Do your friends come to you to help them plan their Disney World vacations? Do you chuckle when someone tries to pick up a map when you visit Magic Kingdom together? Are you obsessed with the idea of Disney World and already planning your next magical vacation before the Magical Express, er, I mean Mears Transportation (that’s gonna take some time to get used to) drops you back off at the airport? If so, you might make the perfect Disney travel agent!
If you’ve been thinking of swapping your hat for a set of Mickey Ears, we have some helpful tips. Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a Disney travel agent in 2022:
Why Are Disney Travel Agents Important in Today’s Digital Age?
Disney travel agents are a different kind of breed because they have pixie dust in their veins. Like many Disney fans, being able to visit the website, snag hard-to-get dining reservations, and find out what new and exciting experiences are coming to the parks is enjoyable, but for first-timer Disneygoers, the process can be incredibly overwhelming.
Even though the ease of booking everything yourself online sounds simple, Disney offers so much that it can leave vacationers with an overwhelming sense of option paralysis, especially if they’re not sure what will be appropriate for their child’s age or any special accommodations they may need. Disney travel agents will be able to provide you with a customized itinerary to make the booking and experience of your Walt Disney World vacation as simple as possible.
Furthermore, your authorized Disney travel agent will be able to seek out the best promotions to help reduce the cost of your Disney World vacation.
Read more: Disney World Discounts
How to Become a Travel Agent for Disney World
Your first step will be to go to Google to find an authorized travel agent who works specifically with Walt Disney World or any of their other properties. When you’ve found the company, you’ll want to read their “About Us” section to find out if they are an authorized Disney Vacation Planner. This is important because as an authorized Disney travel agent, you will be able to contact the parks on your client’s behalf in the event of any changes. This is necessary, especially in today’s pandemic world, since airline cancellations and travel restrictions can occur at a moment’s notice.
Once you’ve found a travel company you want to work with, you’ll have to find out if you meet the requirements. Since you’ll be planning Disney World vacations, many companies require applicants to hold sufficient knowledge of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. Furthermore, you may be required to have traveled to one of these destinations or taken a Disney Cruise.
Depending on the company, you may be required to have visited the Disney theme parks and stayed on Disney property a certain number of times. All of this information can be found on the company’s website where you would apply to become an authorized Disney travel agent.
What Skills Do I Need to Become a Disney Travel Agent?
Aside from your love of all things Disney, travel agents must be able to work independently at home. This is a bit more common nowadays since so many people transitioned to remote employment over the past two years.
However, working remotely requires discipline and self-regulation. If you want to become a Disney travel agent but are worried about working from home, there are a few tips to make doing so easier:
- Create a routine. Wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This will help you stick to a schedule, which will ultimately make you more productive.
- Set up designated work hours where you can minimize distractions and interruptions.
- Don’t forget to stand up and stretch. At the office, you’re constantly getting up to speak to other co-workers or visit the breakroom. At home, you don’t have these options, so you have to make a concentrated effort to move your body as often as possible.
- If you can, open your windows to get some fresh air and sunshine. This will keep you more alert.
- Make a playlist – anything Disney-related will work just fine!
- Add some greenery to your desk or workspace.
When you’re working from home as a Disney travel agent, it’s important to find ways you can keep your body active so you can stay productive. However, as many of us Disney fans can attest to, doing something you love makes work feel a lot less like “work.”
Read more: Small Ways to Add Disney to your Home
In addition to being able to work from home, Disney travel agents will need to be able to use a computer efficiently, as well as have a friendly demeanor to work with customers. As with every job, you never know who you may be dealing with on the other end or what frustrations or concerns they’re facing, so having customer service skills is an absolute must. Disney travel agents must also have sufficient social media skills to be able to share promotions and client testimonies to either their personal or company Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter accounts. Likewise, they should be able to successfully engage with customers if they are contacted via direct message.
What Will I Need to Get Started?
If all of that sounds good, you’ll need to possess a few things at home to get started. Make sure you have access to a dedicated phone line to speak to customers and to call Disney when needed. You should also own a desktop computer or laptop to be able to get your work done, as well as have access to basic office supplies such as file folders, pens, notepads, planners, printers, and Wi-Fi access.
What Does a Disney Travel Agent Do?
A Disney travel agent will be able to help you with every step of your Disney World vacation from start to finish. This includes getting your park tickets, booking ground transportation after you fly into the Orlando International Airport (MCO), obtaining dining reservations and hotel reservations, and even stroller/wheelchair rentals if someone in your party needs them. While many VIP tours aren’t currently in operation due to the pandemic, a Disney travel agent will be able to book these reservations, as well, when they return.
Best of all, a Disney travel agent can scour the web to find the best promotions and discounts for their clients. Disney often releases promotions throughout the year, including up to 25% off room-only discounts, military discounts, Florida-resident discounts, free dining, and Play, Stay, Dine, and Save discounts. These are always announced on Disney’s website.
Furthermore, if you find a better promotion for your clients, you can go back into the system to apply the new discount, making sure your clients are always getting the best rate.
What Kind of Benefits Do Disney Travel Agents Get?
Again, this will vary on the company, however, Magical Travel, for example (who, disclosure, we partner with), offers some pretty magical benefits such as:
- Discounts for personal travel
- Insurance coverage to cover errors and omissions
- Online and onsite training
- Marketing materials to help build your business
- A private website dedicated to travel agents with up-to-date information
- Private Facebook group to connect with other travel agents
- Competitive commission rates
- A personal toll-free number with your own extension to make it easier to connect with clients
Many authorized Disney travel companies do everything they can to set their travel agents up for success at the onset. This helps take the guesswork and intimidation of starting a new career or side hustle as a Disney travel agent.
How Do Disney Travel Agents Get Paid?
Disney travel agents work completely on commission, meaning you will earn money based on how many vacations are booked. So, for example, if your travel agency books a magical vacation, you’ll get a percentage of the commission they earned through the booking. This rate will vary depending on the company, so it’s always recommended to ask these types of questions early on so you know what to expect.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been thinking of becoming a Disney travel agent, you should do it. As we enter a new year, it’s a great time to take a chance and pursue your dreams. As a Disney travel agent, you’ll be able to incorporate Disney magic every single day. Plus, 2022 is all about the side hustle!
Are you a Disney travel agent? If so, leave some tips for those who are interested in joining below. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for Disney tips and tricks.
As a self-proclaimed Mouseketeer, Courtney Dercqu is a fan of all things Disney. Between decorating her desk with souvenirs from the park, to making unique mouse ears and having a dedicated Disney Instagram, Courtney is a true believer in the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation. Having had more than 200 articles published on various content, Courtney’s excited to share her knowledge and experience with everyone! Be sure to follow her on Instagram for all the Disney magic.