Dreams Unlimited vs. booking directly through Disney??

[kjccr]

We currently have our trip booked directly through Disney and just decided for the heck of it to get a quote from Dreams Unlimited and their quote came in considerably less. I had the exact same package quoted that we already have booked...but is there something different (ie. do we not get all the little extra perks like luggage tags, etc...) if we book through Dreams?? Honestly the price came in so good that I am asking myself "is this too good to be true"?

 

[kjccr]

Also, I forgot...if we do switch our ressies to Dreams Unlimited from Disney will I lose all my ADR's which are linked to my Disney reservation number? Thanks

 

[rcraw45425]

I always use Dreams, even if I book myself I'll turn it over to Sue Ellen, the DU agent I always use. She is very diligent about checking for discounts and available upgrades and has saved us a ton of money through the years.

 

[rcraw45425]

You shouldn't lose the reservations, they should be linked to your home phone number.

 

[kjccr]

Thanks Robin!!! One question...when you say you turn it over to DU even when you book yourself, do you mean that sometimes you book directly through Disney and then turn your reservation over to DU who may then find a better deal and reduce your price???

 

[supersuperwendy]

Email Carolyn@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com

she will be so much help to you! You will not lose your ADR's. Even when we use DU I always make my own ADR's. When you make your reservation with them just forward them all your ADR's and they'll include them in the itinerary they make for you! If you need to change any of them for any reason, DU will do it for you..they are the best!

We always use Carolyn. She is so prompt. You can't go wrong with her. If you email her tell her Wendy sent you.

 

[barbeml]

I have worked with four DU Agents and they have all been outstanding. I always seem to get a better price with DU, and room location requests and ADRs just as we want them.

 

[rcraw45425]

Yep, I'm a bit anal about things, switch around a lot. Once I get everything semi set I'll fax a letter to Sue Ellen addressed to Disney reservations stating that DU is now handling my reservation, it's as simple as that. The DU agent (SUe Ellen) will get the commission and I don't have to worry about watching for discounts. THis last trip we added a night at the beginning. I added it at Pop and paid in full as a seperate room only. Decided to change it over to CR also CRO told me not available, then available but no discount, rack rate only. Bit the bullet and booked it any way. Sue Ellen was able to get it added to my package and saved me ~$100! I still will book my ADRs, then email them to her and she adds them to the itinerary for me.

 

[warpdarkmatter]

I'm using DU this trip we also have carolyn.she is doing such a great job I don't think i'll ever use another travel agent other than DU

 

[Quinn222]

I use Jennifer at DU and she's wonderful. She can keep track of some of the most complicated things. I had three trips in planning last fall for October, November and December in three different resorts and she really was a lifesaver.

 

[simonkodousek]

Wow, it sounds like Dreams Unlimited saves a bunch of money! Personally, I think our TA overcharges us by A LOT!!!

 

[katrina1122]

I just got a quote from them and it was higher than what AAA and the wdw website were charging. Sounds like it was a fluke. We went with Liberty Travel and they matched AAA's quote. I don't know that they look for upcoming discounts but I can always keep track. Sounds like if you like the quote go for it.

 

[mrstomrice]

I am so excited! We had 8 nights booked at Pop for about 740.00 for a standard room. I tried dreams for the heck of it and was quoted a price of about 680.00 for a preferred room (AAA Discount). I contacted Disney and asked if they price match and they do not. I asked if there was anything that could be done and she checked. We were offered the same nights at All Star Sports standard room for $533.36. I went for it. Dreams does seem like a great company, but I couldn't resist saving the money!

 

[Jrabbit910]

I always wondered the same thing... (about DU & booking thru Disney Direct)

My question is why arent people quoted the best available price to begin with and if you do book and get a better price how do they "all of a sudden" come up w/ a better deal?!?!? I guess its just how the business works but I wish that we all could get the best price out there first.

 

[tasha99]

I always wondered the same thing... (about DU & booking thru Disney Direct)

My question is why arent people quoted the best available price to begin with and if you do book and get a better price how do they "all of a sudden" come up w/ a better deal?!?!? I guess its just how the business works but I wish that we all could get the best price out there first.

This may be totally different, but if hotels work like cruises, travel agents can block out rooms in advance at a group rate. I used to work for Royal Caribbean, and agents could sell their block space for several months after whatever promo they had booked was closed to the public. Might be something similar here or maybe not.

 

[kidsister]

I just used DU for the first time. I called Disney re the AP or Fla Resident discount recently out for Sept...and they told me it was gone.
I contacted DU and they got me the AP rate.

 

[safetymom]

Dreams gets their pricing from Disney. It is all a matter of timing whether or not certain rooms or rates are available.

 

[mkross]

I needed them to watch my ressie while away so I switched (did lose the travel insurance paid), However, Carolyn bent over backwards last week to get me the new summer discount. She was persistant and had to call and speak to 2 CM's. In the end she saved me over $330.00 which Disney is refunding. I was her second highest refund of all her clients. This was GREAT because we did not get in on free dining or any other dicounts. I was thrilled to say the least. So yes, I will use DU again!

 

[kjccr]

Thank you all for your reply/thoughts about DU vs. Disney. In our case our original package was $3800 for Poly, garden view, 6 nights, park tickets with hopping for 6 days, and dining (not free). We had already paid in full and were content with what we paid, but just for the heck of it I submitted a quote request from DU and they cam back with $2700. Yes, $1100 savings!!! But I must say, that the same day I requested the qoute (but before I had requested the quote that day) I had called Disney to see if I could get the ZJZ code applied and they did which brought our original package from $3800 to $3300...so we were already feeling really good that day about saving $500. So on that same day when we were faced with changing from Disney to DU and save another $500 ($600 minus $100 cancelllation fee) we thought it would be a no brainer, but we were nervous never having used DU, it being so close to our trip...would our travel documents get here on time from DU???? and just in general is the package deal the same as what you get by booking through Disney directly??? In the end, we ended up not switching to DU and not thinking about the additional $500 we could have saved and just be excited about the $500 we did....yet I still keep thinking are we crazy for not switching??? What do you all think???

 

[Tissa]

Since you are so close to your trip and have already gotten a discount I'd stay with what you have. Dreams does not discount things but keeps on the lookout for discounts that may apply to you.

I use DU to save the hassle of sitting on hold with CRO. Dan does it for me