Become a travel agent and save $ on disney vacations!

[dcibrando]

Hey guys… I ran across a site where you can become a travel agent and work from home in your spare time…. Looks like you can even book Disney vacations and save money on your own trips which easily pays for itself!

I'm definitely looking into it… thought others might be interested as well

 

[ldb1030]

Hey guys… I ran across a site where you can become a travel agent and work from home in your spare time…. Looks like you can even book Disney vacations and save money on your own trips which easily pays for itself!

I'm definitely looking into it… thought others might be interested as well





Just an FYI...being a TA is not all glam and glitter like most people think. I've been doing this for 23years and it's hard work and very, very few perks anymore. I suppose if you work for yourself, you can work when you want etc but don't do this to try and become rich and travel the world! Just my opinion! Good luck to everyone!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I second that and I've only been doing it for about a year now. Also, you have to have a CLIA or IATAN card in order to get discounts at Disney, those are pretty hard to get if you're just starting out and don't have a client base.

 

[CarolA]

This web site is a JOKE!!!RIP OFF RUN!!!


1...The comment on TAs getting the great deals. What they don't tell you is that to get the great deals you really need to be booking VOLUME. Most places no longer give the deals to just any old agent..

2. No tests to pass? You aren't getting an IATA (I think that's the initials) card. Without that card... no discounts.

3. 70-80% Commission? On what? Keep in mind the avg overall commission is probably around 10% so you are getting 70-80 of 10. So if you book a $100 hotel room you get... wait for it... $8!!!!

4. That FREE airfare... WHAT?? I know a very good TA with a HUGE corporate travel account. She gets very few airline deals. You aren't getting free airfare.

RUN!!! By the time you pay them the $200 fee PLUS the $9.95 fee (what is that?) you are going to have to save a LOT on your Disney Vacation.

 

[CarolA]

It gets better. The FORUMS link on this website takes you to another Disney site where this company is NOT even the sponsor..... If you click on it you will see what I mean, it's like they have tried to "pirate" that site and indicate they are "endorsed"

 

[Tink561]

Just an FYI...being a TA is not all glam and glitter like most people think. I've been doing this for 23years and it's hard work and very, very few perks anymore. I suppose if you work for yourself, you can work when you want etc but don't do this to try and become rich and travel the world! Just my opinion! Good luck to everyone!

I agree. I was a travel agent from 1988-1998 and had very few perks. It's a lot of work for not a lot of money and now the perks are almost non-existant.

 

[dcibrando]

I just got some info back from them..

you can get a clia card after an online class and use their travel agent id for disney discounts as you are considered an independent agent under them.

you get your very own login to disneytravelagents.com too can take disney training free and get up to 50% off resorts

I also asked about the forum link and said this was temporary because the original forum they had is being recoded due to some security problems...oh well

I think I am going to do it because the 50% off discount I get on resort in dec (which they confirmed) would pay for itself...and if I sell any extra then that's just more icing on the top!

 

[MouseJunkie]

Just an FYI...being a TA is not all glam and glitter like most people think. I've been doing this for 23years and it's hard work and very, very few perks anymore. I suppose if you work for yourself, you can work when you want etc but don't do this to try and become rich and travel the world! Just my opinion! Good luck to everyone!

Ditto! I've been an agent for 10 years and in the industry for 15. It's definitely not the job everyone thinks it is. You don't get to travel all over the world for free and you don't make a lot of money. Discounts are few and far between.

I haven't looked at the sight yet, but the few details you mentioned; it sounds very much like an MLM. RUN! If that's the case, they are not real travel agents.

BTW, I'm checking out the sight now. Two things right off. A host agency or a travel agency isn't going to charge you some fee to join. The other thing I notice at first glance. Fam trips. These are educational trips usually with very little play time. The one's I have attended you spend the majority of your time visiting the inside of 30 some hotel rooms and you pay out of your pocket to do it. We do this to be able to educate our clients. Fams are not vacations.

 

[CarolA]

I think you should call some Disney TAs and ask them about the 50% off deal. I don't think you are going to get it. (Who cares what they confirmed)

Disney like most providers is giving discounts to proven bookers... which you won't be. (And I am not sure this place is. That "Story" about thier forums pretty much tells me they are not on the up and up!)

 

[CarolA]

From www.bbb.org

Does an ID Card Make You a Travel Agent?

It certainly sounds tempting. You’ve been invited to a seminar or social gathering that promises you a free vacation for listening to a presentation on discount travel services. The enticement is that you can become a “travel agent,” with “credentials” that will permit you to travel at free or reduced fares. Is that true? Can the right ID card convince airlines, hotels and other travel services to give you a discount?
The Better Business Bureau and the American Society of Travel Agents warn consumers not to be misled by travel card “mills” and other questionable discount travel service operations. The travel industry has become more vigilant in clamping down on those using card mill credentials. Furthermore, promises of “industry insider” travel discounts do not always materialize. Some of the advertised prices are widely available to all travelers and there are hotels and airlines that will not honor the card when presented for a discount or upgrade.

True travel agents sell travel to the general public, a fact conveniently ignored by card mill operators and other discount travel services. Many discount travel businesses promise “huge earnings” but neglect to mention that in order to make money, you must recruit other people to become “travel agents.”

The BBB offers tips to consumers interested in discount travel services:

Do not be fooled by promises of glamour and wealth, with little or no effort.
Be skeptical of offers that require you to purchase an identification card and claim that, by doing so, you will be a “travel agent” in good standing who is “official,” “certified,” “accredited,” or “endorsed” by the travel industry.
If the business promises huge earnings, ask what you will be paid for. Will you actually be selling travel to the general public? Or are you being asked to recruit others into the business?
Before buying a “travel agent” card, comparison shop for several trips using traditional travel agencies, online travel sites and other information sources. Will the additional cost of the card be offset by savings on travel services of comparable value?
Ask if the hotel, airline or other travel provider you want to use will accept the card as the basis for a discount.
Obtain all promises in writing, and check with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org for a report before you agree to anything.

 

[MouseJunkie]

Now, I have been able to get a discount on an on-site hotel room, but it was
not 50% off more like 10%. I have also been able to get discounted magic your way tickets or a one day ticket. That's about it. Like others have said though it absolutley is based on volume. If you are truely interested in being an agent, you should check out some legitimate agencies being either brick and mortar or reputable host agencies.

I'm editing because I'm still looking at this site. Another thing I noticed nowhere on here does there seem to be an address (location of the business) or phone #. The only contact is via email. I'm sure there is a reason for this usually because they're a scam. This makes them very hard to find on the BBB. Not to mention many of these people change their names frequently.

Let me reiterate if you're in it for the perks, you're in it for the wrong reasons! And if it sounds too good to be true, IT IS!

 

[dcibrando]

looks like they are an affiliate of this site



I called a sales person for Disney Travel Agents and they confirmed the discount for resorts. The percentage is based on the time of year....for Dec. I checked on is 50%

 

[Miss Jasmine]

That site is a SCAM. No doubt about it. WDWMagic has NOTHING to do with that agency. In fact if you look at the WDWMagic Sponsors and Partners you do not see that company there.



Also looking at the company's website, it appears most of the content has been copied and paste from elsewhere.

 

[CarolA]

looks like they are an affiliate of this site



I called a sales person for Disney Travel Agents and they confirmed the discount for resorts. The percentage is based on the time of year....for Dec. I checked on is 50%

Then why don't you go with ************... Just seems very strange.


(If this was really a good deal you would not be the only DISer to be on it!)

 

[grlpwrd]

I have been in the airlines and travel agency industries and this does seem questionable.

Their whois.net info is very questionable because there is no contact info (which they request) and also it was created in April. (I won't post it all their info here.)

Red flags for me because like someone else already mentioned there is no contact info. and by their registration it looks like they want privacy.

Be careful...

 

[dsnymoners]

Do not do this...they say you can use there card...each agent has there own IATAN card with there own picture on it....it is a total scam..I am a travel agent at AAA and have been in the business for 15 years. Yes the discount with disney can be up to 50% on just the room only but by the time you add on your tickets and you can't get the meal plan on travel agent bookings its not a good deal...i have been going to disney and doing the dining plan and not booking on the travel agent special becuase its a not as good as a deal. also there are not as many great deals out there as far as discount trips i have seen way to many people come in my office saying they just took a class to be a travel agent to get there card and then come back in so disapointed...dont do it i can't express that enough to you

 

[MouseJunkie]

I looked at this ************* website. There are still too many things that get my fur ruffled like you have to pay upfront, the promise of discounts and fam trips. I honestly would not do it. I have posted on a travel agency forum. There are a lot of homebased agents on there. I work at a brick and mortar that employs independent consultants. None of our independents pay a fee to join. I did check inteletravel out on the bbb only found one complaint. I side stepped their link just in case. As it's not all that hard to set up a bogus link claiming they're a member of good standing.

If you want to know a couple of good legit. host agents pm me. I will try to get a couple of names from some real travel agents.

I'm with the others too then why the affiliation? That also doesn't jive.

 

[speedyf]

Just the fact that they said the discount depends on the time of year leads me to believe that the 50% discount may be some "creative math".

Figure this...just as an example:

Poly Room Rates (Garden View)

Holiday Season = $519
Value Season = $329

So...if I tell you to book during value season in December instead of Holiday Season...I'm already saving you 36%. If I tell you to book at the AAA rate during Value Season ($296 per night), you would be saving right at 43%.

I could save you that money right now by telling you to book your stay starting on December 19th (locking in the value rate for your entire stay) rather than starting on December 20th (holiday rate).

I would make sure to word my question correctly....as in:

"If I book XXX hotel from XX/XX/XX to XX/XX/XX, will I receive 50% off the rack rate of that season."

I would also get that in writing before joining. I would think there would be some kind of disclaimer...like only certain days or "disney-vicinity" hotels.

I'm not trying to be negative about it...but, I would definitely cover my basis as much as possible before laying out $200.

Good Luck!

Speed

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Also keep in mind that it's not all resorts all the time. If you go to disneytravelagents.com they have a couple of resorts listed at a time, you don't really have your pick of all of them. And yes, you can get a clia card for taking the courses, but to get an IATAN card you have to make at least $5k in commission EVERY YEAR to qualify to keep that card, Disney won't give you that discount just because you're on a list with an agency. I wouldn't risk it, sounds like a card mill to me.

 

[paladin]

Another thing regarding the discounts - yes, Disney does offer them and yes they are very good, however, they have to be available. As with any type of discount, be it travel agent, AAA, AP or whatever, they only give a discount on a certain number of rooms. You may or may not be able to find availability when you want to go.

Just being on the list won't do it, you must fax in a copy of your card within 48 hours.