Booking with Dreams Unlimited? Land/Sea?

[RachelsMommie]

Hi, everyone,

I'm hoping someone with some experience could tell me the pros/cons of going with Dreams Unlimited versus booking with Disney directly.

I'm booking the land/sea package for Sept/Oct timeframe. It looks like I can get a shipboard credit with DU versus booking with Disney.

Any good/bad experiences or restrictions to share?

Thanks!
Kristi

 

[dawgfan]

I have done it both ways and can say that I prefer to go with Dreams Unlimited. I love to plan so it is not a problem to me to do it myself, but the DU service really solves problems in searching for dscounts that come available. There are fewer of those these days but if one comes up they jump right on it and apply it to your reservation without you having to call and do it yourself. You also do not have to search around the net for code. They also handle your dining reservations and many details. They will plan as much as you want them to or as little as you need. They make great suggestions and are very knowledgeable.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Ask them to book it online and you'll get an extra $25 shipboard credit.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've never actually booked through DU, but I've listened to them on the podcasts.

They really know Disney. They're going to know more than most of the castmembers you'll talk to. My guess is that 99% of the time, they're going to understand what you're asking about better than you do. They know what stuff is confusing for newbies and will understand what has you confused before you understand it.

They'll be looking out for you, their customer, in a way that the CMs just wouldn't do. Helping with dining, all that crap. For the CMs, it is just their job. For DU, it is their passion.

I wish I'd have had the kind of help they can give the first time I went.

When people I don't know well attempt to dump their trip-planning on me, I refer them to DU. Nobody has actually used them yet, but I do it because I really think they'd do an excellent job. (And, of course, because there isn't a sign on my forehead that says Trip Planning Here. )

I don't work for them or get paid or anything. I just really think they'd do an excellent job.

 

[tmkdmom]

Didn't have a good experience with DU, but they were highly recommended....
I just had my trip last week, and I am still bitter!!!!!!

 

[bekkiz]

I use DU for all of our trips. Love 'em, they really keep an eye out for their clients and make sure they get a good deal.

One thing to consider, you sometimes get a much better deal by booking the land and sea segments seperatly, rather than a joint package. Not always, but it's worth checking in to. DU would be able to help you figure out the best deal.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

We wanted to use the Nurse's Discount at the Dolphin again. The last time we booked that rate, I used AAA and had one heck of a time with them because they had a hard time finding that rate. In fact the woman I was speaking, didn't even know it existed. Anyway, so this time I decided, I would use DU to book our room(s) as they already know what the discount is. Anyway, they made the ressie and all went well until I called the hotel directly to set up some VIP svcs since it's DS's b-day. Once I spoke with the hotel, I found out that alot of the information and requests that I had given DU were not passed on to the hotel/Dolphin. One of those details was that the second room needed to be handicapped accessible (kind of important) It's not that big of a deal since I'm a pretty hands on girl anyway, and I really did only use their services to get the rate in what thought I was a more simplified manner. I will book the nurses rates thru them again in the future but I will not be booking details thru them. I looked into their dining reservation area and found it confusing so I just called WDD and set up those myself then I used the swandolphin.com site for my hotel dining and extras.

Not complaining at all, just sharing my very recent experience with DU.

Good luck to ya!

 

[lindseynleah]

I have booked through them with our last two Disney trips, and they were aweseome!!!! We had Dorothy, and she answered all of my questions very quickly, offered advice, and we got all of the first choices for our ADR requests!!!!

 

[tejasranger]

We just got back POR last week. Michelle our agent answered all of our questions very promptly and my husband is handicapped and she had them book our room very close to the dining and the bus stop. She even suggested some rest. for us when I was not for sure who to book the priority dining with. She made all of our dinner reservations. I was a little confused on the transportation and she emailed me back and explained it. I just wish I could talk to people on the phone instead of emails. Other than that I highly recommend DREAMS UNLIMITED