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Adventures by Disney - 2009 Destinations Overview

 

From the glaciers of Alaska to the warmth of the South African sun, Adventures by Disney welcomes families to experience the world with 23 itineraries, featuring eight new trips in 2009.
 
Itineraries to Debut in 2009
  
AFRICA
South AfricaSafari to South Africa – Signature Trip*
Cape Town, The Garden Route and Kapama Game Reserve
Welcome to the land of the Lion King! Discover a world of adventure with a castle visit in Cape Town and a trip through South Africa’s wild Garden Route. Explore on an African safari in Big Five Country, home to lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Wild Game Drive at Kruger National Park
  • Hands-on Afrikaan cooking lesson
  • Breathtaking views during a nature walk on Table Mountain
  • Experience 1,000 years of legend, history and ancestry at the Gold of Africa Museum
  • Shopping excursion in an authentic African market
  • Watch penguins waddle and wade along the white sands of Boulder Beach
  • Pitch a tent for a traditional pan-African lunch with a Bedouin tribe
  • Junior Adventurer lesson in African beading or basket weaving
 *Signature Dates are also available for this destination.
 
EUROPE
European Alps – Alpine Magic
Stresa, Zermatt and Lake Lucerne
Experience the Alps like never before with private tour guides and cable car visits to the most popular peaks of Northern Italy and Switzerland. The only thing more breathtaking than the view will be the amazing zip line ride through Forest Fun Park.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Exclusive Junior Adventurers gelato tasting and pony rides
  • Lesson in pasta making, taught by professional chefs in Como, Italy
  • Sample wines with a local sommelier, while Junior Adventurers feast on grape juice and gourmet cookies
  • Relax during a scenic train ride with views of Matterhorn Mountain
  • Descend from the town of Andermatt on a 12 mile downhill bike ride
  • Meet the true heroes of the Alps: the brave pups at a Husky Camp
  • Mini boat cruise and guided tour of the exquisite gardens and fountains of Isole Bella Island
  • Visit to Ballenburg Open Air Museum and learn the fascinating history of Switzerland
 
ItalyBella Italia
Sorrento and Florence
Discover the rich history and beauty of Italy. From a boat ride off the Amalfi Coast to a private tour of the ruins of Pompeii, make memories that last a lifetime on this unforgettable adventure.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Visit Pisa and explore the Leaning Tower and the Field of Miracles
  • Cruise around Capri on an exclusive boat tour and swim in the sapphire blue waters of the Mediterranean
  • Learn to make pizza at La Galatea’s farmhouse kitchen in Sorrento
  • Pose in the picturesque town of Positano; one of the most photographed places in the world
  • Create a fresco masterpiece in Florence’s “Children’s Museum”
  • Explore the automobile-free city of Lucca on a bike riding excursion
  • Embark on a walking tour of Florence, visiting Academia and Duomo with a local expert
  • Exclusive visit to the famed Eagle Contrada Museum in Sienna
 
NORTH AMERICA
AlaskaTaming the Last Frontier
Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Kenai Peninsula
Travel to the “Great Land” of the United States and experience all of the adventure it has to offer. Race along with “man’s best friend” while visiting the Trail Breaker Kennel Iditarod. Gaze upon massive icebergs as you float down the serene Placer River and get close to the last American wilderness featuring bears, moose and bison.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Watch for whales and other marine life on a Kenai Fjords Cruise
  • Learn how to track wolves on an educational hike with a private guide
  • Experience a Native Alaskan dance and drum performance
  • Discover Denali on an exclusive jet boat and “strike” gold in the Nenana River
  • Scenic views of Spencer Glacier on the Alaska Railroad
  • “Underwater” dining experience at the Alaska SeaLife Center
 Northeast U.S. Beantown & The Big Apple
Boston, Newport and New York City
Walk in the footsteps of legendary patriots such as Paul Revere along the Freedom Trail. Experience the best of the east coast, sail on a schooner off Newport and attend a performance of “Mary Poppins – The Broadway Musical” in the heart of New York City.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Meet “the Green Monster” on a private tour of Red Sox’ Fenway Park
  • Tour Boston by water on an amphibious “DUCK” vehicle
  • Explore a mansion along “The Cliff Walk” and indulge in a game of croquet on the front lawn
  • Bike ride through scenic Central Park, NY
  • Private, guided tours of New York landmarks including Ellis Island, Chinatown and Little Italy
  • Dinner and games at ESPN Zone in Times Square
  • Indulge in a “dessert tour” of Manhattan’s Lower East Side
Northern California – Golden Path to Yosemite – Signature Trip*
Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco
Trek through the heart of California on a family adventure that starts in the pristine grandeur of Lake Tahoe. Experience the majesty of Yosemite and lavish in the glamour of San Francisco.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Gather around the campfire for storytelling and s’mores
  • Float down the Truckee River seeing the sites with a local guide  
  • Gondola ride up 8,200 feet and hike to the Village at Squaw Valley
  • Walk in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt on a private tour of Yosemite Valley
  • Saddle up for a horseback ride on Happy Isles Trail
  • Discover San Francisco’s Union Square, Chinatown and more aboard an exclusive trolley ride
  • Enjoy an evening of dinner and entertainment at America’s oldest Italian
  • Privately-guided bike tour across the massive Golden Gate Bridge
  *Signature Dates are also available for this destination
 
U.S./Southwest Canada – Rocky Trails &  Mountie Tales
Glacier National Park and Banff National Park
Embark on an exciting excursion to the awe-inspiring glacial parks of northern United States and Canada. This unforgettable experience starts with a wild whitewater ride in Glacier National Park and crosses the border into an action-packed Canadian adventure.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Soak in the Upper Thermal Hot Springs
  • Paddle across the clear waters of Moraine Lake in a canoe
  • Listen to tribal tales of the Blackfeet nation from a famous Native American storyteller
  • Private, guided bike tour along Bow River in Banff National Park
  • Travel up Alberta’s historic cattle trail and get a taste of the real “West”
  • Ride in a gondola up the 7,500 feet summit of Sulphur Mountain
  • Private lesson in landscape painting at Whyte Museum
  • Travel the only road in Glacier National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road, in a private Red Bus Tour
 
SOUTH AMERICA
South America Gateway to the Galapagos
Quito, Otavalo Valley and The Galapagos Islands
Join an ecological adventure in the volcanic islands of the Pacific Ocean. Families will not believe their eyes when they spot the Galapagos’ swimming lizards, silvery sea lions, giant prehistoric tortoises and exotic colored birds.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Stand on the center of the world at the Quisato Sundial
  • Cruise the Galapagos Islands in the 293 foot long Galapagos Explorer II and learn to make island cocktails with the crew
  • Lessons in Peguche flute making, traditional weaving and kite making
  • Private, guided nature walk to the Peguche Waterfalls
  • Come face-to-face with penguins, sea lions and iguanas on Bartolome Island
  • Commune with tropical fish and sea turtle on a deep water snorkeling excursion
  • Visit a cheese farm, organic garden, horse stables and an embroidery shop at a countryside hacienda
  • Private, guided tour of North Seymour Island to see the famous blue-footed boobies and scarlet-throated frigate birds
 
Returning Adventures
 
ASIA
ChinaEnchanted China
Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai and Hong Kong
Families will master the art of Chinese culture and explore amazing wonders – hiking the Great Wall of China, spending an afternoon cruising down the Lijiang River and visiting the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.  
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Private, guided tour of Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City
  • Hike up the Great Wall to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World
  • Amazing performance of classic Sichuan face-changing opera and Shanghai’s stunning ERA show
  • Lessons in Chinese calligraphy, kite-making, fan-dancing, Tai Chi and stick-fighting
  • Private cruise on the Lijiang River
  • “Pedicab” tour of Beijing’s ancient alleyways
  • Musical presentation at Shanghai Children’s Palace
  • VIP experience at Hong Kong Disneyland
 
AUSTRALIA
Australia – Discovery Down Under
N. Queensland, Ayers Rock and Sydney
Travel “down under” and discover a world where families can take a camel ride in the outback, explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and bask in the architectural beauty of the Sydney Opera House at sunset.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Snorkel among the Lowe Isles in the Great Barrier Reef
  • Boomerang-throwing and didgeridoo-playing by the Tjapukai (Aboriginal people)
  • Hike through Mossman Gorge, the world’s oldest rainforest
  • Tour Ayers Rock with a local guide
  • Feast on a traditional barbecue overlooking a lagoon of crocodiles
  • Bike tour of Circular Quay and high-speed jet-boat ride in Sydney
  • Meet Aussie cowboys at Tobruk Sheep Station
  • Exclusive breakfast at Taronga Zoo with a zoo keeper
 
NORTHERN EUROPE
FranceFlavors of France
Aix-en-Provence and Paris
Experience the French countryside amidst lavender fields and the ancient Pont du Gard and enjoy private, guided experiences immersed in the iconic beauty of Paris.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Explore colorful Aix-en-Provence with a local expert
  • French candy “taste-test” for Junior Adventurers and art detective game at the Louvre
  • Lessons in the French game “pentanque”
  • Catered lunch and wine tasting at Château Beaupré
  • Bike ride along the picturesque Route des Crêtes
  • Kayak run to the scenic Gard River and the Pont du Gard, plus a catered picnic lunch
  • Enjoy the view of Paris from atop the Eiffel Tower
  • Farewell dinner on the Champs Elysées
Germany – Once Upon a Fairy Tale
Heidelberg, Trendelberg, Rothenburg, Munich
Embark on a fairy-tale journey through the German countryside complete with stories and tales of medieval times as well as exclusive visits to historic castles, themed dinners and unique activities. One never knows when a beloved storybook character may make a surprise appearance!
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, part of Walt Disney’s inspiration for Cinderella Castle
  • Private archery lessons and traditional pretzel-making demonstrations
  • Wine tasting at Zum Ritter
  • Medieval castle tours with local guides plus a two-night stay at Trendelburg Castle
  • Private picnic lunch at Alsfeld Museum
  • Bike riding at Hofgut Stammen and dance lesson with an Oompah band
  • Teddy bear-making activity at Stieff Bear Factory
 
SOUTH AMERICA
PeruSacred Valleys &  Incan Cities
Lima, Sacred Valley and Cusco
From discovering the “lost city” of Machu Picchu to traveling through the intricacies of the Sacsayhuaman ruins, families will be immersed in the beauty and culture of the Incan heritage.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • River rafting in the Sacred Valley
  • Guided visit to Machu Picchu
  • Lessons in the Portuguese game Sapo, plus Pisco sour tastings for Junior Adventurers
  • Llama and alpaca encounters at Awana Kancha Camelids Center
  • Weaving demonstration in Chinchero
  • Picnic lunch in Maras featuring a local dancing exhibition
  • Privately-guided exploration of the Maras Salt Pans
  • Farewell lunch at the magnificent private residence in Colonial Lima, the oldest restored colonial mansion
 
BRITISH ISLES & EUROPE
Austria & Czech RepublicStorybook Kingdoms (formerly Imperial Cities)
Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna
Live like royalty during a grand tour of Eastern Europe’s rich baroque cities in Austria and the Czech Republic. Private, guided tours and exclusive dinners are just a taste of the royal luxuries travelers will experience during a visit to the Imperial Cities.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Exclusive experience at the Vienna Zoo after closing with dinner in the Emperor’s pavilion
  • Junior Adventurers excursion through Schonbrunn Palace
  • Private lunch on Danube Cruise
  • Private marionette show and a behind-the-scenes peek at the theater
  • Enjoy a strudel demonstration and tasting
  • Explore Vienna’s Festschloss Hof complete with Hapsburg’s country estate with carriage rides, a petting zoo and Schnapps tastings
  • Privately-guided city tour of Prague featuring costumed historical and mythical characters
 
England, France – Cities of Knights & Lights
London and Paris
Step into the stories of characters and kings in two of the most magical cities in Europe. Families can enjoy VIP and private, guided experiences to some of the world’s most famous landmarks.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Explore London aboard a private double-decker bus
  • VIP experience at the Disney theatrical production of “The Lion King”
  • First-class train travel from London to Paris, at up to 186 mph
  • Dine in the Eiffel Tower
  • Special Junior Adventurers-only art detective game at the Louvre
  • Lessons in the French game “pentanque”
  • Climb the 422 twisting stairs of Nôtre Dame for a gargoyle’s view of Paris
  • Bike trip through the royal gardens of Versailles
  
IrelandThe Emerald Isle
Dublin, Killarney and Shannon
Families will feel like they have reached a pot of gold as they discover the real treasures of Ireland. With excursions through legendary castles and authentic Irish dancing lessons, one can’t help but embrace the luck of the Irish.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Spend two nights in an authentic castle
  • Guided tour through Dublin Castle and the Book of Kells at Trinity College
  • Tour the Guinness Storehouse and enjoy lunch overlooking the city
  • Visit the Muckross House, a 19th Century Palace and Dublinia Historical Museum
  • Visit an Irish farm for scone-making and sheep-herding
  • Traditional cheese-tasting and private Irish dancing lessons
  • Festive dining at a traditional Irish celebration
  • Private river cruise on Kenmare Bay
 
LATIN AMERICA
Costa Rica – Path to Pura Vida
San Jose, Arenal and Manuel Antonio National Park
Experience the lush beauty of the Costa Rican rainforest and enjoy the wonders of nature and wildlife as families walk, raft and zip line across this amazing land.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Craft-making demonstrations with artisans from a local tribe
  • Zip line through the Costa Rican rainforests
  • Privately-guided spotting of exotic wildlife
  • White-water rafting along the Sarapiqui River (Class 2-3 rapids)
  • Private beachside barbecue lunch
  • Relaxing evening in the Hidalgo Hot Springs
  • Privately-guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist
  • Exclusive visit to a working pineapple plantation
NORTH AMERICA
Southern California – Backstage Magic
Hollywood and The Disneyland® Resort
The glamorous world of old Hollywood contrasts with the newest filmmaking technologies in this movie fan’s dream tour of Southern California. Get exclusive access to some of the most famous Tinseltown destinations and custom VIP tours that uncover the magic of The Disneyland Resort.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Behind-the-scenes tours of the El Capitan Theatre, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Jim Henson Studios
  • Walking tour of Hollywood landmarks
  • Walt Disney Studios tour with lunch on the studio lot (who knows who you’ll run into!)
  • Visit Walt Disney’s apartment where the light always stays on in his memory
  • View fireworks from a special area
  • Experience Disney’s California Adventure Park before it opens
  • Customized VIP tour of Disneyland with many backstage adventures
  • Journey into Walt Disney Imagineering
 American Southwest – Southwest Splendors
Sedona, Grand Canyon and  Moab
Venture into the depths of the Grand Canyon; get vertical in a jeep excursion through the red rocks of Sedona and white-water raft down the Colorado River as you and your family explore all the beauty and adventure the Southwest has to offer.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • White-water rafting down the Colorado River (Class 1-2 rapids)
  • Guided Grand Canyon tour by a naturalist
  • “Cowboy & Cowgirl Cookout” dinner complete with singing tales of the West
  • Interactive entertainment from Native American performers
  • Thrilling, off-road jeep tour of Sedona’s red rocks
  • Three nights at a working ranch on the banks of the Colorado River featuring hiking and tennis
  • Four-wheel tour through Monument Valley with Navajo guide
  • Native craft-making demonstrations at Sedona’s Heritage Museum
 
Mid Atlantic States – Spirit of America
Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Williamsburg
Come home to the cities that celebrate American heritage and explore some of the United States’ most iconic and educational landmarks as historical characters come to life and tell the story of the nation.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Privately-guided trolley tour of Philadelphia, including Independence Hall and Liberty Bell
  • Barbecue lunch along the banks of the Potomac
  • Get your hands dirty with real colonial brick-making
  • Junior Adventurer game – find the missing Declaration of Independence
  • Biking tour of Washington D.C., including the Capitol, Washington and Lincoln Monuments
  • Privately-guided tour of Williamsburg including Minuteman presentation
  • Private lunch at ESPN Zone including arcade games
  • Lunch at King’s Arm in Williamsburg – a historic tavern with costumed servers
Wyoming - Quest for West
Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Parks
Escape the routine of modern life and explore some of the earth’s most natural wonders in an adventure that will give your family a true western experience.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Junior Adventurers enjoy a scavenger hunt in Yellowstone National Park
  • White-water rafting on the Snake River (Class 2-3 rapids)
  • Trick-roping and lasso-tying lessons
  • Scenic picnic at Lake Yellowstone
  • Private, guided tour of West Thumb Geyser Basin and fun with laser thermometers
  • Private picnic at String Lake
  • Fly-fishing lessons on crystal-clear mountain lakes and spring-fed streams
 
SOUTHERN EUROPE
Spain – Treasures of Spain (formerly Grande España)
Madrid, Seville and Barcelona
Journey from Spain’s lively capital to the exotic countryside and embark on cultural traditions while engaging in unique experiences that reveal the true spirit of Spain. 
 
Adventure Highlights
  • An interactive visit to the Alcazar of Segovia, a fairy-tale castle
  • Craft workshop for Junior Adventurers
  • Lunch at Segovia’s ancient Mesón de Cándido
  • Flamenco lessons from a national dancing champion
  • Interactive Andalusian pottery experience
  • Hands-on visit to Madrid’s Royal Palace and the Armory
 ItalyViva Italia
Rome, Tuscany and Venice
From exploring the masterpieces of Rome to pasta-making with an Italian chef to riding the grand canals of Venice, families will experience the real spirit of Italy from the moment they arrive.
 
Adventure Highlights
  • Private gondola ride through the magnificent canals of Venice
  • Pasta-making in Tuscany
  • Privately-guided visits to Sistine Chapel, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Coliseum and Forum
  • Venetian Carnivale mask-making lessons
  • Junior Adventurer search for Marco Polo and enjoy gelato tasting
  • Bocce-ball lessons at a Tuscan villa
  • Special tour of Coliseum for Junior Adventurers
 
Signature Departures
 
Specified departure dates on the Safari to South Africa and Golden Path to Yosemite itineraries will be identified as “Signature Trips”. On these departures guest will enjoy an enhanced travel experience including all the activities on the regular departures, in addition to upgraded accommodations, special amenities and events not offered on standard departures.
 
Pricing
 
            In 2009, the price of an Adventures by Disney vacation will vary within set ranges for each trip. Prices will be based primarily on when a guest books and travels. Guests are encouraged to book early for even greater value to take advantage of early booking rates when available. Early booking rates apply to bookings made more than 90 days prior to departure. The number of land packages available at these rates is limited.
 
            More detailed information is available at www.AdventuresByDisney.com.
 
About Adventures by Disney
            As Disney Cruise Line revolutionized – and in some ways defined – the family cruise vacation, Adventures by Disney is re-creating the way families think about vacationing together.
            Launched in 2005, Adventures by Disney in 2009 provides immersive, hassle-free and exhilarating guided family vacation experiences to destinations in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.  Families traveling with Adventures by Disney receive exceptional service while taking part in extraordinary experiences 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, and more. 
            With Disney-trained Adventure Guides, engaging activities, VIP experiences and personal touches throughout, Adventures by Disney excites and delights every member of the family.
 

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