Dreams unlimited, is this their normal way of business or not??

[snowwhitemom]

I booked in early summer late spring and mailed my deposit. The only info I have received from them is a confirmation saying they received it. Everything that I have learned has been on this board. I am just wondering do they normally tell thier clients whats up or do I need to research and fend for myself?? I am a lil disapointed in the service I suppose, can any one tell me about thier experience or how I should handle this. Thanks for your help. Oh, i hate to complain so this thread was very hard for me because I really like to be positive but I am not feeling it now.:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[shmoogrrrl]

I am a little confused on what you want Dreams Unlimited to be doing. Travel agents, for the most part, don't do much except hook you up with your reservations and that sort of thing. They will also answer any questions that you might have, if you e-mail them and ask.

I've used Dreams three times now and we've never had a problem getting questions answered from them. Have you tried emailing them to ask your questions? They sponsor this site as a good research point for planning the details of your trip. That is more than a lot of Travel Agents do! :)

If you HAVE been e-mailing Dreams Unlimited, and they are not responding, I'd find their number and call someone directly. Let them know who you've been assigned as your agent, and request someone new!

Good Luck!

Kathy

[snowwhitemom]

Thanks shmoogrrl, I have not e-mailed...I have just been waiting, Basically far as they know I don't know anything to expect. It is not so much a certain question but an overveiw of everything. This is our first cruise for our 10th anniversay and i really hope all goes well. i have never used any travel agent, i have always booked on my own but with the cruise I went with DU because they support this site. I should maybe get a list of my "?" together and send an e-mail, Maybe I am expecting to much. Thanks for your reply. Oh by the way.......Oh what a CUTE CUTE CUTE baby!!:D

[my3kids]

I didn't use dreams, but I think what you are explaining is just the way things are. I booked way in advance and got the confirmation package that had the deposit, the information about the reservation, phone numbers for questions and the date and amount of the final payment. I have not gotten any literature in the interium, but I didn't expect any either.

I called to make a final payment yesterday, so I will get a confirmation for that. Then I'll just wait until almost cruise time and I'll get the document package. That isn't prepared by Disney until closer to sailing time.

[snowwhitemom]

Thanks my3kids, I work for a co. that demands above the call of duty on client service so I tend to expect it every where else I go. So if this is the normal thing then I guess I am on track. With this forum and Dave's site I guess I can get any questions answered.

[prymsu]

You will learn so much more from this board than from most any travel agent. I could answer questions that my TA was not sure of for my DCL cruise, and that was because i am constantly out here seeking new tips and information. We would all like our TAs to answer all our questions, but in all reality, i think that this does not normally happen...just my thoughts.

[CarolAnnC]

Disney Cruise Lines sends their informational materials with your cruise documents package. When your travel agent receives this they should immediately forward it to you. If you book with DCL they send it directly to you. You can expect your cruise documents anywhere from two to four weeks prior to your cruise. :)

[westjones]

This board is better than any information that Disney sends you. It is SO helpful. I wish I had found it before our first cruise in 2000.

Each cruise gets better and better (we are going on our 3rd soon). Part of why it gets better is that I learn about things on this list and then I want to go try it.

I would NEVER have booked swimming with the stingrays on the 7 day western had it not been for this list. I thought stingrays would 'sting' you, and it sounded dangerous.

Now my daughters are DO excited to get to do something like this.

Just ask your questions on this list, and someone will answer you. This is a wonderful group!
DJ

[aseafish]

If you book with DCL they send it directly to you. You can expect your cruise documents anywhere from two to four weeks prior to your cruise.

That may be the problem for those of us who extend our vaations by thinking about them all year. I was a bit surprised by what DLC sent me when I booked directly though them--a brochure on trip insurance, only. Don't know what I was expecting either. Glad I was told about this board.

[mouseclick1]

snowwhitemom-
If youhaven't already, I would contact DCL directly and have them send you out their free cruise planning video. It gives you a great overview and is fun to watch! I think it is available to order on their website, as well as by phone.

We have gone through DU in the past, and while they didn't send out any planning info, they did respond to all my questions in a timely manner.

Happy planning!

[paulmc80]

I book through Dreams Unlimited and received an e-mail confirmation. If you did not know already, you can check your reservation with DU through their website if you have a confirmation number and a password which you should have had to create when making the reservation. This will give you all th einformation on you reservation. I find this very useful.

Also, DU has been very responsive to my email questions. They usually respond within an hour, if no the half hour.

[CarolAnnC]

The DIS Cruise Board is definitely the way to feed your cruise info appetite prior to cruising!! ;)

If you still cannot get enough, then come join us every Friday evening for Cruise Chat here in the DIS Chat Room. It starts at 9 pm est and is a great way to chat with other cruise fanatics!! :)

[shmoogrrrl]

Snowwhitemom,

Good idea to get all your questions together and mail them! I'm sure you'll get a response then!

Thanks for the cute baby comment. She is two months almost and growing up way too fast!

Kathy

[snowwhitemom]

Thanks so much EVERY one!!!! I have until Jan. 2, so eveyone will hear alot of questions from this girl until then. Thanks so much, I feel the anixety leaving me now.;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[aseafish]

The video is a lot of fun. It lets you share the experience with family and friends, as well.

[Michelle]

Snowwhitemom, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to e-mail your agent and ask. There isn't too much to know at this point, other than the documentation requirements (see the post at the top of this board) and pre-booking excursions once you pay your final payment. Dreams will e-mail you information about that once you have done so.

Enjoy your cruise! :D

[snowwhitemom]

Thanks Michelle.

[CathyCanada]

And please feel free to email me snowwhitemom with any questions you have.

I am setting things up to be the "cruise only concierge" contact person, but things are in the planning stages right now. I am hoping to get the ball rolling within the next week or 2, but am doomed to dialup until my cablenet comes back so that is slowing me down considerably.

Anyway, I would be happy to help you! :)
Cathy

[snowwhitemom]

Thanks Cathy, I know I will be taken you guys up on your very kind offers. I love this site!!!:D :D Suzy

[inkkognito]

I hope that you will have the pleasure of hearing from DU a few times like we have...notifications that our cruise prices have dropped! They are great about watching for that, and it has happened for us on several occasions. We have something like 10+ future cruises booked with them right now, and we have always gotten great service from them. Usually everything goes smoothly so there isn't much need for contact, but whenever we've had a question, they have always been prompt to respond.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[Irishmom23]

I have booked all my trips with DU. With the cruises (all booked well over a year ahead) I didn't really have any information except the basic reservation info that you are able to get by logging on to your own reservation site. Later, as it got closer to the actual date, I received notification that my price went down!!
By the 60th day I received an e-mail about excursions, etc., and about 2-3 weeks before we sailed, I received a detailed itinerary under my reservation site that I was able to print up. It included a day by day itinerary with my excursions listed, whether it was a formal night, which port we would be in, and many, many helpful hints. I frequently check my reservation site to check on the days left before my trip (409!!) Once I made my final payment, I received excursion info from DCL, well before the 60 day mark.
Please e-mail your TA with questions or any concerns. Everyone
I have dealt with at DU has been more than helpful. I have had cabin changes, dining time changes, date changes and have always had a quick response to any request. Good luck and have fun on your cruise!

[tltjet]

I am using DU for my cruise in Sept. For the most part the service has been great. I do agree with you about not getting information. I read on this board about the Freeport stop and I still have not received anything from DU telling me that the itinerary was changed. After about a month I finally e-mailed then to find out if this was the case for my cruise and they did e-mail me right back. If it were not for this board I still would not have known.

I have to admit that I have gotten the quickest service with them then any other travel agent. So for the most part I am happy with the service.

[snowwhitemom]

THANKS for the extra peice of mind, I guess I am so excited that I didn't realize that it really is still a good ways out. I only hope to have experiences as all of you have. Inkkognito, Oh the day to have 10 anything already booked out!!!!:D DVC, Right? It keeps looking better and better. Thanks again.

[inkkognito]

Believe it or not, we're NOT DVC!!! We've considered it, but we like to do the all-inclusive packages when we go to WDW so it wouldn't work out for us so I've managed to hold hubby off (he'd really love to buy into DVC just to say he is a member). I am just a compulsive planner, so I book a year ahead to be sure we can get the secret porthole rooms when we want them.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[snowwhitemom]

Wow!!:D :D

[shefor24]

I feel the same as the original poster- I am suprised they don't send you more goodies in the mail, I would sure like to know my schedule of what is going on - what times we will be arriving and leaving port- that kind of stuff. I love to plan, and feel I can't because I don't know what all to expect both on and off the ship. I am going on the 3 night Oct 24, so what is the schedule? I guess I have to wait til all the excursions are booked up to learn what the schedule is. ???
:rolleyes:

[aseafish]

notifications that our cruise prices have dropped! They are great about watching for that, and it has happened for us on several occasions.

Now that's the kind of communication I would like to get.
:teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

[Ginny]

SnowWhiteMom -

First, congratulations on your 10th Anniversary!! How exciting and how brilliant to celebrate with a Disney Cruise!! You will have a great time. We celebrated our 11th anniversay on the Disney Magic last October. You may have already let DU in on your celebration, but if not, be sure you do. They made sure to notify the ship and we received a nice little cake and two pins. Our servers were so wonderful about helping us celebrate.

These boards, Barb and Tony's site and Dave's site are all the best references for info. And, I love reading other's trip reports. Mouseclick1's suggestion to order the video is great one. We just got the latest one last Friday. After a hard day, those videos can just take me away (No Calgon required) and really brighten everything up.

Have a wonderful time!

[snowwhitemom]

Shefor24, wow you are going in Oct. I would have to know something. I am going to use all of the great suggestions that I have recieved here and make the trip the best trip ever. Ginny, Thanks so much for the tip, We are going to BWV from the 12-29 to 1-02 before we set sail. The lil things in life always thrill me, a lil cake goes along way with me. Thanks for both of your responces. I will have to check out Barbs and Tonys site......But I must admit that I have Daves on my favorites!!! Where can I find their sites??:)

[wovenwonder]

Barb and Tony's website is www.***************** -- after you see it, I am certain that it will go right beside Dave's in your favorites!

Here are some of my other favorite websites/photo albums of DCL trips if you'd care to check them out:

http://www.yourweatherman.com/disney.html#

http://home.att.net/~pete-williams/magic/magic.htm

and I also have a link to my little ol site below.


:p

[snowwhitemom]

thanks for the links!!:D Have a great day....with all my new info mine just may be well magical.