Is Dreams Unlimited a reliable travel service?

[bas71873]

I am curious to see if their stay 5 for the price of 3 beats what I am paying with the super saver rate so I'm waiting for a quote. Anyone used them successfully and is it a trustworthy service?

 

[damo]

My concern with booking this package with Dreams Unlimited is that you would not recieve your Loews You First credit.

 

[gschmerl]

I used Dreams Unlimited to book several Disney trips and they were great. They made all my dining reservations and kept looking for lower prices right up to my departure date.

 

[macraven]

Since this is your first trip to universal, you have picked a good travel agency to use.

Dreams Unlimited has a very good reputation and easy to work with.
you will not have any problems using them.
they are trustworthy.


the first time i did my orlando trip, i used a travel agency.
after that, i did my own booking as i started using discounts in my travel.

Dreams will work with you on the best deals they can find.
it will be prepared for you so you don't have to seek out different deals or promos.

if you are interested in using a super saver rate, let your agent at Dreams know that. they can show you a couple of ways to book your trip.
they can work with you on transportation in getting to orlando, transportation while in orlando, park tickets, hotel bookings, park tickets, etc.

since i have been going to the motherland/disney since 1974 and the darkside/universal since the year after they opened, i do all my planning without an agency. at this point for me, half of the fun of my trip is my pre planning.

some people prefer to have an agency do all the foot work for them no matter how many times they have vacationed in orlando.
it's a personal preference and nothing more than that.

i hope you have a fantastic trip to the darkside.
if you have more questions, just post on the threads.

 

[bas71873]

Thanks everyone. Right now the quote I got was several hundred dollars more than the super saver rate, even with my buying my park tickets separately, so for now I will keep what I booked myself. But good to know they are reliable in case I decide to use them in the future.

 

[TraceyL]

I've found DU's service very hit & miss. On more than one occasion they have quoted me prices that were way over what I could get by booking myself.

 

[lindalinda]

I have used them for tickets. I like to have the real tickets in hand instead of using the computers when you get there. Paranoid I know.

This is their website too.

 

[taylor1293]

I have used them and they are reliable.

 

[Dagny]

My concern with booking this package with Dreams Unlimited is that you would not recieve your Loews You First credit.

Actually, you would still get your Loews credit We just need your Loews number and we can add it to the reservation, no problem.

 

[damo]

Actually, you would still get your Loews credit We just need your Loews number and we can add it to the reservation, no problem.

Oh, okay. I thought that perhaps because Dreams Unlimited had put together their own package which was different in price from the Loews website that it may be considered a third party booking.

From the Loews website:

Third party, government, Universal Passholder and Universal Florida resident rates do not qualify, nor do rates through any other discount program, coupon, complimentary or promotional offer.

 

[macraven]

not everyone uses the loews membership program.
the way the rules are now for it, many will not be concerned in using it and it won't be a factor when making a booking.

i believe it will be the cost factor that will determine bookings.

many use the ap's or aaa for discounted rates.

 

[damo]

not everyone uses the loews membership program.
the way the rules are now for it, many will not be concerned in using it and it won't be a factor when making a booking.

i believe it will be the cost factor that will determine bookings.

many use the ap's or aaa for discounted rates.

I agree. That is what we do too. If we can find an AP rate that is lower taking into consideration the price of internet and the $100 platinum credit, we'll go for it. I think AAA is still counted as a qualifying rate like supersaver.

 

[macraven]

if someone has platinum, they do get the F & B credit on that stay.

only problem is, i don't know anyone that makes 10 different stays per year to keep that platinum status active.

i have platinum but i know when 2010 rolls around, i'll be down to gold and there isn't a F & B credit at that level.

i'm going for the best discount out there for future stays.

 

[Dagny]

Oh, okay. I thought that perhaps because Dreams Unlimited had put together their own package which was different in price from the Loews website that it may be considered a third party booking.

From the Loews website:

Third party, government, Universal Passholder and Universal Florida resident rates do not qualify, nor do rates through any other discount program, coupon, complimentary or promotional offer.

Absolutely depends on the stay... or it should. Dreams books directly with Universal - so if the stay qualifies for Loews credit, you will receive it.

I can tell you that I have received credit for stays that were supposedly excluded because of a discount... so go figure... of course, I did not complain

 

[AlexandNessa]

Hmmm, how did a thread about whether or not DU is reputable turn into a Loews Benefits debate?

I believe the original question is: Is DU reliable? Yes. Pete Werner owns this site and DU.

Do I use them to book Universal hotel stays? No.

Booking a hotel at Universal is so easy to do online, or over the phone, and I know what's important to me when I book. It's just easier for me to convey what I want to UO directly than use a middle man.

I check the rates online and make a quick phone call. Reservation done, with the requests I have noted. Check these boards every once in a while, and discounts are usually screamed out loud on here. You check these boards every once in a while anyway to keep up with the scoop before your trip. A quick phone call readjusts your rate.

If the above sounds overwhelming to you, by all means, use DU.

Now, have I used DU to book Disney (which I consider a bit more of a pain to book) and I have used DU for our Disney cruises to take advantage of their ship board credit? Absolutely.

 

[damo]

Absolutely depends on the stay... or it should. Dreams books directly with Universal - so if the stay qualifies for Loews credit, you will receive it.

That's good to know. We should make a list of which agencies you can book with and still get your credits or benefits. Many people have reported back here that after booking with the agency from www.universalorlando.com they haven't received their credits or benefits and were told it was a third party booking.