I am considering a new profession...Disney Travel Agent...Any help or advice??

[thelionqueen]

Hi everyone, I had read awhile back about a program Disney offers to those seeking to start/join to be a Disney Travel Agent.

I have been booking travel with my company for over 17 years and booking all my families and friends Disney trips for over 10 years. I have a lot of travel knowledge (Disney escpecially), and with my love of Disney, think this would be a viable opportunity for me to at least try.

I read before that there is a site or someone to contact regarding what needs to be done to be "approved" by Disney. If anyone can shed light for me on this or any other ideas, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[MsDisney23]

I would also like to know about this!

BUMP

 

[Tammi67]

Me too.

 

[scanne]

Me three!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Check here, may be some help.........

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/portal/site/dta-domestic/

 

[dvcgirl]

Personally, I would do a *ton* of research into this before leaving your current job and changing careers. The US Labor Department has this to say about the travel agent profession...

"Employment of travel agents is expected to decline through 2014. Most openings will occur as experienced agents transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. Because of the projected decline in employment and the fact that a number of people are attracted by the travel benefits associated with this occupation, keen competition for jobs is expected. Travel agents who specialize and can utilize the Internet to reduce their costs and better compete with other travel suppliers should have the best chance for success."

Keep in mind that the vast majority of people no longer use travel agents due to the fact that they can book it online themselves from their own home computer. I read an article recently that even the cruiselines are looking more and more to get away from paying commissions. And again, according to the US Department of Labor, the top ten percent in this industry make somewhere over $44,000 a year....90% make less than that.

 

[safetymom]

Be prepared to do a lot of work and not a lot of money. You will need more than just Disney knowledge to get started as a travel agent.

Also be prepared that lots of people will come to you for information. You will do research and give the best and they will go elsewhere or book it themselves. People today don't have loyalties to agents like they used to. People when planning a trip frequently don't compare apples to apples and go with what looks like the best price.

I have my degree in travel and tourism and am not an agent because I could make more money doing other things. It is fun helping to plan peoples trips but if you are looking for a steady pay check think long and hard before you become a travel agent. You realize that you don't get paid until after they take the trip?

If you are part of an agency you can sign up and take the Disney College of Knowledge. It is an informative set of lessons.

If you could find an agency that you could work part time you might get a feel for whether you want to do this.

 

[Chicago526]

I'm a corporate TA with 9 years experiance and I'm looking to re-train for another career. I don't know how much longer I'll have my curent job, and while I'm confident I could find another, it's just to uncertain of a profession for me. DH and I want to start a family and I don't want to be looking over my shoulder all the time, wondering when the next terrorist attack or SARS outbreak will finally doom the travel agent industry for good.

But, for a side job or a way for a stay-at-home parent to make a little extra income, it's not a bad deal. But keep in mind that travel benfits like discounts are only offered to full time agents that have either an IATAN or CLIA card to prove they are an agent. And the discounts aren't so hot anymore.

 

[thelionqueen]

Thanks for all the great info! I am a mortgage broker, part-time from home, and this would be a supplemental part-time idea.

I have realized that the travel agent industry seems to be declining, but thought for a low start up it would be worth me checking into.

Thanks for all the input, any other ideas would be great!!

 

[kbkids]

I'm glad you posted this so I can show it to DH. I help friends book Disney vacations all the time, and each time, everyone has said, "You know, you really should do this for a living." Scary thing - one girl went so far as to say that she "fired" her travel agent because I knew more about Disney than she did. DH has been driving me nuts to really look into doing it as a job. I told him that the money wasn't there, and for as little as I would be doing it, it wasn't worth it. I just prefer to keep getting the little gifts that everyone brings back for me! He keeps insisting that I could make good money at it, so now I've got more proof that I really wouldn't.

 

[kbkids]

Just out of curiosity, I ran the numbers. I've got an at-home business right now (transcription) that I work about 8-10 hours a week and bring in $700 a month. I guess I'm just trying to get my DH to understand that it would make more sense for me to increase those hours then to try to add on something else. That's all I was getting at. Plus, I think if it became a "job," it wouldn't be nearly as exciting for me.

 

[kbkids]

Oh, I give up!! Sent you a PM

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Hi!

Not sure how relevant my reply is?.

I am a full time "disenchanted" Travel Agent in the UK, and entered the travel industry 5 years ago. The reason being I felt I could bring so much "Disney" information to clients. As I work in a travel agency based in a shopping centre (mall) I spend most of my day selling a broad range of products including:

City Breaks - Paris, Rome, Barcelona Prague, New York etc
Cruises Caribbean and Mediterranean
European Beach holidays - Spain, Italy, Bulgaria etc.
US Multi Centre - San francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles etc
Ski

I, on average have a "Florida/Disney" enquiry once every 10-12 days. We have a similar website in the UK www.disneytravelagents.co.uk but, this site is solely provided for UK travel agents, containing important selling tools, new products, park updates. Not sure if this is the same in the US.

As a career move, i wouldn't reccommend it as the margins you work with are very tight.

For example home-workers, can only usually make around $25 commission on a $1000 booking, and the income isn't steady

I love meeting new clients and dealing with existing ones, but unfortunately so many people are now booking themselves, on-line etc.

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Hi there,

Most home workers in the UK work for a travel agent, but from home. The Travel Agency will make between 10-15% commision, the agency then pays the homeworker 25% of the commission made

i.e. Booking value $1000
travel agency's commision at 10% on this is $100
The Agency then pays the homeworks 25% of this which is $25

Time to go back into graphic design the profession I started off in!!!

So much for trying to bring a little "disneymagic" to peoples lives!!!

 

[binny]

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


check out this thread. LOTS of good advice form both people who want to get into the business and people who are in the business.


I personally love it most of the time. I work from home and am my own boss. The money isnt great but I enjoy it.

Right now though Im suffering a major case of burnout this isnt a job for the faint hearted or anyone prone to panic attacks LOL


I have the "4 AM crazies" a lot.


I dont just do Disney though I sell a lot of cruises ( my background is with cruiselines) and Hawaii.


You have to have a good accountant as well. That is essential in this business. Look into what you need to be a "seller of travel" in your State.



Holy crud! $25/$1000. Not here!! I dont know why you would for that price! Your time is worth WAY more than that!!!

 

[tbelfonti]

The other thing to remember is that you are not paid until after the client returns. So if you book someone today for December, you may not see that money until next year.

I am a TA on the side. I LOVE it. It provides me with some money toward our trips. But I could never afford to quit my "day job" and do this full time - I couldn't support my family on this.