dreams unlimited or small world vacations

[DisneyJen0504]

DU has great service, we used them the last two trips and they were quick to respond to emails. You cant be the fact that they set up ps for dining and they keepo checking for discounts and codes.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

I have always booked WDW myself. Last year, I tried Sue Ellen from Dreams Unlimited for our Disney Magic and resort stay. I will never, never book WDW by myself again. We are using her again for this years stay. I cannot say enough wonderful things about her.

 

[goofyandmore]

There is also a travel agency called magical vacations and their site is wdwvacationplanners.com I heard of them after going to Tikiman's (poly specialist) website on the polynesian. You can call them as well as email. I have always done my own reservations/planning but this year I might use them because the extra bonus is that they will send to your hotel room gift baskets/goodies which are picked according to the resort you are staying at. Carolyn

 

[eelvira]

How did you get PS reservations done by small world? For my trip to the WL I booked a room-only with them and I asked twice if they did the PS's for me and she said No both times. She is very nice and knowledgeable but told me that I have to do the PS reservations myself. I did a room only reservation with them.

Were there people that got PS done through them buying a PACKAGE? Maybe they do it for packages only and not for room-only reservations.

Thanks
Eric

 

[simzac]

Used Destinations in Florida for 2003 trip, service was so so. Then tried Small World for 2005 trip, again service was so so. Dreams Unlimited seems to offer alot more that the other 2 did, I.E. PS's, so I am using them for our 2006 trip. I think this will be our best trip ever.

 

[PG Sweetie]

Something about this strikes me as odd. Why are there so many of you hyping this agency that have only 1 or 2 posts ever?

There are a lot of agencies out there that try to specialize in Disney. I do know I have seen a lot of people very happy with Dreams Unlimited on these boards.

 

[goofyandmore]

There are a few posters who only have one or a few posts, but you have to start somewhere. I posted and I have 417. I recommend that people check a few places out and see what they think. I had my own negative experience with one place last year who confirmed a reservation for what they said was the polynesian. then the person was insulted that I was calling disney myself to check prices because the price didn't seem right. Eventually, she emailed and told me she booked the tower club not the poly but said it was disney's mistake. another agent just gave up trying to get me the poly GV concierge for the time I wanted. I got it myself after many tries. Hey, but this is just my experience with two people. I am trying a different place this year which I named in an earlier post and so far the experience has been good.

 

[tomerin]

we also used small world our last trip. our agent helped us with everything from our train(amtrak) tickets to getting us all of our PS reservations. the only thing she couldnt do was get us am illuminations cruise, she did try but wasnt successful but somehow i was. the only drawback to us becoming DVC members is we will not be using them as much as we would like to

highly reccomend their service

 

[Kathyandtyler]

I have used Leigh of Small World Vacations twice and she is fantastic.

Sorry I only have a few posts but I'm very picky!!!!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

While the prices were the same I was given an 800 number for Small World and I felt much more comfortable giving my credit card information to a person I can speak to over the phone.

Huh, I just verified to be sure. But I was given a 1-800 number for DU that I can use to apply my payment if I wish to do that vs the internet. It was underneath the quote provided along with the contact information. So other posters who are concerned abut that, can know that is available. That said, I prefer to pay online. My dh has worked for the past 7 years in internet banking/bill pay services etc (writing and designing these programs for major companies). And while I know internet fraud does occur, it is usually easier to rectify then fraud that occurs with phone payments (more documentation), and although you hear more about internet fraud, it is actually easier and far more rampant to get credit information through phone orders. I do understand the personal comfort thing though. There is a better feeling that comes along with talking to a person rather then sending your financial info out into cyberspace.

 

[debster]

I don't understand the question about the low post count.

Only 1 poster on this thread had a "few" posts.

I think this is great information for everyone.

I would say nice things about Small World Travel also (have used them for all our Disney trips) but maybe I shouldn't because I don't have "lots" of posts.

BTW check out the date I joined Does that count?

 

[rcraw45425]

As Tink & Squirt's Mom said, there is an 800 number that you can call to apply payments, etc. I have called it and spoken with a very nice person there on two occasions. I have also spoken with on of the DU agents on his private phone a number of times. I think that a lot of their agents prefer the internet option because in a lot of cases internet is everywhere now. You can be in line at the bank and check your email through your cell phone now. I am another one that was hesitant about using a strictly internet agency but I cannot tell you how pleased I have been with Dreams Unlimited. As you see by my counter we are leaving in a few days for the first trip that I have booked through them. We decided after dealing with the ice storm here in GA last night that we want to go earlier. I emailed SueEllen around 7PM to see if Yacht Club had avaiability for that night as well. Within 15 minutes she had the room booked and a confirmation email for me. By 8PM my itinerary was updated as well. I doubt that a regular TA would have been that acccomodating on a Saturday night

 

[cranbiz]

Call me another happy Dreams Unlimited client.

I used DU for our trip last Dec. Carole was always prompt with return emails, got me a substancial savings at AKL, took care of all my PS's and got us Cindy's on the day we wanted.

DU came up with a suggested itinerary based upon what we said that we wanted and it mirrorred my own planning, with a few improvements.

I recommend DU to everyone.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Since when are people measured on the DIS by how many posts they have?????

If someone asks for advice, it's open for anyone with an opinion and feels they have some thing to contribute to the group.

My husband likes to read the boards, but rarely posts, me I like to get involved in conversations, ask people's opinions, I wouldn't judge a post by the number on the left, but by the quality of the response.

 

[CarolA]

Well here is my thought. Small World does not keep these boards free for me. Dreams does.... Decision made. I will support those who help us keep this thing going. This site has got to be VERY expensive to run.

And for those of you who are thinking of going into your own home based agency. Think LONG and hard.... Payoffs are very low and the "perks" are becoming limited to agencies doing a large volumne. (In other words, even if I get the certifcation I am not going to get a discount on airfare and hotels!)

 

[dmslush]

Well here is my thought. Small World does not keep these boards free for me. Dreams does.... Decision made. I will support those who help us keep this thing going. This site has got to be VERY expensive to run.

Agreed!

 

[BWgirl]

I see where you are coming from Carol, but I guess my perspective is different. I love the DIS, I do, but just because Dreams runs them shouldn't mean we should all be Dreams diehards. If that is the expectation then I think DU should make these boards only accessible to DU clients. It seems anytime anyone mentions another travel agency besides DU then someone jumps in and does a DU commercial-- "Dreams Unlimited sponsors these boards and if you want to support the boards you should use them for your travel plans." I did give it a try actually, twice, and never heard back from them the first time, and the second time I was told no telephone accessibility. Maybe that works for lots of others but it doesn't work for me! I used Small World and was very happy with them.

 

[goofyandmore]

I agree with this last poster. We all have different experiences with different businesses. I did give DU a try last year and they gave me a confirmed reservation for what they claimed was the poly GV concierge. When I questioned the price as not being right, she questioned me as to why I would be calling disney direct. Next email she admitted that the confirmed reservation was wrong-it was for tower club but said disney made the mistake. She was unable to get me the poly GV concierge for the dates I wanted but I did get it after many tries. But I am sure those who have had great experiences are very happy and that is great. I am now trying magical vacations who have been very responsive and who happen to send great gifts to your hotel room which is a nice touch. I don't work for them or get any kick backs. If all things were equal and I didn't have a not so great experience last year, I would give preferential treatment to a dis sponser. But everybody is free to do as they wish and I hope it all works out. Have a magical day!

 

[barbeml]

I have been a professional event planner for more than 20 years. I have taken all the travel agent courses and passed the industry exam (one month prior to 9/11...my timing was rotten), and I have used Dreams Unlimited for my last two WDW trips and will use them again for two trips this year.

My DU Agents have been friendly and responsive. They have saved me the trouble of making toll calls to apply AP codes and make PS arrangements.

I'm sure there are other wonderful Disney specialists, but for now, I am sticking with Dreams and recommending them to others.

 

[CarolA]

BWGirl,
No, the nice thing about the DIS is you don't have to use the sponsors. However, they don't have to keep the boards free either. I am sorry that you consider advertising to be bad, but that is the way things work on these boards. The nice thing about here is that your posts on other agenices are not just removed. That is NOT true on some other boards. If you mention a vendor other then the sponsor on some internet boards your post is deleted. (And one of those boards used to be sponsored by Small World!)

I think you do have to look at supporting people who do things for you.