Any reasons why I should NOT book with DU?

[Cruiser1969]

Hi:

I have always booked my trips with an Ontario travel agency.

Are there any reasons (as a Canadian) that I should not book with Dreams Unlimited?
I've read great things about DU (not actually my concern). I'm more concerned with using an American internet service as opposed to a Canadian agency that I can actually see.


Any experiences or thoughts on this topic? Thank you for your input!

 

[4orm]

Only thing I can think of is you are not covered by TICO...but if you're doing room only or a package with Disney it's not like they are going to go bankrupt so there really isn't much of a difference.

(I was a travel agent for years)

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Why would you book with DU when any reputable Canadian B&M travel agency with a Disney trained travel agent can provide you with the same service and provide jobs for Canadians?

 

[wee-haggis]

Why would you book with DU when any reputable Canadian B&M travel agency with a Disney trained travel agent can provide you with the same service and provide jobs for Canadians?

I doubt the Canadian Agencies could beat the DU prices.

 

[Exp.626Stitch]

I've booked with them twice, but for our upcoming trip I decided to do it myself. They didn't save me any money when booking a package and the last time we had a few problems with booking our MNSSHP party tickets for us and ALL our dining reservations were wrong (booked two adults instead of 6 and vice versa). The plus was that if an AP rate came out I didn't have to call and get my reservation changed. If I didn't want to do it myself this year, I would book with a Canadian company instead.

That's just my two cents

 

[donkthemagicllama]

I always book with DU. I've never seen a TA that knows as much about WDW as DU. It's so much easier to fire off a quick e-mail to DU requesting an ADR for Marrakesh than trying to explain to a TA who probably knows much less about WDW than you do what you want or spending time on hold and long distance $$ to 407-WDISNEY.

Just my 2cents...

 

[mariethecat]

I have booked through DU for my last three trips and have not had any problems at all. I find it very convenient to get restaurant reservations and for behind the scene tours. I would definitely go through them again for another trip.

 

[madonna31]

I doubt the Canadian Agencies could beat the DU prices.

I've never seen a TA that knows as much about WDW as DU.

As a Disney TA in the GTA, I COMPLETELY beg to differ.

Why would you book with DU when any reputable Canadian B&M travel agency with a Disney trained travel agent can provide you with the same service and provide jobs for Canadians?

Well said!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

We've booked with DU and on our own with no problems either way. I have not yet found a GTA travel agent that knows a lot about Disney. When I have to explain that I don't want the park hopper portion of the ticket and they still ask for it getting me a quote I'm not booking there and this has happened more than once when trying to get a quote here. I've also had problems getting a quote that doesn't include air fare.

The only issue with booking with DU is that you are paying in US funds rather than CDN.

 

[Scratch42]

As a Disney TA in the GTA, I COMPLETELY beg to differ.

But aren't you based out of BOLTON?

j

 

[cslittle999]

Why would you book with DU when any reputable Canadian B&M travel agency with a Disney trained travel agent can provide you with the same service and provide jobs for Canadians?

Since the trip costs are equal it's all down to the intangibles. Where is this B&M Canadian travel agency? If it isn't in my town then besides their being Canadian how are they different? DU at least sponsors the DIS which tips the balance for me. Beyond that my DU travel agent writes a great trip report.

 

[deany]

When I was just in the "Can I afford this" planning stage, I sent off for a quote from TU. In the meantime I found a good airfare using Expedia from Seattle to Orlando. I then called CAA to ask about the discounts for parkhoppers. At this point, I was planning to book it all separately on my own unless I got a better price. I had never booked using Expedia before and the price seemed almost too good to be true. But every day or so the price went up so time was of the essence. So my TA actually found a cheaper fare on United which came out to about the same when she tacked on the $50 pp consultation fee. I let her put a hold on a room/tickets for POR but I was going to do more research. In BC, I have never found a TA who knows a lot about WDW, only about DL. After searching these boards, I know way more than they do about getting a good deal. In the meantime, DU came back and gave me a quote. It was cheaper than CAA and so I called CAA and they matched the price. So, I got a better price and went Canadian. Now don't get me wrong, I had intended to book with DU and would not have any qualms about it but I had started the process with CAA so I continued with them as the price was the same. I prefer to make my own ADR's because if I need to make quick decisions on times/dates then I can.

 

[surfer_ed]

Du had the best price when I shopped around for our cruise. No one in Canada could come close. Small World Travel in the US was pretty close but DU was still the best.

Service was good as well.

 

[Prairiemom]

Hi you say you booked with CAA but did they not have to go thru AAA and did you pay in Canadian or USA $$$ as I just booked with CAA but it is all done thru AAA and we paid in USA $$$. We got a good deal but we stillhave the exchange rate to worry about and hope that nothing drastic changes in the rate as its still ok

When I was just in the "Can I afford this" planning stage, I sent off for a quote from TU. In the meantime I found a good airfare using Expedia from Seattle to Orlando. I then called CAA to ask about the discounts for parkhoppers. At this point, I was planning to book it all separately on my own unless I got a better price. I had never booked using Expedia before and the price seemed almost too good to be true. But every day or so the price went up so time was of the essence. So my TA actually found a cheaper fare on United which came out to about the same when she tacked on the $50 pp consultation fee. I let her put a hold on a room/tickets for POR but I was going to do more research. In BC, I have never found a TA who knows a lot about WDW, only about DL. After searching these boards, I know way more than they do about getting a good deal. In the meantime, DU came back and gave me a quote. It was cheaper than CAA and so I called CAA and they matched the price. So, I got a better price and went Canadian. Now don't get me wrong, I had intended to book with DU and would not have any qualms about it but I had started the process with CAA so I continued with them as the price was the same. I prefer to make my own ADR's because if I need to make quick decisions on times/dates then I can.

 

[Exp.626Stitch]

Madonna31 I live in Bolton, as well. Is your travel agency strictly through the internet or do you have an office, as well?

 

[amw]

madonna31 - Do you specialize in DLR too?

A previous poster from the west coast complained of not having locals familiar with WDW - I have the same problem here in the GTA for DLR.

 

[tone.def]

Why would you book with DU when any reputable Canadian B&M travel agency with a Disney trained travel agent can provide you with the same service and provide jobs for Canadians?

I'm all for using a Canadian agent as well...

I use an an online Disney specialist TA who happens to be a Canadian. That sealed it for me.

 

[Scratch42]

A lttle off topic but relates to using a TA............

I was at my local CAA office waiting in line to get a map for my upcoming NYC trip. While waiting there was a woman who wanted to book her WDW trip and told the woman that she wanted to book now. The agent wanted to wait until Monday! Luckily the woman persisted explaining that the "Free Dining" offer expired on Sunday, so Monday would be too late!

The woman left and all I heard was the Agent complain that she had to do it now! Good thing I did not have to deal with her! And as I walked by, I reminded the Agent that she should tell her client not to forget to make her ADR's or else her "Free Dining" wouldn't be worth it!

I just hope for the sake of this family that Agent did get everything booked!

j

 

[cslittle999]

My impression, from dealing with my local CAA office and from what others have said, is that the only reason to book with CAA is to get a discount on a package. I'm sure that there are exceptions with individual agents but in general you might as well do it yourself.

 

[deany]

PrairieMom, I don't think the CAA agent actually booked through AAA but I am not absolutely sure. I will tell you what I think happened: I had just gone in to check on park tickets and this TA priced out park tickets plus wanted to give me a price on hotel/tickets also. She actually phoned Disney travel and got several combinations of prices as she was not completely sure how much I wanted to book. Right away I thought that I could do better on my own but wanted to get as many quotes as possible. She ended up matching the DU price. I went with her because I try to buy Canadian when I can and she had sorted out problems with my son when he went to Thailand. WDW had not applied the CAA discount which was why the price she first quoted had been higher. I do not think this would have been caught, had I not shown her the lower price. So, you really need to know the prices when you book. I booked all my own ADR's and made several phone calls to do this as I can never make up my mind about anything. LOL. I did end up paying for my whole trip last week because our dollar was 92 cents and I don't think it will get much better. She actually made a mistake booking the flight home - it should have been on Oct 12 but accidently made it for Oct 13 and there would have been a penalty to change it back. So she offered to pay for half of our room on the 12th if we would leave the airfare as it was. Well, you don't have to twist my arm!! Luckily, we had the time off already. In BC, TA's do not seem very familiar with WDW so I usually know all the prices and specials before I walk in. I could actually book it all on my own but I guess I am not confident enough. In BC, we only get discounts on Universal in CA not in FL. Hope this helps. If you need anything else, just send me an email.