How do I get started?

[mindync]

Ok Dis family, I have searched the net and simply become even more confused so I'm here for direction and advice from the smartest Disney crew I know!

I'm a teacher in "real life" but I'd really love to plan Disney vacations as a "hobby business." I'm not looking to do this full time or try to make it my sole income by any means. I just love to plan Disney vacations for friends and family but since I'm not a real agent, I don't earn any type of compensation.

How do I go about earning whatever I need to earn in order to take the Disney College of Knowledge course and receive commission on Disney trips that I plan? My thoughts are that any money I make can go back into our own Disney fund.

Has anyone done this? Is it worth it? Where do I begin??

 

[Feralpeg]

There was another thread on this same subject awhile back. It wasn't very encouraging. In order to take the Disney College of Knowledge test to become a Disney Travel Specialist, you'll need to be a registered, licensed travel agent or work for a host travel agent company. You'll need their number to log in. Once you're able to log in to their site, Disney has information you can study before taking the test. I didn't find it to be terribly difficult. Universal's test was much harder than Disney's test.

The problem with your approach is on how you intend to make money. Most people will not be willing to pay you to do this when they can go to a travel agent and get the same service for free. Travel agents make their money from the companies where they book travel. Their clients pay them nothing.

Finding people willing to work with you is very hard. I've been working with a host travel company for several months and have only booked one trip. I've given information to several people, but only one has booked anything.

If you want to go the travel agent route, do a search here on the DIS. There have been several informative threads about this subject.

Good luck!

 

[Mickeyistheman]

As a Travel Agent for the past 17 years and a Diser for many years on here. I have seen it so many times that people just want to "plan their friends Disney Trips for fun"

It is a job and takes alot of time and alot of work. I LOVE doing it myself but there are many times it is not fulfilling and my friends go elsewhere, even though they know I have been over 30 times and go at least once a year for 8 days (used to go at least twice a year when I had an annual pass).

You will NOT make enough money to compensate for your time. You will have to spend more money and unless you really are 100% sure you have your own customer base, but keep in mind you only make a very small percentage.

You make book a trip for a famil of 5 for $3000 and you will only recieve maybe $130 thats it and that is before the host agency or whomever takes their cut. So you REALLY need to ask yourself is this where you want to make extra money and will it be enough for what you are looking for?

When I started in this business it was great and wonderful and I was so very fortunate to have a great boss and leader and team player that was able to train me and put in the right direction.

The travel business nowadays is not what is used to be and keeping a customer is very difficult and it is very draining. It is very cut throat as well. Trust me I am going through some very big and difficult changes right now in my office. The stress level is way to high. I come on here and it helps because everyone always has good advice.

I really do wish you luck, but this "planning" that you talk about is not what you think. It isn't always fun and people don't care and don't have the loyalty you "think" they have. I also have a rule NEVER EVER EVER EVER, BOOK your friends and family. They are the most difficult customers to deal with. Trust me. You think oh yeah they will help me out and book with me....yeah right.

But seriously, I do hope you read this and truly truly think about it before you go forward. The money IS NOT there, I wish it was.

Good Luck and if you want to PM me with other questions that I may not be able to answer on here please feel free. I love my job, very stressful but I love it.