Becoming a certified Disney Travel Agent?

[SplashMountainRocks]

My friend who is a travel agent not a disney travel agent just a regular one, had to go to college

Well, you definitely need to have excellent written and verbal communications skills, and be very good at math - and excellent computer skills too!

 

[SplashMountainRocks]

Let me elaborate:

If you were to be employed by an agency as a salaried employee, many would probably have requirements such as a college degree.

If you were to work as a home-based agent, most would only care that you were over 18 and could read and write.

Most others would be somewhere in between, before allowing you to assist with their clients.

 

[happygirl]

she worked for a travel agency that required a degree

 

[Dancemom03]

While everything Dancemom03 say is true, her post has the slant of a brick and mortar agent and all of her points are very valid. However, many new travel agents and agencies today are home based, and work with a host agency - and many only have an online presence vs an actual storefront.

You've got me... I have spent most of my time as an inside agent, however I have also worked from home. My DD6 was born well after I entered my 40s and I wanted to spend every precious moment possible with her until she started kindergarten this year. I still do quite a lot from my home office several days a week and do appreciate the opportunities the internet offers.

One thing, I did learn in my time at home was that the majority of Resorts & Cruise lines wanted to see documentation that the TA requesting the FAM or discounted rate was a full time agent. Many also specify that you must be an "inside" agent. While one agency owner may list agents working from home as full time "bricks and mortar" agents, another may not. It's a negotiation point that is nice to be aware of when considering an agency to affliate yourself with.
In an overview from Disney it states "The Walt Disney World® Resort extends discounted room offers periodically throughout the year for qualified travel agents to enable personal familiarization of Select Walt Disney World® Resorts." From what I have been told, each request is reviewed based on the agents' booking/sales volume, verifed with agency owners, and granted only after documentation/ID card is faxed. To get that yearly ID card renewal, at least one workshop, seminar or online course is usually required to be completed each calendar year.

I didn't mean to sound negative in my post. I was attempting to address some of the pros & cons from my personal experience and to answer some of the dollar questions that are often avoided in today's society (I don't even ask the other moms on the playground these days what they or husbands do for a living as it's considered taboo now by many). By listing the commission rates many local agencies here are offering, I hoped to give DISers a basis for comparison.

I also wanted readers to realize that there may well be agencies right there in their own town that would welcome them working from home and even provide informal training in some cases if requested. Believe me, our town is small, yet our agency still accepts outside agents working locally from home when approached - as does another I know of in our area also.

My intended point was not to bash the internet agencies but that those with a love of Disney might just be able to find a local agency affiliation if they explore all their options - which is especially convienent should you need to pick up brochures, documents, need support, or even commission checks, for home based bookings.

DIS'ers who post here a lot and book trips for themselves, family, and friends no doubt already possess much of the knowledge required to do it for others too - whether it is the field for you though is very much like another telling you what resort to stay in. My advice? Go, talk, explore all options.
Just like your favorite resort - you're sure to know if you've found the right fit or not after you open the door.

Our little community college has a course for those interested in becoming a travel agent. Many colleges do. It certainly isn't essential unless required by your agency of choice, but it is very helpful.
Here, it is run by people already working in the field and is said to open doors for those who complete that program whether they work from home or an office. One thing's for sure - it never hurts to meet people doing what you'd like to do while exploring options...

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'd be an actual TA, if you can call it that in these days of internet bookings - and I have the Disney college of knowledge mouse ears on my desk to prove it.

How do you go about enrolling/signing up for classes? I've seen many TAs mention this, but I can't find any information about the Disney College of Knowledge.

 

[Mindy Marie]

How do you go about enrolling/signing up for classes? I've seen many TAs mention this, but I can't find any information about the Disney College of Knowledge.

Disney has a special TA website that we do our bookings from, this is where they have all of the different Disney education information. Hope this helps.

 

[SplashMountainRocks]

How do you go about enrolling/signing up for classes? I've seen many TAs mention this, but I can't find any information about the Disney College of Knowledge.

You need to be a TA associated with an agency first.

 

[ducklite]

I'm interested in doing this as well. I tried Small World at the end of last year, but she said they had already hired all the agents they needed for
2007. I live in a small town, so there aren't any places around here that offer courses for this, not even at the community college just down the road. I don't know if I really need to take any courses since it appears that you don't have to be certified or have a license to become a travel agent.

Be sure to check your state laws. Some states require TA's to be licensed and bonded.

Anne

 

[WeRblam]

I am a travel agent and would glady talk to anyone who is looking to pursue a career with my agency. I work from home and have a host agency. I have 1 other employee who I have been training. I have to agree with most of the previous posters - it is very time consuming and you really need to have a good following to make any kind of money. BUT, you can certaintly make some extra cash for trips etc by booking friends and family.

If anyone is truly interested I will glady discuss it with them! Just PM me.

 

[SplashMountainRocks]

If anyone is truly interested I will gladly discuss it with them! Just PM me.

Same here.

 

[SplashMountainRocks]

If you can answer this question convincingly to a client, than you should definitely become a Disney travel agent:

"Why should I book with you versus booking with Disney directly?"

 

[Chicago526]

If you can answer this question convincingly to a client, than you should definitely become a Disney travel agent:

"Why should I book with you versus booking with Disney directly?"

It's funny, I just had a potential client ask me that yesterday, only it was about a Princess cruise!

 

[micksterlee]

I was an online travel agent for awhile and I completed the Disney College of KNowledge program.I received a cool pin and a set of mouseears that looked like a graduation hat.Unfortunately I never had a chance to book a trip to Disney for anyone.

 

[lovemickeya]

Subscribing--

Would like all the info I can get!

TIA

 

[CarolA]

I'm interested in doing this as well. I tried Small World at the end of last year, but she said they had already hired all the agents they needed for
2007. I live in a small town, so there aren't any places around here that offer courses for this, not even at the community college just down the road. I don't know if I really need to take any courses since it appears that you don't have to be certified or have a license to become a travel agent.

No, you don't, but if your potential customers have ANY sense they won't use you. Plus exactly how you plan to get a job is more then a little unknown without any training etc.

This whole idea comes up periodically on this board as a way to make money.

Go online and search Disney Travel Agents. I just did. THOUSANDS of hits! Unless you personally have LOTS of friends who are willing to let you do thier vacation the competetion is STIFF. You don't just announce "I book Disney" and customers appear.

Plus the "part time" aspect..... A good TA is available Sunday at 11PM when Disney screws up my reservation. A good TA is available Monday at 8 AM when I want to ask a question. In other words if you are thinking "I can do this between errands, taking care of the kids etc" think again if you want to be successful.

And if anyone gives you the link the website guranteeing you big discounts RUN!! KEEP RUNNING! No, for the newbie TA who books one Disney vacation a year for her next door neighbor airlines, hotels, DISNEY etc are not going to fall all over themselves giving you the "discount" LOL!

(I once checked in at All Stars next to at "travel agent" he was ROYALLY PO'd that his "discount" was rack rate LOL!)

 

[CPM]

(I once checked in at All Stars next to at "travel agent" he was ROYALLY PO'd that his "discount" was rack rate LOL!)

Carol, not sure why the TA rate was a rack rate. I'm a TA and we get a pretty good discount on Disney hotel rooms and some Disney cruises. Far from rack rate. They will also periodically send you specials, sometimes up to 60% off! Tickets are another story, no great discount there.

No, it isn't as easy as everyone thinks either. I'm certainly learning that. I don't work for SWT, but anyone that does, can make some money, as she does the marketing and feeds you a lot of the business. There are lots of other markets for selling travel out there. I specialize in cruises. There is a huge market for that. But, you do need to be willing to spend money to make money.

There are rules to be a TA and most states do require you to incorporate & license to sell travel.

As far as courses, most are online. Each vendor wants you to be certified for selling their product. You can sign with a host agency. There are lots of big companies to choose from. This is the easiest way to get started. Look for one that gives you a lot of support and a high comission rate. They do get a cut of your comission. You usually have to pay a minimal fee for web site use and support.
Anyway that is my 2 cents

 

[misricsmith]

thanks so much

 

[binny]

I am bumping a thread that a lot of us travel agents posted on that has a LOT of info on it.
Its called "Disney Travel Agent"


Before I do that though PLEASE know this is a NOT a "make money in your sleep" kind of thing any site that promises you that needs to thrown in the trash. You wouldnt believe the amount of fraud and card mills taht abound in this industry, You need to do your homework! make sur eyou are not getting into an MLM. If you want to be a real travel agent, great! Tas will welcome you with open arms, if you want to try to do this the easy way, TAs will fight you.
Stay away from companies like YTB, GTI, and Traversus.

If you want more info about them you can read here.

http://notravelmlms.blogspot.com/


that should be a great eye opener.

Ok now I will bump up the other thread. If it gets lost here is the link

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=719632

 

[binny]

Plus the "part time" aspect..... A good TA is available Sunday at 11PM when Disney screws up my reservation. A good TA is available Monday at 8 AM when I want to ask a question. In other words if you are thinking "I can do this between errands, taking care of the kids etc" think again if you want to be successful.

OMG how did you know what I was doing right now??? LOL
I have clients there right now and Disney mucked it up. Thankfully they are trying to fix it but I will defintely not get rich of it.

 

[lori1043]

I have thought about this frequently over the years. heck, I love Disney, I am good at getting discounts for my own vacations, people ask me HOW I do it. Never knew how much time requirement is involved and how much they make and even HOW to do it at all. I have not read this whole thread, but will!!

anyway, on another note- I once used a travel agent to book a room only at ASSp at a greatly discounted rate. I tried to do it myself but Disney said they had no more rooms at that rate. My friend was using this travel agent and so I called him since Disney has some set aside especially for TA's- he knew NOTHING about it at all. He thanked ME for the info and said he'd never heard of these greatly discounted rates for Disney before. This WAS back in 2003 or '05(don't remember which trip)-but it amazed me. I though all the TA's selling Disney would know about these rates FOR thier clients.\
It made me think back then that possibly I could do it. Not in my plans now, but I never rule things out. I DO love to travel though, not just Disney!! Wish it could be more often!

Lori