Dreams Unlimitied vs. Small World Vacations for Cdns

[trivial]

A really silly question, these are web-based company based in US? If I need to buy tickets only for next time, should I use them or someone based in TO?

Best prices I've seen are from UndercoverTourist, via a discounted offer from the MouseSavers newsletter. Taxes and shipping to anywhere in North America are included.

 

[drag n' fly]

Looks like I can't use Disney. I called and the CM told me AAA rates were not released for 2008 yet. She even said they didn't exist beyond this September. Needless to say, as a constant member of this board community, I know that's not the case, and people have been receiving their AAA discounts.

I keep hearing stories of people calling back Disney and constantly getting different answers. Personally, I'm a little turned off by this kind of customer service.

... if I didn't want to experience Disney this time, I might just stay with reliable off-site locations...

Small World Vacations are offering 2008 packages.

 

[sheilag]

Since folks are listing Canadian specialists, don't forget MouseEarVacations - they have an agent in Ottawa, Ontario.

Sheila

 

[amw]

I used a CDN based agency called fairytale destinations. They are excellent. Our agent Christine went that extra mile. They are based in TO. She is very quick to get back to questions...usually within the hour (by email). Excellent hard work given and a pleasure to deal with. She does all the leg work. She books all your ADR's, applies specials to your reservation so the price will lower. A great person and company. I highly recommend.

If you want more info please PM me.

Thanks

Seam

After all the glowing recommendations, I decided to book a room-only with Christine.

With my fiasco with the Disney CM, I was a little disturbed about not getting my CAA room rate. Christine was able to book it and hold it for me in a matter of minutes after getting my e-mail.

I'm not locked into anything, but she'll keep me informed of discounts/codes so I can decide about a package later.

As an FYI, I requested a quote from DU on Aug. 8th and still haven't heard back from them I think they're too busy after the new rates were released. They lost me as a customer.

I'm thrilled to be going CANADIAN... and look forward to a more relaxed planning stage now

Thanks for all the positive reviews

 

[SaraMc]

Looks like I can't use Disney. I called and the CM told me AAA rates were not released for 2008 yet. She even said they didn't exist beyond this September. Needless to say, as a constant member of this board community, I know that's not the case, and people have been receiving their AAA discounts.

I keep hearing stories of people calling back Disney and constantly getting different answers. Personally, I'm a little turned off by this kind of customer service.

... if I didn't want to experience Disney this time, I might just stay with reliable off-site locations...

While yes the call centre you call for Disney sometimes can be unreliable. Staying on disney property and taking full advantage of all Disney has to offer is the best. If you are spending time on here and you know your stuff and the CM doesnt give you the answer your looking for I usually call back and get another CM. Call centre's have large turnover rates so to some its just a job. Other's its making the magic happen, those CM's are getting harder to find but when you get them its great.
I myself have not used DU or any other service, Ive always booked it all myself. I even book my own ADr's too..
Once you have stayed on property, you will never want to go back to staying off property.

 

[craz4dogs]

All I Can say is Christine is awesome. Very reassuring, and very quick to get back to us. If she is going to be away she has let us know.
I still have not made it to Disney (going 12/3-12/9) but Christine has impressed us quite a bit.

 

[yosh12]

You have made the best choice in Christine. As I stated she is one class act and I will never go with any other agent for disney.

She is also very caring, she asks her clients that are coming back from the World to save the soaps and creams and shampoo's from the resorts and donate them to her for the kids at Sick Kids in Toronto. She puts together a little care package for them at Christmas with these items.

To me that shows the type of person she is and the amount of heart she has.

Great choice and you won't regret it!

 

[surfer_ed]

I have used Dreams a few times for Cruises, they had great service and prices. Once I had to postpone a cruise and they were able to do that for me no issues.

 

[Hoogy]

Well I used them for our upcoming cruise in Nov. So far all good. We also booked a small stay at Disney for after through them. I'm not too happy with them right now.....they couldn't get me a dicount at POP and offered Coronado for not much more. I said yes but they didn't do it right away and now there is nothing. I saw it available online all afternoon and assumed the best....wish I had booked it myself now!

 

[Hoogy]

Yes DU. My agent was away and someone else was helping......I wish I had just booked it on my own. I ASSUMED if I could see it myself (as available) then there wouldn't be a problem.....ARGHHH. Now for hourly checks to the disney website for openings.....if it weren't for the cruise I wouldn't go that week I think.

 

[amw]

Yes DU. My agent was away and someone else was helping......I wish I had just booked it on my own. I ASSUMED if I could see it myself (as available) then there wouldn't be a problem.....ARGHHH. Now for hourly checks to the disney website for openings.....if it weren't for the cruise I wouldn't go that week I think.

Do you have Dorothy at DU? I originally got an e-mail saying "My name is Dorothy. I will be preparing you a quote from DU..." That was 9 days ago, with no quote yet. I just sent an e-mail to complain about their customer service and it was returned saying she was away. You think they could have gotten someone else to quote it

You shouldn't have to be doing all the double-checking. That's what an agent is for. Are you locked in with them yet? Another agent may have better luck in the system than you checking the Disney website.

 

[Hoogy]

So based on all this talk of Christine....I e-mailed her to see if she could help. She already got back to me and has 2 rooms at POP at the discount for me! How is that possible?!?! I'm saving $450!!!! Thank-you fellow Canadians for all your support!

 

[amw]

So based on all this talk of Christine....I e-mailed her to see if she could help. She already got back to me and has 2 rooms at POP at the discount for me! How is that possible?!?! I'm saving $450!!!! Thank-you fellow Canadians for all your support!

I definitely think Christine was a great "find"

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Hi Folks

I am so sorry to hear some of you are having negative experiences with DU.

If anyone would like to write to me directly I would be happy to see if I can help - john@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com

Thanks
John

 

[amw]

I think we better close this thread and not post any more about other agencies... quite a few posts have been completed deleted already, and I have been given an infraction for discussing agencies other than DU. I don't want any more innocent opinions to cause problems.

 

[Higgs22]

I just want to get in a quick word for Christine at FTD&D...I live in the States, but she helped me book a complicated group WDW trip a couple of years ago...hotels, show tickets, rental car, park tickets, and dinner reservations...she was awesome!

 

[drag n' fly]

I think we better close this thread and not post any more about other agencies... quite a few posts have been completed deleted already, and I have been given an infraction for discussing agencies other than DU. I don't want any more innocent opinions to cause problems.

Probably a good idea. There is another thread re:WestJet Vacations that I posted this link on as I also do not want to receive infractions. We are guests on this board and rules are created for a reason. The more people try and skirt the rules or openly try to break them the stiffer the rules become. I posted a link to the board guidelines here so that we can make informed posts.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

 

[MickeyMacks]

This will be my 3rd trip using Dreams Unlimited. I have been very happy each time. My agent this trip, Marla, has been wonderful... getting adrs and then changing them for me when I needed to. No charges of any kind!

Another Thumbs Up for Marla of DU. This is our second trip with her. She got my parents a $400 discount at their resort on the 2005 trip a few weeks/months into the reservation. We booked almost a year in advance and she explained we wouldn't hear much from her after the initial booking until discounts and then ADR windows came up. Great to have someone do all the ADR calling for you!

No fees, lots of great tips, answered questions, reassurances, etc.

Our first trip we didn't get all our luggage tags in the mail before departure, but this trip we got them almost two months in advance.

She was great at looking after rather complicated arrangements for the 2005 trip (family split between 2 resorts, sharing some ADRs, split on others, different types of tickets for two groups, etc.) so we decided to book our Land-Sea Cruise and post-cruise stay with DU too.

If I was to go to WDW again, I'd likely book on my own now, but I'd be doing a much simpler pared-down-to-basics version since I wouldn't be travelling with parents and sister, just my DS and maybe a friend. I'd cash in Airmiles for park tickets (maybe try that "other" place too) and we'd be driving there and doing the summer camping/melting thing

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Another happy customer of fairytale Destinations with Christine. She was always prompt with answers and really know's her disney ABC's. She was like our own Mary Poppins!

 

[bababear_50]

I think we better close this thread and not post any more about other agencies... quite a few posts have been completed deleted already, and I have been given an infraction for discussing agencies other than DU. I don't want any more innocent opinions to cause problems.

How in a public message board about Disney can you be given an infraction for voicing your opinion about a service you used or are inquiring about??

Is Dreams Unlimited not up to the challenge of open discussion of their service?

I read the page refered to and can not see how any infractions took place.

I contacted both D.U and Fairytale vacations ,,in Aug 07 --never heard back from DU but did from Fairytale vacations.

It disturbs me that is happening .

JMHO
Mel