Is Adventures by Disney Boring for Kids?

Each ABD Trip is Guided by Disney Cast Members and Local Guides

This may seem simple, but it shouldn’t be underestimated.  The Disney name is not merely licensed to a local tour company in the destination country.  Adventures by Disney trips are completely conceived, designed, organized, and led in-destination by actual Disney Cast Members (Disney employees).  Cast Members are, of course, well versed in how to interact with children – so it’s no surprise that the on-site Disney Adventure Guides are great with the younger adventurers in their care.

And these aren’t just any Cast Members.  Becoming a Disney Adventure Guide requires a rigorous five month series of applications, interviews, and auditions.  As a result, Disney is able to select the best-of-the-best to ensure they’re able to safely, competently, and energetically lead tours that are far removed from any theme park.  This means that competition for the role is high, and it’s not hard to imagine the caliber of people who make it through the process.  They’re the ultimate VIP tour guides for Disney Guests.

Adventure Guide job requirements specifically include being “guest-focused, including children, adults and families,” and job listings for the position often note that guides must be able to build connections with – and among – Guests in their care.  In other words, they’re supposed to make sure that Guests of every age feel included and connected to their Guide, to their fellow travelers, and to the destination they’re visiting.

Most Adventure Guides don’t actually live in the areas for which they offer tours, though they’ve received extensive classroom and field training.  To help bridge this gap, Disney hand picks skilled Local Experts to join the group.  These are locals who have known the area for years and have a gift for sharing engaging stories.

This again is where the power of the Disney name comes into play; Disney is able to be extremely selective with the local experts it picks and works to ensure they’re great with travelers of all ages.  This intense local knowledge also helps ensure that everything – from hotels to restaurants to activities – is not only authentic but the best choice for families.

Disney’s Junior Adventurer Program is Made Especially for Younger Travelers

With the exception of a few special Adult Exclusive departures of some itineraries, every Adventures by Disney Trip welcomes younger travelers provided they’ve reached the trip’s required minimum age.  Younger travelers are such a consideration on these Disney adventures that there’s a special term for them: Junior Adventurers.

Each trip includes activities exclusively for Junior Adventurers.  Sometimes, it’s as simple as giving kids their own meal separate from the adults, or perhaps a karaoke night where they can sing along with travelers their own age.  Other times, these can be elaborate activities in unique locations, available solely to those under a certain age.

Our picks for a few of the Best Children’s Activities on ABD trips:

• Alaska itinerary:  Junior Adventurers explore native village heritage sites with an outdoor scavenger hunt, followed that night by learning to spin an Eskimo yo-yo, playing soccer, or other activities.  Later in the trip, they are sworn in as Junior Rangers at Denali National Park.
• Danube River Cruise:  Younger travelers visit the Schönbrunn Palace Children’s Museum, dress up in historical garb, and explore the labyrinth maze in the palace garden.
• Grand Europe itinerary:  Junior Adventurers pick herbs from the garden at the Fioroni Winery and learn how to infuse them into bottles of olive oil.
• Greece itinerary:  As part of a guided tour of the Panathenaic Stadium (home of the first modern Olympic games in 1896), Junior Adventurers compete in a mini-marathon to win a prize.
• Italy itinerary: Junior Adventurers participate in a special art detective game at Doges Palace in an activity designed by Disney exclusively for kids.  Later, the entire family visits Tragicomica for a private, hands-on workshop in the art of mask-making under the guidance of an artisan.
• Wyoming itinerary:  Following a visit to Old Faithful, Junior Adventurers make their own geyser and watch it erupt.

In addition to these kids-only activities, many of the regular itinerary items for all travelers are designed so that kids remain engaged.

Our picks for a few of the Best Kid-Friendly activities (open to all ages) on ABD trips:

• Alaska itinerary:  Visit Happy Trails Kennels for an up-close encounter with the sled dogs and this season’s litter of puppies.  Later, pan for gold in Crow Creek.
• Danube River Cruise:  Participate in a unique marionette demonstration at Schönbrunn Palace, followed by a private marionette show.
• Egypt Itinerary: Learn about papyrus and paint your own name in hieroglyphics on an authentic scroll.
• Germany itinerary:  Learn to make pretzels from at a bakery that opened in 1644; later, dress up as knights, kings, queens, and princesses at a medieval shop and enjoy a photo session.
• Ireland itinerary: Learn some classic Irish dance steps as you enjoy traditional music performed by local musicians.  Later, spend an evening at an authentic Irish farm and have a chance to bottle-feed a baby lamb or piglet.
• Japan itinerary: Visitors to a museum fold origami cranes and add them to the collection at a statue of 10-year-old Sadako Sasaki, as part of an ancient legend that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods.
• London & Paris itinerary: Visit the remarkable Queen Mary’s Dollhouse and see one of the world’s most incredible collections of dolls.
• Scotland itinerary: Guests of all ages compete in a family-friendly version of the traditional Highland games competitions including caber toss, shot put, and tug-of-war.  Later, feed the “hairy coo” (traditional Highland cattle) and Scottish red deer.
• Sicily itinerary: Partake in the puppet experience at Opera dei Pupi, including a customize-your-own puppet workshop, backstage tour, puppet museum visit, and private puppet show.
• South Africa itinerary: Visit the African Penguins that live along Boulders Beach.

Age Recommendations Help Families Pick the Right Trip for Their Kids

It’s a common question: is my child old enough for Adventures by Disney?  As family-friendly as these Disney adventures might be, there are still some age restrictions to be aware of, but we see those as a benefit rather than a restriction; they help give you guidance on making sure the trip is appropriate for your children.  As you research potential itineraries for your family, you’ll often notice three age requirements mentioned.  Here’s what each of them means, and which of them is the most important:

• Minimum Age: This is the lowest age at which your child will be allowed to travel with ABD.  The minimum age for an Adventures by Disney trip is typically age 5-6 depending on the trip, and refers to the child’s age as of the starting date of your trip.  But a word of advice to parents of kids who “just barely make it” – your child probably will not have the best time on this trip.  It’s better to look at the “Suggested Age” for the trip and choose accordingly.
• Suggested Age:  This is the guideline that’s the most important to pay attention to; it’s the age Disney believes your child should be in order to fully enjoy their trip.  The suggested age for an Adventures by Disney trip is often just a year or two older than the posted minimum age, but it does vary by trip.  It’s based on several factors, including the strength/endurance needed for the scheduled activities, length of daily programming, length of the trip, weather extremes, and other considerations.  It’s also worth noting that occasionally an individual activity such as horseback riding might have a different age requirement beyond the suggested age; in those cases, alternate activities are usually offered for those who don’t meet the guidelines.
• Adult-Exclusive:  Some individual trip dates are listed as adult-exclusive, which means… well… just that.  Those particular trips are open only to adults, with no one under the age of 18 allowed.  You’ll see the adult-exclusive age (18+) listed among the age requirements for each trip, but it applies only if you’ve selected a trip date that is specifically listed as Adult Exclusive.

Some Trips Weave in Disney Elements

Let’s be clear from the start: Adventures by Disney is absolutely not teeming with Disney characters.  If you’re expecting Mickey Mouse to lead you on a tour of the Louvre, you’re going to be disappointed.

Most of those who travel with ABD choose to do so because they want to see the world but have the comfort, security, and Guest service of Disney at their side.  They’re usually not so concerned with having Disney animation / theme park content in their vacation.

That said, Adventures by Disney does occasionally weave in some Disney content from time to time, which can help keep your child from getting bored on their trip.  And if you are interested in adding some outright Disney Theme Park time to your trip for the sake of the kids, you do have some options.

Adventures by Disney Trips with Minor Disney Content

Disney has experimented in the past with international trips that leaned heavily into Disney or Pixar animation.  The most ambitious example of this was an ABD Scotland: A Brave Adventure itinerary that was previously offered.  That trip was conceived from the start to tell the story of Disney-Pixar’s Merida using the real-world context that was the inspiration for the film.

More recent efforts have not gone to the extreme of impacting the itinerary of the entire trip, but still try to include mention of some Disney content when it’s relevant; this is especially true if you Disney vacation adventure takes you to a country that also served as the inspiration for a Disney film.

For example, your Germany trip’s stop at Neuschwanstein will almost certainly include talk of how this castle served as inspiration for the castles found in the Disney theme parks.  And your Scotland itinerary includes a stop at the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a renowned Skye Terrier that inspired a 1961 Disney film.

Elements such as that can help keep younger travelers of a certain age interested.  To most benefit from this, your kids will have to be of an age and mindset of “how things work” and able to make the connection between what they’ve seen in animated movies and what they’re seeing in the real world.

You’re also likely to find Disney movies sneaking directly into your trip.  Many itineraries feature a Disney movie night as part of the schedule.

Adventures by Disney Trips with Extensive Disney Content

There are a few itineraries which lean heavily into Disney content.  Specifically, some Adventures by Disney trips include time in Disney’s theme parks as either as a core element of the trip or an optional add-on once the trip concludes.  We’ll start out with an astounding once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s likely out of reach for most travelers, then outline others that are more attainable.

Disney Parks Around the World – a Private Jet Adventure

Let’s not mince words here; this offering is extremely expensive… probably prohibitively expensive for most.  We’re talking nearly $115,000 per person.  But it includes VIP access to every Disney Theme Park in the entire world, along with luxury VIP travel on a private jet, and stops at the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and Pyramids of Giza for good measure.  If you’re a Disney fanatic and money is no object, it’s hard to argue that this is the ULTIMATE trip.  And with a minimum age of 12+, families with older kids are welcome.

Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland

The current Adventures by Disney China itinerary includes an afternoon and evening at Hong Kong Disneyland park on Day 2 of the trip, as well as an afternoon and evening at Shanghai Disneyland park on Day 11.  Note that these visits to the parks are essentially “day trips” and you will not be spending the night at the Resorts’ hotels.

Disneyland (California)

For the ultimate mix of the Adventures by Disney touring style with the Disney Parks experience, you’ll want to look into the Disneyland Resort and Southern California itinerary.  This trip is without a doubt the best Adventures by Disney trip for a Disney fan (unless of course you have the cash for that private jet adventure), and it’s open to those ages four and up.  Take a look at just a few of the itinerary highlights:

• Exclusive VIP visit to the Jim Henson Company Lot
• Lunch at Tam O’Shanter, one of Walt Disney’s favorite hangouts with a special stop at Walt’s “regular” booth
• Private tour of The Walt Disney Studios and the Walt Disney Archives
• Tour of Walt Disney Imagineering
• Privately guided VIP visit to Disneyland Park, including some backstage content
• VIP visit to Disney California Adventure, including behind-the-scenes at Cars Land
• VIP viewing of parades and fireworks when available

A shorter, scaled-down “escape” version of this trip is also offered should you find that your kiddo can only handle a few days of a theme parks trip before starting to get antsy.