Has anyone ever used Small World Travel?

[Steamboat Girlie]

I was wondering if anyone was happy using Small World Travel.
I was quoted the same price as I got from calling CRO, but they said they will monitor the prices in case they go down before our trip. I was wondering if there is any other benefits of using a travel agent.
Thanks

 

[ga9497]

Yes I have and they are wonderful. I booked at regular rate and they updated my reservation to a discounted rate even when everyone here was saying that they weren't able to get one.

They are the people that give Mousesavers 99% of the discount codes/ package information

 

[Dana49]

We booked with them for next April. So far, they've been very informative and helpful.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I guess I'm the lone negative experience, although maybe it was a fluke.

On the recommendation of my agent at Small World Travel, I joined the Disney Club and decided to buy one AP as an effort to secure a resort discount.

We had booked at Rack Rate, and were told our ressie would be rebooked at discount when rates became available. I emailed to ask about the DC discount when I saw it had been posted on Mousesavers--my agent responded 2 days later and said that all discount rooms were gone??? It was only about a 15% discount, and she had "heard" that 40% AP rates were about to be released.

Well, they were, and again I saw them on mousesavers and emailed inquiring about my ressie. No response. Email daily for 3 days or so. I called CRO myself and was told I could not make the change myself. Being new to Disney travel and stupid (and not talking with the most helpful CM), I didn't realize I could cancel my ressie without penalty and make my own new one.

Anyway, my agent emailed 6 days after AP rates were made available saying I had once again missed out. She had a family emergency and was out of the office for several days. My question was why would no one else take care of her clients?????

I was so irked, I cancelled trip with them. We ended up going several months later, and I did get the AP rate.

Maybe I got the one bad apple agent of the bunch, because I have since heard nothing but positives about Small World.

 

[bethnburke]

I spoke with someone at Small World Travel to book a room only reservation at ASMo in January. She said she was going to get some information for me and email me the next day. She never emailed back and after trying to contact her several times I gave up. I ended up going with The Magic For Less travel agency and they were great. They really took a lot of time to make sure that everything was set up the way I wanted.

 

[gbanshee]

I have tried numerous Disney Specialists. I prefer not to comment on why I don't use this agency or another favorite one here. I will tell you I do use Magical Journeys for ALL my trips anymore. One of the girls always gets back to me within a day.

If my agent is on vacation I don't worry, the team always comes through. They usually cover their own reservations even while away. Debbie called from a pay phone in a hotel Lobby to get September AP rates for her clients! No other agency seemed to get AP rates for September, let alone while the agents were on vacation!

Just my two cents worth.

gb

 

[suzywindy]

After a few years of booking ourselves, we tried small world as well. Won't happen again.

They could never get us the ap rate. My DH did - after making sure he called as soon as the codes came out. He spent a good bit of time on the phone making NEW reservations so that we would not lose out on the discount.

I had alerted our agent the codes were coming out - when I got home that day she said she tried and tried but could not get any discounts on our entire trip - 8 nights and 9 days.

I felt like saying I guess you did not try as hard as we did so why do we even have you?

We made our own PS and e-mailed her updates because they said they send you an itinerary - which they never did. She is at Disney right now so I doubt we will get anything.

Then I had to ask for receipts that our trip was paid in full. Waited almost 2 months for that.

Not impressed at all and found it actually annoying.

I have used regular travel agents and AAA and then we do it ourselves - all three are better than small world.

 

[ga9497]

My agent was Laura and she was wonderful. So I would suggest asking for her.

If I am not happy with service anywhere I always get in touch with the manager/owner.

I would suggest that if you aren't happy with someone's service you contact the owner right away.

 

[Imgoingplaces]

I love these boards, they are so great for inofrmation but I like the DisneyDollarless boards too and The Magic for Less agency is run by the same folks who do DDL. DDL is a bit smaller and feels more like family.

The Magic for Less feels like family too. The agent calls me and we talk about my plans, and she also answers all my e-mails and helps me get better rates. They e-mailed me at 7:15 am the day that better rates came out to let me know they had secured a better rate-I'd say that is pretty good service!

It's funny, but I now consider her my friend, she sends cards, I send her cards, and we have plans to meet in WDW some day!

I'm sure there may be lots of good agencies out there, but I do love The Magic for Less!!

 

[suzywindy]

I agree and will be in touch with Small World Travel as soon as I get back. I did not want anything to ruin this vacation.

I did not want to mention her by name but it was Laura who dropped the ball big time several times.

We are not picky people at all and did most of the work if not all of it ourselves.

She even seemed embarrassed. My trips each year are too important. We book 2 rooms and look forward to each trip. In fact we already have our next trip planned out already.

Like I said - this was an experiment that did not work for us. We have used others that did work for us.

I guess after reading these boards and others we have become so knowledgeable.

Given we are using 2 rooms for 8 nights - you can understand how important the AP discount was for us.

I really do not feel like she tried very hard at all. Calling once - given everyone;'s experience with CRO's - that is not really trying.

 

[Kapp]

was very pleased with their quote and customer service.

 

[debster]

I have used Small World Travel on all my vacations and never had a problem. Not all Travel Agents offer that kind of service (ie calling for additional discounts and adjusting reservations) so that is a great benefit they have to offer, saves you all the time continuously calling.

We had a room only reservation for our May trip and our agent called us on the day the AP discounts were released and had our reservation changed.

I would definitely contact your agent and discuss this with them.