Adventures by Disney - Viva Italia Trip

• all the quality expected of a "family adventure" - and then some
• special Disney touches (but not overdone)
• sightseeing and extra "activities" - excellent

Background: Adventures by Disney - Viva Italia Trip

"Family Adventures" are a special niche in the family travel scene: small-group escorted tours explore the Great Outdoors, or perhaps the great cities of Europe; the itinerary is best-of-the-best, and all details are handled. This niche has basically belonged to adventure companies who offer special family trips, but since 2005 Disney has offered over a dozen "Adventures by Disney" itineraries.

One of the most popular is Viva Italia, which includes Rome, medieval hill-town Orvieto, a villa in Tuscany, day-trip to Florence, and Venice. Below is a recap of what the trip entails. But first, some background about our trip...

Who's on Board?
Our group included several families celebrating milestone birthdays or anniversaries. The group was convivial, and considerate; many mentioned -- at our farewell-- that the company of the other families had been a highlight of the trip. As for the kids... it's a lottery, what ages of kids will turn up; our trip had five girls who happily formed a group.

Our total population of 23 was easily handled by two terrific guides who were with us throughout the trip. Our itinerary included ample free time for family bonding, too.

What if I'm not a Disney-phile?
If the idea of mixing The Mouse and Michelangelo gives pause, don't worry: the Disneyesque touches are light; for example, a special Disney pin at the end of each day. The real Disney touchstone --and the reason that many in our group chose this vacation-- was the assurance of quality.

Continue below for Day by Day Itinerary, and follow-on to Hotels and Meals.

Adventures by Disney Viva Italia - Part One, Rome

Rome- Colosseum

Details of the Viva Italia itinerary are online, and may see changes over time, but the basic structure has three sections: Rome; Tuscany (including Florence, a stay in the countryside, and a visit to a medieval hill-town); and Venice. The itinerary mixes group time with free time for exploring on your own.

Note: it goes without saying that all our sightseeing was fabulous; this trip covers the greatest of Italy. On all "guided tours", our group had our own local expert (in addition to the two guides with us throughout the trip.) Sightseeing with a personal tour guide can't be beat. We listened to our guide through little earphones; no worries about clustering around the guide, to hear.

Rome, Day One: arrival and introduction dinner.

Day Two:

• guided tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum: the most famous sightseeing in Rome, made easy (Colosseum tickets handled etc.), and informative thanks to our personal tour guide. My own family once explored the vast --and hot-- Forum ruins with three young kids and a couple of guidebooks: much better to have your own expert! At both places, we had free time to explore.
• guided tour of historic Rome: after lunch, we continued to the Spanish Steps, Piazza Nanona, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon... the must-sees of Rome.

This is a long day of sightseeing for kids, but these are all places that can't be missed!

Day Three: Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel: again, spectacular sightseeing, with our own knowledgeable tour guide; and a fast-track into the Sistine Chapel.

Part Two - Tuscany

Tuscany

Orvieto, Day Four: our bus took us to Orvieto (actually in Umbria, not Tuscany, but countryside is similar.) Orvieto -- a wonderful surprise, said several in the group-- is a picture-perfect medieval hill town, perched on towering rock, with panorama of rolling hills; and crowned with one of Italy's finest cathedrals (- built here, of all places, because of a miracle during a Pope's visit centuries ago.)

Tuscany Villa: we stayed three nights at country property Borgo San Luigo, alongside European vacationers. Kids enjoyed the pool, grown-ups enjoyed the dining and an evening of wine-tasting and olive-oil tasting.

Day Five: From this home base, we bussed to a Pasta-Making activity, and here the Disney quality shone. The setting was the picturesque Castello Vicchiomaggio (a film location for a star-studded movie of Much Ado About Nothing). Our pasta-making instructor was charming; kids and parents all loved the hands-on pasta-making; the follow-up lunch was great. Dinner that night was a highlight, too: outdoors, at a nearby property, on a patio with a superb view of Tuscan countryside.

Florence, Day Six. A bus-ride through lovely countryside took us to Firenze, the former city-state so powerful in the medieval centuries. We first saw Michelangelo's masterpiece sculpture, David, with the benefit of comments from a local tour guide, who then took us on a walking tour through splendid Florence.

Part Three: Venice

Day seven: a first-class train ride to Venice was relaxing; and no carting bags around, that's all magically handled.

First up, in Venice, was a gondola ride. Then a guide showed us around this peerless city, where the architecture is art, and the view is stunning wherever you look.

Day 8: Mask-Making Activity. Another 5-star activity: just the right hands-on fun for kids --and parents-- in Venice, where masks are part of the Carnival tradition. With a little help from a tactful expert, our masks turned out beautifully and made perfect souvenirs.

Grand Finale: I doubt any company but Disney would create such an extravaganza.

The evening began with an actor dressed as a historical Italian character, who joked with kids and grown-ups before leading us to the hotel's outdoor restaurant, where musicians in period costume played classical music, and our newly-created masks lay at the plate settings. Everyone modeled masks, for a photo op. After a fine meal, our costumed host led the way to another musical performance, including two dancers who first demonstrated the minuet, and then "taught" the group; just the kind of fun that all ages enjoy. Afterwards, for the note of farewell: a slide show, with photos of each day of our trip.

--Continue to Hotels & Meals...

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*photos © T. Plowright