Will People Pay Me to Plan their WDW Trips?

[lizandjason]

UPDATE: THE ANSWER IS UNANIMOUSLY 'NO'! Thanks for everyone's honesty!!

I'm seriously considering going into business (in addition to my 'day job') to become a WDW-exclusive travel planner. As is the case with many of us on the DISboards, I'm an excellent WDW planner and I have in-depth knowledge that most of the general public does not.

Unlike a travel agent, I won't collect commissions; I'll simply charge a flat rate for a detailed plan complete with dining, transportation routes, hard-ticket items, etc. that a busy family wouldn't have time to do themselves (I'd also book the trip for them, which can be very time-consuming). And, I'd be offering my expertise so their trip fits within their budget and their personal tastes. MUCH more than a travel agent has time to do.

So...for a nominal fee (say, $200-$250), my clients would:
a) ultimately save $$ on their trip because I'd do research on the best hotel/dining options
b) enjoy a better vacation with a well-devised plan

Do you think people would pay me for this service? Is my price range reasonable (or too low even?) Any advice/opinions are appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm seriously considering going into business (in addition to my 'day job') to become a WDW-exclusive travel planner. As is the case with many of us on the DISboards, I'm an excellent WDW planner and I have in-depth knowledge that most of the general public does not.

Unlike a travel agent, I won't collect commissions; I'll simply charge a flat rate for a detailed plan complete with dining, transportation routes, hard-ticket items, etc. that a busy family wouldn't have time to do themselves (I'd also book the trip for them, which can be very time-consuming). And, I'd be offering my expertise so their trip fits within their budget and their personal tastes. MUCH more than a typical travel agent does.

So...for a nominal fee (say, $200-$250), my clients would:
a) ultimately save $$ on their trip because I'd do research on the best hotel/dining options
b) would have a better vacation with a well-devised plan ?

Do you think people would pay me for this service? Is my price range reasonable (or too low even?) Any advice/opinions are appreciated! Thanks so much!

What will you do about errors and ommission insurance?

To use the Disney Travel agent booking site you need an IATA or other agency number.

A good travel agent will help with all the above you mentioned. I know I do.

Is this something you will claim as business income on your taxes? If so then you need to be registered as a business.

 

[DawnCt1]

Not unless they are extremely wealthy and extremely lazy. I think it would be hard to find a "lazy/wealthy combination. Most people enjoy to some degree planning their own vacations, and what is fun for you may not be fun for someone else. I have been planning my friends and relatives Disney vacations for YEARS. I have gotten some very nice coffee mugs, etc as a thank you. A good time had by all has been thank you enough. The most fun I have at WDW is going with someone who has never been before. I see it for the first time again, through their experience.

 

[lizandjason]

What will you do about errors and ommission insurance?

To use the Disney Travel agent booking site you need an IATA or other agency number.

A good travel agent will help with all the above you mentioned. I know I do.

Is this something you will claim as business income on your taxes? If so then you need to be registered as a business.

All excellent points. And I changed the my language in my original post because I don't want to make it seem like I don't respect travel agents; I really do.

 

[marlynnp]

No

This should be a poll, lol. I believe that anyone with that kind of money to waste already has a full-service travel agent they work with.

 

[phorsenuf]

Forgot to add to that a travel agents service is free to the customer, we get paid our commission from the company we book at (ie Disney).
So why would someone pay you for a service they can get elsewhere for free.

 

[Magic Mom]

I wouldn't.

 

[tchrrx]

Well...isn't it a little like paying the $30 or whatever for Tour Guide Mike or paying money for other travel plans? The difference is that yours would cost even more and you would do more of the booking/arrangements for them. Would people pay for it? Sure, some would. Would you make enough to be worth your time? I don't know. If you really think it might work, I guess it couldn't hurt to try it. Like others said though, it may be a hassle to get set up as a small business and keep track of things for tax purposes.

 

[Jennasis]

The service you describe is the FREE service any good travel agent offers. If you are talking about making detailed itinerary as in "do this ride, then this ride then this ride" you'd be charging way too much. Tour Guide Mike and a few others offer this service for far less.

I suggest getting your license and just become a regular travel agent.

 

[KathyTX]

I don't think you'll find that families consider $200 to be a "nominal fee".

As others have pointed out, a good TA offers these services at no cost to the traveler. I just don't see the value proposition here.

And how would you advertise/ find clients for a service with such a limited audience?

 

[lizandjason]

Forgot to add to that a travel agents service is free to the customer, we get paid our commission from the company we book at (ie Disney).
So why would someone pay you for a service they can get elsewhere for free.

Thanks for everyone's insight, it has saved me a lot of time!

 

[phorsenuf]

Why? Because the higher the price of the vacation, the more money you get as an agent. So your best interest is in your own commission. And I bet that if we went toe-to-toe and compared the amount of actual PLANNING and collaboration that I would put into it instead of just making a few suggestions and booking the trip, that a family would save money with me even after they paid me.

Don't worry, this is a big country...I doubt that I'll take any business from you.

Well that was a bit rude. You came on here asking for advice and then don't like the replies so you get poopy.

I really wish that people wouldn't make such broad assumptions about people who work on commission. Like we are out to rip everyone off to pad our own pockets.

And you have no idea what I offer my customers so again, making assumptions.

But hey...go for it and good luck.

 

[phorsenuf]

Thanks for everyone's insight, it has saved me a lot of time!

Ahhh, I see you edited your post while I was replying.

 

[lizandjason]

Well that was a bit rude. You came on here asking for advice and then don't like the replies so you get poopy.

I really wish that people wouldn't make such broad assumptions about people who work on commission. Like we are out to rip everyone off to pad our own pockets.

And you have no idea what I offer my customers so again, making assumptions.

But hey...go for it and good luck.

oooohhh...you grabbed my quote just before I attempted to erase it. It was really rude of me. I actually work on commission too!!
Seriously, wow, I'm very sorry.

 

[Jennasis]

Ahhh, I see you edited your post while I was replying.

Glad somebody else caught that. I thought I'd lost my mind and maybe imagined the original post.

 

[phorsenuf]

Glad somebody else caught that. I thought I'd lost my mind and maybe imagined the original post.

I am queen of the rule, ya know. LOL

 

[lizandjason]

I am queen of the rule, ya know. LOL

You girls are too quick! No time for a novice to take back her snarkiness, geesh! 'Think before hitting reply, think before hitting reply...' this is my new life mantra!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

UPDATE: THE ANSWER IS UNANIMOUSLY 'NO'! Thanks for everyone's honesty!!

I'm seriously considering going into business (in addition to my 'day job') to become a WDW-exclusive travel planner. As is the case with many of us on the DISboards, I'm an excellent WDW planner and I have in-depth knowledge that most of the general public does not.

Unlike a travel agent, I won't collect commissions; I'll simply charge a flat rate for a detailed plan complete with dining, transportation routes, hard-ticket items, etc. that a busy family wouldn't have time to do themselves (I'd also book the trip for them, which can be very time-consuming). And, I'd be offering my expertise so their trip fits within their budget and their personal tastes. MUCH more than a travel agent has time to do.

So...for a nominal fee (say, $200-$250), my clients would:
a) ultimately save $$ on their trip because I'd do research on the best hotel/dining options
b) enjoy a better vacation with a well-devised plan

Do you think people would pay me for this service? Is my price range reasonable (or too low even?) Any advice/opinions are appreciated! Thanks so much!

Will, people pay for a service like this? Yes. Will they pay that amount? No.

I started my own Disney Vacation Planning service a few months ago. I was constantly planning trips for friends and family and they had been telling me for years, that I needed to start my own business, so I finally did. I have a Facebook Fan Page for my Disney Planning, with a few hundered followers, and I've been planning 2 or 3 trips per week. I charge $49.00 to book resort and dining reservations, hard ticket events and I also do custom itineraries for each day they are in the parks. I've had all good feedback so far. I'm a stay-at-home PTO mom, who loves Disney and planning trips to Disney and it's just a nice little side thing.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

no, I would not even pay for ANY trip!! As most people on here, I think most of use consider ourselves to be experts!! And after 31 trips....I know I do!

 

[mdsoccermom]

I see you edited your original post, but let me tell you something to dispel any misconceptions you have about what a good travel agent does.

Yes, travel agents are concerned about commissions. Those are our paychecks. But, we also want to build a loyal customer base - people who will return to us for our services. So, a travel agent will go above and beyond to make sure clients have an outstanding trip. We will do personalized itineraries, dining reservations, recommendations, add-ons, gift baskets, and so much more. We are available to our clients from the time of booking until after they get home, 24/7. A great travel agent does far more than what you are remotely qualified to do.

Let me ask you this, when you came up with this idea, were you willing to put that much energy into people that paid you $250 to plan your trip? When the flight you selected for people was delayed or cancelled, were you prepared to drop everything to find an alternative flight? When their ME docs didn't arrive in time, were you willing to get on the phone with ME (who wouldn't recognize you as a legit travel agent anyway) and sort it out? When something went wrong with their room (and it happens) that you recommended, were you willing to get on the phone and fix it? Or were you just going to get online and book a room through the main Disney website (since you wouldn't have access to the travel agent site) and then leave the rest up to your so called clients?