I am frequently asked by Disney fans about the logistics of how they can become a Disney Specialist Travel Agent. What are the requirements? How do you get started? What are the benefits?

I love my job! I love sharing in the excitement of planning a Disney vacation with others. Nothing makes me happier than getting a text message or email from a client on their vacation with pictures of their children having the time of their lives or hearing about the standout memories of their vacation.

If you have a passion for Disney travel, are outgoing, have good written and verbal communication skills, active in social media, business minded and detail oriented, this may be an option for you as well!  Magical Memories Travel is considering new agent applications for our “Share the Magic” travel consultant bootcamp program. This program will be a 60-90 day (depending on your level of experience with travel sales and marketing) guided training program. The program is designed to help you identify your ideal travel client, identify opportunities to locate and connect with these clients both in person and online and create a marketing plan that establishes you as an expert on Disney vacations. If you would like to be considered for this program, click here for information on how you can join our team and become a Disney travel agent. If you have questions about our program and would like to get more information, please click here to schedule a get acquainte call.

Most  new Disney specialists come to the table with lots of knowledge about Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line and are considered the “go to girl” (or guy!) among their friends and family for Disney vacation planning. They know a lot about the parks and resorts, but not a lot about finding clients beyond their family and friends. We want to make sure that you begin this journey equipped with the knowledge and tools for ensuring long term success as a Disney travel specialist.

Goals of the “Sharing the Magic” bootcamp training program include:

• identifying your ideal client
• strategies for marketing to your ideal client
• establishing an online presence that “brands” you as an expert in Disney travel
• customer service processes that will wow your clients
• plus all of the “how to-s” of working as a travel consultant
• and much more!

What are some things you should consider before starting your new venture:

• How will you find clients?
• Are there local marketing opportunities in your area?
• What are your short term and long term goals?
• What will you do to differentiate yourself from other traditional travel agents? What about other Disney specialists?
• Are you going to further specialize beyond just the Disney niche? For instance, just Disney Cruise Line, a specific resort, just families that meet a certain criteria or category?
• How much time do you devote to this project?

Once you’ve made the decision to move forward with becoming a Disney specialist, one of your first decisions will be deciding what agency you would like to work with. There are a number of Disney specialist agencies available and most will consider new agents either on an ongoing basis or from time to time. As you review their programs consider the following things:

• How long have them been in business?
• Are they a part of Disney’s “EarMarked” program – an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner?
• What type of training and support do they offer?
• What commission split do they offer?
• Do they charge any fees over and about the commission split?
• How many agents do they have? There are pros and cons to being with a large agency and with a very small agency.
• If it is a large agency, if opportunities arise where they are only allowed to have a limited number of agents participating, how do they decide who gets to participate? For instance, for the EarMarked conference on board the Disney Dream this year, each agency was only allowed a limited number of spots.
• Are there minimum sales requirements for agents?
• Will they send documents directly to your clients on your behalf?
• Do they share leads with agents and if so what are the requirements?

With all the things there are to love about this job, it’s not all pixie dust and magic. It isn’t near as easy as most people assume it will be. Keep in mind that travel sales are a commission based business. Commissions are not received and paid out until after the client has traveled. This means you may spend countless hours up front without seeing a financial benefit for some time. Sadly, sometimes it means you put in several hours working with a  potential client customizing a vacation for them yet they book on their own or with another agency in the long run. Another thing to remember is that most travel agents very rarely get to take a truly “work free” vacation. Clients will still have questions or need assistance even while you are on vacation. While a fellow agent can provide back up for you, you are never truly “off duty” 100%. I’ve spent lots of time sitting in a hotel room or stateroom working on someone else’s vacation while my family is off enjoying the parks or cruise ship.

Is it worth it? For me, absolutely! I just feel strongly that these are things that potential agents should consider before taking the leap.

If you are interested in being considered for the “share the magic” training program with Magical Memories Travel, click here for an application! If you have questions, you can also click here to schedule a conference call with me.

If becoming a Disney specialist travel agent is one of your goals, I sincerely wish you well and hope that you find great success in your endeavor!

See ‘ya real soon!

Lori Hardegree
@DisneyMomATL on Twitter
Magical Memories Travel