Trips: Adventures by Disney

I’ve got to hand it to Disney. Those forward-thinking imagineers of dream family vacations-- who single-handedly reshaped the family cruise industry in 1998 - are poised to become the big cheese of family landlubber vacations in 2009.

Granted, many travelers understandably enjoy the inevitable travails that transform a getaway into an unforgettable adventure. After all, how else can we get ourselves quickly and thoroughly immersed in the pace, the people, the lifestyle of a new city or country than to simply dive in? Be it unfamiliar subway systems, eco-systems or culinary systems, it’s the grown-up way to embrace the challenge a new venue represents and simply go with the local flow.

Yeah, just give that a go with a 2-year-old. A 9-year-old. Or, (heaven help us) an opinionated teenager who knows better than us that if it looks or smells unfamiliar, it must be uncool to do or eat. By the time we convince them of the contrary reality, it’s time to go home. It’s enough to convince any parent that vacation dreams and present cash are better saved for another time.

Enter Adventures by Disney, which has been shaking up the guided family travel market since its launch in 2005. Much like Disney Cruise Lilne’s carefully “predator netted” private Bahamian island and squeaky clean Caribbean tour operators gave a boatload of parents the chance to exhale on vacation, Adventures by Disney is providing a similar safety net for land-exploring parents who aren’t quit ready to clip their world-traveling wings. And want the pre-screened world view it seems only Disney can deliver.

It’s hard to argue with the results of this latest Disney adventure in travel re-tooling: 2009 brings eight new itineraries to the Adventures by Disney itinerary menu. And much like Disney’s sister ships, the Magic and the Wonder caused the entire cruise industry to re-think and re-tool both their itineraries and their ship designs, Adventures by Disney is redefining what it means to offer a truly family-friend vacation.

It’s Really A Small World, After All

The new destinations feature some of the most exotic and remote locales in the world - including an African safari, an expedition to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and Alaska.

“Where ever we go, two specially trained Adventure Guides, along with a host of local experts, allow families to see, hear touch and taste the history and cultures of destinations around the globe and in our own backyard,” says Ed Baklor, senior vice president, Adventures by Disney. “In 2009, we will continue to be innovators in the family and group travel business. By offering 23 destinations, we are giving our guests the opportunity to enjoy authentic experiences and magical moments only Disney could create in more places than ever before.”

Eight New Itineraries for 2009

New for 2009 are:

1 Alpine Magic Italy and Switzerland: Stress, Zermatt and Lake Lucerene

2 Beantown & The Big Apple Boston, Newport, RI and New York City

3 Bella Italia Central Italy: Sorrento and Florence

4 Gateway to the Galapagos Ecuador and Galapagos Islands

5 Golden Path to Yosemite Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco

6 Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales Montana and Alberta, Canada: Glacier National Park and Banff National Park

7 Safari to South Africa South Africa: Cape Town, The Garden Route and Kapama Game Reserve

8 Taming the Last Frontier Alaska: Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Kenai Peninsula

The Disney Difference

When traveling with Adventures by Disney, guides lead families from Prague to Paris, Yellowstone to Costa Rica, the ruins of Pompeii to the ruins of Machu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef to the Great Wall of China with the single goal of ensuring a hassle-free holiday, Baklor says.

“Expert storytelling and excellent guest service are hallmarks of the Disney experience,” he says. “Every Adventures by Disney itinerary is developed with families in mind. Kids become Junior Adventurers and enjoy activities and surprises just for them.

“Whether the groups are riding camels in the Australian outback or whale-watching in Alaska; learning archery in Germany or kayaking under the Pont du Gard in France; getting to know exotic animals in Ecuador or taking a jeep ride through the African bush, there is something of interest for everyone in the family.”

For more information about Adventures by Disney, visit www.AdventuresbyDisney.com , or call (877) 728-7282, or contact your travel agent.