A little bit about us:
My husband, Tony, and I have talked about traveling to Europe for many years. Italy was always my number one choice for our “first�? trip, so when the Adventures by Disney “Viva Italia�? trip was announced, there was very little doubt that we’d be there! When planning this trip, we noticed our possible travel dates coincided with one of the “adult only�? itineraries that Disney offered. Hmm… what a decision. Our boys are now 19, 20 and 24, and we were traveling for the first time without them. It’s our 30th anniversary. What to do? (Well, what do YOU think we did?)

While doing some recent travel agent training regarding these new itineraries, we learned about many of the “surprises�? that are included. I had the unique opportunity of knowing about some of these beforehand while my fellow travelers did not. Seeing their reactions led me to one very important decision -- if you hear about the little extras, it won’t be from me! Part of what makes Disney so special is the ability to give you the unexpected -- to go above and beyond what you expect from a vacation -- so what happens in Italy, stays in Italy!

Day One: Benvenuto!
Could I possibly be more excited? My last overseas trip was to Lebanon in 1993, and this trip promised to be much more fun with a lot less bombing. Even after over seven hours of sitting with my knees pushed up to my chin (I’m taller than most), I left the comfort (ha!) of Alitalia with an abundance of caffeine-induced enthusiasm and energy.

Flying in from Logan Airport in Boston made Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport seem sane and organized. The signs were plentiful and clear, and we made our way to the baggage claim without any confusion. There we were met by an Adventures by Disney representative, carrying what would soon become a very familiar sign. After claiming our bags, we were led out to the customs area, where we met our first Adventure Guide, Tina Hyatt.

Tina’s job on this day was to run around the airport looking for arrivals, tag their bags, hand out information sheets, and get them and their luggage settled into some kind of transportation and on their way to the hotel. No easy task with guests arriving at all different times, and to multiple baggage claim areas. As effortless and stress-free as she made it appear, it was just the beginning of nine days of careful planning and meticulous attention to detail that made this trip so seamless for those of us traveling.

There were eight of us on the Boston to Rome flight, Tony and I, and a wonderful family of six who we came to know and love. Rather than have us wait for them to clear customs, a private car was ordered up for us and we had our first “thrill ride�? in Italy -- Mr. Giuseppe’s Wild Ride to the Westin Excelsior. “Hey, is that the Coliseum?�? Whoosh! “Wow, was that the Vatican?�? Whoosh! “Wait, isn’t that…?�? Whoosh! In Rome, you pretty much have to do as the Romans do, and we settled back and relaxed -- all Romans drive like this!

We soon (very soon -- whoosh!) arrived at the Westin, our luggage was taken at the door, and we entered the ornately decorated front door to find ourselves in a magnificent chandeliered lobby -- what a lovely hotel! I don’t honestly know how or where we found Cinzia Orlando, our other Adventures by Disney guide, but like magic she was by our side. After excusing herself to take care of the guests who arrived shortly before us, she came over to where we had found a comfortable place to sit and wait, and told us that our room was actually ready at this early hour. It must be Disney magic! She gave us a little tour of the hotel, including a glimpse at the wonderful spa and indoor pool, and showed us where we’d be meeting for the evening events. Our “Daily Viva�? noted an “Adventure Welcome�? at 5:30 p.m. and a dinner at 6:30 p.m.

This is the part where I omit reference to any of the surprises left in our room. ;-)

After a shower and a very quick nap (whoosh!), Tony and I decided to take a walk in the light rain to explore the neighborhood. Our hotel was on the Via Veneto, a lovely area dotted with boutiques and little trattorias and cafes, some virtually set in the middle of the sidewalk with seating for only 8-10. The smells wafting from these little restaurants made me glad that 6:30 p.m. wasn’t too far away -- I was hungry!

Our “Adventure Welcome�? was the first time we’d officially meet all of our traveling companions -- 36 of us in all! “Getting to Know You�? games were played, champagne flowed freely, and delicious appetizers were served. By the time we entered the private dining area for our meal, we were all fast friends. One tie that bound many of us was our love for Disney, so there was no lack of topics for conversation!

After dinner, Tony and I headed back to our room to rest up for the big day of sightseeing ahead!