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Become a Disney Vacation Planner.

Join The Happiest Team Around

As a top-tier, high-end agency, we attract the kind of clients you love to work with, so you can really make magic happen.

You’ve found the place where dreams come true. 

We are seeking independent travel consultants to add to our Disney travel planning agency.

Are you a type-A planner with an incurable passion for travel and a love for delighting others? Or have you ever dreamed of using your in-depth knowledge of Disney destinations as a career? Then as a Disney focused travel agent, you can begin crafting truly magical vacations for your clients.

We also welcome experienced agents to apply.

Positive Team Culture Education Collaboration

At The Enchanted Traveler, we are committed to…

What To Expect From The Enchanted Traveler 

• A high-quality brand known for its personalized, in-depth vacation planning. • One-on-one help from the moment you join the team and start your business, as well as through any step along the way • Any marketing advice and strategies you need • Commission splits with increases based on experience and productivity • Opportunities for both Disney knowledge training and business training • A team atmosphere, including a Facebook support group and more. • The flexibility to work when you want, where you want, and with the clients that you want.

"Being a part of this team is like being a part of an exclusive club!"

What OUR CONSULTANTS are saying

- Holly Woodlee

We are people from all over the world with different backgrounds who all have different strengths, even within a team of similarly skilled people. One colleague might be more strategic, while another one is more analytical. Yet when the right mix of people and skills are brought together, the results can be amazing. Our team of experts value and care for each other and want to see each other succeed. Above all, we LOVE what we do, and helping our clients create the perfect vacation is an absolute dream

A Passion for disney

You don’t have to be Disney obsessed, but you do need to believe that a Disney vacation is absolutely magical, and love the experience it offers.

Our ideal Disney Travel Consultant has:

Above average Disney knowledge

Do you have great tips and tricks? Know the best restaurants? Know how to avoid crowds? Can you create detailed plans to keep people out of lines?

A social media presence

So much of this business comes from word of mouth.

Most of our work is web-based, both within this agency, in our marketing, and with Disney.

experience in customer service or naturally personable skills

It is important that our clients feel special, valued, and happy when working with us.

Sales Experience

An important portion of this job is sales-based, so sales experience is preferred.

organizational skills and self-motivation

As an Independent Consultant, this is still your business and no one is going to manage it for you – you must be a go-getter!

A Desire to learn

Keeping up with all things Disney is extremely important and requires you to seek the information willingly and frequently. Being willing to learn other aspects of the business on your own time is also important to your success.

time to dedicate toward building a business

Whether part-time or full-time, we are not seeking hobbyists. We are looking for someone able to devote 20+ hours a week.

well-traveled within the Disney destinations

We’re looking for someone who has traveled to a Disney destination at least 4 times in the last 8 years, with at least 2 of those to Walt Disney World in the last 4 years. It’s an extra bonus if you’ve traveled recently to more than one Disney destination.

an expert level of knowledge on at least one Disney destination

Ability to continue traveling to a Disney destination regularly, at least once per year

"I absolutely love being an Independent Consultant with The Enchanted Traveler!"

- Kerri Danley

I started this industry knowing little about the travel agency business, but with a ton of knowledge and passion for Disney! Sabrina guided me as a mentor to set goals for business, market myself as my own brand, and provided opportunities to learn and collaborate with our team of agents. We are a supportive team who helps each other and celebrates our successes. I'm so thankful for this opportunity to work under a strong and encouraging agency, and the autonomy to work my own hours and build my business at my pace.

Want to be part of The Enchanted Traveler difference?

Join our team

@the_enchanted_traveler

Customized Travel Planning

Since 2012, the Enchanted Traveler has become the go-to travel agency for moms and dads who want to save time and relieve the stress of planning a family vacation to Disney destinations and beyond. 

Disney Travel | Tropical Travel | Disney Destinations | Our Team | Join the Team

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Table of Contents

Why become a Disney trip planner?

How to become a disney travel agent, save money as a disney vacation planner, how much do disney travel agents make, final thoughts on becoming a disney travel agent.

If you’re a fan of Disney and you like to travel, it’s possible for you to combine these passions into a career or side hustle. By becoming a Disney travel agent, you can earn money by making bookings for clients and also save on your own Disney adventures.

Here's a look at how to become a Disney travel agent and the ways it can save you money and help you earn some cash while helping others make their Disney dreams come true.

As a Disney travel agent:

You can receive benefits on personal travel, such as discounted hotel rooms, free theme park tickets and complimentary Disney cruises.

You control your own schedule and how much you work.

You will be able to work from home in most cases.

You’ll earn a commission on successful bookings.

» Learn more: 10 ways to save on your first — or next — Disney vacation

Becoming a Disney travel advisor is similar to the process of becoming a regular travel agent.

First, you’ll need to meet specific travel agent requirements — but there are additional criteria needed to specialize in selling Disney vacations.

You’ll have to become familiar with Disney’s entire portfolio of products including Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Lines, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii and Adventures by Disney. In addition, clients may also ask Disney travel agents to book Universal Studios, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line packages.

If you’re already a travel agent , you can register for Disney travel agent training on the Disney Travel Agents website. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll need to complete the College of Disney Knowledge training, which includes online classes and information about Disney Destinations.

If you’re not already a certified travel agent , you’ll need to become one before signing up for Disney travel agent training. Certification programs vary in terms of cost, time commitment and requirements. Once you've completed a program, you can choose to join a travel agency or operate on your own as a small business. At this point, you can register for the Disney training.

Once finished, you’re eligible to become an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and entitled to all the benefits that the designation includes.

» Learn more: Do travel agents really save you money?

Disney travel agent benefits are one of the reasons to become a Disney vacation planner. Perks include special access to discounted hotel rates and other advantages, like:

Disney travel agent discounts

Disney travel agents can take advantage of discounted rates on accommodation and park entrance fees for their personal trips as well. This also applies to Disney branded hotels, in addition to other properties, cruises and excursions that include:

Disneyland Resort Hotels.

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

Adventures by Disney.

Disney Cruise Line.

Select all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.

The discounts will vary based on where you’re going, but you can expect to save up to 50%.

Adventures by Disney are guided vacation packages, which include Antarctic cruises, European getaways and more.

» Learn more: What a travel agent can do for you that a search engine can't

Complimentary Disney Park Hopper tickets annually

Businesses want you to be familiar with what you’re selling. After all, the better you know a place, the more capable you’ll be of helping clients choose the right vacation.

To that end, Disney provides Authorized Disney Vacation Planners with complimentary theme park tickets . As a standard Disney travel agent, you’ll receive a one-day Park Hopper ticket to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland each year.

Or, if you want to visit for a longer period of time, you can opt for discounted two- to 10-day Park Hopper tickets at Walt Disney World.

The highest-performing travel agents are recognized by Disney’s EarMarked. This invite-only program grants extra support and perks, such as additional complimentary theme park tickets.

» Learn more: Is the Disney Park Hopper worth it?

Discounted Universal Studios tickets

Cheaper tickets aren’t limited to Disney. As a Disney travel agent, you’ll also receive up to four half-price tickets to Universal Studios per year.

» Learn more: How to go to Disney World for cheap

Discounted Disney cruises and increased commissions

Disney cruise travel agents can also score reduced or free tickets to Disney cruises. Depending on the travel agency you work with, agencies with a high number of sales can earn increased commissions on sales associated with cruises.

» Learn more: How much does a Disney Cruise cost?

Disney travel agents work on commission, which means that they make money only when their clients book and complete vacations.

Disney pays up to a 10% commission to travel agents, depending on the package booked for the customer. Disney cruises yield a higher commission. If you’re working independently, you’ll receive the full commission amount — so if your client booked a $5,000 vacation pretax, you’d receive $500 in commission.

You can also opt to join an existing travel agency. These companies offer more support and can help you if you’re just getting started. Depending on the agency, it can also provide marketing support and send leads your way.

If you choose to join a travel agency , you’ll split your commission. The rate for this will vary based on where you’re working, but you can expect to receive up to 75% of the total commission Disney pays out.

This means that if you had a client taking a vacation that cost $5,000 pretax, Disney would pay the travel agency $500. At a 75% split, you would be paid $375. It’s less than you’d make if you were operating on your own, but it may be worth it for the added support and access to interested clients.

» Learn more: The best Disney resort for adults

There’s no denying that there are benefits to becoming a Disney travel agent. This includes free theme park tickets, discounted rates at official Disney hotels and even savings on cruises. Aside from these perks, you can also turn your passion into a job by selling Disney vacation packages to customers.

Whatever your reason for wanting to become a Disney travel agent, you’ll need to first become a certified travel agent, then complete Disney’s specialized training program.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-3x Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Sign up for the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter and get a monthly email with exclusive discounts!

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Working with Travel Agents Specializing in Disney Vacations

The amount of research necessary to plan all the details of a Disney vacation can be too time-consuming or even intimidating for some people. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the options, a great (FREE) solution is to use the services of a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel .

“Disney Specialists” have completed the College of Disney Knowledge, an online course offered by Disney that covers Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney. This is a great starting point, but frankly it’s not enough. Believe it or not, a travel agent can easily become a “Disney Specialist” in a few hours, without ever having visited a Disney vacation destination in person!

For that reason, we recommend picking an agency such as Small World Vacations that focuses on Disney travel and requires its agents to have advanced experience with Disney destinations, including in-person, on-site visits.

How Come It’s Free?

What to expect, avoid problems with payments, our personal recommendation.

Normally the client pays nothing extra for the service provided by a travel agency. Travel agents make their living from a small commission paid by the travel supplier (in this case, Disney) for the resort hotel rooms, theme park passes and vacation packages they book. The agent is compensated by this commission for the time, effort and attention she provides to the client.

Some agencies do charge for making changes or cancellations. The agency we recommend, Small World Vacations , does not charge any fees, including cancellation or change fees.

Travel agencies always charge a fee for making air reservations, because the airlines no longer pay commission. Small World Vacations does not book plane tickets for that very reason: it’s cheaper and easier for you to do it yourself! ( Read our advice and tips on booking your own airfare .)

Because they work on a commission basis, it’s unfair to ask a travel agent to do a lot of research for you, and then book elsewhere. Likewise, a reputable travel agent normally will not take over the booking of a trip from another travel agent, because this is considered “stealing” someone else’s earned commission.

An agent who specializes in Disney travel should be able to provide you with accurate information, including pricing, for Disney resorts, theme park passes and packages. She will book your trip and seek out the best deals for you — even rebooking your trip when better rates come up, if possible. Additionally, the best agents will help you with “extras” like booking your Advance Dining Reservations .

Once you book with a travel agent, he or she becomes your single point of contact for all changes in your travel plans. You cannot make changes or cancellations directly through Disney if you are working with a travel agent. For most people this feature is convenient, but if you prefer to control everything yourself, booking with a travel agent is not for you.

Travel agents are generally geared toward long-term planning (one month in advance or more). That’s primarily because it can take 3-4 weeks for them to get the paperwork from Disney once they’ve made your reservations, and then they have to get that paperwork to you. If you’re planning a last-minute trip, it’s usually better to do it yourself.

One of the most important things you need to find out about a travel agency is how they handle payments. The agency should send your payments immediately and directly to Disney. If you give them a credit card number, the card payment should be processed by Disney. If you write a check, it should be made out to Disney, not to the agency. That is how the agency we recommend ( Small World Vacations ) processes payments. They don’t hold your money — it goes straight to Disney.

DO NOT use an agency that collects your money and holds that money in its own accounts! Agencies that hold your money may have cash flow problems. They may be using your money to pay their suppliers for earlier clients’ vacations, and then hoping to use future clients’ money to pay for your vacation. It’s sort of like a pyramid scheme, and it can have the same result if their cash flow dries up.

When you let an agency process your payment through its own accounts, you have no guarantee that they’ll actually pay Disney for your vacation. There is also a risk that they’ll delay paying so long that your reservation may be canceled. If you have booked a Disney cruise, full payment must be received by Disney by a certain date so that you can reserve excursions and make Palo reservations, but if the agency sits on your money, you may lose your chance to make those reservations.

Some agencies are bonded, but if they default or close their doors, the bond may not cover all the money they’ve been collecting from clients. In some states, agencies that process payments are legally required to put your money in an escrow account for your protection, but many states don’t require this. In any case, there is no reason why the agency should earn interest on your money!

By the way, we don’t recommend paying for a vacation by check or debit card. You have much better protection against losing your money if you pay with a credit card.

The travel agent we use personally, talk with all the time, and can recommend wholeheartedly is Sue Pisaturo , whose company is called Small World Vacations .

Sue and all of her agents are Disney Specialists and College of Disney Knowledge graduates. Small World Vacations agents are required to have actually experienced the Disney destinations they sell. (In other words, if they are booking Disney cruises, they’ve actually been on a Disney cruise — often several cruises — themselves.) In addition, Small World agents complete ongoing education programs on-site at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal Orlando.

Small World Vacations is a Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, a special designation given by Disney to its top booking agencies. Sue Pisaturo, the owner and founder, is acknowledged as a Disney “expert among experts” and has contributed to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and other guidebooks. 

Small World Vacations is included in Travel Weekly’s 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 Power List and Travel Weekly’s 2017 Power List of the most successful travel agencies in the USA. They’ve been on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for six years in a row, and is one of very few agencies in the world to earn Diamond status (the highest level) in Disney’s EarMarked program for travel agencies. Small World Vacations has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. They are insured, bonded and have been in business for over 25 years.

Here’s how the process works. Small World Vacations uses a quotation system that helps them offer the best discounts available and also directs your request to the best agent for your needs.

• Submit a request for a price quote through their website.
• Based on your needs and your location, Sue partners you with a specific agent who will work with you right up through the time of your trip. (Sue is located in the Northeastern US, but she has agents around the US and works with clients around the world.)
• The agent will contact you by email with your quotation and provide you with an email and direct phone number that allows you to reach her directly and discuss the details of your vacation.
• From that point on, your contact is one-on-one with the agent and completely personalized.

Sue’s agents are extremely knowledgeable about Disney travel and wonderful to work with. They are oriented toward saving you money and will constantly monitor your reservation to make sure you are getting the best available deal. They understand and use the various discount codes that may be available, and they know all the best tricks for maximizing your time and money when planning a Disney vacation. Since 1996, they have helped over 300,000 guests plan their Disney vacations.

You will always receive helpful planning information and literature when you book with Small World Vacations. There is never any charge for their services. They often offer special gifts and incentives as well. Be sure to subscribe to the FREE monthly MouseSavers Newsletter , since Small World frequently offers extra goodies for newsletter subscribers.

The agents at Small World Vacations are genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about all things Disney, and we know they’ll take great care of you. We have received many, many “thank you” emails from readers who had a wonderful experience working with this agency.

Ready to plan your vacation with Small World Vacations? Where do you want to go?

• Walt Disney World: Request a Walt Disney World vacation price quote from Small World Vacations. Please note:  Small World Vacations has a minimum booking requirement of 3 nights, except for room-only bookings (with no tickets or dining plan) of standard Value resort rooms, for which the minimum booking requirement is 5 nights.
• Disneyland (California):   Request a Disneyland (California) vacation price quote from Small World Vacations. Please note:  Small World Vacations has a minimum booking requirement of 2 nights for vacation packages; there is a 3-night minimum for room-only bookings (with no tickets or dining plan) at on-site Disneyland Resorts.
• Disney Cruise Line cruise:   Request a Disney Cruise Line cruise price quote from Small World Vacations.
• Universal Orlando:   Request a Universal Orlando vacation price quote from Small World Vacations. Please note:  Small World Vacations has a minimum booking requirement of 3 nights at  on-site hotels only.
• Adventures by Disney vacation:   Request an Adventures by Disney vacation price quote from Small World Vacations.
• Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii:   Request an Aulani Resort vacation price quote from Small World Vacations.  Please note:  Small World Vacations has a minimum booking requirement of 3 nights.
• Want to book   Universal Orlando vacation packages as an add-on to your Walt Disney World trip or Disney Cruise vacation? Use the Small World Vacations’ Walt Disney World request a price quote form. Fill it out with the details for the Walt Disney World portion of your trip. When you reach the “Special Requests” section, add a note saying that you’d like to add days at Universal Orlando and which on-site hotel you are interested in.

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How to Find the Best Disney Travel Agent: A Step-by-Step Guide

• How to Find the Best…

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World or Disneyland, hiring a Disney travel agent can make the experience much smoother and more enjoyable.

These experts can help you navigate the parks, create a personalized itinerary, and even save you money. But with so many travel agents out there, how do you find the right one?

In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide to finding a Disney travel agent that fits your needs.

Why Use a Disney Travel Agent?

Disney World and Disneyland can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been before. With so many rides, shows, restaurants, and hotels to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start.

A Disney travel agent can help you make sense of it all. They know the parks inside and out and can create a personalized itinerary that fits your interests, budget, and schedule.

An Authorized Disney vacation planner can also help you save time and money by making reservations for you, booking fast passes, and even finding discounts and deals. And if something goes wrong during your trip, they’re just a phone call away.

What to Look for in a Disney Travel Agent

When looking for a Disney travel agent, there are a few key things to keep in mind:

• Specialization: Make sure they specialize in Disney travel. While many Disney travel agents can book Disney trips, it’s best to work with someone who has extensive knowledge and experience with the parks.
• Personality and Travel Style: Look for an agent who is a good fit for your personality and travel style. Are you traveling with kids or adults only? Make sure your agent understands your needs and can tailor their services to your preferences.
• Credentials : Check their credentials. Are they affiliated with any professional organizations? Have they received any awards or recognition for their work? Do they have positive reviews from past clients?

How to Find a Disney Travel Agent

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to start your search. Here are a few ways to find a Disney travel agent:

• Ask for Recommendations: Ask friends, family, or online Disney groups for recommendations.
• Search Online: Search for Disney travel agents on Google or social media.
• Use a Disney Travel Agency : Use a travel agency that specializes in Disney travel.

Once you’ve found a few potential agents, take the time to research them further. Look at their website, read reviews, and schedule a consultation call to get to know them better.

Questions to Ask a Disney Travel Agent

Before you hire a Disney travel agent, it’s important to ask them the right questions. Here are a few to get you started:

• Experience: How many Disney trips have you planned?
• Favorites: What is your favorite park or ride?
• Changes or Cancellations: How do you handle changes or cancellations?
• Fees: Do you charge a fee? If so, how much?
• Availability: What is your availability during my travel dates?
• Communication: How do you communicate with clients (email, phone, text)?
• Services: What is included in your services (hotel reservations, dining reservations, park tickets, etc.)?
• Similar Clients: Have you worked with clients with similar travel preferences before?

These questions will help you get a better sense of the agent’s experience, style, and pricing.

Tips for Planning Your Disney Trip with a Travel Agent

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your Disney trip with a travel agent:

• Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates: Some dates are more expensive and crowded than others.
• Book Early: Disney dining reservations and fast passes can fill up quickly, so it’s best to plan ahead.
• Pack Light: Don’t overpack. You’ll be doing a lot of walking and standing, so pack comfortable shoes and clothes.
• Consider a Meal Plan: Consider a Disney meal plan. It can save you money and make dining reservations easier.
• Use Your Agent’s Expertise: Take advantage of your travel agent’s expertise. They can recommend the best rides, shows, and restaurants based on your interests.

Take advantage of your travel agent’s expertise. They can recommend the best rides, shows, and restaurants based on your interests.

How to Work with a Disney Travel Agent

Once you’ve hired a Disney travel agent, it’s important to establish clear communication and expectations. Make sure you understand their process and timeline for planning your trip. Provide them with as much information as possible about your travel preferences, budget, and schedule.

Be open to their suggestions and recommendations, but also speak up if you have any concerns or questions. Remember, this is your trip, and you have the final say.

Benefits of Using a Disney Travel Agent

There are many benefits to using a Disney travel agent, including:

• Time savings. You won’t have to spend hours researching and planning your trip.
• Money savings. A travel agent can help you find discounts and deals you may not have known about.
• Personalized service. Your agent can tailor their services to your needs and preferences.
• Peace of mind. If something goes wrong during your trip, your agent can help you resolve it quickly.

How to Avoid Disney Travel Scams

Unfortunately, there are scams out there that target Disney travelers. Here are a few tips to avoid them:

• Only book with reputable travel agents or directly with Disney.
• Never give out personal or financial information to an unverified source.

Common Misconceptions About Disney Travel Agents

There are a few common misconceptions about Disney travel agents, including:

• They only book Disney trips. While many agents specialize in Disney travel, some also book other types of vacations.
• They can’t get you better deals than you can find on your own. While it’s true that some discounts and deals are available to the public, some are only available through travel agents.

Final Thoughts

A Disney vacation can be a magical experience, but it can also be overwhelming to plan. Hiring a Disney travel agent can make the process much easier and more enjoyable. By following the tips in this guide, you can find an agent that fits your needs and preferences and helps make your Disney trip a success.

Looking for a career in Disney travel? Check out our Disney travel agent jobs page for current opportunities and start helping others plan their dream vacations to Disney World or Disneyland.

Is it necessary to hire a Disney travel agent?

No, it’s not necessary, but it can be helpful, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the parks or want to save time and money.

How do I know if a Disney travel agent is reputable?

Do your research. Check their credentials, read reviews, and ask for referrals.

Can a Disney travel agent help me save money on my trip?

Yes, a travel agent can often help you find discounts and deals you may not have known about.

Can a Disney travel agent book everything for my trip, including flights?

Some travel agents can book flights, but many specialize in booking only Disney-related services such as hotel reservations, park tickets, and dining reservations.

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How to Become a Disney Travel Agent – Complete Guide

• How do I become a Disney Travel Agent?

Ever since we started Pixie Vacations we get asked how to become a Disney Travel Agent?  So we created this Disney Travel agent complete guide to help you out and hopefully give you a good understanding what it takes to sell Disney vacations.

First I want to start by saying you are not technically a “Disney Travel Agent”  you would be a Travel Planner that specializes in Disney vacations and you would be working for a travel agency.  If you are looking to work for the Disney Company at their Central Reservations (CRO) this is a different job altogether.

• What we are going to cover
• What is a Disney Travel Agent AKA Travel Planner that specializes in Disney destinations?
• How do I become a travel agent that sells Disney vacations?
• What to look out for and what questions to ask to be a travel agent.
• We will cover the skills you should have to sell travel.
• We will get in-depth into some marketing tips, and also cover frequently asked questions about becoming a Disney travel agent.
• What legal pitfalls to avoid and helpful links to do your homework before becoming a travel agent.
• What is a Disney Travel Agent?

In most cases you will need to find and apply at a travel agency.  We will go over what to look for in a travel agency later in this article, so don’t worry.  Also in most cases you will be selling Disney Destinations as an independent contractor and your “Title” will be a travel agent that specializes in Disney vacations, not “A Disney Travel Agent” because you are NOT working for the Walt Disney Company.

To find travel agency’s just do a google search on: “How to become a Disney Travel Agent”,  “Be a Disney Travel Planner”, “How to sell Disney vacations”, and search terms like this.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get into what to look for in a Travel Agency.

• FirstHeading

How to pick a Travel Agency

What are the advantages to being a travel agent that sells disney vacations, what other advantages are there for disney travel agents, disney travel agent (dta) training, which disney focused travel agency should i work with, commissions and commission splits, when do you get paid, red flags and scams, support systems at the travel agency, what skills do you need, seller of travel licenses and legal questions.

• It's awesome to be a Disney Vacation Planner

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Doing your research is key.  There are loads of travel agencies that have travel planners that work as contractors offering Disney Vacations and it can be overwhelming.  Start with the owners of the travel agency.  Do some basic research on each travel agency.

• Does the travel agency have a professional looking website?
• Can you find the owners name, address, phone number and email on their website?
• Does the owner answer the phone or call you back?

I know this sounds really basic but you can tell a great deal from the travel agencies website.  If you can’t call the travel agency this is a red flag.  If you can’t speak with them then how are clients supposed to speak with them if there is a problem?  You should be able to talk with someone, that’s what your clients will expect and you should expect.

Who are the owners?  What is there experience in travel and with the Disney Company?

Does the travel agency have travel agents already?  If so email a few and ask them how they like the travel agency, how long have they been there?

We will get into more ways to determine which travel agency is a right fit for you indirectly in some of the following topics below.  Let’s move on.

You might hear that you get to travel for free.  You get to stay at Walt Disney World and Disneyland hotels for Free.  Not exactly.  There are Disney travel agent benefits but if you want to be a travel agent just for the benefits this is not the job for you.  The Disney travel benefits should be looked at as extras you earn for becoming a successful agent that sells Disney travel destinations.

There are travel agencies out there that will ask you to pay them a fee $300 – $500 to join them and in return they will let you get a CLIA ID card or access to the Disney booking site.  This is not how you should become a travel agent in our opinion.  This should be a job, not something you do for a CLIA card.

Let me step back a little.  To get travel agency benefits like discounts on a hotel room you need either a CLIA or IATA Agent ID.  To get a CLIA Agent ID card this is what you need according to CLIA’s website:

CLIA card requirements

To qualify for CLIA Individual Agent Membership (IAM), your affiliated agency must be a current CLIA Travel Agency Member. CLIA recommends that agents generate a minimum of $5,000 in total agency commissions from cruise bookings within the 12 months prior to enrollment.

So to obtain this card they recommend that you have sold $5,000 in COMMISSIONS in your PRIOR 12 months in CRUISE bookings.  IATA has similar requirements but they don’t just focus on cruise bookings.

You will need your CLIA or IATA Agent ID card to be able to register for travel discounts.

Also you need to meet your travel agencies requirements and also the vendors requirements to be able to get the travel deal.  So there are many layers to being able to save a little on a room.

Again, don’t focus on the travel discounts, they are not worth it.  You need to focus on selling vacations and offering exceptional service to clients and help them plan their most amazing vacation ever.  If you do that your sales will come and you will be on your way to being able to apply for a CLIA or IATA agent ID card.

Work at home .  Most positions are as independent contractors (IC) and you can work your own hours and work from home.  Like any job the amount of time and effort you put in will help determine how well you do.

Money / Commission.   You will get paid a commission in most travel agency positions as an IC.  So when someone books a vacation with you, you will get a percentage of the commission.  We will go over travel agent commissions in more detail in this article.

Travel.   Depending on the travel agency you sign up with, you might be offered training trips or FAMS.  These are Familiarization trips that travel vendors and travel agencies do to show you resorts, on-site training, excursions, etc.  These FAM trips can be free or offered at a discounted cost and usually for the FAM cost you will get a room, training, and some meals covered.  Getting to the FAM is normally not covered so you would pay for your flights.  For Example a Universal Studios Orlando FAM can cost around $300-$400 for the FAM fee.  This of course varies so don’t quote us on these costs.

FAM Trips – Also depending on the agency you work for could determine if you get invited to a FAM trip.  If you want to learn more about Sandals and Beaches Resorts and your agency does not sell that much of those properties you might have a harder time getting onto a FAM trip with that vendor for example.  Travel vendors are not looking for people that want a discounted vacation, they are looking for travel agents that truly want to learn and sell their destination.

When you join a travel agency they will get you a Disney Travel Agent (DTA) account.  This is where you take the Disney College of Knowledge Classes, book Disney vacations, read Disney News, and this is your central hub for Disney Marketing pieces too.

The Disney College of Knowledge is free.  You should not be paying a travel agency for access to DTA.  The College of Knowledge has online classes that will get you up to speed on all the Disney destinations and offerings.  Here is the link to Disney Travel Agents .

You need to complete all of these Disney College of Knowledge online classes to be able to take advantage of travel agent Disney offers, like a free admission ticket to the parks.  Don’t worry the online Disney training is not difficult.  You will watch the training section videos of Disneyland, Disney World, Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Line, etc and take an online quiz at the end of each section.

You could complete all the Disney College of Knowledge classes in a day if you set yourself down and just go from beginning to end.  It would be better if you dedicated at least a few days to complete the Disney College of Knowledge training classes.  Other Family vacation destinations like Universal Orlando Resort also have online training .

There are many things to look at before selecting a Travel Agency that specializes in Disney Vacations.

• Does your travel agency sell other things besides Disney? If not will you be losing business when your client wants to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, to an all inclusive resort, book a honeymoon, etc. and will your client come back to you and remember you 5 years later if they want to go to Disney again?

Here is the Earmarked logo for reference

• Is your Travel agency an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner or also known as EarMarked? An EarMarked Travel Agency has passed standards Disney requires to offer them this special designation.  If the travel agency does not have this logo on their website, then they are most likely not Earmarked.To determine if the travel agency is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can go to this website:  http://www.authorizeddisneyvacationplanners.com/   This will not tell you what level they are in the EarMarked program but it will at least tell you if they are Earmarked by Disney.  The agencies are listed in random order and you will have to reload the page several times to see them all.

Every travel agency starts someplace to become an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner so figure out if you want to start with a newer agency that is not Earmarked or an agency that  has already moved up the different status levels.  Every agency at one point was not Earmarked, so understand that you should not solely make your decision on picking a travel agency based on this EarMarked status.

You need to also know that just because a travel agent is EarMarked does not mean it is a good agency.  So do some research and contact other agents at that travel agency that have been there for several years and ask them how they like the travel agency, do they get paid on time, what support do they get, etc.

The reason you wanted to become a Disney travel agent should be to get paid.  Yes it can be fun and rewarding, but it takes long hours and at the end of the day you should get paid for your work.

Every Disney Specialized Travel Agency pays differently but most pay you commission.  You would not be an employee in this example, but an independent contractor that gets paid when you book a vacation for a client.

Travel vendors, like Disney, give Travel agents a commission.  This is NOT an extra cost added to a vacation.  It’s sort of like a finders fee.  When you book a Walt Disney World Vacation Package you get a commission for that booking.  If you search the web you can figure out what commission levels are for different vendors.  But for this example lets say you contact someone you know and they book a Walt Disney World Vacation Package with a room, park tickets, and the Disney dining plan staying on property at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort.  The cost of the Disney Vacation let’s say is $4,000.

Disney will pay a percentage of the $4,000 to the agency as a commission. So let’s say for this example that the commission earned is $400 to make for easy math that would be 10%.  Once the party travels Disney will send the $400 commission to the Travel Agency.  After the travel agency gets the commission check they will send you a percentage of that commission.  What you get depends on the travel agency you work for and what they pay their travel planners.  Some travel agency’s pay 40%, some pay only on certain types of bookings, some pay a flat fee of $25 – $50 per booking no matter what is booked.  The majority of travel agencies pay 50% to 90% commission.   So  in our example the Disney vacation of $4,000 has a 10% commission that is a $400.  If the agency gives you a 50% commission split then you would get $200 and the agency would get $200.  This is just an example with made up numbers and percentages, but it should give you an idea how commissions with vendors and agencies work.

The more you sell with some travel agencies the higher commission levels you reach. So you might start at 40% commission and then go to 50% and then to 60% and so on based on your sales numbers with the travel agency.

This is also how travel vendors operate like Cruise Line Vendors for Example.

If you work for a small or new travel agency a Cruise Line vendor might be paying 10% commission to that agency.  As the agency sells more Cruise Line vacations the agencies commission level can go up to 15%, 16%, for example.

So your commission split that you get from your travel agency is important as well as the commission levels that travel agency gets from it’s vendors.

Simple Commission Split example:

Agency A – Gets 16% Cruise Line Commission $5,000 Cruise x 16% = $800.00 commission

Agency B – Gets 10% Cruise Line Commission $5,000 Cruise x 10% = $500.00 commission

You are making $300 more for just this one booking in this example so do your homework when you select a travel agency to work with.

Also equally important is what commission level you are getting from the travel agency.  Are they starting you at 40% or higher?  What commission goal levels do they have?

You will get paid AFTER the guest travels.  If you book a 2024 vacation and that’s years away, you are not seeing any of that money until that guest gets back from there 2024 vacation.  If the guest cancels you don’t get paid.

You will need a ramp up period to build a client base and then to book those clients every year and word of mouth referrals to grow.  This takes time and then you have to wait for those clients to travel.  So don’t plan on being a Disney travel agent and quickly quitting your day job, unless you really work non-stop and have an outgoing personality and sales background.

This is called the Complete Guide to becoming a Disney travel agent because we want to make sure you have the best and complete information to make an educated decision.  This section is not to scare you, but to make you aware of what could happen and how to be on the look out for scams.

First, when you got your first job did they ask you to pay them $1,000 to work for them.  No!  If someone is asking you to PAY THEM to Work for THEM that is something that should make you think twice.  Now I understand that travel agencies have costs to cover and even we charge a small fee to join because we have to pay for training systems, and other onboarding expenses.  So $100- $200 to get set up can be expected to invest in starting out.

Why can scams happen – Because you don’t get paid until after the client travels this has led some people to setup and run travel agencies as a way to rip you off.  Maybe they first created a small travel agency for fun and it just got out of hand, or maybe they have a background in doing this scam over and over again.  This is again why you need to do your homework when looking for a travel agency to join.  You can avoid a travel agency that is not going to pay you simply by contacting several of the agents that work there.  Contact agents that have been at the agency for several years (4-5 years min.) so you know they have a track record of payments and know whats going on at the agency.  If the agents are all new it’s hard to tell if agents have left because of issues with getting paid or if the agency is just getting started.

Disney pays Travel Agencies.  If you are working at a Travel Agency and not getting paid and are constantly told they are waiting for Disney to pay them, this is most likely not true.  You can contact Disney yourself and give them your booking number to see if it has been paid.

How the Scam works.  You join the travel agency and sell $200,000 in vacations but most of the people don’t really travel until 8 months or a year from now.  The travel agency also that you work for says they have 90 days to pay you.  So there is this long time line that the travel agency can have you booking vacations for them and not pay you.  When these vacations do travel and you still don’t get paid, you might be told that the vendor has not paid the travel agency yet, etc.  So now you might be owned $20k in commissions and another $20k in future not traveled commissions before you realize that the travel agency has no intention of paying you.

You can avoid all this by doing some research and not just signing up with any travel agency you come across.  Again this type of scam is also rare and just something you should be aware of.

Money and commission levels are important but a good support system is also just as important.

Look for a travel agency that has a focus on Disney and Family Vacations.

Do they have training?

Look for a travel agency that offers FAM (Travel agent training trips).  How many do they offer, when was the last one, and how much was it?

What is the owners background and what support do they offer?

Does the travel agency offer Leads?  Does the travel agency do marketing to get exposure for their agents and to get leads?

Does the travel agency have an account rep. at the different vendors you  are going to use that you can call if you have an issue?

What support is there when you need it?

What is the agency owners background?

More established travel agency’s will have a dedicated rep. at each vendor to help if there is an issue.  You might also have a special phone line you can call to book with certain vendors if your agency is one of their preferred agencies.  This could cut down wait times when you are trying to book a vacation for a client.  Having account reps. also helps tremendously when you have a client at a property and they have an issue.

Does your travel agency have conference calls, webinars with vendors, and other ways to learn and share knowledge?

These are all things you should look for and consider when deciding on a travel agency.

To be successful as a Disney travel agent you need good communication skills.  You will need to put in the hours to learn the Disney Destinations, like Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Adventures by Disney.  You also need to be more than just a big Disney fan.  This is a job and requires time to build up clients, keep clients, learn vacation destinations, and time to book and help your clients.  It will take time to get things going and being persistent is key.

You will be communicating with Disney and clients via email and on the internet, so an internet connection and a computer is needed.  A phone number / cell phone is needed and we would recommend a dedicated phone number so you can answer your phone professionally.  You can get a Google Number or other services offer free phone numbers so you can keep your existing cellphone and just change the ring tone.

You should be a people person.  Someone that can take little direction and just run with it.  You need to be comfortable talking with people.

You really should be a salesperson at heart and just decide to sell Disney vacations instead of another product.  If you can’t SELL this job will be difficult for you.  If you know and love Disney, that’s great, but you need to run this like a business and be able to sell the Disney destinations, organize client bookings, plan marketing and social media posts, attend local events and get out in your community or virtual community.

If you are the go to person at your church, school, business, or other clubs / events, you will have a base of customers to plan vacations for.

Technology skills are also helpful.  Posting on social media, marketing, emailing, etc all play into you being successful as a Disney travel planner.

Another Heads up section that is not so much fun to talk about but needs to be covered so you are aware.

I am not a lawyer so I would recommend you contact a travel lawyer, but here is how I understand the Seller of Travel Licenses requirements for Florida and California.

To sell travel your travel agency is required to have a sellers of travel license in certain states.  For example you should see Florida Sellers of Travel Ref No STXXXXX at the bottom of the travel agencies website and also CST XXXXXXXX for California’s Seller of Travel Licenses.  If you don’t see these on their website that travel agency can not market anyplace that a FL or CA resident might see a vacation offer.

With the Internet a consumer in FL and CA can see a travel offer anyplace.  So then it seems to reason the every travel agency needs to have this license.

If a resident from Florida or California sees a post, website, Facebook post or anything offering travel services, vacations, deals, that agency can be fined or worse.  If you as an independent contractor sell travel to anyone in these states you might come across issues.

How can you determine if the travel agency is registered in California?  Here is the CA Sellers of Travel Website Information:

“California requires all sellers of travel to register with the Attorney General’s Office and to display the registration number on all advertising. While not assuring that a company is reputable, a valid registration signals that the seller of travel has at least followed the law to be registered.”

Read more at the California Seller of Travel Website.

Check to make sure the travel agency has a CA Seller of Travel Licenses here.

From the CA Sellers of Travel Website:

“When you’re at a travel agency, ask to see the seller of travel’s registration acknowledgement — a one-page document issued by the Attorney General’s Seller of Travel Program. Be sure to check the expiration date to determine whether the registration is still valid.

You also may use the “ Seller Search ” feature on this website to assist you in determining whether a seller of travel is registered with our office. Since there are many similar seller of travel names, please spell out the full name and address of the company.”

From the Florida Sellers of Travel Website:

https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Business-Services/Sellers-of-Travel

“The sellers of travel law requires any person or business that is a seller or promoter of travel-related services to register annually with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), unless exempt. Sellers of travel are required to provide proof of assurance in the form of a performance bond, in an amount not to exceed $25,000, or $50,000 if they sell vacation certificates.

FDACS is authorized to collect registration fees and impose penalties for noncompliance of the law.”

Check to make sure the travel agency has their FL Seller of Travel License here.

Also you should make sure your travel agency has E&O Insurance.  This is Errors and Omissions Insurance.  They should be able to show you the current years binder page.

It’s awesome to be a Disney Vacation Planner

There is so much information here and some of it can be daunting, but being a travel agent that specialists in Disney vacations is also so much fun.  Yes it is work, but it can be rewarding planning vacations to the most magical place on earth.

If you would like to apply at Pixie Vacations please fill out our application form.

Application form Pixie Vacations

Step 1 of 3

What Social Media accounts do you have?

Previous experience.

Are there Disney classes for non-agents? I’ve been an agent in the past, however not a strictly Disney agent. I’m having a hard time trying g to get an agent position but would love to take classes.

Hi, The DTA classes are just for travel agents.

i would like to apply to be a travel agent

Hi, Christine,

Please write to [email protected] and be sure to include information about your qualifications, sales experience, networking or how you would generate vacation sales, etc. Thanks.

I have already completed the Disney training but would love to work with Disney vacations I am certified in cruises but really want Disney exclusively

Hi, Tammy, Please fill out the form enclosed if you have not already. Have an awesome day! 🙂

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9 Reasons Why You Should Use a Disney Travel Agent

In an age when we can instantly go online to research and book our vacation, do people even still use travel agents?  Yes, they do, and for good reason!  Actually, for several good reasons.  But it usually boils down to a central theme… having someone else handle the research and logistics so their vacation doesn’t start to become work .  And for a complex destination like Disney World, that’s even more important!  Sure, you can do some research here on our site to find out how much your trip will cost (our Disney World Cost Calculator is great for that) — but when you’re ready to book, we suggest you call in a professional!  Here are our top nine reasons why you should use a Disney travel agent.

Our pick for the best Disney travel agency is The Vacationeer !

Their team of 90+ agents specialize in Disney World, Universal, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Adventures by Disney vacations.  They offer free, no-obligation quotes and their travel planning services are free of charge!

– 1 – Their services are free, and they’ll work within your budget

These may not be the most compelling reasons to use a Disney travel agent, but they’re such common misconceptions that we feel it’s important to clear them up right away.

Most travel agents do not charge you a fee to use their planning services.   Why?  Disney is paying the agent a small commission in exchange for handling your booking.

This cost comes out of Disney’s profit on your vacation… it’s not passed on to you.  In other words, booking with an agent is no more costly than booking without an agent.

A few travel agencies have begun charging an itinerary planning fee, but this is not the case for most agencies.  You shouldn’t have any trouble finding reputable agencies that don’t charge you anything to book your vacation.

And remember, a reputable Disney travel agent will never pressure you to upgrade to a larger room you don’t want, or buy a more expensive ticket package than you need.  A healthy working relationship with your Disney travel specialist is one in which your agent knows your needs and your budget, and doesn’t try to force you to book something you won’t like or can’t afford.

Interestingly, many travelers discover that their trip is actually CHEAPER than if they had booked it on their own ; their travel agent often offers suggestions on discounts and package deals that the traveler might not have known about otherwise.

They can also help you set up a payment plan for your trip, so you just pay a small deposit upfront and then pay the remainder on your own schedule.  A good travel agent will help you make a plan to pay for your Disney vacation in a way that works within your budget.

– 2 – Disney is Complex and Constantly Changing

We’ll just come right out and say it.  Going to Disney is complicated.

What started out as a single theme park in 1950s California has grown over the past seven decades into a global enterprise with parks, cruises, and tours all around the world.  In Florida alone, Disney World has four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping and entertainment district, about two dozen resort hotels, a sports complex, golf and mini golf courses, fishing, boat rentals, parasailing, camping, adult/executive education, convention centers, youth education programs, and so much more — not to mention a standalone beach resort on the Florida coast and two thriving cruise ports with ships sailing to distant ports of call.

And, more importantly, these already-complex vacation destinations are constantly changing.  Rides and restaurants open and close, booking policies change, nuances of park hours and crowd levels can affect the overall experience.  You either need to invest a ton of time and effort to research all of this on your own, or you need to find someone who studies this information day in and day out and keeps track of all the changes.

Attractions come and go. Does your agent pay attention?

That’s where having a good Disney travel agent comes in.  They follow Disney like it’s their job… because it IS their job!  That brings us to our next reason…

– 3 – They Are Focused Almost Exclusively on Disney

Pretty much any travel agent, whether they work for one of the big national names or the mom-n-pop place down the street, can book a Disney vacation for you.  But if your vacation is the only Disney trip they’ve booked all year, are they really going to know everything needed to make your vacation magical?

As we mentioned above, Disney is always changing, and having a travel agent who relies on outdated knowledge can mean the difference between getting what you want or missing out on critical parts of your vacation.

As an example, let’s say you call up a massive national agency or wholesaler to book a vacation at Walt Disney World in Florida.  Suppose the travel agent you speak with hasn’t booked a Disney trip in a few years.  If they haven’t kept up with all of the news coming out of Disney in those two years, they could be missing some major changes!

Perhaps the best examples of this are the major changes at Disney that happened between 2020 and 2022:

• You didn’t just need theme park tickets — you couldn’t get into a park unless you also had a theme park reservation (and those rules changed in 2023 and will change once again in 2024!)
• The FastPass system was completely replaced with two new offerings
• The Extra Magic Hours program was replaced with two new offerings
• A new roller coaster opened at Epcot, but you couldn’t just stand in line to ride it
• The timeline to make dining reservations changed, and the Disney Dining Plan was suspended (and is due to come back in 2024)
• The way to get from the airport to the hotel changed

Of course, the early 2020s were far from typical.  But even without a pandemic upending everything, there are still significant changes that happen each year.  Imagine the impact that not keeping track of those changes could have on your trip!  Don’t risk it… pick a travel agent who focuses primarily on Disney vacations!  They’re the ones who’ll know everything that’s needed to make your trip a success.

– 4 – An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Receives Training Directly from Disney

A reputable Disney travel agent doesn’t just focus on Disney… they have been trained using official Disney training materials and have been designated an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner .  That means you’re getting vacation planning services that are based on accurate information provided directly by Disney.

The College of Disney Knowledge

Disney offers comprehensive training for travel agents, known as the College of Disney Knowledge .  This program requires agents not only to go through an extensive series of training modules, but also to pass tests of their knowledge prior to graduating.

When your travel agent is a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge, you’ll know they’ve been extensively trained and tested on Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and Adventures by Disney.

Some agents take their Disney education even further by attending in-person training at Disney.

Authorized Disney Vacation Planners

Disney has a special term for travel agencies which specialize in Disney Travel, have fully trained their agents on Disney products, and agree to uphold Disney’s high standards.  They’re called “Authorized Disney Vacation Planners,” and you should look for that specific wording on your agent’s website.

Finding an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is crucial if you want to be sure you’re working with a travel agent/agency that truly knows Disney.

The logo displayed by Authorized Disney Vacation Planners | Image © Disney

Disney recognizes the highest-performing travel agencies by awarding them a higher  EarMarked designation.  Every agency starts out at the Bronze level and, based on annual booking activity, can progress up through Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond levels.

Very few agencies achieve Platinum or Diamond level EarMarked status.   Find one and you’ll know you’re dealing with an agency that books thousands of Disney trips every year… true experts!

Looking for a trustworthy travel agency that specializes in Disney Vacations?  We highly recommend contacting The Vacationeer , our number one pick for the best Disney Travel Planners .

This EarMarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency doesn’t charge any fees to use their planning services, and all of their agents are graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge.

– 5 – You have a dedicated contact for your vacation planning

Planning your vacation without using a Disney Travel Agent means you’re either going it alone online, or you’re stuck dealing with call centers — several different phone numbers, too.  Want to book dining?  Call this number.  Need a hotel?  Call that number.  Booking recreation?  Still another number.

After you wait who knows how long on hold, you’ll be connected to a helpful Cast Member… but you’re going to speak with them on the phone once and (in all likelihood) never again.  Need clarification on something about your vacation you discussed with them earlier?  You can call back, but it’s practically impossible to get the same person back on the phone a second time.

Even if you do miraculously get the same person on the phone a second time, they could have taken dozens or even hundreds of other phone calls since then.  The odds of them remembering your situation?  Pretty slim.

Most Disney travel agencies, on the other hand, will assign a single travel agent to you.  That agent will serve as your single point of contact before, during, and after your trip.

They’ll take the time to get to know you and your family — what you like and don’t like, what’s important to you, and what’s not of interest — so your vacation is exactly what you want.

Think of them almost as your own personal Disney concierge .  It’s great for your first Disney vacation, and even better when you’re ready to go back for another!

– 6 – Disney Travel Agents watch for new discounts and apply them for you

This is perhaps the best benefit of using a Disney travel agent.  Imagine having your trip booked, then getting this email a few months later from your agent:

Hi there! I wanted to let you know that Disney just released a new discount of 20% off certain resort stays.  Your reservation at Coronado Springs is eligible for the discount, so I’ve gone ahead and applied it to your booking.  Your total cost went down by $500! Have a magical day!

That’s the best kind of email there is!  A good Disney travel agent will watch over your reservation, ready to swoop in on any new discounts or promotions that might pop up. That’s why a travel agency such as The Vacationeer is the best place to book your Disney World Hotel reservation .

Working without a travel agent?  IF you happen to hear that a new discount became available, you’ll have to join the hundreds and hundreds of other Guests waiting on hold to modify their reservation.  And there’s a chance that by the time you do hear about it, the offer might have expired or is sold out because there were only a limited number of rooms available.

– 7 – Your travel agent makes all of the reservations for your Disney Vacation

It seems pretty obvious, but let’s take a moment to think about what this really means.

Your Disney travel agent knows your travel plans.  That means they know when you can book your hotels, when you can book your dining reservations, and when you can book recreation and dinner shows.  They even know how to reserve transportation to and from the airport.

And they’ll do all of that, exactly on time, right when the booking window opens.  Any delay in booking these reservations can mean that you lose out as other guests take your spot… and some booking windows open at 6AM eastern time!  If you’re a west coast resident, you’d probably rather not wake up at 3AM to try to grab a popular dining reservation.  Let a Disney travel agent do it instead!

Even if you don’t mind a few early wake up calls, you’ll still be happy to know that it’s all being handled for you so you don’t have to spend your valuable time doing it.

Your Disney travel specialist is happy to book your hotel, Advance Dining Reservations, add-ons such as character experiences and special holiday parties, and any other time-sensitive reservations for your vacation.

This sign won't concern you if your agent has already made your reservations!

– 8 – They can help if something unexpected comes up

Picture it.  You’re all set for the perfect vacation.  And, despite all of your planning ahead, something just… goes wrong.  Maybe your flight gets canceled so you need to adjust your check-in date — a major storm in Florida (or at home) causes everyone to change their travel plans at once and hold times are skyrocketing — or someone in your group gets sick at the last minute and you need to change your plans.

Those situations are terrible enough as-is.  Now imagine if you could just call your travel agent and ask them to deal with the issue.  With no agent, you’re stuck dealing with everything on your own.

That’s the extra peace of mind you get when you book through a Disney travel agent.  They’ll do everything possible to make sure your trip starts off smoothly — but if a snag comes up anyway, they’ll handle it for you so it’s one less thing you have to worry about.

Cancelled Flight? Let your travel agent adjust your hotel reservation.

– 9 – Your agent loves to answer questions about your Disney World vacation.  Seriously.

As you might imagine, most Disney travel agents love Disney themselves.  They’re often annual passholders who visit the parks a few times each year, and many of them are also frequent cruisers.

But the best Disney travel specialists don’t just love Disney… they love to share Disney with others.  And that means they’re eager to answer questions about Disney destinations, including sharing their own personal experiences to help guide you.

With lots of Disney travel under their belt, your travel agent can easily offer recommendations for you based on your interests.  Interested in finding out what the best attraction in each park is?  They can tell you their favorites.  Is this ride too scary for kids?  They can share how their two-year-old responded.  Wondering about the best things to do when your cruise visits Castaway Cay ?  They’ll tell you things that first-timers can easily miss.  And if you ask for dining recommendations?  Hope you’ve got some time, because they have a long list of favorites!

Ask them nicely enough, and they might even talk about Bruno.

Have we convinced you that it’s worth it to use a Disney travel agent?

If so, reach out to the Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at The Vacationeer !

There’s no charge to use their services, so get your free no-obligation quote today!

More questions about using a Disney Travel Agent

We’ve extensively covered the reasons why you should use a Disney travel agent, but you might still have a few more questions…

What’s the process when booking through these agents?

The process of booking through a Disney vacation planner can vary from agency to agency, but this is typically how it goes:

• Your contact information
• General information about what you’re looking for (destination, time of year, and any other “big picture” information)
• The agency connects you with the agent who will be handling your trip.
• The agent has an in-depth discussion with you about your vacation, asking questions (and answering yours), making recommendations, and narrowing down the choices with you.
• The agent provides you with a quote or proposal for the trip.  This may be a formal written document or a simple email/verbal quote.
• You and your agent discuss any desired changes.
• The agent books your trip as discussed.  Payment for the trip itself typically begins at this time depending on the payment schedule of the destination/products.
• Your agent forwards you a confirmation/overview of the trip and any purchased products.
• They book your dining, tour, and recreation reservations as soon as the booking window opens.  The best agents will keep searching for hard-to-get reservations.  Our site’s travel agency partner The Vacationeer uses a custom-built app to alert their agents of new openings!
• They add any new discounts that become available, reducing the cost of your trip whenever possible.
• They remind you of any upcoming payment deadlines that need to be met.
• They let you know about any important updates that will impact your trip.
• You go on vacation!
• Following your trip, your agent will usually follow up with you to make sure everything went well.

What are the Cons of booking with a Disney Travel Agent?

There are really only a couple of potential cons to using a travel agent to plan your Disney vacation, and there’s a good chance that neither of them will be a deal-breaker for you.

If your trip is booked through a travel agency, only the agency can modify or cancel your reservations on your behalf.

That’s not to say that your trip can never be modified or canceled.  It just means that you  cannot call Disney (or go online) to change your dates, modify your room type, move to another hotel, or call the whole thing off and get a refund.  Instead, you’ll need to have your travel agent do that for you.

For most people, that’s not really a con — after all, the entire point of using a travel agent is to have someone manage your reservations for you  — but you should be aware of that limitation before you book.

Most Disney travel planners do not book flights.

Because these boutique travel agencies focus primarily on Disney destinations, they typically don’t deal with airline reservations.  Again, for most people, this isn’t really a concern.  With easy online searches that consolidate all airline options into a single search result , booking a flight is nothing like the mystical ordeal it used to be.

And with flight delays and cancellations becoming increasingly common, this is one area where you want to be directly capable of modifying and adjusting your plans yourself (perhaps even in person at the airport during your trip) without needing to have a travel agent contact the airline.

Even though most Disney travel agents don’t handle flights, they do arrange transportation between your airport and your hotel or cruise terminal.  The basic mantra is: if you can get yourself to Orlando, your travel agent can get you to Disney!

What are the most important things to look for when picking a Disney travel agent?

The two most important things to look for when picking a travel agency for your Disney vacation are:

• Is the agency an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (preferably EarMarked at the platinum or diamond level)?
• Does the agency charge clients any fees to use their services?

Final thoughts on the reasons why you should use a Disney travel agent:

For most travelers, using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner makes a lot of sense.  Anyone, from the first-time visitor to an annual passholder who visits multiple times each year, will find some level of value in using a travel agent to plan their trip.

For the first-timer, the agent will be there to hold your hand every step of the way and make sure you don’t miss out on things you didn’t even know existed.

For those who know Disney like the back of their hand, it’s a relief to let someone else do all the tedious tasks so all you have to do is hop on a plane and go!

And for those who fall somewhere in between, you’ll be happy to have someone who’s been keeping up on all the rule changes and new offerings since your last visit so you’re not caught by surprise.

So, is using one really worth it?

Perhaps “worth it” isn’t exactly the right word because you’re not paying anything extra to use their services.  But yes, we feel that using a Disney travel agent is a worthwhile way of planning your vacation.  The little bit of control you give up by bringing a travel agent into the mix is very much outweighed by the benefits you gain.  And with vacation dollars (and vacation time) seeming to be harder and harder to come by, it’s comforting to know you have another set of eyes watching over your trip for you.

I’ve already booked my trip.  Is it too late to use a Disney travel agent?

You may still be able to use a Disney travel agent even if parts of your vacation are already booked .  Typically, an agent can still handle things for you if your initial booking was made within the last 30 days and you haven’t yet paid in full.

Ready to book your Disney World trip?

We hope our article on reasons you should use a Disney travel agent has helped you understand more about the services provided by these travel professionals.

If you’re ready to use the helpful services of an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner , we strongly recommend contacting The Vacationeer .

They’re a Diamond-level EarMarked travel provider, and their team of 90+ Disney fanatics are all graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge .  Your vacation will be in great hands with them!  They don’t charge any planning fees , and there’s never any obligation to book .

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Travel Advisor Resources

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent: Fora’s Full Guide

The Modern Travel Agency

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/how-to-become-a-disney-travel-agent

The “Most Magical Place on Earth” sits on many families’ dream vacation lists. But the options and variations on a Disney vacation can feel like it's even more complicated than Moana’s quest to restore the heart of Te Fiti. That’s where you — a travel agent — step in to save the day. Below, we’re breaking down how to become a Disney travel agent: the steps, common questions and why you might want to consider this niche to complement your travel agent career.

(If you’re interested in learning how to become a travel agent in general, our guide has everything you need to get started.)

What is a Disney Travel Agent?

A Disney travel agent is someone who plans and books Disney vacations for their clientele. You may decide to focus only on Disney vacations, or, you can also book other types of trips and travel experiences for your clients. 

Related Article: How to Become an Independent Travel Agent

Why should you become a Disney Travel Agent?

The job of a Disney travel agent isn’t only for the Disney-obsessed. Learning how to become a Disney travel agent is also a great way to help build a career that makes income while helping travelers plan a trip that, for them, means everything. 

While some families frequently travel to Walt Disney World, Disneyland or another Disney destination, others only do so once in their lifetimes, which means hopes and expectations can be high. Stepping in to help families plan a bucket-list trip is not just a great career option, but also a rewarding way to give families the chance to make meaningful intergenerational bonds during a trip of a lifetime.

The benefits of becoming a Disney travel agent

Because these trips are often comprehensive (hotels, tickets, etc.), becoming a Disney vacation planner can be lucrative for travel agents, who can earn a substantial income even from a single trip. (If you’re interested in learning how to become a luxury travel advisor , the same concept applies.)

But there’s more to love about becoming a Disney travel agent.

It’s a flexible career option 

One of the perks of becoming an independent travel agent is that you are your own boss — whether you’re selling Disney travel or otherwise. It’s a flexible career option: you can work from where you want, and when you want. You can work part-time or full-time, depending on your schedule (and you can also ramp up your business over time). In particular, becoming a Disney travel agent can be an especially great career option for parents. 

In terms of how much you earn, travel agent commissions for Disney can be lucrative — and Disney offers them for most experiences, from single-day tickets to full vacation packages. For background, most independent travel agents partner with a travel agent host agency (like Fora). At Fora, we offer you all the resources to help you build and scale your business, including training on Disney as well as an IATA number , the legal framework needed to collect commissions for booking travel. 

Commission rates vary by what you’re booking, with better rates for more substantial experiences. Generally, ‌the rates hover around three to seven percent for multi-day tickets, and between eight and 16 percent for stays at Disney resorts or for major expeditions. Commissions really add up when you start booking for multiple families.

"From the day I started working as a Fora Advisor, I had all of the tech tools and educational resources available to help launch my new career," Fora Advisor Jennifer Lopez said. "I have also had the support and advice of all of my fellow Fora Advisors, which is an invaluable help when I am booking travel to places that are unfamiliar to me. With all of those elements, I was able to hit the ground running and make bookings from day one.

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You can share your passion for travel and Disney

If you’re the type of person who nerds out over new attractions, great hotels and the latest Disney flicks, learning how to become a Disney travel agent is a great career option. 

You’ll be able to share the magic of Disney with your clients, curating unforgettable experiences at beloved destinations — from the fairytale castles of Magic Kingdom to outposts from a galaxy far, far away.

Disney offers fun perks like free tickets & discounts for selling travel

Disney travel agents who book a certain number of experiences (it changes year to year) are eligible for all sorts of fun perks, such as theme park tickets. On occasion, Disney also offers special incentives. For example, Disney travel agents who sold three Adventures by Disney Danube River Cruise 2023 reservations received a complimentary cruise to enjoy themselves.

How to become a Disney travel agent: the steps

Learning to become a Disney travel agent is a relatively straightforward process. Read on for detailed steps.

1. First, you need to become a travel agent

You can’t apply to become a Disney travel agent directly. To book Disney vacations for others, you’ll need to become a general travel agent first. 

Travel agents are certified sellers of travel through licensed host agencies like Fora.

2. Choose the right host agency

First things first, make sure you’re picking a host agency that partners with Disney and also offers training on Disney. (At Fora, we do). 

"If I had to describe Fora's training program in one word, it would be robust," Fora Advisor Caroline Weilert said. "I love that Fora considers all angles related to training – business planning, destination overviews, hotel spotlights, mentorship programs, supplier overviews – and that it provides webinars, live trainings, recordings and best of all, access to the entire supplier community. Everyone at Fora is a learner and a trainer because we all have different types of knowledge to share with each other."

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A few other considerations you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing a host agency include…

Make sure they offer a comprehensive training program

Especially if you’re just getting started, remember that you’ll want to find an agency with a comprehensive training program. At Fora, we offer travel agent certification so that you can learn everything you need to start building your Disney travel advisor business. We also have ongoing training so that you can stay in-the-know with the latest travel trends. 

Look for an agency that aligns with your business goals and lifestyle

If you’re looking to work part-time or you are just starting out and ramping up your business, a host agency with a high booking minimum likely isn’t right for you.

Consider upfront and ongoing costs

For example, if the training program is super expensive, it might feel like a good investment on the surface, but it’s going to take you a long time to earn that money back. You want to find something that feels approachable. At Fora, we offer a flat-rate monthly subscription of $49 for everything you need. 

Find a community that you align with 

There’s a lot of pros to being an independent travel advisor, but it can also be lonely. We’ve built a community to make it easier than ever for travel lovers to develop meaningful and lasting businesses as travel agents. Our community is built around cooperation and inclusivity. We have built a community app, called Forum , for you to connect with fellow advisors in a digital space. We also have Local Chapters so that you can connect with others in real life. 

3. Once you become a travel agent, unlock access to Disney’s travel agent portal

If you choose to become a Fora travel advisor , you’ll get access to Disney’s dedicated travel agent portal, which houses the company’s training program.

On top of standard travel agent training, Disney requires that all sellers of travel enroll in this program. Disney’s travel agent training is designed to familiarize yourself with Disney properties and experiences around the world. Once you’ve completed the training, you can start earning an income selling Disney vacations.

Become a Disney travel agent through Fora

If you’re looking for an opportunity to satisfy your travel-planning bug while organizing life-changing family vacations at Disney properties around the world, learning how to become a Disney travel agent is a great career option. 

"Prior to working with Fora, I had only planned trips for myself and other family members," Fora Advisor Jennifer Lopez shared. "Working as a travel advisor had always appealed to me but I couldn't figure out how to do it on my own in a way that made sense. That is, I couldn't figure it out until I came across Fora."

When you’re ready to get started, apply to join Fora . We’ll set you up with all the tools and support you need to be successful as a travel agent, from training to community and tech.

How to become a Disney travel agent: FAQs

There are a lot of details to consider if you’re learning how to become a Disney travel agent. Many Fora Advisors who double as Disney travel agents share tips on Forum, our community app . We’ve gathered the most common questions below and provide in-depth answers sourced directly from experts with firsthand experience.

Do I need to become a Disney expert to be a Disney travel agent?

Becoming a great Disney travel agent is more about understanding the nuances of each park and resort while maximizing your clients’ vacations and experiences. Don’t feel like you need to watch every Disney film — unless you really want to, of course! Adding a little bit of Disney magic to your booking process is a great way to boost your clients’ excitement (and keep them coming back to you).

How much do Disney travel agents make?

It depends on how much and how often you book. As a travel agent, you’ll earn money from commissions made from booking travel. Depending on the vacation package, commissions vary. Fora can help you navigate the various options Disney offers and learn how to scale your business. If you have questions about travel advisor pay in general, like how travel agents get paid or how much travel agents make per booking , check out our guides.

Related Article: Everything You Need to Know about a Fora Travel Advisor Salary (and How Our Advisors Get Paid)  

How many hours a day do Disney travel agents work?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to how many hours Disney travel agents work each day because most are independent business owners.  

Many Fora travel advisors begin their travel agent career part time, booking everything from Disney experiences to hotel stays and cruises — while also working a day job or as a full-time parent. T he most successful travel advisors put in a lot of dedicated hard work, but are able to do so on their own terms. 

With us, it’s up to you whether you transition to a full-time career or stay part-time. That’s one thing we love about becoming a Fora Advisor : endless flexibility to run your business how you want.

What types of Disney vacation packages can travel agents book besides Walt Disney World?

There are many types of experiences Disney travel agents can book and earn commission on beyond passes to Walt Disney World or Disneyland (in the United States or abroad). This includes vacation packages at resorts like Aulani in Hawai’i or Disney’s Vero Beach Resort in Florida, as well as Disney Cruises and National Geographic expeditions. There are also Adventures by Disney, which are curated vacations to popular destinations around the world, such as Cape Town in South Africa, the Greek Isles, Machu Picchu and many more.

Plus, as a Fora travel advisor, you can book Disney experiences as well as vacations outside of the Disney name brand.

Related Article: How to Become a Cruise Travel Agent

What support do I get as a Disney travel agent?

If you’re booking a trip to Walt Disney World or other Disney destinations, you’ll receive a wealth of resources from both Disney and your host travel agency (like Fora).

One of the most exclusive and special tools that Disney offers travel agents is its massive travel advisor online platform. It’s the mothership for Disney travel agents and Disney destinations. This comprehensive resource allows travel agents to find and book Disney resorts (including Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Aulani Resort in Hawai’i), Disney Cruise Lines, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions and more. 

Beyond booking, you’ll also get helpful and detailed information about every attraction available in the Disney ecosystem, like the operating hours of It’s a Small World, for instance. With this intel, you can build the most detailed and comprehensive itinerary for your travelers.

Disney travel agents also get access to an extensive learning portal, called the College of Disney Knowledge. Inside the college is a series of courses that gives you an introduction to Disney resorts around the world. 

As a Fora Advisor, you also get many more resources. Fora is a one-stop shop for everything you need to run your travel advisor business. Learn more and apply to become a Fora Advisor today. 

Does a host agency have to be “EarMarked” or labeled as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Travel Agency?

Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are travel agencies that specialize exclusively in Disney vacations. They’re also known as “EarMarked” travel agencies. These certifications show that the travel agency has a long-standing reputation for selling tickets to Walt Disney World, as well as Disney vacation packages. However, you do not need to be EarMarked or an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to sell a Disney vacation package or Walt Disney World tickets. 

Fora partners with Disney, and our travel agents can book all Disney vacation packages while also making income on other types of trip planning. 

Once you become a Disney travel agent, can you only work with Walt Disney World and other Disney experiences?

Nope. Disney doesn’t employ any kind of policy that restricts the types of bookings you can make. 

If you become a Fora Advisor, you can book many other types of travel, too, from hotels to cruises and even travel insurance. That also means you can specialize in other theme parks beyond Disneyland, like Universal Studios, or book other travel experiences like family vacations, honeymoons, corporate retreats — you name it. (Fora hosts regular destination training classes online to help advisors get to know places around the world, too.)

Do you need to build your Disney travel agent business from the ground up?

Disney offers plenty of resources to learn about their systems and properties, but they don’t send client leads to travel agents. This may be something your host agency helps you with, though. Learn more about how Fora helps advisors build their book of business .

Do you need experience to become a Disney travel agent?

Disney doesn’t have any requirements to become a certified Disney travel agent.

However, we do recommend participating in a comprehensive training program so that you can book travel for your clients confidently and professionally. We offer an initial certification program as well as ongoing training to meet you where you’re at during every stage of your career. Learn more about Fora’s travel advisor training program.

Ultimately, the best way to learn how to become a Disney travel agent is to dive in. With a community like Fora’s, we equip you with everything you need to start your travel agent career . 

“I love being a travel advisor because it truly doesn't feel like ‘work,’” Fora Advisor Danielle Fisher said. “I get to help others while doing something I'm passionate about and enjoy. “I also love the flexibility so I can be a travel advisor, but also a stay-at-home mom with my two toddlers.”

Ready to get started? Apply to become a Fora Advisor . 

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More travel advisor resources

Check out more travel advisor resources below:

The Destination Management Company: A Travel Advisor’s Ace  

Is Being a Travel Agent Worth It? Fora Discusses the Pros & Cons  

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Travel Agent? Fora Tells  

Take it from Our Advisors: 8 Reasons to Become a Fora Advisor  

Debunking 3 Myths about Becoming a Travel Advisor  

How to Market Yourself as a Travel Agent 101  

Why Group Bookings Are Great: Tips from an Expert

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How To Become A Disney Travel Agent – Get Started Today

The term “travel agent” can sound outdated at times. Who walks into a travel agent shop and books their vacation when it can all be done online? This is a valid question when it comes to travel in general. With websites like Expedia, Priceline and Google, there’s almost no reason to even speak with a person in this way. But Disney travel agents are different.

Disney knows that technology has advanced past the need of in person meetings when it comes to travel. This is why they have built a solid platform for their travel agents to use as they book clients vacations via the phone, internet and email.

This alone has sped up the process of booking a Disney vacation while keeping the personal touch of a human.

If you’ve ever tried to book a Disney vacation on your own without having done it before, it can be overwhelming. There are so many components for the theme parks and cruises that one can get lost very easily or miss out on something important.

That’s where a trained Disney travel agent comes in. Travel agents with Disney have been trained on all their vacations including theme parks, cruises, Adventures, Aulani and resorts.

This allows the trained agent to provide not just the basics of booking for a client, but inside information to make sure they get the most out of it. And when this happens, the client becomes one for life.

How To Become A Disney Travel Agent Selling Disney

To become a Disney specialized travel agent you first need to join an authorized travel agency that is registered with Disney as a seller of travel. MainStreet Travel is one of the easiest companies to join online as they typically get you started training same-day and ready for booking within 24-48 hours.

They are an approved agency with Disney and have been trained agents for over 10 years. Their program is easy to join , has friendly and helpful team managers, and most importantly, on-time with their commission payments.

Joining an agency like MainStreet takes little to no travel skill at all. This is because all your training is provided at the time of joining. The only “skill” you need to posses is a desire to book Disney vacations. A background in sales and customer service is always a plus.

The biggest thing that helps any new agent is if they have been on a vacation before to one of Disney’s resorts or on a cruise. If you have found yourself wanting to go back again and again, this job is probably right for you.

You’ll also want to have a dedicated workspace for when you do get started. Training and booking in a quiet place whether at an office or home is desirable. You don’t want to be booking a clients vacation while your dog is barking or kids are hitting you with pillows (this has happened).

You always want to sound and be professional when it comes to booking so having a place to go is something you’ll want to make sure you have.

You’ll want to make sure you have access to a computer full-time, a phone and the internet. Most of your bookings will come via email or online through websites like Facebook or Instagram. Thus being able to respond to these, even on the go, is important.

Make sure you brush up on your communication skills as well. While most bookings are not done over the phone, some guests do like to speak to you like this so be ready.

There will be guests who know exactly what they want to book when they reach out to you and there will be some who know nothing and will rely on your expertise to help book them a magical vacation. When you’re prepared for all of the above, that’s when you’ll succeed the most.

Can I become a Disney Travel Agent on my own?

You will need to join an agency in order to become a Disney Travel Agent and sell travel to clients. This is due to the need of many certificates and licenses that agencies already have in order to work with suppliers and states.

Becoming a Travel Agent During the Pandemic

It may seem like during the global pandemic, with travel slower than normal, it’s the worst time to become an agent specializing in Disney travel. The truth is, it’s just the opposite. The need for agents once travel gets back to 100% is going to be tremendous. Once airlines and resorts reopen fully, with no limitations, people are going to want to travel. Even as we write this, Summer have been selling out at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. And the demand is only going to increase come summer/fall time.

What this means for anyone considering becoming an agent with a focus on Disney is now is the best time to get yourself situated and trained because come post-COVID, things are going to get crazy and there will be a lot of people booking Disney vacations .

Lastly, Disney has suffered through a lot during the pandemic with closures and full stops but demand has never changed. Traveling in general has become harder but now more than ever people want to get back to Disney to resume what they already had planned all along.

How Much Money Does A Disney Travel Agent Make Selling Disney?

Don’t put it past yourself to ask this question. While it’s fun to help others book their vacations, you deserve compensation for your time and effort.

Of course this question is a loaded one as there are some many factors that go into it including vacation type, how many guests are traveling, accommodation type, tickets, if they need airfare or transportation and anything else you can think of that a guest may utilize while gone.

The standard industry pay on a vacation package is 10% to the agency. This is the price before taxes are added. Some components like airfare may pay less than 10% or not at all. When it comes to Disney, you can typically expect an agency to get 10% across the board with a few exceptions.

Now as an agent working for an agency, you are going to collect a bit less than this. Why? Because most agencies take about half of your commission for themselves. This is an industry standard but does have some flexibility. Many will offer a tier program that lets you keep more as you book more.

An agency like MainStreet or Boardwalk actually starts you out at 70% and then lets you go up from there. To date, they are the highest paying agency for new agents. What this means is, an agent working for MainStreet who books a vacation with a commission of let’s say $425 will ultimately collect $297.50 at 70%.

When an agent completes a booking, most of the time they are going to be paid after the travel takes place. This is because Disney only pays after the guest has travelled, for obvious reasons. Cancelled trips don’t pay thus agencies have to wait.

As an agent, you can expect to be paid within 30 days after your guests have finished traveling. MainStreet however, will complete the payment to you within 7 days or less which is another nice perk that they offer.

Most agents are paid by direct deposit or check though some can be paid by PayPal or Venmo.

Any agent who books one vacation package a month can expect to make about $200-$300. This is because the average package costs a client around $2,500 to $3,500 for Disneyland in Southern California and about $3,500-$4,000 at Walt Disney World.

Some vacations, like Disney Cruise Line , will earn an agent well over $300 on a single booking as most cruises run the average family $5,000 to $6,000.

There are so many ways to bring this number up as well with add-ons so keep that in mind.

We’ve had many people ask us what the Disney Travel Agent salary is per year. There is no “salary” per se as an agent is paid based on their bookings and there’s no guarantee on the amount of these an agent does.

If you’re looking for something that pay hourly or a salary each year as an agent, this is not the job for you. However, the upside is that your earnings are unlimited.

For instance, a booking could net you several hundred dollars. Doing a few of these each week would pay much more than earning $12 an hour.

Do I Have To Start A Business To Become An Agent?

That’s totally up to you! No matter what you choose to do, you will always be considered an independent contractor to an agency and not an employee. What this means is that you will receive your full pay without any taxes being taken out by them.

This also means that when you file your taxes, you’ll need to pay any taxes you might owe, whether you’re a sole proprietor (yourself as a business) or as a business.

There can be benefits to both of these and we would highly recommend talking to your tax person to figure out what’s best for you. Don’t let any of these ideas scare you from starting. It’s actually much easier than you think and so are the taxes.

Many travel agents like to register as an LLC for the protection that it offers as well as the various tax write-offs. Again, we’re not offering professional advice here so talk with an expert. Typically this is done when you expect to be paid more than a certain amount each year.

We’ve seen agents write off their computers, phone and office space. Basically anything you use to work your job and provide for your clients can typically be written off. Just something to keep in mind as you move forward.

What Is Disney’s Travel Agent Training Like?

It’s pretty simple actually. Agencies like MainStreet will send you a welcome packet after you’ve joined. It goes over everything including pay, perks (see below) and how to start your training.

Training is done online and in most cases can be started right away. Disney offers something called the College of Disney Knowledge which helps train a new agent on each of the destinations they offer. This includes Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Aulani, Disney Cruise Line , Adventures by Disney and their beach resorts.

The entire training process can be done in about 24 hrs though we highly recommend taking it slow to begin with. You really want to learn what’s being taught as we guarantee you’ll use it as some point.

College of Disney Knowledge sessions are done in Powerpoint presentation with voiceover. There are times where you will watch videos and visit the Disney Travel Agent website for references.

You can pause, stop and continue any lesson later if needs be. Each lesson has a quiz at the end and to become “certified” you’ll need to complete all the core lessons and then take a 50 question quiz to pass.

While studying super hard probably isn’t necessary, you will want to take notes. Memorizing cruise ship names and the names of restaurants they offer isn’t something to just glaze over.

You’ll also be expected to know different vacation components like tickets and their options, resort hotels, lands inside the parks and names of firework shows to name a few.

Even going beyond Disney and into the realm of Universal Vacations , the training is the same. Work at your own speed.

Are There Any Perks To Disney’s Travel Agent Program?

Of course! One of the great things about the DTA program is that they want their agents to be involved in what they sell. This means offering some special discounts so agents can visit and familiarize themselves with resorts and cruises.

We will highlight one thing before getting into the details: All perks from Disney are subject to change. While we have not seen them change per se in over 5 years, this doesn’t mean they won’t. Basically, don’t bank on something.

Disney typically offers the following agent discounts once you have completed (or renewed) your training:

• About 50% off a Disneyland Resort Hotel
• About 50% off a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel
• About 30-40% off an Aulani hotel room
• About 50% off a Disney Cruise Line Booking
• One free 1-day Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket
• One free 1-day Walt Disney World Hopper Ticket OR a deeply discounted multi-day Hopper Ticket
• Discounted Adventures by Disney Itineraries
• Discounted River Cruises through Adventures by Disney

Again, these are earned upon completion of your training each year AND proof of a CLIA or IATA membership.

Your CLIA or IATA membership will come from your agency. While some agencies enroll you for free into these programs, there is a cost for your agent ID card at $120 per calendar year. This ID card is necessary to book any of the above perks. Be aware that there are agencies that require you book so much before giving you access to a CLIA card. Programs like MainStreet do not.

While it may seem steep, the savings on any one of those components will easily cover (and then some) the cost of the ID. If you don’t plan to travel in a certain year, then you don’t have to get it.

Completion of your training and your ID card is required to complete your booking of any of these perks. Booking is done online and in real time meaning you should only book once you have completed everything and have your CLIA card.

What’s an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” or “Earmarked” Agency?

A lot of people come across this term or marking on agency websites. The term Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is part of an optional program that private agencies can join. The program, referred to as “Earmarked” is a way for Disney to recognize agencies who have consistently sold a certain level of revenue for each product (Aulani, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World) for at least two years in a row.

By doing so, Disney invites these agencies to participate in the Earmarked program. Agencies who accept can reach different levels within the program including silver, gold, platinum, etc. Agencies must improve upon their sales each year in every category or they face removal from the program. There is no difference in how travel agencies book whether they participate in the program or not.

Host agencies typically do not participate in the program due to having independent contractors instead of employees. Again, the program is completely optional and up to the agency to decide whether they want to participate in it or not. Agencies who are not Earmarked are still authorized to book Disney vacations and have the same tools as those who are.

Best Disney Host Agency

A host agency provides you with access to suppliers, support and tools. a Disney Host Agency does just this for Disney Destinations including Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Aulani, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney. You’ll gain access to and be able to sell them making commission.

We’ve already mentioned them serval times but right now the best Disney Travel Host Agency to join is MainStreet Travel. They have been growing for several years and have moved from private to host in the last year. This means that they are accepting agents to join their program right now.

We love MainStreet Travel for a lot of things but here’s our top list:

• 70% of all commission paid (industry average is 50%)
• Tons of suppliers – Disney, Universal, Cruise Lines, VAX, Sandals, Expedia and more!
• No monthly or yearly fees. Just a one-time $99 fee to join.
• Online training – Train online at your own pace.
• CLIA access – Get your CLIA card for agent benefits
• Online Tutorials – Lean how to complete tasks, market, and train through videos.
• Giveaways and benefits every month including cash.
• Support – Live chat, email and phone support.

There’s a lot more to their program but as a Disney Host Agency, you won’t find a better option. Take a look at their agent website and go thought their FAQ’s.

How Do I Market Myself To Clients?

While an agency gives you everything you need to book a clients vacation, finding that client can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing.

The best place to start is social media. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and the top three places to create profiles. TikTok is also becoming a great place to get followers.

Create a profile and then invite your friends and family. Ask them to share your page or profile with their friends. Let them know you book Disney vacations and you should get a pretty good response as most people love Disney.

On your pages, stay active with posts about special offers and fun tips or hacks. While these take very little effort, they can produce great results as people get excited when they learn about cool Disney things.

You can list yourself with Google My Business so that when people search for Disney vacations in your area, your name pops up. This is a great way to get locals to your website/phone/email asking questions and eventually booking.

On Facebook, join local community pages and let people know you’re available to book Disney vacations and how they can reach out to you.

There’s an endless number of options to get potential clients talking to you. Be patient though. Bookings don’t just come overnight (sometimes they do). Keep at it and eventually it will pay off.

Are There Minimum Booking Requirements?

For some agencies there are and for some there are not. It comes down to the one you join. Some may require you to book at least once a month or maybe even once a year. These ones don’t have a dollar minimum so all you need to do is complete a booking, whatever that may be.

Other agencies may require you to hit a minimum dollar booking amount, say $5,000 each year. Not hitting this mark may cause revocation of your agent status or a decline in your commission percentage.

The MainStreet agency has no minimums for agents so whether you book once a year, never a year or 3 times a year, you’re an agent. Agents who book more than 35 bookings a year with them can increase their commission percentage, up from 70%.

What Is The College of Disney Knowledge?

Travel Agents wanting to sell Disney Destinations will take the College of Disney Knowledge training courses provided by Disney. The College gives agents an introduction to all their products including Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, Adventures by Disney and the Disneyland Resort. Courses consist of video presentations as well as quizzes at the end of each one.

Each year travel agents have to retake the basic courses that have been updated with new information. To graduate from the College of Disney Knowledge agents must complete each of the basic courses and then pass the annual assessment that consists of 25 questions about all 5 products. After passing with 80% or more agents receive a certificate showing that they have successfully completed the College of Disney Knowledge.

Outside of the 5 basic courses, agents can also take advanced classes that dive deeper into each product. These courses are being updated throughout the year and are not required to take.

Agents who pass also receive access to yearly benefits that include hotel and ticket offers at a discounted rate for the agent.

In order to join and train in the College agents must join an agency like MainStreet Travel. Once under them they can register and start taking the classes.

Make sure you look for a reputable travel agency who can help you sell Disney products. If you want to focus on just Disney, find someone like MainStreet who does just this . They offer free E&O insurance, are a Registered Seller of Travel in CA and FL and they offer superb customer service.

You should know that being an agent requires a time commitment, especially during training. You’ll want to focus on getting this done and learning all you can before you start selling.

Working from home is a nice perk but you’ll want to make sure you have a few items including a laptop, internet and phone.

Agents get paid a commission and it typically isn’t at the time of booking. It’s when the travel has taken place by your guest. Once done, an agency will pay once the supplier has paid them.

It’s a great idea to create a Facebook Page for your agency and invite friends and family to like it. Then keep active posting deals and fun trip ideas. These get people excited about taking a Disney vacation and can easily turn into bookings. List your agency online so people can find a Disney travel agent near them.

Joining the right agency can make or break your experience so be sure to choose one that can support you!

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Using a Disney Travel Agent

Experience the Magic of a Disney Vacations with our 25+ Years of Expertise!

Disney vacations are magical experiences – it’s one of the reasons Walt Disney World is among the most visited destinations in the world.  However, navigating the details of a Disney Vacation can be stressful.  Where to go, what to do, how to save money, when to make reservations – it’s a lot of information to take in, especially when we have such busy lives.

That’s where Dreams Unlimited Travel can help!  For more than 25 years, Dreams Unlimited has helped  over a hundred thousand  families experience all that Disney has to offer – from Walt Disney World , Disneyland , and Disney Cruise Line to Aulani , a Disney Resort in Hawaii, Adventures by Disney and much more.

We are experts at all things Disney.  Along with our other websites, the DIS (wdwinfo.com) , DISboards.com and our extensive library of podcasts, videos, blogs and vlogs – we’ve spent the last two decades understanding the best and smartest ways to get the most from a Disney vacation.  We understand these vacations can be expensive, and knowing all the options and strategies is key to saving money AND having the experience of a lifetime.

Our services are not limited to just Disney, however.  We can also help our clients book vacations on a many other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean , Celebrity , Viking (Ocean and River Cruises), and many others.

One of the questions we are asked most frequently is whether it is more expensive to use a travel agent. The answer is no! When you work with Dreams Unlimited Travel you will pay the same price as you would booking directly with Disney. Dreams Unlimited is paid commission on sales. The only difference is you'll have a highly trained Disney expert available to help you with every part of your booking and planning process.

The process begins by making your Walt Disney World Resort  reservation  with Dreams Unlimited. Once confirmed, you will be assigned to a personal Vacation Consultant, and the planning process begins. By answering our on-line questionnaire, you'll be giving your travel advisor critical information about how you would like to spend your time on vacation, who will be traveling with you, and any special needs you may have.

Your travel advisor’s only job is to represent your best interests.  We don’t consider this a ‘sale’ – we like to think of it as the start of a relationship! Once your reservation is booked, you will be able to review your reservation details, and an overview of your itinerary on line in our  Clients Only area . You will also be able to ask questions, and get advice from your personal Travel Consultant throughout the entire process. Dreams Unlimited Travel will also help you with making your priority seating arrangements at select Walt Disney World restaurants, as well as advising and helping you navigate the My Disney Experience app, FastPass+ reservations and any special events you may want during your stay. If that's not enough, between the time you book with Dreams and the time you depart on your vacation, we are  constantly  looking for any special offers or discounts that were not available when you first made your reservation. If you're eligible for a lower rate, we'll have it applied. 10 days before departing on your vacation, you will receive your detailed itinerary, which will provide you with all the information you'll need to have a great vacation! For convenience, an overview itinerary will also be included. Your itinerary will include a detailed approach to experiencing the best that Walt Disney World has to offer, along with some special tips and extras created by our staff of Vacation Planning Consultants. 

• Fill out our no-obligation quote resquest form here.

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Top Tips from Successful Disney Travel Agents

What is it like to be a successful Disney travel agent? Photo: Shutterstock.com

Getting “Earmarked” is a pinnacle of achievement that certain travel advisors shoot for, spending years building their knowledge about Disney vacation destinations, and honing their marketing and sales skills so they can reach the elite level affording them special perks and insider access.

But getting to that exclusive level can be a challenge. Disney is known for only paying a straight 10% commission on the majority of its vacation products. Additionally, some advisors say, after learning insider tips from an agent-assisted booking, many travelers choose to book their next Disney vacations on their own.

So, what does it take to reach Earmarked status, and how can an agent profitably build their Disney sales? Travel Market Report reached out to a group of elite Disney travel advisors to ask them their best tips for success.

1. It will require a very personal love for all things Disney. “I grew up going to Walt Disney World,” said Tracy McCoy, with Trips to the Mouse, in Austin, Texas. “Every November, we would load up the station wagon and drive down to Florida from Chicago. I have passed that love onto all four of my children. We have traveled to Disney World at least once a year since my oldest (now 19) was born. I believe so strongly in Disney destinations that selling my clients on a Disney vacation is easier — my passion and knowledge is genuine.”

“I have the Disney Obsession. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s my passion,” said Sonya Toole Little, of Sandcastle Wishes Travel, in Kimberly, Alabama. She visits professionally, and personally with her children and husband, 10-12 times a year. “The night before I’m heading to Disney for a trip, I can’t sleep. My kids can’t sleep. Disney is the only thing we will get up at 3 in the morning for.”   “The biggest reason we’ve been successful with selling Disney is because we are passionate about it,” said Kelly O’Brien Ortiz, owner of Guru Travel, an Earmarked agency in Elgin, Illinois. Her agency has been selling Disney for about 10 years. “We care so much, we wake up to make FastPass and dining reservations in the middle of the night, when they first become available. We actively travel to Disney destinations several times a year, not just for work, but for pleasure … we know it, we love it and we want to share it.”

2. Learn how to sell up, especially as your clientele matures. “As a rookie agent, your biggest mistake is to quote and price out of your own pocketbook,” Toole Little said. Taking advantage of Earmarked perks like complimentary admission passes and fams, Toole Little has been able to educate herself more on Disney’s higher-end properties, and describes herself now as a “deluxe resort snob.”

“Give your clients the variety of options, and describe to them the benefits of staying at a deluxe resort,” she said. “Help them understand how the Contemporary Resort is great for families with small children in strollers, because they are not going to waste hours going back and forth to the Magic Kingdom on buses.”

O’Brien Ortiz recounted how, when her agency first started off, “We were selling to mostly value, first-time clients. As our business has grown, so have our clients. Now we have a mix of value first-timers and larger multigenerational groups staying in Disney Villas or deluxe rooms.”

“It can be hard helping clients understand why they need to stay on-property versus off,” O’Brien Ortiz said, “but the experience is that much more.”

Kimberly Anwar, owner and president at Magic Family Getaways, said, “For clients who want a hassle-free family vacation, I will sell the benefits of the Magical Disney Express (airport to resort transportation), and how it is available only to guests staying at Walt Disney World Resorts.”

3. Visit as often as you can. “Because I travel there so often, I am always up to date with the ever-changing parks,” said McCoy. “I know the parks like the back of my hand. I have actually received texts from clients, mid-trip, asking where the closest bathroom was to where they currently were, and I could answer without skipping a beat.”

McCoy has traveled with children of various ages (from 3 months up to 19 years), as well as extended family. “I have honeymooned at Disney World. And I have escaped on long weekends with the girls,” she said, “so I know what works and what doesn’t for a variety of clients.”   Shayla Northcutt, owner of the Northcutt Travel Agency, a Travel Leaders Network affiliate agency based in Houston, Texas, has 18 independent contractors working at her agency. “All of my ICs who sell Disney, and visited at least two to three times in 2019,” she said. “If you are going to do a good job serving your clients, you have to go every year. It doesn’t matter how many times I have been there; I see something new every year that makes me a better Disney agent.”

4. Develop your personal expertise. Disney bookings are about 60-75% of the sales base for Jamie Santillo, owner and founder at Adventures by Jamie, in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Santillo lives about one-and-a-half hours from Disney World, and is striving to be Earmarked.

Santillo recently took advantage of discounted agent rates to stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort to get firsthand knowledge about how to sell it to clients who use a wheelchair, like she does.

“When I went to the hotel, I made sure I did a Facebook Live of my room, to demonstrate the accessibility features. The room I was in was an upgraded pirate-theme room, for me. That room would have been outside of my own budget,” she said. “As a result, I could see the room, do the tour, and over three days, do a number of Facebook Lives, capture photos and video to describe an experience I couldn’t have on my own.”

Ashley Parker, owner at Key to Adventure Travel, in Clare, Michigan, where about 70% of their bookings are with Disney, tries to distinguish herself by promoting how she knows the ins and outs of maximizing a client’s time.

“It might not sound like a big thing, but an advisor who understands the difference between a family stopping at a quick-service restaurant at the park, versus table service, could impact their day depending on what they want to do, or when their FastPass reservations are,” Parker said.

“I also educate my clients on things like transportation options for a dining reservation at a hotel, when they are going to be in the park all day,” she said. “Or if your child absolutely wants the Cinderella’s Castle dining experience, but there is no availability. As long as you are okay with a backup plan, I would direct you to the Norway section at Epcot, where you can still have dinner with the princesses.”

5. Develop your personal service value proposition. For Toole Little, leveraging her CRM, TESS, to trigger reminder emails for booking her clients’ dining and FastPass reservations, helps her deliver on her service promise of covering all of the little details.

“It gets hard sometimes, because it is so competitive trying to retain your clients, to find loyalty for Disney reservations. I’ve seen clients lured away by a $25 gift card. So, you have to define why someone should purchase from you,” Toole Little said.

“There are some agents who will hand clients an itinerary and send them on their way,” Anwar said. “We want our clients downloading the [My Disney Experience] app on their phone, and we’ll spend time teaching them how to use it. It’s part of our booking process. I think it’s that king of handholding that leads to our referrals. I’ve seen people write on social media: ‘I booked with Kim. They will teach you the tips and tricks.’”

6. Find other vacation styles Disney clients will purchase. Northcutt sees Disney as a way to bring in new clients. “You can’t sell just Disney. I want a client who I can plan every vacation for them, someone who also is open to going somewhere exotic.”

So, she leverages Disney’s popularity as a way to meet and wow customers looking for the extra service and attention that will bring them back for ocean cruises and other higher commission vacations.

O’Brien Ortiz agrees. “Disney is like a rite of passage. When a child is born, most parents begin dreaming of their first trip to Disney with their child,” she said. Anwar upsells land-only clients to Disney cruises when she feels the time is right.

7. Be persistent and growth will come. “Have patience,” said Anwar. “It took me three to four years of hard work, every day, every year, to get to this level. It took me reaching out to my BDMs to sponsor movie nights, run postcard campaigns, learn how to use Disney’s e-brochures effectively.”

“It’s easier to sell it now, with all of the growth in properties and attractions,” said Northcutt. “Now, it’s mostly about qualifying the client for their budget, where they want to stay. The variety offers every agent opportunity, because with so many options, consumers need an educated agent to help them put together the right elements.”

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Meet the Team

Meet our team of professional travel advisors.

Professional, responsive, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. That is what you can expect from Glass Slipper Concierge®. Cara Goldsbury has assembled a team consisting of only the best and most knowledgeable Disney travel specialists from around the country.

As a designated Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Platinum Producer agency, all Glass Slipper Concierge travel advisors are graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge and have extensive, firsthand knowledge of one, if not all Disney Destinations. And as a Universal Orlando Resort Platinum UPreferred Agency, all advisors have completed Universal Specialist Training. What sets them apart is their commitment to designing luxury Disney and Orlando vacations delightful to the young and the young at heart!

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Gabriela Lopez-Johnson

Specialties.

Hablo Espanol! Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line

Nora Nowaczyk

Walt Disney World® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland® Resort; Adventures by Disney ®; Aulani ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Lauren Savage

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland ® Resort; Universal Orlando Resort™

Shawn Culbert

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line

Dana Nethery

Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor; Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Groups/Disney Youth Groups; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland ® Resort; Adventures by Disney ®; Resort; Universal Orlando Resort™

Laura Barlow

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; AULANI; runDisney; Universal Orlando Resort™

Jennifer Williamson

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Brooke Cunningham

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Aulani ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Jacqueline Davis

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Aulani

Jennifer Kozlow

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Adventures by Disney ®; Disneyland ® Resort; Aulani ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Shannon Heffern

Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor; Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; runDisney; Universal Orlando Resort™

Shantrell Kramer

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland® Resort; Aulani ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Tammy Henderson, CTA

Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor; Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland ® Resort; Adventures by Disney ®; Universal Orlando Resort™

Meredith Dailey

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort

Thomas Mottola

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Desiree Vazquez

Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor; Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort; Universal Orlando Resort™

Lauren Lally

Katie Chang

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Adventures by Disney ®; Universal Orlando Resort™

Cathi Marcheskie Maziarz

Certified Autism Travel Professional; Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disneyland ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Staci Kimball

Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor; Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland® Resort; Adventures by Disney ®; National Geographic Expeditions; Aulani ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Sage Blount

Walt Disney World ® Resort; run Disney; Disneyland ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Adventures by Disney ®; AULANI; Universal Orlando Resort™

Amanda Wagner

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Adventures by Disney ®; Disneyland ® Resort; Aulani ; Disneyland Paris; Universal Orlando Resort™

Rose Cermak

Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor; Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Adventures by Disney ®; Disneyland ® Resort; Universal Orlando Resort™

Rosanne Mottola

Ashleigh Rainey

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland® Resort; Universal Orlando Resort™

Caroline Christiansen

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Universal Orlando Resort™

Marlene Patrick

Walt Disney World® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland ® Resort; Adventures by Disney ®; Aulani ; Universal Orlando Resort™, Disneyland Paris

Laura Bishop

Walt Disney World ® Resort

Jill Cartwright

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line

Dennis Brown

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland ® Resort; Adventures by Disney ®; Disney Group Travel Planning; Universal Orlando Resort™

Jennifer Aires

Ashley Sexton

Faith Livingston

Hablo Espanol! Walt Disney World ® Resort; Universal Orlando Resort™

Nicole Sutton

Walt Disney World ® Resort; Disney Groups/Disney Youth Groups; Adventures by Disney ®; Disney Cruise Line ; Disneyland ® Resort; Aulani ; Universal Orlando Resort™

Kristin Longwood

Dani Garcia, CTA

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10 insider disney tips from a professional travel agent.

Posted by: Jennifer Retzlaff December 31, 2023

As a Disney travel agent, I love helping others have magical vacations at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruises. After years of planning my trips and helping others plan their trips, I now have tips and tricks for magical experiences. I am sharing ten of my top tips to help you have a magical trip to Walt Disney World. Use these while you are planning and while you are at Walt Disney World for a magical time.

Related:  Planning a Trip to Disney in 2024? Stay Away From These Time Frames

10. Have a Plan

A trip to Walt Disney World begins with a plan. Although you don’t need a minute-by-minute laminated plan like I did on my first trip, it is crucial to have a general plan of attack.

Before you leave, review the maps of the four main Disney parks. Get familiar with where rides are located. This will help you feel more confident in the parks trying to navigate them.

I also recommend taking time to create a must-do list. No matter how long your vacation is to Walt Disney World, you won’t be able to see and do it all. Instead, create a list of the top must-do experiences in each park. Make sure you focus on those during your trip, and anything else you get to do is extra magic.

With Walt Disney World’s size, having a plan is critical to success. You don’t want to waste time being lost and frustrated during your trip.

Credit: Brett Kiger, Flickr

9. Prepare For Weather

Even though Walt Disney World is a magical destination, it doesn’t control the weather. No matter when you visit, make sure you are prepared for the weather.

We highly recommend having rain gear all year round. Rain storms pop up suddenly in Florida, and you might be soaked if you aren’t prepared. No one likes being wet while walking around, so having rain jackets, ponchos, umbrellas, and even extra shoes can save the day.

Bring gear to keep you cool during the warmer months of the year. Having portable fans, cooling towels, and water bottles can help you manage the heat and humidity. Don’t forget sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses as well.

For those visiting from  November through February , be aware that Flordia can get cold. During these months, make sure you have layers. When the sun goes down, you will want coats, mittens, scarves, and gloves.

By taking time to pack for the weather, you will be more comfortable in the parks. No matter when you visit, weather can be a big factor. Go prepared to make sure it doesn’t negatively impact your trip.

Credit: Disney

8. Use My Disney Experience

My Disney Experience is Disney’s official app. This is essential to a successful Walt Disney World vacation. Before you head out for your trip, download the app. Make sure you get logged in and take time to navigate it.

The app has a lot of essential and helpful information. You might feel overwhelmed if you don’t look at it before you arrive. I highly recommend ensuring you understand where to find some critical information that will be helpful during your visit.

The main feature you will need is the maps. These will not only help you navigate your way around the parks but also show you wait times. This can save you time when determining how to move through the park.

My Disney Experience is also where you will book  Genie+ and individual Lightning Lanes, make mobile orders, and see your photos taken on rides or by Disney’s photopass photographers.

I love  My Disney Experience the majority of the time; however, I have used it for many years now. If you aren’t as familiar with it, scroll through it before arriving on your Disney vacation. You will be a lot less frustrated.

7. Take a Break

As you plan for each day in the Disney Parks, make sure you take breaks. Getting caught up in the magic and skipping breaks can be easy, but they are crucial to preventing meltdowns.

If you plan a more extended vacation, consider taking a whole break day during your trip. This can allow you time to sleep in, enjoy a slower pace, and experience some of Disney’s magic outside of the parks.

I still recommend taking breaks for shorter trips where you want to maximize your time. Taking breaks in the middle of the day can be a fantastic way to refresh and regroup for evening magic. We like to swim and nap during the heat of the day.

If we don’t feel like returning to our Disney resort, we schedule a relaxing sit-down meal at a nearby motel. When in Magic Kingdom, we love heading to Steakhouse 71 in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This is a fantastic dining experience and is typically extremely quiet during the middle of the day.

We head over to get something at Ale & Compass in Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. Now, with the new Boardwalk Bakery, we could see this being an excellent location for an after-meal and break.

No matter how long or short your trip is, make sure you schedule some downtime. Take breaks, so allow yourself to reset. Doing this will make your trip that much better overall for everyone.

6. Take Advantage of Your Resort

It isn’t a secret that a stay at Walt Disney World is expensive. Take time during your visit to enjoy what you are paying for at the Resort.

Walt Disney World Resorts have fantastic, fun-themed pools. Enjoy some swimming during your vacation. The feature pools at each resort will offer fun games and entertainment for the whole family during the afternoon.

Related:  Disney Resorts Not Worth Staying at in 2024

Disney Resorts are beautiful. Enjoy an evening stroll around your Resort to enjoy all the special details you might miss otherwise. Ask at the front desk to see if there are scavenger hunts or hidden Mickeys that you could look for while at the Resort.

Also, make sure to ask for an activity guide. This will let you know what crafts and other activities are happening during your stay. This guide will also have what movies will be featured at night. Movies Under the Stars is a magical way to enjoy an evening at Disney.

So often, we are so focused on the Disney Parks that we miss out on the magic at the resorts.

Credit: amazon

7. Portable Charges Are Key

Because My Disney Experience is so essential to a successful experience, having a charged phone is also super important. You don’t want to end up with a dead phone in the middle of the park. Without your phone, you can miss out on a lot of information.

Not only will you not be able to book Genie+ reservations, but you also won’t be able to place mobile orders or see basic information such as wait times.

Make sure you don’t get cut off by having portable charges packed. We highly recommend having a portable charger for anyone who has a phone. There are so many different options to choose from when it comes to chargers. Choose one that will fit your needs.

We like having smaller ones in the parks as they take up less room and aren’t as heavy to carry. Keep in mind if your charger needs a cord to pack that as well.

Disney does have some places to charge phones, but you would need cords to do so. Toss in those portable chargers each time you head out of your Resort room. Doing so will keep you from being stuck without a charge.

8. Be Flexible

Although we think having a plan when heading to Walt Disney World is super important, we also think being flexible within that place is essential. No matter how much you plan, things will happen to throw off your plan.

Ride breakdowns, kids meltdown, and experiences take longer than anticipated. All of these things, and more, can throw off your schedule. Don’t let this stress you out. Instead, be flexible in your plan.

Because you have taken time to make a plan, you will be prepared to pivot your plans when you need to. Be okay with adjusting when it means everyone has a more pleasant experience.

Go into the day with a general idea of what you want to accomplish, but be willing to adjust and make a new plan as needed.

Listen to those in your party and be aware of what their needs are in the moment. If someone is hungry, tired or overwhelmed, it will be better for everyone to adjust instead of trying to push through.

Credit: Brian McGowan on Unsplash

9. Take Advantage of Disney Perks

Not only should you take time to enjoy your Disney resort while on your Walt Disney World vacation, but you also want to ensure you take advantage of all the perks of a stay.

Guests who stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can take advantage of free transportation to and from the four Disney Parks, Disney Springs, and Disney water parks. This is a stress-free way to get to the parks each day.

As mentioned, guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can take advantage of early entry. This allows them to enter any of the four Disney parks a half hour before the posted opening.

Early entry is a fantastic way to get ahead of the crowds. It allows guests to experience some of the top rides, such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Space Mountain, before Magic Kingdom even opens to regular park guests.

Those staying at a deluxe resort like Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Disney’s Beach Club Resort can enjoy extended evening hours. Unlike early entry, extended evening hours happen on select evenings at specific parks- typically either Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. This perk gives guests three additional hours to enjoy the park after it closes for the evening.

Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel also can take advantage of charging to their rooms. Instead of worrying about carrying around a credit card, guests can use their MagicBands, Key cards or use the My Disney Experience app to charge back to their rooms.

Take time to learn about all the advantages of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and then make sure you are using them during your trip.

Credit: Disney and Canva

10. Enjoy the Magical Moments

Finally, my biggest tip for a great trip to Walt Disney World is to enjoy the magical moments. No matter how much you plan and prepare, slow down to take those magical moments that pop up suddenly during your trip.

This could be watching your little one dance away during the Disney Junior Dance party. Maybe they want to watch the castle stage show for a third time in Magic Kingdom or have one more Mickey pretzel as they chill on the hub grass in front of Cinderella Castle.

Credit: Jen Retzlaff

No matter what magical moment pops up during your trip set that schedule, plan aside, and enjoy it. It will be those magical moments that you remember for years to come. Although we love laughing about how many times we were able to ride the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, what we remember is that midnight swim after the fireworks at our resort.

Walt Disney World is full of magical moments, but it can be easy to miss out on them when we get too wrapped up in our must-do list. As I mentioned, be flexible within your plans to take in all those magical moments. If you don’t slow down, you will miss the magic right before you.

Those are ten of my top tips for having a great tip at Walt Disney World. Planning a vacation to Walt Disney World is a lot of work, but keeping these ten tips at the forefront of your planning will be much easier.

Focus on those must-do experiences, and then slow down, relax, and enjoy all the magic and pixie dust in the four Disney parks and Disney resorts. By slowing down, you will genuinely make magical, solid memories together, which is essential.

There are a lot of tips and tricks to help you have a great time at Walt Disney World. I hope these ten will get you started as you prepare for a magical and exciting trip to Walt Disney World.

Have a great time during your Walt Disney World vacation. Head in prepared, and you will be ready for a fantastic time.

Related:  Planning a Trip to Disney in 2024? Don’t Miss This Essential Read

About Jennifer Retzlaff

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September 14, 2024

Why You Should Use A Disney Travel Agent

Using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner can take the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World vacation, which is complicated and overwhelming for first-timer tourists. Travel agent can make the process easier by booking reservations, making itineraries, securing discounts, and more. ( Updated April 11, 2023 .)

One thing that regulars often forget once we’ve learned the ropes is just how convoluted it is to plan and take a trip to Walt Disney World. Thanks to years of experience and research, WDW veterans know the basics of planning–from tricks for booking Advance Dining Reservations to leveraging discounts, using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, navigating virtual queues, making ideal itineraries to beat the crowds, and more–inside and out. However, the whole process is foreign and daunting to newbies, which is why there’s huge value in using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

If all you’re looking for is a travel agent recommendation, Be Our Guest Vacations is our preferred Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. They offer no-cost planning, their agents have  years  of experience and visit the parks multiple times per year, and their team is talented and tight-knit. However, this is not simply a sales pitch for Be Our Guest Vacations…

Our advice to use a travel agent holds true regardless of which agency you end up choosing. The point here is more broadly that it’s incredibly advantageous to use Authorized Disney Vacation Planners– any of them! While some agencies and agents do a better job and have more thorough knowledge of Disney than others (more on these pitfalls in a minute), the vast majority are helpful. Suffice to say, if you’re overwhelmed by planning, a Disney TA can help.

More importantly, there’s no shame in needing help or being overwhelmed! We travel around the globe, and nowhere that we visit is as complicated or intimidating for first-timers as Walt Disney World. It’s literally the size of a city, and Walt Disney World has its own quirks, policies, and unwritten rules that are not easily understood. It’s a bit like learning Na’vi , a language without much real world value but that will endear you with a hardcore community of fellow-fans!

The first and biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is the service. Imagine the knowledge-base of this blog (assuming you think I’m knowledgeable), but in a form that can apply the tips here to your particular circumstances, preferences, and needs. That’s what a good Authorized Disney Vacation Planner provides. It’s a back-and-forth dialogue, and they’re there to hold your hand and give you personalized advice.

Unlike traditional, large-scale travel agencies, most Disney-specializing agents got into it not due to a desire to build some highly profitable business empire, but because they love Disney and really enjoyed planning their own trip. This is why I distinguish between “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” (the words you want to look for) and traditional travel agents. The latter are professionals who book trips to myriad destinations, but don’t have a Disney focus. This usually means they don’t have the expertise to provide high-quality service for Disney destinations.

For this reason, we do not recommend national, non-Disney travel agencies when booking Disney vacations. No offense to Costco or AAA, but they simply cannot compete with the ‘mom and pop shops’ in terms of quality service and knowledge. Agents at the big companies are booking myriad destinations with little experience at many of them.

It’s entirely possible that the agents at Costco, AAA, or other big box travel agencies have never visited Walt Disney World, or at least not within the last year. The best Authorized Disney Vacation Planners visit the parks multiple times per year and keep abreast of all the latest changes. They are Disney specialists, not travel industry generalists.

Unfortunately, big box agencies aren’t the only ones to avoid. In recent years, there has also been a proliferation of Disney travel agencies that are thinly-veiled multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs). These are agencies that exist not to provide exceptional service to clients, but primarily to recruit more agents and grow by charging initiation and training fees. The problem with these agencies is similar to the big box ones–a lack of quality control and subject matter expertise. They will hire any agent who expresses an interest in joining (because that’s their  actual business, not helping clients) and don’t care about the caliber of client service or knowledge of their agents.

There’s no easy way to identify which Disney travel agencies are primarily MLMs. An obvious indicator would be if they recruit you despite your lack of knowledge, but it’s not always that obvious. To each their own, but my rule of thumb is avoiding agencies with hundreds of agents. When it comes to Authorized Disney Vacation Planners, size is a liability and not an asset. Go for a boutique business and get better service.

The second biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is the time-savings. This has become a particularly pronounced advantage in the last couple of years, and is arguably the biggest reason to use a travel agent now–especially if you’re already knowledgeable about Disney.

Currently, Walt Disney World and Disneyland both have staffing shortages. This is a problem throughout the parks and resorts, but nowhere is it more pronounced than the call centers. It used to be the case that you’d wait on hold for a long time only on the days that discounts, special event tickets went on sale, or something else major and new was released.

Long hold times have become the rule rather than the exception. You might think that this is no big deal, as you’ll simply book everything online. That’s a good plan… until something goes wrong. 

Disney IT also isn’t the most reliable; between that and problems with reservations, there’s a strong probability that you’ll need assistance via a call center representative at some point during the planning process. Having an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner deal with this and advocate on your behalf will save you headaches and time waiting on hold, and the benefit of that cannot be overstated.

The third biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planners is saving money. This is not to say travel agents have access to better discounts than you or anyone else–they don’t. (I don’t know why there’s this mistaken belief out there that some travel agents find better or worse prices when it comes to Disney–any variance in pricing is a result of games Disney plays with its inventory and special offers at different times.)

The advantage they do provide when it comes to price is that they are knowledgeable and diligent about discounts, and continue monitoring your reservation even after booking. This can be particularly beneficial if you book far in advance before discounts are released–relevant right now as 2024 Walt Disney World Vacation Packages will be released in June 2023.

I know several Authorized Disney Vacation Planners who get up at 3 a.m. every time Walt Disney World releases a new discount in order to quickly apply the deal to all eligible reservations they’re managing. By contrast, if you learned about the deal a few days later and called Disney to book, a lot of availability would already be gone.

They also know the ins and outs of tweaking reservations so they fall within Disney’s eligibility parameters and are less likely the be excluded from promotions. (All too often, we hear from readers who technically qualify for a discount to be applied to their existing reservation, but Disney finds a way to exclude them due to lack of availability under the promotion or something else.)

So, in that sense, Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are finding better prices for many of their clients, but it’s indirectly as a result of that knowledge and diligence.

The fourth biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is for booking Advance Dining Reservations or ADRs–Disney’s term for restaurant reservations. Guests staying in Walt Disney World resorts can make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay (up to 10 days). This little 60+ days rule quirk is something that can be difficult to explain and comprehend, but knowledgeable travel agents  know it well–and exactly how to leverage it. 

Using the length of stay + 60 day rule, a skilled travel agent will book your ADRs in order of difficulty, so you’re more likely to get the most elusive reservations. And with many restaurants still operating at reduced capacity, ADRs are more competitive than ever–by the time the 60 day mark hits, some will already be fully booked. So if you want character meals or other popular restaurants, your best bet is having an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner make your ADRs.

Beyond that, there are some generalized reasons to use Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. For one thing, they are almost always fans themselves who exclusively plan Disney travel. Most I’ve encountered over the years are good people. The overwhelming majority became travel agents because they’re passionate about planning vacations and became the go-to resource for their friends and family, and just decided to turn it into a job. Out of the Disney TAs I’ve encountered, this is true  at least 95% of the time.

And, because they’re passionate about Disney, they actually know about Disney. A traditional travel agent faces obsolescence because they were (basically) just someone to outsource the booking of vacations and had no firsthand knowledge of destinations to which they booked trips.

On the other hand, Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are only becoming more relevant thanks to the service and answers they provide in response to Disney vacations becoming increasingly complex. They know Disney inside and out (they are literally tested on it!) and have lots of first-hand experience.

They will be up at the 60-day mark to make your Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs), come up with plans to help you score the prime Lightning Lane selections, constantly monitor new discount offers to see if they can reduce the cost of your trip, and generally able to assist with other facets of trip planning.

Beyond that, there’s no cost to you for most travel agents specializing in Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are paid commission by Disney on the trips they book, so you’re usually not paying anything extra. I don’t know why Disney pays them, but my educated guess is because it’s essentially Disney ‘outsourcing’ the planning resources they’d otherwise need to provide. If you’re calling your travel agent, you aren’t calling Disney directly, tying up their guest services or other Cast Members.

This is win-win-win. Disney doesn’t have to deal with your questions, the Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is able to make money doing what they love, and you’re able to get free advice and help planning your trip. The biggest ‘winner’ there is you. One point person gets to know you, is responsive to your requests & questions, and feels a vested interest in making sure you have a great trip. You don’t call Disney, wait on hold for an interminable amount of time, and receive inconsistent answers from random Cast Members.

With that said, an increasing number of Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are charging an additional flat fee or hourly rate for their booking and/or planning services. This comes at a time when Walt Disney World vacations are more complicated than ever, and dealing with Disney (due to the aforementioned staffing shortages) is more time-consuming.

Without question, travel agents are  worth  these extra fees, as their professional expertise and experience is valuable. Whether you want to pay such a fee when free alternatives exist is a matter of personal preference. ( Be Our Guest Vacations , the agency we recommend, currently does not charge any consulting fees.)

The added value and expertise offered by Authorized Disney Vacation Planners is especially true in the era of My Disney Experience, MagicBands, Genie+, etc. The Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is a liaison ( or buffer! ) between you and Disney, putting out fires and fixing problems as they arise. They save you headaches and stress in solving these problems.

Again, I speak from the experience of having to deal with these headaches myself–although things are getting better with these systems. I love Disney Cast Members in the parks, but my experiences have not been overwhelmingly positive on the phone.

With all of that said, using a travel agent isn’t for everyone. Some people have obsessive personalities and like total control over their vacations, or actually enjoy spending hours reading blogs like this one (and thank you to those of you who tolerate all of my corny jokes! 😉 ). Although we used Authorized Disney Vacation Planners years ago, I’ll admit that this now describes me. I love figuring this all out for myself, and I’m a total control freak.

Even if you are a control freak like me, it might make sense to book through a vacation planner so they monitor discounts and be your liaison with Disney in the event My Disney Experience issues arise, while you can do the “fun” stuff like planning ADRs and Genie+. Most vacation planners are as hands on or off as you specify, and it’s pretty easy to let them know what expect of them and what you’d like to do yourself.

If you’re convinced that a travel agent is for you, there are a few things to consider when choosing one. First, while I think it’s poor form to comparison shop or seek information without actual intent to book through them–as this is their job and they’re only paid on bookings they actually make–I do think it’s a good idea to make sure you “click” with an agent after requesting a quote.

It should be pretty easy to tell based on their first email or two whether they’re someone you want to work with, but if you’re still unsure, request a quick phone call. You are trusting this person with your vacation and (potentially) will communicate with them a lot, so you should make sure they aren’t impersonal or will treat you like a number. This is typically a total non-issue, as most vacation planners I’ve encountered are incredibly pleasant and enthusiastic, but it’s good to double-check if things don’t seem right from the get-go.

Second, make sure they’re providing the level of service detailed here. If you want someone to make your ADRs or make recommendations with things like stroller rental, make sure those are things they do. Not all agencies offer the same services, so be sure the one you’re considering will help in the areas you’d like assistance.

Finally, they have to know their stuff. Confirm they’ve been to whichever Disney destination you’re considering (and have been there recently ). If you’re planning a Walt Disney World trip, you don’t want a Disneyland regular–they’re totally different destinations from a planning perspective. If you’re taking a Disney cruise, your travel agent having stayed at every Walt Disney World resort hotel is meaningless. You get the idea. I’m not saying they need to spend 50+ days per year in the parks, but you want them to know their stuff.

Your Thoughts

If you’ve used an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, how was your experience? Which Disney TAs do you recommend? Any other tips you’d like for choosing a vacation planner? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

Written by Tom Bricker

I do want to comment that AAA has a specific branch that specializes in Disney vacations. I have used only one AAA agent for my bookings over the years, and she has a Certified Disney Planner designation. After enjoying this article, I’d say the difference is the other Disney dedicated agents handle all the smaller stuff that I happily do on my own. My AAA agent would not be doing dining reservations I don’t think. I use her for the hotel/tickets package, with the goal of being sure sure of the best price on that potentially high price tag.

If I rent DVC points for my hotel stay, can I still use a Disney Vacation Planner for everything else?

I would imagine there are some that will work with you, but they’ll likely charge a fee. Most of the free ones require a resort reservation through them.

Who “authorizes” Disney travel agents? According to the Walt Disney company, they don’t authorize any and have no official links. So what exactly do you mean by Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? It seems a deceptive designation.

Hi! I think I can answer this. I am an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner”. Basically it is an individual that is signed up under an agency and has registered with Disney and taken all of the required training and tests to be able to sell Disney products. The individual agents are responsible for their actual first hand experience with Disney products. The big agencies he refers to are like Costco and AAA who can sell you Disney products, but they aren’t specifically Disney, and wouldn’t offer any of the specialized services he detailed in this article. They would book your trip, possibly give you perks, but you would be on your own if a new discount was offered, with your dining and Genie+ reservations, etc… and with any personal questions you have.

Can you hire Be Our Guest Vacations to book your Genie+ and ILL reservations each morning of your trip? If not, does anyone know of a travel agent offering that service. (I’m happy to pay.) Thanks!

Oh my God, ! That’s brilliant!

Oh my God, you mad freak! That’s brilliant!

We were going to use a Disney planner but they encouraged us to call “for a quote.” We’d long understood that compensation for their services came from Disney so we avoided that planner company so we wouldn’t have to pay ourselves. But we noticed you’d used “call them for a quote” as well. What kind of quote would they give us if we didn’t have to pay. Confused.

For the price of the vacation package, not their services. You provide party details and resort preferences, and they quote you a price on what Walt Disney World will charge for that. No different than the price quotes you’d get from Disneyworld.com.

I have had a handful of wonderful experiences with Be Our Guest Vacations! Jeanette has been patient and helpful in planning Walt Disney World vacations as well as Disney cruises. She was accessible in a situation where things with the airline went sideways, and found me last minute accommodations so I didn’t have to spend the night in a chair in the Orlando airport. I have not been disappointed!

My husband and I are trying to plan a trip right now for the 4th of July weekend. He is having trouble with people emailing him back or even calling him back. We are finding better ticket prices at Sam’s club but I don’t know anything about what we are doing. We aren’t trying to spend an arm and a leg.

Thanks for sharing this great advice, it will help me a lot.

Do you know of a good planner that you would recommend for my Disney World trip?

I’m having trouble getting return emails. I’ve sent emails to two highly recommended agencies in the past few days and have not received any response. So frustrating

Hi John… interested in having your help. Let’s start the conversation. Target date May 7 – 14, 2021.

We are looking at coming next September. When we book through you; do we pay the $200 deposit to hold it and pay if off 30 days before? Or do we pay for the full trip up front?

Is there a website or somewhere I can find a ADVP in my area? I’d prefer to work with someone who is local 🙂

My question is a little unique. Are there any Authorized Disney Vacation Planners that can help with things like dining reservations, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, etc. if we are staying at Shades of Green? The only thing stopping me from fully committing to Shades is I don’t know if there are any travel agencies that can help with just the reservations (and yes, I’m aware Shades is DoD owned). Thank you so much in advance!

I’m looking to book a trip to Disney World now that it’s open again . Looking at 3 week of September.

I am a little nervous about using a Disney planner since the one I have been in contact with is asking for my credit card information and my account password. I know they need it for reservations, but is there supposed to be a more secure way or is this how it works? Just need some ease of mind!

To my knowledge, that’s the way it works–at least with the credit card. I’ve always wondered why there Disney doesn’t create some sort of secure payment portal.

Thanks for that fast reply!

I requested a quote for an Adventures by Disney and received the first email from one of the agents at BOGV. Do I ask them if they have done the chosen destination? If they haven’t, how do I go about asking for a different agent?

You can certainly ask if you want, but I probably wouldn’t bother. There aren’t a lot of planning variables associated with Adventures by Disney, so they don’t need to have done the itinerary to book and arrange it for you.

You’re highly unlikely to find many travel agents who have done multiple Adventures by Disney itineraries, anyway.

We plan to go next year inAugust, is it too early to email them and start planning? Or will they prefer to wait as it gets closer?

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5 ways using an authorized Disney vacation planner will help you save money and improve your trip

Editor's Note

It's not uncommon to begin planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation a year or more before you actually step into the Magic Kingdom and lay your eyes on Cinderella Castle. It can be a whirlwind of ticket purchases, hotel bookings, dining reservations and itinerary planning that can be overwhelming even for frequent Disney World-goers.

Luckily, there are magical genies who will plan your vacation for you ... and you don't have to make the daring journey to the Cave of Wonders or even spend one extra penny to find them.

Related: A magical guide for how to plan a trip to Disney World this year

Authorized Disney vacation planners are only an email or a phone call away, and they will help you plan the Disney trip of your dreams at no cost to you.

Yes, this is real, and no, there's no catch. This works because Disney vacation planners make their money off commissions they receive from Disney when you book a trip through them. Their vacation prices are not inflated, and as we'll discuss, they can often help you find the best available rates.

Here are the top five reasons you should use an authorized Disney vacation planner to book your next trip to Disney World.

They do all the work

Booking a Disney hotel and buying theme park tickets may seem easy enough, but a complex array of options and add-ons can make it daunting to do anything from picking the best Disney World hotel for your trip to choosing the best Disney World restaurants for your family.

"The goal of a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations is to take the guesswork out of your vacation and make it as stress-free and seamless as possible," Mary Helen Law, a Disney travel agent with Mouse Counselors, told TPG. "We will take the details you give us and use them to curate a trip specifically designed for the needs and preferences of your family."

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Popular add-ons like behind-the-scenes tours and character meals book up well in advance. If you have your heart set on brunch with Mickey and Minnie, you sometimes have to be faster than Dash from "The Incredibles" to secure your spot.

Unless, of course, you use an authorized Disney vacation planner.

On a recent visit, I wanted to try out the newly reintroduced Disney Dining Plan . By booking through Mouse Counselors, they reserved my hotel room and added the Disney Dining Plan for me. I didn't have to lift a finger.

"Certain add-on experiences like a princess makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or a behind-the-scenes tour of Magic Kingdom open at midnight or 6 a.m. Eastern time, so having someone else handle the booking can be advantageous," Law shared. "Many agents will also take care of scheduling airport transfers and crib and stroller rentals," she added.

Related: The best credit cards for your Disney vacation

For the best possible experience, you should provide a few important pieces of information for your vacation planner.

"We'll obviously need your dates and the names and ages of everyone in your travel party, but there are other details that can help us build the best vacation for you," Law said. "If you aren't familiar with the details of Disney World hotels, for example, you can help us find the right one by telling us what you are looking for in a hotel. Do you want proximity to a certain park or the best pool for kids? Are you on a budget, or do you want to splurge?"

Knowing the answers to these questions before you begin working with your planner can help them guide you in the right direction.

They actively search for discounts

It's no secret that "Disney World" and "budget vacation" aren't exactly synonymous, but there are ways to save money on a visit to Walt Disney World .

Disney periodically offers discounted tickets and hotel sales that can help you save hundreds on your vacation.

Availability for these discounts is limited, though, and you sometimes have to stalk Disney's website so you don't miss out when a new offer is released. However, a good Disney vacation planner, whose literal job is booking Disney trips, will be up bright and early to ensure you get one of the discounted rooms or packages when they are released.

Related: Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?

They also monitor your reservation for price drops. If prices decrease for your dates, they can wave their magic wand and modify your existing reservation to take advantage of the lower price.

This is exactly what Law was able to do for me on a recent stay at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. As a Disney World annual passholder, I was eligible for a hotel discount. After my initial booking, Law applied the discount, saving me nearly $100.

They can plan your itinerary

If you're paying a large sum for a vacation, the last thing you want to do is wait in long lines, miss out on activities because you're in the wrong place at the wrong time or spend time doing things you don't want to do. If you want to maximize your time at Disney, you need a wealth of knowledge to know what to do and when to do it.

You can research and learn much of it yourself. However, if you're a once- or twice-in-a-lifetime Disney visitor, researching crowd calendars and in-depth planning guides may not be the best use of your time.

Related: Disney World making changes to simplify visits and bringing back a fan-favorite perk

Without a doubt, having your vacation planner lay out a daily itinerary for your specific dates is a valuable asset. Before you book, you need to find out how detailed your vacation planner will be if that is a service you are interested in. However, this is where your agent's time may come at a bit of a cost to you.

"Most agents do offer help with itinerary planning, but some charge a fee for this service and some don't offer it at all," Law said. "It's important to speak to your agent before booking to ensure you are on the same page with the expected level of hands-on service."

When I booked through Mouse Counselors, Law sent me a thorough guide that detailed how to mobile order food from quick-service restaurants, how to use Lightning Lanes to skip the lines, how to use transportation options in the park, how to use my MagicBand+ or phone as my park ticket and hotel room key, and so much more. As a frequent visitor, I was aware of most of these tips, but they are helpful details you may be unfamiliar with if you don't visit Disney often.

You can be as involved as you want

If you're a Type A personality and want to be involved in every step along the way, you can work hand in hand with your vacation planner to ensure you're comfortable with the itinerary and cost of your trip.

If you're hands-off and want someone to handle all the details and tell you where to go and when, you can also do that.

"In addition to booking your vacation, travel agents can assist with navigating the Disney app, linking your resort reservation and explaining the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass systems," Law said.

It's also possible for your Disney vacation planner to make your dining reservations at the exact time they open up to you before your trip. Your experience with your agent is entirely up to you, but if "Lightning Lane" is a foreign term to you, your Disney vacation planner can guide you.

I prefer making my own dining reservations, but Law ensured I knew she was at my service if I needed assistance.

It's free

Other than a cup of ice water and the celebratory buttons available at each park, there's not much that's truly free at Disney World.

However, an agent's booking services come at no cost to you. Disney pays authorized Disney vacation planners commissions from the sales of hotel rooms, tickets, dining packages and more.

They can book anything you see online or find the lower prices you may not have found yourself. So, while your trip to Disney probably won't be inexpensive, the benefit of having an agent doesn't add to the cost.

Some agents may charge an additional fee for specific add-on services, but most Disney vacation planners offer the majority of their services free of charge to travelers booking a Disney trip.

Do know that they make their money off commissions from Disney. This means if you book the bulk of your hotel expenses yourself elsewhere, it may not make sense to work with a vacation planner on that trip unless you do find one who charges a la carte fees for planning services.

Bottom line

Not only can these planners book trips to Disney World, but they can typically also book trips to Disneyland , aboard Disney Cruise Line ships , with Adventures by Disney and to Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii.

To that end, TPG has partnered with Mouse Counselors, an authorized Disney vacation planner ; this allows our readers to use an agent at a company we've had good experiences with at no additional cost. If devoting a chunk of time to planning a Disney trip doesn't make sense for you, give an authorized Disney vacation planner a try.

After all, they are the magic-making experts.

Related reading:

• Tips for visiting Disney World: 18 ways to save money and have more fun
• 'For the first time in forever,' Disney World feels like the good old days
• We saved every receipt — here's how much it actually costs to go to Disney World
• The 21 most underrated things at Disney World: What to see, do and eat that many guests miss