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Robb & Elissa's European Adventures 2017!


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Part 1 - London, KidZania, Musicals, MORE!

Part 2 - Adventures By Disney River Cruise Embarkation Day!

Part 3 - River Cruise Day Two - Austria Tree Tops Park & Ropes Course!

Part 4 - Salt Mine Slides & Sound of Music Stuff!

Part 5 - Cruising the Danube, Apricot farms, wine tasting, and more!

Part 6 - A visit to Wiener Prater in Vienna, Austria!

Part 7 - A Day in Solvakia!

Part 8 - Final Day! Our Adventure in Budapest!

Part 9 - Adventures by Disney Re-Cap Video!

 

 

So we are embarking on doing something we've never done before... An Adventures By Disney vacation! For the most part this will actually be a "non-theme park" Disney vacation, but as you'll see there will be a few surprises along the way so keep posted!

 

For this first leg, which is the pre-Adventures by Disney part of the trip, we made a short three-day stop over in London for some culture, shows, and Kidzania!

 

This first part is going to have a TON of photos, but there's some great stuff in here! Don't miss anything! Here goes...

 

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And now our next adventure starts!

 

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Royalty and stuff...

 

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Royal horses...

 

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Hey look! It's the queen!

 

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Yay! Royal colours and things!

 

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Kristen is practicing for our upcoming Oktoberfest trip!

 

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25 years ago my first ever theater musical was Les Miserables in London! Yesterday, Kristen was singing Les Mis songs in her Orlando theater summer camp, and now I'm happy to share that West End experience with her! She LOVES it!!!

 

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Today we are seeing art and historical stuffs!

 

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If you touch the Rosetta Stone, you automatically learn a new language! No installation CD required! It's like magic!

 

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Saw Great Wave The British Museum! Super cool but no photos allowed. Spend extra money for a huge exhibit you can't share with anyone. #dumb We've been to loads of big museums over the past few years and have never seen photo restrictions like this. It wasn't that you couldn't take photos of the one piece of art, it was the WHOLE EXHIBIT. And you had to pay extra for it, while you can take as many photos as you'd like around the rest of the museum that is free.

 

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All the best parts of Greek mythology!

 

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Japanese art & things! Love this! Note: So I can take photos in this FREE exhibit but not the upcharge Japan exhibit???

 

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The perfect Father's Day lunch! Wagamama! I wish we had more of these in America, but it gives us one more reason to come to UK!

 

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London historical touristy stuff? Check!

 

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Just sat down in the front row of Matilda! I love that the front row of the Cambridge Theater is really the very FRONT!!! (No orch pit!)

 

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At intermission! The girl playing Matilda (Abbie Vena) is wonderful! Amazing facial expressions! Perfect for the role!

 

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Abbie was amazing as the lead in Matilda! We chatted with her after the show and she was just as lovely off-stage!

 

IMO live theater is to roller coasters & physical dark rides as movies are to simulators & media-based rides. I prefer roller coasters!

 

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Ready for another Kidzania day? Kristen is!

 

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Hey look! KidZania London uses this awesome RFID wristband system to interact with screens inside the park to track your progress! Awesome!

 

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Kristen is a Kidzania world traveler having now been to KidZania Tokyo, KidZania Dubai and now KidZania London!

 

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As you walk into KidZania London you realize this is a well themed and detailed "edutainment" theme park designed just for kids! We love it!

 

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Right now, Kristen is at hospital doing a human organ transplant! 90% chance the patient has survived!

 

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Here's how the RFID wristband system works. Tap the screen & among other features, tells you exactly where your child is at!

 

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Kristen's next job is a radio DJ! I wonder if she has a future at CapitalFM?

 

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It's just like the old Tortilla factory at DCA! But better! She gets a whole pack! lol

 

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Because everyone needs to shop for groceries, KidZania London teaches you both sides of the register!

 

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I like the Kidzania & Mexico clocks on the wall! Pays homage to both where tortillas and Kidzania comes from!

 

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Police officer Kristen is keeping the KidZania London citizens safe and in order! Hey, if Judy Hopps can do it!

 

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Next up Kristen takes a job as a television news anchor! KidZania London has a full studio setup! Impressive! She did great!

 

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The window washing job is kind of hilarious! They actually send kids out to wash the windows in the park! Awesome!

 

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Kristen tries her hand at fashion design! Apparently unicorns are "in" this year!

 

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When you work to repair air conditioning, the kids crawl through the HVAC system and have to find the exit!

 

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Working as a real estate agent, Kristen was sent out to various locations to take measurements and report back to the office.

 

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At the KidZania London theater, the kids learn real parts for an actual show they perform in the theater to an audience! It's fantastic!

 

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You can see the RFID tracking system at work! Kids tap in/out at job locations and also with photographers for photos!

 

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For all the hard work the kids do they earn money to spend on stuff in the department store! (Or they can work there, too!)

 

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And since the kids earn "real" money they get to do "real" banking also!

 

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Kristen's final job of the day was a newspaper reporter where she had to go do interviews and write an article! Amazing!

 

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At end of your visit you use the RFID wristband to select any photos you want to buy. We went for the "all digital" option!

 

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Upon leaving KidZania London you have to go through passport control to get back to reality! (Why do we have to leave???)

 

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Here are some of the KidZania locations around the world! There are two US locations (Dallas & Chicago) in development! Yay!

 

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Kristen had an AMAZING visit to KidZania London! This is why KidZania is one of our favorite theme park concepts! You need to bring your kids!

 

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Just sat down for Mamma Mia! Another show I can't believe we've never seen but we already know we love it!

 

19225768_10158947433375370_3012099005724332802_n.jpg.6fc2affccf0ca07c271ab423414394b8.jpgI'm usually not a fan of "jukebox musicals" but this show is just "silly fun" and we've never seen it and we always joke how we either have just missed a run somewhere or haven't been in town when it tours, so tonight we finally crossed it off the list!

 

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Pro Tip! They do not serve steaks at Victoria Station! #London

 

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This mini-UK visit is coming to a close. Next stop... Adventures By Disney Danube River Cruise! Follow along for more updates soon!

 

Click HERE for Part 2 of this report!

 

Oh yes, be sure to POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!

(we took the time to write the report, the least you could do is say something nice about it!)

Edited by robbalvey
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Looks like you had great fun and good weather.

 

Every time you post Kidzania pictures I am really impressed by the concept.

It looks so awesome. And why clean yourself if you can let your clientele clean for you Window Washer is brilliant.

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Such a great city! I especially liked touring the Tower of London and Churchill's Bunker with my brother years ago. And I agree that we need Wagamama in the U.S. now!

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Looks like you're having a great time in Europe! Every time I see those Kidzania pictures, I want to try it myself! They should also invent an adultszania where adults can try all the different jobs!

 

We have that here in America. It's called real life. I entered it almost 51 years ago and haven't left yet. It's not as much fun as it appears KidTums is having, but I'm making the best of it.

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^

 

I also like the Kidzania concept - it should be interesting to see how they do here in the states.

 

I really enjoyed our time in Prague, Budapest and Vienna when we went a few years ago, so I'm really looking forward to this report from from the Danube...and YAY for Oktoberfest trips!

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The pictures are amazing, and I envy you got to see so much "culture" stuff in the museum, and in London.

 

(not to mention the shows).

 

Kidzania looks neat, but as someone without kiddos I think it wouldn't be a stop for me. . but great that Kristen has a good time, and the concept is very cool.

 

my biggest take-away (ha!) from the report was this:

 

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after so many years of hearing comments from friends/relatives/comics about how "awful" the food is in the UK? this looks so damn good. I'll have to go look up the menu at this place, just to see what I'm missing!

 

can't wait to see the next update.

 

edit: oooo. . I looked it up, and they have opened a restaurant in Boston, and one in Manhattan!!! (still far away from Texas, but a closer trip than to London). . on my bucket list!

 

https://www.wagamama.us/

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Thanks for sharing!! I look the Kidzania updates and happy to see they have plans to build one in Dallas and Chicago!

I had no idea you guys didn't see Mama Mia yet! Glad you enjoyed it, and hey, its playing on Allure of the Seas now lol!

 

Can't wait for the rest of the updates!

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Looks like you're having a great time in Europe! Every time I see those Kidzania pictures, I want to try it myself! They should also invent an adultszania where adults can try all the different jobs!

 

I absolutely LOVE the KidZania concept...it's so cool.

 

The adult version is essentially all the one off experiences you can already do. For example, in Vegas you can drive an exotic car (or NASCAR car at the speedway), fly in a trainer fighter jet, fly in actual boeing flight simulators, shoot just about every weapon imaginable, crush a car with a tank, play with heavy construction equipment....

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nice update. Next time you guys plan to go to London give me a shout if your wanting to see any shows, 9 times outta 10 I can get discount or cast rate, As you know i work in the Musical Business my self. Hope you enjoyed the shows any way, always nice to see that you like musicals as well as theme parks

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We have done Disney theme park vacations in every location they offer, we've done Disney Cruises, but this is the first time doing an "Adventures by Disney" vacation! What is "Adventures by Disney?" They offer various tours around the world, but with that high level of Disney quality! You can get more info here: https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/

 

This vacation we are doing is the Danube River Cruise and we will stop at various places in Germany, Austria, Solvakia, and Hungary! For a trip like this one, Disney works with a river cruise operator and charters out the ship, adds some "Disney flair" to it, and all your guides have that Disney quality you are used to from the parks, in fact, some of them even come from the theme parks!

 

Let's get this trip started, shall we?

 

Day one was embarkation day, which really just got us familiar with the ship and the itinerary...

 

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We have just checked in! Our next Disney Adventure starts soon!

 

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We have just boarded our ship! Time to kick off this Adventures By Disney Danube River Cruise!

 

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As soon as you board the ship, everything looks and sounds "Disney!" (Yes, the ship is playing Disney music!)

 

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Here's a quick look at the Stateroom! Yes, it's fantastic and yes, it comes with an iMac!

 

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For "included" ship WiFi, those speeds are not bad at all!

 

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Here is the upper deck of the "Amaviola" ship we are on. It's really nice!

 

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Our current view!

 

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A rose, is a rose, is a rose! The "welcome aboard" orientation on the Amaviola!

 

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Initial dinner on the Amaviola Riverboat! Check out the menus!

 

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Dinner was great! We met our Adventures By Disney guides! This is going to be an AWESOME vacation!

 

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How's THAT for a view??? Embarkation day was a success! The real adventure starts tomorrow!

 

Click HERE for Part Three of this report!

 

Oh yes, be sure to POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!

(we took the time to write the report, the least you could do is say something nice about it!)

Edited by robbalvey
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That cruise looks fantastic. I always wanted to do a Disney Cruise or something similar. I will have to take a look at the website soon to see the costs of an adventure at Disney standards but hopefully there could be something more in my price range than the actual cruise ships.

 

almost wish you'd stopped by Alton Towers to ride The Smiler while in the U.K. just to see the fanboys lose their minds again.

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I love river cruises as they are so relaxing. And you have luck with the weather. Somehow I missed what the route is, Passau to Budapest or further? I have a house on the dunabe river close to Belgrade, I should check if it is still standing,lol.

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Good morning from the town of Passau, Germany! First official day of our Adventures By Disney Danube River Cruise!

 

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When vacationing with Disney you are never far away from "characters!"

 

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Getting a tour of the adorable German town of Passau! It's just like being at Epcot@

 

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This is the plague house! "Bring out your dead!"

 

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Artwork and things...

 

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More of the sights in Passau!

 

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Jesus and things...

 

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Elissa has never seen an organ that big before!!!

 

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We are about to make little marzipan pigs! The sample is on the left. Mine will probably end up looking more like the square block! lol

 

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We are attempting to make marzipan pigs! No promises that they will actually LOOK like pigs! lol

 

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Here is our family of slightly deformed, mostly dysfunctional marzipan pigs!

 

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Kristen had such a great time exploring Passau with the guides from Adventures By Disney!

 

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There has been no shortage of great food so far!

 

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Current view from our stateroom...

 

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We're on a coach to our next excursion! What's on TV? Mickey Mouse of course! This is Adventures By Disney after all! (View is awesome too!)

 

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Currently a couple hundred feet above the trees in Austria! What an amazing view!

 

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This "tree tops" park in Austria is fantastic! Great views and fun activities!

 

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This place is a giant maze of paths, tree houses, and look-out towers higher above the trees in Austria!

 

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This place also has an awesome "never in America" ropes course & playground!

 

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We had a really great time exploring the tree tops in Austria today with Adventures By Disney!

 

Click HERE for Part Four of this report!

 

Oh yes, be sure to POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!

(we took the time to write the report, the least you could do is say something nice about it!)

Edited by robbalvey
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Great report so far! The food looks wonderful and it seems like each day is jam packed with neat activities. One day I think I will try to go on one of these trips. Obviously, you pay a premium when you do Disney anything, but do you think the value is still strong for what you're paying? I know it's early in the trip.

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