How to Become a Disney Travel Agent [Tips from Existing Travel Agents]
We get these questions all the time.
How do I become a Disney Travel Agent?
You are not technically a Disney Travel Agent, you are a travel consultant that offers Disney vacations. But yes, you can become a travel consultant and then book Disney Destinations like Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Aulani as well as National Geographic Tours.
I know it can be confusing. Let’s start with “How do I become a Disney Travel Agent”?
What you really need to know is you are not a travel agent working for Disney. You are a travel agent “Planner” with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency, like us here at Pixie Vacations. So you would be a travel planner that specializes in Disney vacations.
Lisa and Steve are both past Disney cast members that worked at Walt Disney World. In 2010 we opened Pixie Vacations. We are an EarMarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner agency and have this designation because of our amazing Pixie Vacations Disney Travel Planners. All of our travel planners have completed the Disney College of Knowledge and if you become a travel planner with us we will get you signed up with access to the Disney College of Knowledge training courses. There is no cost for these courses and the Disney College of Knowledge is all online. This is not like a paid Disney College. It’s fun and fairly quickly you can learn all about selling Disney destinations.
We also work with you at Pixie Vacations of how to sell Disney vacations, marketing, on site training opportunities and as you grow we are happy to help you learn new travel destinations, cruise lines and all inclusive resorts. But Disney is a great place to start your travel planner career and not get overwhelmed with selling everything to everyone.
If you are looking for information on how to become a Travel Agent that sells Disney vacations, it can be confused on how to get started planning Disney vacations as an agent. We would like to help you understand what it takes to be a travel agent that specializes in planning Disney Vacations here at Pixie Vacations and we welcome inquiries at any time.
Before we take on new travel advisors we would like you to know what our preliminary requirements are before you will be considered. If you feel that you qualify and these all check out, please write back to hear from us regarding the next step. Also we have put together a complete guide to becoming a travel agent. This free guide should be extremely helpful so you understand what a travel agent does, how to pick a travel agency, and how to be a great travel agent. You can read the guide to being a travel agent here.
We feel it’s important to be experienced in sales in general.
Are you an influencer?
Do people look to you for advice?
Are you self motivated?
What you need to be a “Travel Agent”
- We like to start new Pixies, at Pixie Vacations with one main vacation destination so you don’t get overwhelmed. For example if you know Disney World then that would be a good starting point to learn about booking Disney World Vacation packages. We also are looking for people that want to learn Universe Orlando Resort, Cruise Lines, Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, All- Inclusive resorts, etc. Let us know what you would be good at.
- We have a detailed training course for being a Pixie here at Pixie Vacations and also training on Disney Destinations, Universal Orlando Resort, All Inclusive Resorts, Cruises, etc. But it’s good to have some experience and having stayed at the resorts you want to sell. We also have on-site training, Agent trips, online vendor training and more.
- In addition to general sales experience, you must be a US citizen and have no criminal record.
- As a travel specialist of Pixie Vacations, you are representing the whole company. We ask that you are kind and friendly, while at the same time, you have to be professional and serious. For some, this is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, and they have saved for a long time to do it.
- To be a vacation planner with Pixie Vacations you must have excellent verbal and written skills. You must be organized and have excellent computer skills. You need your own resources to do your Disney travel planner job. A PC, Internet access, a mobile phone are needed of course so you can do your job as a Disney travel planner.
- You will have to determine what will make the best vacation for your clients. The perfect Disney get-away for you might not be the best for your client. You will have to listen to the clients’ wants and needs (and budget), and then make the best recommendations based on what you learn.
- You have to have a good sales personality. Although most clients are eager to book a vacation, you still have to be a ‘salesman.’ You need connections and circles with contacts.
- IMPORTANT: You need a place to draw from and build your business. You can’t just put an ad in the community paper, sit back, and watch the leads roll in. You need a marketing plan, funds and the drive to execute on your goal to be a successful travel agent. We will help you learn Disney destinations, but you need to be active in communities and social circles in your community so you have a group of people that already know you and that will plan their vacation with you.
- Being a Pixie Vacations Disney travel agent takes a lot of work, and we expect sales. We want to see you booking an average of one vacation per month, only to increase with time. This is not a position for the hobbyist.
- Think about your sales action plan. How will you get in front of people to sell vacation experiences?
- If you want to just sell Disney vacations that is fine, but clients will want to vacation at other destinations. We have training on all cruise lines, All-Inclusive Resorts, Universal Orlando Resort, River Cruises, and more. Once you get a client you want to keep them.
- Who is usually successful at being a Pixie:People that are known in their community.
People that are members of different organizations where they meet families and others that want to travel. (Schools, Churches, Special Interest Groups, Hobby Groups, etc.)
Outgoing people that work hard to let friends, families, and everyone they know, know about vacation deals and how booking with them can help them with their vacation.
People that get out of their comfort zones and work hard to promote travel in person, on social media, at events, etc.
This post is not meant to discourage you, but we get hundreds of requests each year at Pixie Vacations for Disney focused travel agent positions.
If you have what it takes please contact us.
Lisa Griswold