Separating from group?

Skylarr29

DIS Veteran
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
There are two days on our tour we would like to separate from the group to book another activity. Does anyone know if this is frowned upon, or if we will be met with any pushback from the guides?

We do realize the itinerary is completely subject to change, and there is a chance we would miss our activities, we are ok with this risk. We would inform the guides at the start of the trip.

Thoughts?
 
As long as you're there when they're ready to move hotels, it shouldn't be an issue. We've skipped a couple of activities and dinners over the years. And we've seen guests skip an entire day either because they had other private activities planned or they were ill.
 
I agree with @Cousin Orville -as long as you don't miss a transportation day (moving from hotel to hotel or to another country) then it isn't an issue. I often take a "personal day" on group trips and there's no problem.
 


There are two days on our tour we would like to separate from the group to book another activity. Does anyone know if this is frowned upon, or if we will be met with any pushback from the guides?
This usually isn't a problem. The exception is when the activity then transitions to a new location. You should talk to your guides about your plans. They won't push back and will often suggest things to do.
 


This usually isn't a problem. The exception is when the activity then transitions to a new location. You should talk to your guides about your plans. They won't push back and will often suggest things to do.

Yeah our adventure guides gave us tips when we told them we wanted to split from the group one day.
 
Great info, everyone. DH was nervous we’d be met with some opposition so wanted to try and find out more before making plans.
 
Depending on when and where you want to depart, you may also want to call the vacationista at ABD now so your plans are noted for the guides in advance. When we were in Australia we departed the group mid - transportation. Following the in-country flight from Cairns to Gold Coast, we left the group at the airport, literally as we got off the plane. Disney still took luggage, etc. on the 1.5 hour bus ride to Main Beach. We went skydiving on the Gold Coast and arranged our own transport up to the hotel at Main Beach. The guides had agreed to leave room keys, etc. at the front desk for our later arrival. When we arrived, both guides were there to greet us, "just to make sure" everything was okay. This may have also been because several other members of the group at the last minute liked our idea and joined us. We felt (and the vacationista agreed) that advance notice of this was helpful.

On our Winter Wonderland trip, a couple was so unhappy with the trip they simply took off on their own for nearly two days and returned to meet the group for the closing dinner. They told the guides only as they were leaving....

It's your adventure.
 
Depending on when and where you want to depart, you may also want to call the vacationista at ABD now so your plans are noted for the guides in advance. When we were in Australia we departed the group mid - transportation. Following the in-country flight from Cairns to Gold Coast, we left the group at the airport, literally as we got off the plane. Disney still took luggage, etc. on the 1.5 hour bus ride to Main Beach. We went skydiving on the Gold Coast and arranged our own transport up to the hotel at Main Beach. The guides had agreed to leave room keys, etc. at the front desk for our later arrival. When we arrived, both guides were there to greet us, "just to make sure" everything was okay. This may have also been because several other members of the group at the last minute liked our idea and joined us. We felt (and the vacationista agreed) that advance notice of this was helpful.

On our Winter Wonderland trip, a couple was so unhappy with the trip they simply took off on their own for nearly two days and returned to meet the group for the closing dinner. They told the guides only as they were leaving....

It's your adventure.

This is an excellent idea.
 
On our Winter Wonderland trip, a couple was so unhappy with the trip they simply took off on their own for nearly two days and returned to meet the group for the closing dinner. They told the guides only as they were leaving....

Um.... what made them so unhappy? I can't imagine paying all that money for a 5 day trip and then skipping out for half of it.
 
We posted a bit about this back in 2013. It was an amazing place but there were problems apparently tied only to our trip once we got into Yellowstone. Another disboards poster was on the very next trip and they did all the things that were supposed to happen on ours - where we were either just at the hotel instead of Haden Valley or off watching winter geysers rather than, well, at the hotel.

The unhappy couple mentioned above had the good sense we did not have, and realized what was happening and took off on their own to do activities and such - including snowmobiling which was NOT on the ABD list, but beats sitting at a hotel...we wish we had known or followed...

Nevertheless, come departure time the couple was present and left with the group.

There is adventure out there - find yours!
 
Uber made it ridiculously easy for us to split from the group. Both of our drivers could barely speak English but it made no difference at all because I had already input the destination in the app. It's not in all countries obviously but it worked out great for us.
 
Uber made it ridiculously easy for us to split from the group. Both of our drivers could barely speak English but it made no difference at all because I had already input the destination in the app. It's not in all countries obviously but it worked out great for us.

Great advice. I’ve looked into this and apparently in Asia there is grab, similar concept.
 
Do you have an option when booking to have a car? There is no way that is happening.
Yes, there are plenty of Grab cars in the cities. We had no problems in Hanoi, HCMC, or Hoi An. On our pre-trip to Ninh Binh, every time we looked, there were only bikes.
 

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