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Post by shanniebananie on Jan 28, 2016 15:44:36 GMT
I have been a SAHM for several years now (former teacher) and have been thinking of becoming a Disney Travel agent for something to do during the day (though I know I need to be available all hours) but flexible enough to not interfere (too much) with the family. We travel to WDW at least twice a year and have been to Disneyland several times and been on 2 Disney cruises.
I have been reading about becoming an agent on the DisBoards and there is a lot of info there that I am absorbing, but I was wondering if anyone here is also a Disney travel agent. Is this something you enjoy doing? Was it easy to find a REPUTABLE agency? Did you have prior travel agent experience? What is the average number of hours per day or week that you work? Is it difficult to find customers? Any pitfalls or things I should look out for?
I have no illusions that this is gong to be a huge money maker for the family, but anything extra I can bring in will be put towards private high school for my son in 18 months.
Thanks so much!
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,444 
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Jan 28, 2016 16:30:47 GMT
I know here in Ontario you need to be a licensed travel agent in addition to the Disney travel program, and they are TICO certified. So it isn't just a matter of taking the Disney course, you need to have taken a travel & tourism course as well. That could be different in the US though!
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Post by Yubon Peatlejuice on Jan 28, 2016 16:33:16 GMT
Is there anything wrong with getting a real job?
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Post by leslie132 on Jan 28, 2016 22:23:10 GMT
I am not an agent.....but have been approached about becoming one and may go that path in a few years. My friend is who is an agent. She had no experience in being a travel agent. Yet, she is a Disney lover so she jumped at the chance to take the classes. Her first job was with an agency, but that ended rather quickly as she had felt the owner was doing things unfairly. She found a new agency rather quickly and has really found her way. She has had no trouble finding families that want her help. I will say it started by simple FB chatter about her new job adventure. I was one who jumped on and had her plan a trip for us. She now has a very strong reputation and her business has picked up simply because of word of mouth. Her first year she set a goal to "send" x amount of families to Disney and she made it by year end. Last year, she set the same goal and she had her quota in by July. As for hours she puts in. It is part time. Her husband travels extensively, and she has a daughter so she has to be able to set her hours around her schedule. She has not had any problems doing that. Good luck. I say go for it  |
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Jan 28, 2016 22:37:17 GMT
I have a good friend who is. She sounds like you - frequent Disney parks and cruise goer, and just a major traveler to begin with. The only experience she had with travel was planning her own trips. She was approached by another friend who works for a travel agency as they wanted a dedicated Disney person on staff. She would be happy to answer your questions. I can pass along your email to her if you want to message me wih it.
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Post by shanniebananie on Jan 30, 2016 22:20:54 GMT
Thank you for the replies. I am going to go for it!
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Post by lumo on Jan 30, 2016 22:39:19 GMT
I was, but I actually worked for wdw in Orlando, so I don't have a lot of info about being an independent agent. Good luck |
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Post by scrapsuzy on Jan 31, 2016 10:04:03 GMT
Is there anything wrong with getting a real job?
And why would you not consider this a real job? Define real.
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