1. How do I book my Adventures by Disney vacation?
If you are in the United States, please call (866) 972-6244 to speak
to our Adventure Concierge Team or click
here to submit a request for an email quote.
2.
Do I need a passport, visa or other documents?
If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need
a valid passport to enter Australia and return to the United States.
Your passport must be valid six months beyond your intended stay and
have 1-2 blank pages remaining. Allow yourself sufficient time to
have your application processed if you are applying for a new
passport or renewing an expired passport – refer to
www.state.gov
for further details.
As a short-term visitor you can get your visa on the Internet, using
the Australian government's Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Apply
for a Visitor ETA, which is an electronic visa that takes the place
of a stamp in your passport. To apply online, visit
www.eta.immi.goc.au. You can also have your travel agent or
airline apply for the ETA when you book your plane ticket.
In addition, Guests 17 years of age or younger may be required to
show additional documentation when traveling with a single parent.
If you are not a U. S. citizen, please check with the Australian
Embassy or Consulate at
www.austemb.org
for information on documentation requirements.
Passport Services
You can apply for a passport or visa through Passport Express
Services, Inc., a third party company servicing the travel industry
(not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company). Click-here for more information or call Passport
Express at (888) 606-1888.
PLEASE NOTE: ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY FOR
TELEPHONE CALLS made to access Passport Specialists at Passport
Express.
3. Do I need vaccinations to travel
to this country?
If you are coming from the U.S., you do
not need any special vaccinations to travel to Australia.
4. What airport do I fly into and out
of?
ARRIVAL: On this itinerary, we will pick you up at Cairns
International Airport (CNS) in Queensland on your arrival day. Your
flight should arrive no later than 2:00 p.m.
DEPARTURE: At the end of your adventure, we will transfer you
to Sydney International Airport (SYD) for your return flight home.
You can depart at anytime.
5. Are transfers included if I arrive
or depart from different locations or at different times from the
itinerary?
No. Transfers are only included from the specified arrival/departure
airports and hotels. For Australia, transfers are included from the
Cairns International Airport (CNS) in Cairns, N. Queensland to the
Sea Temple Resort & Spa on your arrival day. On your departure day,
transfers are available from The Grace Hotel to the Sydney Airport (SYD).
6. Can I extend my vacation beyond
the Adventures by Disney itinerary?
Yes, you may stay in Australia before or after our itinerary. Pre-
and post-night stays in Palm Cove and Sydney are available at
special rates if booked through Adventures by Disney Travel
Services, Inc. in conjunction with a land package and cannot be
combined with any other offer. Please contact a Concierge Agent for
further information.
7. How will our group travel between
destinations?
You will travel between Queensland, Ayers Rock and Sydney by
commercial airplane flights. Travel from your hotels to sites within
the region will be by motor coach.
8. What is the climate like?
Summer in the United States is winter in
Australia. Basically, Australia's seasons are the opposite of the
northern hemisphere - summer officially starts in December and
winter in June.
December - March (Australia's Summer)
N. Queensland: an average
of 75°F. "Wet Season" – Common to have a warm downpour of rain
for a few hours
Ayers Rock: an average of
100°F. Sporadic storms can roll in suddenly.
Sydney: an average of
79°F during the day and 65°F at night
May-August (Australia's Winter)
N. Queensland: an average
of 75°F. Sporadic rain, however not as much as in the wet season
Ayers Rock: an average of
65°F during the day and 40s at night
Sydney: an average of
65°F during the day and 45°F at night
9. How strenuous are the activities?
This is an active trip with most activities being easy to moderate.
Some of the hiking opportunities include a 30-minute walk through
the rainforest and hiking around parts of the base of Ayer's Rock
and the Mala Gorge at the Olgas. These hikes are all on unpaved
trails and uneven terrain with minimal uphill. Temperatures may be
hot, particularly in the desert, so be prepared with cool clothes,
hats and water. You will also have the opportunity to swim, snorkel
on the Great Barrier Reef, ride a bike through Sydney (minimal
traffic) and explore diverse areas by foot. While nearly all of the
trip's featured activities are gentle if examined separately, the
full range of activities requires a moderate amount of stamina in
order to get the most of your vacation.
10. What ages are appropriate for
this adventure?
While we welcome children ages 4 and up at the time of travel to
discover the stories of the world with us, we recommend that
children be at least 7 years old at the time of travel on our
Discovery Down Under trip. This is based on several factors, such as
flight time and jet lag, time zone differences in the destination,
duration of the vacation, extended hours of daily activity
programming, number of internal transports between experiences,
potential for extreme temperatures in the summer months, and amount
of physical activity (e.g., walking, hiking, swimming, snorkeling,
biking) involved. Because each child is different, call a Concierge
Agent to discuss whether this is the right trip for your kids.
11. What type of meals are served on
this Adventures by Disney Trip?
Typically breakfast is served buffet style. Dinners and lunches
usually include fish, meat, and pasta or rice entrées, vegetables
along with salad, cheese, desserts and fruit. While the menus have
been planned to give you a taste of typical Australian cuisine, they
are always balanced with limited American fare. Some meals on this
trip are served buffet style while others offer a limited-choice
menu. Given the nature of group travel, we regret that á la carte
menu choices are not available. Children-friendly choices are
available at all meals. Menu items are subject to change due to the
availability and seasonality of foods. In order to offer you and
your family a bit of time to enjoy meals amongst yourselves, there
are a few meals that are not included in the itinerary. These meals
have been planned in towns or cities where you will have plenty of
options available. If you have any questions or concerns about
dining at any time during your vacation, your Adventure Guides will
be happy to assist you.
12. Is alcohol included with meals?
Alcoholic beverages are typically not included with your scheduled
meals, however, you may purchase them at your own expense.
13. Can you accommodate special
dietary needs?
Adventures by Disney will make a reasonable effort to accommodate
some special dietary needs at no additional charge. Unfortunately,
we may not be able to accommodate all special dietary needs
requested. Please contact a Concierge Agent in advance of your
departure to advise us of your needs.
14. Is this itinerary appropriate for
travelers with special needs?
Please note that this vacation includes activities that present
certain challenges to Guests with special needs. It is strongly
recommended that persons requiring assistance be accompanied by a
companion who is capable of and totally responsible for providing
assistance. Neither Adventures by Disney nor its suppliers may
physically lift or assist Guests onto transportation vehicles.
Contact a Concierge Agent to discuss your needs.
15. What is the language and currency
of this destination?
English is spoken in Australia. The unit of monetary currency is the
Australian dollar. ATM machines are available in most places to
obtain cash in the local currency, and credit or debit cards are
widely accepted. Your Adventure Guide can help you with any currency
issues or language barriers.
16. Are tips included?
Adventures by Disney has taken care of certain tips and
gratuities for all included meals and activities such as tips for
porters, housekeepers, drivers, activity providers, local experts,
and dining room staff for included meals.
On Your Own Dining Gratuities: When eating at a restaurant, a
gratuity is usually included in the bill. If you feel you have
received exceptional service, you may leave an additional gratuity.
Many choose to simply "round up."
Adventure Guide Gratuities: Gratuities for your Adventures
Guides are not included. If you feel that your Adventure Guides have
provided excellent service, we suggest the following discretionary
gratuity: Per Guest/Per Adventure guide/Per Day - $5-$8 USD.
For example:
• For a 10-day adventure, the Adventure Guide gratuity per guest,
per Adventure Guide: $50-$80 USD.
• For a family of 4 for a 10-day adventure: $200-$320 USD per
Adventure Guide. For 2 Guides, this is a total of: $400-$640 USD.
Adventure Guides accept local currency, U.S. dollars, and travelers'
checks.
17. What if Adventures by Disney
cancels the adventure prior to departure?
Adventures by Disney reserves the right to cancel or reschedule an
adventure at any time for any reason, such as if there are too few
Guests or if the quality of the trip or the safety of the Guests
would, in our opinion, be compromised, such as may result from
unforeseen circumstances (acts of God) or other circumstances beyond
Adventures by Disney's control.
If you purchase air travel through Adventures by Disney Travel
Services, Inc.: If you purchase air travel through us and we cancel
your adventure prior to its scheduled start date, we will attempt to
re-book you on another departure of the same adventure during the
same season, subject to availability, and we will bear any resulting
airline re-booking charges. If we are unable to re-book you on
another departure, we will issue a full refund of all monies paid by
you to us for the canceled adventure, including land package,
airfare and Vacation Protection Plan (unless you have filed a
claim), which refund shall constitute a full settlement.
If you do not purchase air travel through Adventures by Disney
Travel Services, Inc.: If you do not purchase air travel through us
and we cancel your adventure prior to its scheduled start date, we
will attempt to re-book you on another departure of the same
adventure during the same season, subject to availability; however,
you will bear any resulting airline re-booking charges. If we are
unable to re-book you on another departure, our sole obligation to
you is to refund your payment to us for the land portion and
Vacation Protection Plan (unless you have filed a claim), which
refund shall constitute a full settlement. We assume no
responsibility for any losses incurred by you on account of
non-refundable air tickets or otherwise.
