Becoming a Disney Travel Agent / Vacation Planner

[Stacya021]

Hi, I have recently decided that I want to become a travel agent that specializes in selling Disney Vacations. I am a stay at home mom and would like to ultimately work out of my home. Can anyone recommend where I should start? I have done some research and would like some feedback I found three companies that are willing to train to become an agent and then specialize in selling Disney Vacations....but I am not sure how to choose just one? Please help! Thank you

 

[luvlumpy]

I have seen several threads discussing this topic before. Try a search and you may get some answers. Hope this helps!

 

[harleyquinn]

Maybe you should post the 3 agencies you are interested in?

I became one through a recommendation from a friend. Her agency was hiring and she recommended me.

I know you should never pay an agency to 'train' you and then take part of your commission.

 

[Stacya021]

Thank you.....

Here are the companies I filled out Applications online for

1) Mouse Counselors
2) Travel with the Magic
3) Academy Travel
4) Dream Come True vacations

If anyone has any feedback on any of these...I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[Seahunt]

I have seen several threads discussing this topic before. Try a search and you may get some answers. Hope this helps!

Here is a link to a good one with lots of info:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2592153

And JMO one of the most honest posts there:

Ok. I am a home based travel agent. I specialize in family travel, and am not a Disney exclusive agent, though Disney is the bulk of what I do these days.

It is NOT as easy as you may think. Just because you like to plan trips for yourself, does not mean that it is easy to do for everyone else. Before I started, I took a travel course for 6 months. Then I signed up with a host agency (I'm too small right now to be on my own totally, though there are ways to do it). Then I spent money setting up my business and getting incorporated. Then I took more supplier training, including the College of Disney Knowledge. Only then did I feel remotely comfortable to start marketing myself.

When you are a GOOD travel agent, you have to be on call 24/7 for your clients. Your client's flights delayed or cancelled due to weather? YOU have to be ready to drop everything to help them. Something wrong with their room? YOU have to be ready to drop everything to help them. It's far more than booking a room and making some ADRs. When you are travel agent, you have to be able to qualify them and plan a trip around THEIR wants and needs, not yours. Can you put aside your personal notions of what a Disney vacation entails to plan the perfect vacation for your client?

You must be prepared to constantly engage in professional development. Taking refresher courses through Disney or any other supplier, is an ongoing process. When I'm not working on a client, I'm taking a course, reading trade journals, learning how to market myself. You need to be prepared to do all of that. I also send out birthday cards to clients, welcome home postcards, etc. When I see a special I think someone will enjoy, I send it to them. You need to put effort into keeping yourself on someone's radar.

If you are prepared to WORK, then go for it. But, please, don't go for it if you are under some impression that it's all pixie dust and magic.

I would also add to be sure and carry PLENTY of E&O (Errors and Omissions) Insurance, so that if you make a mistake on a reservation, or are accused of doing so, and are sued, you won't lose big $$$$.

 

[sweet angel]

Thank you.....

Here are the companies I filled out Applications online for

1) Mouse Counselors
2) Travel with the Magic
3) Academy Travel
4) Dream Come True vacations

If anyone has any feedback on any of these...I would greatly appreciate it!

Just saw this post. I sure hope you didn't go with #3 because they are awful. Happy to take your money and provide nothing: no support, no training, no up-to-date website, no meetings, very little communication.

 

[minnie1012]

My friend works for ************** and is very happy with them.

I also wanted to be one and looked into it but my friend travels to Disney at least 4 times a year. I would love to be able to do that but with my husband's work schedule its just not feasible for me to be away 4 times a year. Just something else to think about.

 

[AnimalKingdomDVC]

Yah, I worked for one mentioned. It's not all its cracked up to be....for the first few, they help with leads. From there on you need to find your own. Not as easy as its sounds.
I am in school to get my BS in travel and tourism and work for a real company.
I wasted a lot of time and money, even thou I booked very high end trips.
Not sure that would be worth your time. Just sayin

 

[wgeo]

You know when something clicks and you just know it is right? That's what I feel when I think about being a travel agent. I have read all of the countless threads that list all of the "down-sides" to being an agent, and they don't faze me. I want to work full-time and know that being a sales person and trying to grow a business takes a lot fo time and effort, don't have a problem answering emails or phone calls 24/7 (my DH does that for his job and we are very used to that around here), I've worked from home for years and I have a passion for Disney. The problem? I don't have enough actual travel experience to Disney itself! What a problem! I'm seriously contemplating and discussing with my DH whether I should look into some solo trips to get more on-site time and experience. Unfortunately that makes for a lot of up-front costs for something that will take quite a while to pay off.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I looked into this career path, but ultimately decided to train as a resort agent. I've been doing it for a couple of months and though the income is not as much as possible TA commission it is steady income without the sales pressure.

 

[minnie1012]

I looked into this career path, but ultimately decided to train as a resort agent. I've been doing it for a couple of months and though the income is not as much as possible TA commission it is steady income without the sales pressure.

Is this something you do from home?

 

[diamondpixienc]

Is this something you do from home?

Never heard of a Resort Agent, sounds interesting. Can you give a little more info?