Small World Vacations - Are they safe/good/trustworthy/

[Christinarella]

We've used Small World Vacations twice now, and Heather G. is our agent. She has been great to work with! We're pretty low-maintenance (1 ADR), so we make her job easy

 

[jaroemen]

Thank you so much! I'm so nervous!

I have!!!! She is great!!!!! She has now booked my vacation two times in a row. She also booked my in-laws and my parents - I decided to get a TA because I didn't want to have to do all the leg work for my family. She is wonderful and gets back to you right away. You will be very happy!

 

[jaroemen]

Yep, Lori is wonderful! In a matter of 15 hours after submitting my Request a Quote, I had my room booked, my ADRs set (by her) and about 27 questions answered from her! I'm so excited I decided to get some help!

 

[Duckiedee]

We're using Karen Nunn and she's been awesome - and like someone else said - PATIENT!

She was on the ball when FD was extended and has helped book all my extra tickets.

Very nice lady and very knowledgable.

 

[zurekgirl]

Just another shout for the great Lori.

She booked my trip in 2008. I was type A newbie with WAY TOO many questions - She always answered quickly, even if she didn't know the answer right away. I ask weird questions...

She's handling my trip for 2011. My parents are booking at the same time and she's helped with that too.

She's also feeding me info for cruises. My 10 year wedding anniversary is Sept 2011 and I think that calls for our 1st Disney cruise. Hopefully I can convince my husband we should go....

 

[autigger]

I was just wondering how trustworthy this site is? How reliable are they when booking for you? (Its not a scam is it?)
Thanks!

We have now used them for four trips. They are very reliable and trustworthy. I highly recommend Small World Vacations.

 

[bilnsheldodisney]

this is our second trip using Small World and they have been great. Our agent this trip is Karen N. and she has been helpful and responsive.

 

[autigger]

this is our second trip using Small World and they have been great. Our agent this trip is Karen N. and she has been helpful and responsive.

That is the same person we use. She is great.

 

[Hookani]

We used Carrie for our first trip and she was great. Highly recommend.

Ho'okani

 

[ronnmel]

We have decided to try it out for our honeymoon next year. We booked our first trip last year by ourselves, but like the idea of someone else looking out for discount for us.

We have been assigned Amanda, anybody ever work with her?

 

[golianlu]

I used them in 2007 for a 24 day vacation for 3 including a 3 night Disney cruise. I was very honest upfront and told them that 5 days would be part of a national conference. I explained that I wanted to book my travel in advance, but wanted to know if my conference gave a better price for the hotel and Disney tickets could I switch to the lower price and they still get the commission. Long story short, the conference rate for the hotel (Yatcht Club) was over $150 a night cheaper (times 17 days) and the Disney tickets were cheaper by about $50 per person. When it turned out that Small World could not match the price and I moved some of my order with the conference (she still booked 3 cruises and 3 plane tickets) she actually said she was "pissed" at me and that she wasted a lot of time with me as a client. I feel I was honest and upfront. I will never use them again nor would I recommend them to anyone else. Very unprofessional. I am using Dream Vacations for this year's 3+ week vacation.

 

[Rob79]

Lots of wonderful praise for SWV agents but most of them are WDW vacations. Anyone have a shout out for a great SWV who has booked cruises? This will be our third cruise with DCL, but I'm ready to find someone who really knows the cruises. Our last agency/agent was only so-so. THANKS!

 

[B3LM]

Lots of wonderful praise for SWV agents but most of them are WDW vacations. Anyone have a shout out for a great SWV who has booked cruises? This will be our third cruise with DCL, but I'm ready to find someone who really knows the cruises. Our last agency/agent was only so-so. THANKS!

Actually, Small World Vacations agents are very well versed in all Disney Destinations - especially cruising. Many have sailed on multiple cruises with Disney Cruise line.

 

[DLBDS]

This thread is a few years old and I may have already commented somewhere in these pages but.... I've been working with the same SWV agent (Diana) for the past 4 years... several WDW visits and one cruise (yet to be taken next month). I've never been disappointed with the service she provides. That said, I book my own ADRs and keep my own eye out for discounts.... just because I like to have a bit of control. If I miss something, Diana is there to save the day! Love her!

 

[kleckner]

Have used them for recent trips and they have been great......a good word for Minnie....I am always sending her e-mails with questions or looking for bargains......she always replies quickly .......will be continuing to book with her in the future...

Sam

 

[CyndieGrams]

I have used Angela Dail for all four of our trips and she is GREAT! She has three children and has been to Disney many, many times herself...she has also taken her family on Disney cruises! She has given good recommendations and when I ask about something she doesn't know, she researches and gets back to me quickly. I even have her phone number programmed in my cell phone I'll be glad to pass on her email/phone number...just as me for it!

 

[gibbersome]

I have used Angela Dail for all four of our trips and she is GREAT! She has three children and has been to Disney many, many times herself...she has also taken her family on Disney cruises! She has given good recommendations and when I ask about something she doesn't know, she researches and gets back to me quickly. I even have her phone number programmed in my cell phone I'll be glad to pass on her email/phone number...just as me for it!

We've also had great experiences with SMV. Our agent Alice is terrific!

 

[july2011]

I've actually been incredibly disappointed with my SWV TA & honestly if she didn't have my CC, I'd probably request a change of agents. Took her over 1 week to respond to an advice-type question (with a 2nd reminder note after several days to make sure she had received it) and her response was an apology for the delay, no advice/answering my question & just offering a quote. A previous email took like 5 days to respond. Just not sure she'll be on top of any potential discounts like I had hoped which was the only reason I went with them vs. just doing it myself. Her signature says she checks email every day except Sunday & works M-F so no apparent reason for such a delay in responses.

 

[KAA1972]

I've actually been incredibly disappointed with my SWV TA & honestly if she didn't have my CC, I'd probably request a change of agents. Took her over 1 week to respond to an advice-type question (with a 2nd reminder note after several days to make sure she had received it) and her response was an apology for the delay, no advice/answering my question & just offering a quote. A previous email took like 5 days to respond. Just not sure she'll be on top of any potential discounts like I had hoped which was the only reason I went with them vs. just doing it myself. Her signature says she checks email every day except Sunday & works M-F so no apparent reason for such a delay in responses.

I too, had a horrible experience with SWV. I booked a trip, paid my deposit and received my final payment due date on my invoice. My agent decided to take a cruise during my final payment due date -- so she called "payment due" four weeks prior to the original due date. This would not have normally been a problem (even though it was unprofessional) but we were in the middle of a military move with thousands of dollars of reimbursable dollars charged on our credit card and our vacation was also several thousand dollars. (we had booked a 2 bdrm villa at BLT with dining) So, when I received the email from SWV stating that she wanted the remainder of the vacation paid in the next three days (four weeks early) because she would be on a cruise and unable to process payment -- I panicked! Eventually, it all worked out because I complained enough that she agreed to allow another agent to process my payment on my original due date. However, it was three stressful days for me. I even emailed the owner of SWV's and never received a response.

 

[DLBDS]

I too, had a horrible experience with SWV. I booked a trip, paid my deposit and received my final payment due date on my invoice. My agent decided to take a cruise during my final payment due date -- so she called "payment due" four weeks prior to the original due date. This would not have normally been a problem (even though it was unprofessional) but we were in the middle of a military move with thousands of dollars of reimbursable dollars charged on our credit card and our vacation was also several thousand dollars. (we had booked a 2 bdrm villa at BLT with dining) So, when I received the email from SWV stating that she wanted the remainder of the vacation paid in the next three days (four weeks early) because she would be on a cruise and unable to process payment -- I panicked! Eventually, it all worked out because I complained enough that she agreed to allow another agent to process my payment on my original due date. However, it was three stressful days for me. I even emailed the owner of SWV's and never received a response.

Wow, that's totally inexcusable. I have a set budget and plan out my payments. There's no way I would have paid early either! You did the right thing by making a stink. My SWV TA always sends out an announcement (I wanna say a couple of weeks) before she leaves on vacation. In that email she leaves the name of another SWV agent so that folks with final payments/emergencies (only) can still have those issues handled promptly. She still checks her email while away though. I know because, well, she says in her 'vaca' email that she will and... I sent her an email while she was gone. In the title field I said to open it after she returned. She thanked me after she got back and said that it was nice to know instantly that she didn't have to do anything with it until she got back.... but she still read it. I've worked with her for 4 years and she has never disappointed or been unprofessional.