In July 2016, my family experienced the most amazing Disney vacation ever--an Adventures by Disney trip to Italy and the Amalfi Coast. 
We decided to fly into Rome, Italy, two days early to get adjusted to the time zone and to visit Rome since we had never been. We are so glad that we did and would recommend this to everyone. There were many families in our Adventures by Disney (ABD) group who did not do this and wished they had. Many were so jet lagged they could not enjoy our ABD welcome dinner. Also, some families had lost luggage did not have time to buy new clothes. They had to do that while we were on the first adventure the next day.
On July 17, we took the train from Rome to Naples. Upon arriving in Naples, we got off the train and were immediately greeted by an ABD guide who took our luggage and lead us outside to a Mercedes Sprinter van to take us to our hotel in Sorrento. ABD supplied us with luggage tags and huge, orange suitcase bands, so the ABD guide recognized us very easily. The ride from Naples was about 30 minutes to the hotel.
Sorrento: La Favorita Hotel
When we arrived at the hotel, we were met at a welcome table by our two ABD guides, Marcello and Marissa. Little did we know they would become true friends and an enormous help on our trip. They are basically personal assistants for your trip.
They gave us a great welcome gift--maps of Sorrento--and told us a great place to eat lunch and where to find the best gelato in Sorrento. They were not wrong on either one! We wandered the streets and shops, and then went back to our rooftop pool that overlooked the Mediterranean. Just gorgeous!
Our ABD welcome dinner was with all of the families in our group. They welcomed us with appetizers, Prosecco, red and white wine, and a neat drink for the kids. We went around the room we introduced our families and where we were from. The reception was also where we received our first ABD pin for our collection.
We had a wonderful rooftop sunset dinner with the group and got to know everyone. The food was really great and the wine was unlimited! The guides explained what would be going on for the next eight days of our adventure.
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Positano and Amalfi
We met everyone in the lobby the next morning to board our private motor coach along the Amalfi Coast to a little town called Positano; this was my favorite town on the coast! The motor coach stopped along the way to take amazing pictures. The guides will take as many pictures as you want of your family. Throughout the whole trip, the ABD guides and extra guide hold up orange paddles and watch out for your safety. We never got lost or felt unsafe on our entire trip!
When we arrived in Positano, we had free time to explore the town and eat lunch. The guides gave everyone great suggestions on where to eat and how to find the restaurants. We then met up with our group and boarded an Azimut boat which sailed out and gave us a view of the coast from the water. WOW! In each town, Disney hires a guide who knows the local area. We had Michael for Positano, and he was great. He gave us all the history and was full of knowledge of the area.
We sailed over to Amalfi and had the afternoon to ourselves.
That night, our whole ABD group went to a working farm in Sorrento. It was complete with lemon
trees, cows, olive press, and a pizza-making class just for us. The Jr Adventurers (all children under
12) sat at one table while the adults got to sit together to give us all a little break. They let the kids roll
mozzarella balls. We all got to go to the brick oven and make our own pizza to eat later that night
while they served us wine they make at the farm. They had live music and dancing, and the guides got us all up
to dance too. We ended the night by going downstairs to see how they make their limoncello, an after
dinner drink that aids in digestion, and they shared a glass with each of us. We were able to
purchase wine, limoncello, and olive oil from their working farm. It was such an unforgettable night.
We received our second pin in our collection from our guides.
We met everyone in the lobby the next morning to board our private motor coach along the Amalfi Coast to a little town called Positano; this was my favorite town on the coast! The motor coach stopped along the way to take amazing pictures. The guides will take as many pictures as you want of your family. Throughout the whole trip, the ABD guides and extra guide hold up orange paddles and watch out for your safety. We never got lost or felt unsafe on our entire trip!
When we arrived in Positano, we had free time to explore the town and eat lunch. The guides gave everyone great suggestions on where to eat and how to find the restaurants. We then met up with our group and boarded an Azimut boat which sailed out and gave us a view of the coast from the water. WOW! In each town, Disney hires a guide who knows the local area. We had Michael for Positano, and he was great. He gave us all the history and was full of knowledge of the area.
We sailed over to Amalfi and had the afternoon to ourselves.
That night, our whole ABD group went to a working farm in Sorrento. It was complete with lemon
trees, cows, olive press, and a pizza-making class just for us. The Jr Adventurers (all children under
12) sat at one table while the adults got to sit together to give us all a little break. They let the kids roll
mozzarella balls. We all got to go to the brick oven and make our own pizza to eat later that night
while they served us wine they make at the farm. They had live music and dancing, and the guides got us all up
to dance too. We ended the night by going downstairs to see how they make their limoncello, an after
dinner drink that aids in digestion, and they shared a glass with each of us. We were able to
purchase wine, limoncello, and olive oil from their working farm. It was such an unforgettable night.
We received our second pin in our collection from our guides. 
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Isle of Capri
The next morning we woke and had breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Always great! Then we boarded our motor coach with our tour guides and Michael to head over to the ferry. The ferry took over to the Isle of Capri. There are no words to even describe how beautiful it is. The ferry is huge and goes very fast, so it only took us 20 minutes to get from Sorrento to Isle of Capri.
When we arrived in Capri, ABD surprised the whole group by buying us freshly squeezed lemon and orange slushies. I'm still craving them!
We then boarded the funicular which is the fastest way to get to the top of the Isle of Capri. We walked the island, and Michael told of lots of history and took pictures in the garden. We were then on our own for a few hours to shop and eat.
After lunch, we boarded our own private boat to the Blue Grotto and the caves on the water. After exploring, we anchored and got to jump into the Mediterranean ocean. We swam for about an hour and headed back to the ferry. While swimming, we got our third pin in our collection from our guides.
We had the night to ourselves, so we asked Marcello and Marissa where to eat and headed down to the fishing village in Sorrento. They set up our taxi (which we did not have to pay for) and our reservations at the restaurant. Amazing dinner and sunset!!! We decided to walk back after dinner through the fishing village, and it was like stepping back in time.
Come back next week to see Part 2 of the Italy and Amalfi Coast Adventures by Disney!
The next morning we woke and had breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Always great! Then we boarded our motor coach with our tour guides and Michael to head over to the ferry. The ferry took over to the Isle of Capri. There are no words to even describe how beautiful it is. The ferry is huge and goes very fast, so it only took us 20 minutes to get from Sorrento to Isle of Capri.
When we arrived in Capri, ABD surprised the whole group by buying us freshly squeezed lemon and orange slushies. I'm still craving them!
We then boarded the funicular which is the fastest way to get to the top of the Isle of Capri. We walked the island, and Michael told of lots of history and took pictures in the garden. We were then on our own for a few hours to shop and eat.
After lunch, we boarded our own private boat to the Blue Grotto and the caves on the water. After exploring, we anchored and got to jump into the Mediterranean ocean. We swam for about an hour and headed back to the ferry. While swimming, we got our third pin in our collection from our guides.
We had the night to ourselves, so we asked Marcello and Marissa where to eat and headed down to the fishing village in Sorrento. They set up our taxi (which we did not have to pay for) and our reservations at the restaurant. Amazing dinner and sunset!!! We decided to walk back after dinner through the fishing village, and it was like stepping back in time.
Come back next week to see Part 2 of the Italy and Amalfi Coast Adventures by Disney!
Courtney had an amazing experience on the Adventures by Disney vacation and is ready to help you plan an Adventures by Disney vacation or a magical trip to Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani Resort in Hawaii or on the Disney Cruise Line! You can contact Courtney at Courtney@wishdrawals.com.
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