WDW UK or Small World Vacations?

[alisonbestford]

I'm, currently, looking to book POP for 19th - 24th May 2008

I can either book it, online, through www.waltdisneyworld.co.uk, or put a 'courtesy hold' on a room through Small World Vacations.

The UK quote is £284 and the Small World 'estimate' is $556.85, including tax (2008 rates aren't out yet so this could change)
'Small World' say that they will apply any discounts as they arrive but I can't think of any that we might be entitled to.

Does anyone have any experiences of booking like this?
Are there any advantages of one over the other?

As both prices appear roughly the same I'm not sure which way to go

Small World want a deposit of $111 now and the balance on arrival.
Loss of deposit, only, if cancelled less than 5 days of arrival.


Any thoughts would be much appreciated

Thanks

 

[crabbie1]

I know there a few people on here that use dreams unlimited which are a similar company and they have an excellent reputation.I haven't used them myself but have asked them for quotes and they have replied within 24hrs.You also get a person assigned to look after you.They also apply discounts.My friend booked with them last november to go end of july and they e-mailed her and offered the free dinig plan which she hadn't had on her original booking.
Try dreams unlimited as well.Its good that you pay a low deposit and the rest when you arrive.Most UK agent want it 8 weeks in advance.Was this price room only or with tickets?I presume it is room only.

 

[UKDEB]

I was also going to ask if you'd got a quote from Dream Unlimited as they are the official DIS WDW travel agency.

 

[alisonbestford]

This was room only from Small World.
I'll e-mail Dreams Unlimited but guess their quote will be similar.

WDW, UK, want £100 deposit and the balance 8 weeks before

'Swings and roundabouts' from what I can gather

 

[wils]

I booked my room with Disney.com which while probably the same might be worth a look.

I tried your dates but the site seems to be playing up as it kept reverting to check in today

 

[alisonbestford]

I booked my room with Disney.com which while probably the same might be worth a look.

I tried your dates but the site seems to be playing up as it kept reverting to check in today

I gather that that's, from what I understand, because the 2008 dates aren't out yet

 

[wils]

I gather that that's, from what I understand, because the 2008 dates aren't out yet

Aha!

 

[TinkTatoo]

I booked my room with Disney.com which while probably the same might be worth a look......

Rather than use the website I book any rooms directly with Disney CRO 407-934-7639 you pay one night to hold the room and the balance paypale on checkout and loss of deposit only if canceled less than 5 days of arrival. If the rates are good before you go you can pay more onto your room account. You can give your room requests directly to Disney without having to go through a 3rd party. You can book now and they will apply the 2008 rates once they are released

 

[Goofyish]

I would try DreamsUnlimited - I think the deposit required is one nights room cost and balance is payable on arrival.

If you have one, pay with a Nationwide CC and you will get no charges for the international transaction - so you get near bank exchange rates. Which can make a big difference in the cost

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/

 

[alisonbestford]

I would try DreamsUnlimited - I think the deposit required is one nights room cost and balance is payable on arrival.

If you have one, pay with a Nationwide CC and you will get no charges for the international transaction - so you get near bank exchange rates. Which can make a big difference in the cost

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/

Thanks Tim, I'll give it a go.
The reservation form, on the site, won't go beyond 2007 but I've e-mailed them.
I do have a Nationwide cc, which I only use for hols, so good plan

 

[Neoshoegal]

I wondered the same thing earlier this year.
I got a quote from Small Vacations, took a while to get the agent to realise I was asking for 2008 not 2007. She eventually came up with a quote for room only based on this year's prices.
I then checked with Disney UK. They have me a price which included 14 days unlimited park tickets (getting tickets from the US has a maximum of 10 days which bugged us).
When we compared like for like the difference was minimal and if the exchange rate would change in the "wrong" direction, there wouldn't be a difference. Plus the whole idea of not knowing what the definite US price for 2008 would be bothered me. So we just booked through Disney UK. Just need to add the DDP when it becomes available!

 

[alisonbestford]

I just received the quote from 'Dreams Unlimited' and it's the same as the costing from 'Small World'

I think I'm tending to agree with Neoshoegal and will book through WDW UK - least it will be done and I'll have a definite price then

Thanks for all your suggestions

 

[Neoshoegal]

Just noticed you're from Sheffield, so am I! We'll arrive at Disney World on 22 May, we could have a little Sheffield get together in Orlando

 

[alisonbestford]

Just noticed you're from Sheffield, so am I! We'll arrive at Disney World on 22 May, we could have a little Sheffield get together in Orlando

Excellent plan

Where are you staying?

 

[Neoshoegal]

Port Orleans Riverside
You?

 

[Neoshoegal]

just noticed, it was in your original post

 

[alisonbestford]

just noticed, it was in your original post

That's just the first 5 days and then hoping to exchange our timeshare when the dates become available

 

[Neoshoegal]

we'll be there for 2 weeks, going back home on 5 June.
Whereabouts in Sheffield are you?

 

[alisonbestford]

We're in Hillsborough - close to the SWFC ground.

We leave Orlando on the 2nd June

 

[Neoshoegal]

We're on the totally opposite side, Frecheville near Crystal Peaks.
You'll be missing my birthday, it's on the 3rd! Might actually be safer to leave before