Disney Vacation Planning as a job?

[highwayg]

Is there any such thing as being a "helper" for planning WDW trips? A consultant type thing where people would pay for planning of the intricacies that only come with a Disney trip

 

[kaligal]

Is there any such thing as being a "helper" for planning WDW trips? A consultant type thing where people would pay for planning of the intricacies that only come with a Disney trip

A lot of people ask that.

You have two basic groups - those who want to plan and schedule...and those who don't.

The planners usually want to do most it themselves. There are books, Internet sites and travel agents who specialize in Disney to help them.

The non-planners don't care much about planning and certainly not enough to pay someone for something they don't much want.

Of course, there are exceptions. But I doubt there is enough money to be made from those exceptions to make it worth doing.

 

[chrisw127]

The vast majority of Disney travel planners do not charge a fee to make ADRs, reservations for special events, or to answer questions and provide itineraries. In fact, many agencies are doing the exact opposite and offering gift cards and on board credits in return for your business. Our fee comes in the form of our commission.

The first thing I tell anyone who's planning to use a travel agent is that if there's a fee involved, find another agency.

 

[PrincessCooper's Mom]

I would love to do this but unsure of where to start and what kind of money is needed to start. I have been helping friends plan trips but would love to make some money for the Disney fund doing this.

Would anybody that has started doing this mind sharing what type of start up costs you had and how much a commission normally runs?

If anyone has any helpful hints or suggestions on where to start please PM me with that information.

 

[pixistix]

I became a travel agent because of my love of Disney and I too really just wanted to plan Disney vacations. But along the way I learned other destinations too and I enjoy planning those trips as well. I work for a well known company and we are busy. But the competition for people's business is still tough. Everyone looks online and gets stuck on prices the find on the Internet. But there is still a lot of people that book with an agency because they want someone to answer their questions, recommend restaurants and make dining reservations. I love my job.....best one I ever had. But I would never try to branch out on my own to sell Disney vacations even though I write a Disney blog for a local paper, have a website, do the whole Twitter thing and am known as the Disney Diva in my company. Just too hard to build the business!

 

[princessh]

Have anyone who is an agent currently left their agency to open up their own agency?

I have been an agent for a while and am ready to open my own agency?

I have my website being created, the name, and applied for my CLIA card.

Any information you have would be wonderful.

Thank you!!

 

[TweedleMe]

Just to follow up on this thread. I am currently talking with 4 agencies, but I am not exactly sure how to pick the right one. I don't want to get scammed, and I am very new to this...If anyone that has experience could PM me and help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[TrueEeyore]

Just to follow up on this thread. I am currently talking with 4 agencies, but I am not exactly sure how to pick the right one. I don't want to get scammed, and I am very new to this...If anyone that has experience could PM me and help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

I would say just Google the agencies, look to see if they are accredited (better business bureau) and/or if they are authorized Disney vacation planners. If you want to PM me the agencies, I can help you out if I can.

 

[gigi1313]

Thanks for all the responses! Very encouraging...
I really would like this as a job and possibly even a career. I have been to WDW over 17 times not including when I worked there for 5 months. I have eaten at almost all the restaurants and stayed at almost all the hotels. I'm probably going to apply to several sites and if none of those work maybe think about starting my own, I could even start it with some people at DIS...I really wouldn't charge near as much as travel agents and stuff charge because I would even do it for free for people I know.

How many official authorized Disney vacation planners are there?

JFTR, most authorized Disney vacation planners, particularly those with EarMarked agencies (such as me) do not charge for their services... the prices to the client is the same or less expensive than booking directly through Disney, as Disney pays the agencies a commission on what they book... so it costs the clients nothing to work with an agent