So disappointed with Dream Unlimited!

[JenLynn]

We are using DU for our upcoming trip and the #1 thing I am most happy about is that our TA got Cindy's for us!!! I had been trying (also knowing that she would be trying as well) but had not had any success. She made our PS's for us and has added to our reservation as needed. We are getting close to our trip now (just about 5 weeks out) so I am keeping my fingers crossed that things continue to proceed smoothly.

We had used allseastravel.com for our last Disney cruise because they had the best prices we could find. I am glad we did it that way, because it saved us *a lot* of money.

Using a TA is a personal choice and neither is a more valid way of planning a vacation.

JenLynn
(who has taken numerous vacation both planned by myself and planned with a TA's help)

 

[dmslush]

I guess someone at DU got the message because my itinerary is full of information. I think I negelected to say that I did send an e-mail to my agent on Friday saying the same things I did here. I'm just sad that it took an e-mail to get it done. Thanks for all of you responses to the thread. I am sure that DU does good work for a lot of people and I don't think they are a bad company. A friend at work is using Marla and is very happy with her and understands my frustration when we compare. I guess I could have asked for another agent but I was giving mine the benefit of the doubt.

I am so glad that you email is getting you some action. It is a shame that your disney vacation has to have a damper put on it like this. I hope that the rest of your planning goes off without a hitch.

 

[NancyIL]

I have never used Dreams Unlimited for my WDW trips, but I have gotten several Disney Cruise Line quotes from them, and always in a timely, professional manner. If I were interested in a WDW vacation package, I wouldn't hesitate to use their services.

 

[Nora94]

Sue Ellen got my Cinderella Table Priority seating with less than 12 hours notice. To ME that is Worth ALL the $$ it would have cost. Of course it didn't cost me one extra cent to go with her... hmm... why would I NOT use Dreams Unlimited? They gave me the same quote I had figured out online using Disney's site, but got me Chef Mickey and CRT. Other companies I asked for quotes were at least $500 - $2000 more! They can apply any pin codes you find, btw.

This was our first time to DW. It was confusing, but Sue Ellen helped with all my questions. We got the final itinary about 4 days before we left. We didn't use it, LOL. I made up my own chart and used that.

Sue Ellen was great through her son's and her's illness. Even had her husband book something for us at that time. I ended up with the same illness as her so we actually emailed some "illness" related things too,

I am sorry that your experience with them hasn't been great.
Nora

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

I'm sorry some have had less than magical experience with their agent. I suppose this sort of thing can happen even in the bet of companies unfortunately.

I have had 2 very good experiences with DU, with 2 different agents. First was Carole Annette who helped plan a Christmas trip and did an excellent job. My upcoming trip is all planned and ready for action, with a rare MALE DU agent, Jason. Do I have the only male agent? LOL

My main reasons for using DU was for ease of making the reservation and also the PS (ADR). It certainly saved me from having the stress of making multiple international calls. In each case my dining times have been arranged quickly and for exactly when I requested. This time, Jason has also suggested and arranged the Magical Express for me too, as well as a backstage tour booking.

Hope all the problems people are having are sorted out soon and your vacations are wonderful!

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

I too have been using Deb at TMFL. I have mixed emotions about using the service, which are not entirely her fault. I think another poster asked about expectations, and I do think that's the problem (in my mind.)

Im using Deb at TMFL also. I love her lol. She has stuck with us through multiple changes and has gotten us all the PS's that we asked for. She was a major help when we thought we were going to miss our payoff date and did everything she could to hlp out. She emailed several reminders before our 90 days and she sent a ton of info on a variety of things.

I was a very uninformed traveler when I booked through them and before I found this board, and I will still use them when we take our next trip. It was alot less stressful once I got everything started with her.

 

[dreams4disney]

I just wanted to say that our TA ( Sue Ellen) at Dreams Unlimited has been nothing but wonderful! I just can not say enough good things about our experience with Sue Ellen and Dreams Unlimited. I could not have asked for a better TA or Travel Company to take care of our Disney trip.

I am sorry to hear that some of you have not had an experience that has been as Magical as mine.

 

[LoriLea]

We, too, had a very good experience with DU and will book our next trip with them also. Marla, our TA, responded quickly to our e-mails, provided us with an itinerary which we followed, got all of our PS requests including CRT for breakfast for my daughter's 7th birthday and had discounts applied to our reservations without any prompting from me. She even followed up with us after our return. I was initially nervous about booking this way but I saved on long distance calls and did not get stressed out over trying to plan our 1st Disney vacation.

 

[lUVTOGO]

I have used DU for our last 4 Disney World vacations and they have been great! Sure, sometimes an e-mail slips by, or the itinerary isn't up as quick as I would like, or she couldn't get the AAA discount for our week, but when I used another travel agent, the calls weren't returned quickly either and AP rate discounts, forget about it, she asked me what that was.

I always e-mail them a few days before the 90 day window, and I have always gotten all the PS's I needed.

I have used Tricia Brookover and am really happy with her.

 

[Mom2Em]

I have used DU for all 4 of our trips and have been extremely happy... Tammy is a godsend!!

 

[patrenoe]

Whenever we bring little ones and need CRT and other character meals we always use a travel agent. I have called a travel agent 1 week prior to going to WDW and have always gotten all my PS taken care of. If we don't have little ones going with us then I book everything myself.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

So sorry to hear your bad experience with DU.

I love, love, love my TA at The Magic For Less. I won't plan a vacation there without Deb. She is the best! She sends me lots of emails with suggestions for activities, PS, recreation, etc. I get quick emails back about any questions I send to her. She emails me to let me know when she is leaving town, and gives me the name of someone else to help me if I need any help while she is gone. I just can't say enough good things about her and TMFL!

I've used Deb at the Magic for Less as well and she is fantastic. I think all their agents are. If there is a discount to be found and applied to your ressie, they will do it. Great communication and suggestions. I wouldn't travel to any Disney resort without them.

 

[Arielle22]

I got a quote last month from DU. I wanted the Boardwalk Inn with a water view. The quote I got back was for a standard view. When I emailed back that I wanted the lake view I was told that the view is only a request thus couldn't be booked but only entered as a request.

I have never heard that before. I was going to use DU as a way to support these boards but after that email I decided to do it on my own.

 

[kkozma]

I too am one who has had nothing but exceptional service from DU(I am on my 3rd trip with them). It is true I sent emails on the PS's I needed and I kept track of my 90 day window, but I was also sent 2 or 3 emails from Cathyand Marla just keep in touch and see if there was any questions I had. Since I am not paying for this service I am getting more than I bargained for. Being to work at 7am each morning does not allow me to call the Disney # to secure AP rates or PS's. They have done that for me. This must qualify me for the nuthouse ...Even crazier I will probably use them for any future trips I may be planning...

 

[scanne]

Why would anybody think of using these agencies? Isn't this the purpose of these boards? I have used both of them and they have never been able to get me a better deal or discount than I was able get myself. Don't waste your time and effort. Do it yourself.

I use DU for convenience. Yes, I have booked trips myself and secured AP rates or discount codes. Yes, I've been able to get all the PS's I've wanted. But, now that I have two small children, I can't commit to waking up at 6:45am to be on the phone 90 days before I can make a "AR" at CRT. I can't be calling the morning AP rates are released to secure a resercation because I'm out the door on the road to day care/work by 6:40am.

So, I know all the tips I get on the DIS are great, helpful and useful, I just don't have the TIME to do it myself. That is why I use DU.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I've been using a TA for our last 3 trips, only as a security blanket to get the AP rate when it is announced. I like to make my own PS's and other requests to the resort.

 

[pjew]

Has anyone ever use the TA names Karen from DU?
If so, can you give information on how she worked out for you?
The good or/and bad, if any?

 

[Princess Mommy]

I got a quote last month from DU. I wanted the Boardwalk Inn with a water view. The quote I got back was for a standard view. When I emailed back that I wanted the lake view I was told that the view is only a request thus couldn't be booked but only entered as a request.

I have never heard that before. I was going to use DU as a way to support these boards but after that email I decided to do it on my own.

I can tell you that that is true, you can only request a concierge water view, but it isn't guaranteed at the Boardwalk Inn. If you had chosen the Beach Club conceirge, you can pay extra for the view- but at the Boardwalk (for whatever reason ) you can only request it. When you check in and if they have the water view available they will honor your request no doubt. You or your TA can call a few days ahead and be sure your request is there as well as 24 hours before- that might also help you secure the room. But again, they won't guarantee it.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

Question for those who also call for a PS and have their TA call also.

What if you call and your TA calls and get the same PS? Don't most of the PS's {or AR's I think they are called now} require a credit card to secure it? Do you just pick which time you like and then cancel the other PS? What happens to your credit card? I have never made a PS before {can you tell? } Do they charge it when you make the PS?

For our next trip I would like to try and get Cindy's, but there is no way I could get up at 6:30 a.m. and see myself on the phone. That's where I would like the idea of having a TA. The last AAA TA I used said she WOULD NOT do Cindy PS's. She would do other PS's, but not Cindy's. Sorry, but to me a TA should do everything they can to make their client happy.

DH would like to have the dining option, but I would like to rent points to be able to stay at OKW for half of our stay. Guess we have alot to talk about.

 

[califred]

thelittle mermaid.. very few PS's require a credit card hold