Exploring Arizona, the Grand Canyon, and Utah with Adventures by Disney
When I was around 12 years old, my family was road-tripping out west for my sister’s tennis tournament. As a child, most of our family vacations (outside of Walt Disney World) revolved around one of our athletic competitions. Stopping at the Grand Canyon as part of this drive was something my mom had always dreamed of showing us – one of the amazing Seven Natural Wonders of the World!
I have to admit, I don’t think I was ready to appreciate the vastness and grandeur of the Grand Canyon at this age. We stopped, took several pictures, and then moved on. We really just sort of checked the box on visiting what my sisters and I described as a big hole in the ground, and then continued on our way.
Now as a travel agent, I had the opportunity to experience the Grand Canyon again, but from a unique perspective with Disney storytelling, and it absolutely blew me away. I felt awe inspired, connected to both the past, present and future, and found appreciation for the history and culture that resiliently occurs here. I wished I had the chance to experience it in this way the first time, as I think I would have appreciated and understood it so much more. That is why this itinerary makes the best Grand Canyon trip for families.
Why Travel with Adventures by Disney
One of the most amazing things about the Adventures by Disney itineraries that travel all over the world is the attention to detail when including the destination, culture, and history into the places they visit.
For example, Mickey Mouse did not greet us at the Grand Canyon, it isn’t that type of trip; however, we did watch Cars on the motorcoach when driving to Route 66. Something that was specifically on-brand for this itinerary. The focus isn’t on the cartoons though, it is about the real-life “characters” that bring these destinations to life. We were able to meet with Navajo tribe leaders to hear about the history of their lands. We experienced a native music and performances with dinner on select nights. Disney’s connections also provided us with some exclusive and private tour opportunities that others doing a similar itinerary wouldn’t be able to do. That’s the Disney difference!
Not only do these local guides provide their stories and bring these locations to life, but the Adventures by Disney Adventure Guides are also phenomenal. (I don’t throw that word around lightly.) These are the cream of the crop when it comes to Cast Members at Disney and they were the kindest, most welcoming, and customer-service centric people I’ve ever met. We still keep in touch and hope to for a long time. (Maybe one day, I’ll get them as a Guide on another Adventure, because this will not be my last!)
There are some other surprise and delight moments that occur that aren’t on the itinerary on the website as well. I’m not going to spoil them all for you here, but just know that if you think the itinerary looks amazing – it can even get better! All the Adventures also include exclusive pins (which are everything to Disney fans), Magical Luggage Service (just set your suitcase out and they take care of the rest), and incredible customer service from start to finish. A few other “hassle-free” things the trip includes are airport transfers, all the entry fees and tours, tips for the local guides and drivers, and many of your meals.
Traveling to Arizona and the Enchantment Resort
Our 8-day itinerary began by flying into Phoenix where we were promptly greeted even before reaching baggage claim by an Adventures by Disney airport partner. She provided our baggage claim carousel number and gave us the details for meeting our Guides. After collecting our luggage, they stored it for us and we ate a quick lunch before it was time to join our fellow Adventurers and Guides on the motorcoach – which would be our “home away from home” for the next 8 days. Not all tours are this bus-heavy, but given the itinerary, this is the best way to navigate it.
We stayed at the Enchantment Resort for 2 nights and both the resort and the views were stunning! It had inspiring energy radiating through the property and areas specifically for mediating and reflecting. This resort is known for wellness retreats for these reasons. We awoke early the next morning for an optional sunrise hike (this wasn’t one of the scheduled itinerary activities, but many of us did it – and it was worth it!) The views of the red rocks and the sunrise were incredible – and again, so was the energy surrounding us, which set the tone for the rest of our trip.
After one of the most delicious breakfasts I’ve ever had (which is included in your Adventures by Disney price by the way) we were whisked off in Pink Jeeps for a tour of Diamondback Gulch. While we didn’t get too crazy, there were a few bumpy moments and many of us “Disney Adults” on the trip would joke that we felt like we were on Big Thunder Mountain! For less adventurous folks they did have one jeep set aside to take a more smooth route that was less off-roading. Safety is always number one with Disney, but if there was something you didn’t feel comfortable doing, they always had options to modify as needed.
The remainder of the evening was free time to enjoy the resort, maybe take a yoga class, rent a bike, do another hike, and find a place for dinner. I will say that much of the trip was on-the-go, so having this one free evening was a delight and a moment to pause and reflect.
Traveling to the Grand Canyon
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
After another incredible breakfast and morning of Magical Luggage Service, we climbed aboard the motorcoach and headed toward Historic Williams Arizona which is one of the iconic areas on Route 66 that inspired the Disney-Pixar CARS movie. We had some free time to explore this quaint little town before heading to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for our first peek.
First Look at the Grand Canyon
Something really special our Adventure Guides did was to have us close our eyes, walk hand-on-shoulders until we reached the edge of the Canyon. On the count of three they had us all open our eyes and take it in – breathtaking.
Our hotel was actually located right by the Canyon’s rim, so some could see the Canyon from the room windows. How often can you say you’ve slept steps away from the Grand Canyon?! Dinner was provided for our group tonight and we had an exclusive Native American dance performance to accompany it.
About The Grand Canyon
Please feel free to read more about the Seven Natural Wonders, but a few quick facts about the Canyon will help provide some perspective to this trip.
- The Grand Canyon provides a remarkably complete record of geological history, with exposed layers of rock dating back millions of years.
- It stretches 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep.
- It once was completely covered in water and you can sometimes find seashells fossilized in the rocks.
We experienced a guided tour about the timeline of the Grand Canyon with a local expert that shared more about the layers of the rocks and what they meant.
Snow at the Grand Canyon
Being early March, it was unseasonably chilly and a snow storm was moving in, so part of this tour was cut a little short. (Pro-tip, I’d go later in the spring rather than early March to avoid the colder temperatures!) Some of us weren’t going to let a little cold keep us inside though, so we bundled up and did an “off-itinerary” hike into the Canyon. It started off okay, and at about the 1 mile mark down, we decided to go ahead and turn around and head back up in an attempt to beat the snow flurries that had begun.
With each step up the Canyon, the snow flurries grew bigger and bigger, until we were hiking in a full on blizzard! (I would not suggest this to my clients for safety reasons, but when in Rome I wasn’t going to say no.) It was such a memorable experience and one of the highlights of the trip for us. Everyone in our small group was a good sport and embraced the situation with plenty of laughs! We returned to the hotel and had hot Irish coffees to warm us back up.
That evening we had dinner on our own so my friend and I ate at the iconic El Tovar Dining Room. We had a beautiful view of the falling snow with a seat by the fireplace to enjoy our delicious meal. This restaurant opened in 1905 and was “the” place for travelers coming to the Grand Canyon. It is located in the hotel by the same name, which was historically a popular destination for celebrities, dignitaries, and guests of all kinds.
When Plans Need to Pivot
Due to the blizzard that had occurred the previous evening, the main road leading out of the Canyon and to our next destination in Utah was closed. This road is not wide, very winding, and literally could send you falling off the side if you slipped, so while it was going to throw a wrench in the original itinerary, we were not upset that we needed to find a safer route.
Many of us commented on how well our Adventure Guides handled this situation. They had multiple calls with the Adventures by Disney main office, our fantastic bus driver (shoutout to Wade!), and local authorities to ensure the best route for us to continue on our journey. I’m sure they were nervous or apprehensive, but they always remained calm and collected when delivering information to us.
We joked that if a husband and wife had to adjust their plans like this on the fly, how much arguing and stress would ensue?! We all just had a new time to put out our luggage in the morning and a slightly longer bus ride to the next location – but overall the disruption to our Adventure was minimal and we didn’t have to make any decisions.
Touring Monument Valley
We arrived a little bit later to Goulding’s Lodge than originally intended due to our detour, but the cabins we had were so quaint and delightful! This area is on an Indian Reservation and the views were amazing. After dropping our bags, we boarded some jeeps for a tour of Monument Valley with local guides on the reserve. Again, with some Disney magic sprinkled in, we were able to go to a few areas that are typically off limits to travelers. So even if you tried to recreate the Adventures by Disney itinerary on your own, it won’t be the same!
It was so neat to hear the pride they have for their land, the history of their people, and the appreciation for the earth. The energy was so positive, grounding and authentic here as well. One of the special locations we stopped to explore was Big Hogan – if you lay on the rock and look up, you can see a giant eagle shape in the rock formation. We also made sure to stop along an area that was used in the filming for Soarin’ – the attraction in EPCOT and Disney California Adventure Park.
While the rain may have cancelled the plans for a campfire, the evening concluded inside with another group meal and a presentation from a local elder within the reservation. He discussed the respect for the land, proper greetings in their culture, and so much fascinating history.
History of Goulding’s Lodge
You may not know, but Monument Valley is a big place for Hollywood movies from John Wayne films to Mission Impossible. It all started when Mr. Goulding (namesake for Goulding’s Lodge where we stayed) wouldn’t take no for an answer and convinced Hollywood movie producers to use Monument Valley as the gorgeous natural backdrop for their films. Without his passion and persistence, some of your favorite and iconic films might look a little differently today; and it helped fund the reserve. While it wasn’t discussed on the trip, Mr. Goulding reminds me a little of Walt Disney – always moving forward and pursuing what he believed in, even when others might have doubted him.
Our exit from the Valley included a group reenactment of the scene from Forrest Gump, where after miles and miles of running, he just decides he is tired and ready to go home now. Another key memory from the trip – so funny!
Mosey over to Moab
The final stop on our itinerary was Moab, Utah. We stayed in the new Hoo Doo Moab that was walking distance from great little local shops, restaurants, and a food truck park.
Despite our concerns about the chilly temperatures, we bundled up and did the white water rafting activity. Since we were THE first run of the season, the water was frigid, but luckily we didn’t get too wet as the waves were not terribly large that day. It did, however, snow on us briefly and our raft guide said that has never happened before in all the years he had been guiding! We joked that the snow must just be following us as we experienced a lot of it at the Grand Canyon. I always say when something doesn’t go exactly as planned, “It’s a memory!”
Arches National Park Visit and Hike
The next morning we got up early to visit Arches National Park. Apparently the entry lines to the park can get very long during the peak season, so again, perk of being with Disney, we had some “fast passes” of sorts to get us in and beat the rush. This day was my absolute favorite! The arches were stunning and I’m in disbelief that they’re all naturally created – truly amazing. We did some hiking and climbing and reached one of the most famous arches, Delicate Arch. This iconic arch serves as a symbol of Utah.
Then every Adventure comes to an end with a big farewell dinner. This was so bittersweet as we had become close friends already with so many of our fellow Adventurers and the Adventure Guides. While many of us were ready to get home to see our families, we also couldn’t believe that the trip was coming to a close.
The Guides put together an amazing slideshow of all the pictures from the week (yet another perk is that you don’t have to constantly ask for photos or to have your camera on you – the Guides take both posed and candid photos throughout the entire Adventure and share them with you after!)
Family Bonding on Vacation
It might sound cheesy when you read online that you’ll make special memories with the others on your tour, but we found that to be absolutely true. I understand that sometimes group guided tours may have a poor connotation, but I can assure you that Disney’s isn’t like that. They truly know how to make both the locations and the overall experience special and memorable. I can only imagine how much family bonding I would feel if I had done this week with my husband and son – and that is what I hope to bring to you all! I will definitely take them on an Adventures by Disney itinerary soon.
For those that may be hesitant about traveling internationally, but want a unique way to visit the Grand Canyon and Utah, this would be a great vacation for families to start with through Adventures by Disney. Just imagine the pride and connection you would feel all seeing the Grand Canyon together for the first time, or making it up that last hill on the hike to Delicate Arch. Those are the memories that last a lifetime and bring you closer together.
While our week specifically was Adult Exclusive – they offer some weeks like that in every itinerary – they will have activities and special nights with kid-focused entertainment so that the adults can have a break and enjoy a nice evening as well. It is a win-win!
If you’re thinking about an Adventures by Disney vacation, I would be honored to help guide you to a great itinerary in a location you and your family are excited to experience. The immersive activities and authenticity Disney brings to these trips will astonish you and make you feel like you’re part of the cultures you’re visiting. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get planning!
