If you’re a fan of Disney, you know that the company offers some of the best travel packages in the world. Whether it’s a cruise to the Bahamas or a stay at a theme park resort, these packages offer the perfect blend of magic and amenities. So, becoming a Disney travel agent can be like a dream come true, especially if you like the idea of helping individuals, couples, and families book their next vacation.
But what if you don’t have any experience? Fortunately, that’s not a problem. When you join Boardwalk Travel Agency, becoming a Disney travel agent is much easier (and more affordable) than you might realize. So, let’s break down the steps to starting this lucrative career.
What is a Disney Travel Agent?
A Disney travel agent is someone who books Disney vacation packages for their clients. These packages can include hotel stays, cruises, and theme park passes, depending on the type of vacation the client wants.
As a Disney travel agent, you’ll connect with Disney-owned properties to book single or multi-night stays. You may also try to create customized vacation packages where clients will stay off-site and visit parks or attractions at their leisure.
Typically, being a Disney travel agent means you only book these packages exclusively. However, when you sign up with Boardwalk Travel, you’ll become an independent agent, meaning you can work with any hotels or resort properties, including those not owned by Disney.
Perks of Being a Disney Travel Agent
Because Disney vacations are so desirable, demand is always high. So, becoming a Disney travel agent means it’ll be easier to find clients, especially if you promote your services on family-friendly pages or websites.
Another perk is that you can access discounted packages for yourself, your friends, and your family members. Since you can leverage these discounts to help your clients book their perfect vacation, you can use them for your next trip, too. Plus, it’s always best to know as much about each destination so you can ensure your clients know what to expect when booking.
How to Become a Disney Travel Agent With No Experience
If the idea of building curated Disney vacations sounds appealing, you’re likely wondering how you can get started. Fortunately, you don’t need a formal education nor do you have to pay for expensive licenses and certifications. Becoming a travel agent is much easier than you would expect, especially when you work with a company like Boardwalk Travel Agency.
Here are the basic steps it takes to become a Disney travel agent with no experience.
Step One: Join Boardwalk Travel
When working with most travel agencies, you have to go through an extensive training program, and you’re only allowed to book through their software. You also must meet monthly quotas, which can add a lot of pressure to the overall experience. To top it all off, you often have to pay monthly fees to use the software and access their support team.
Fortunately, Boardwalk Travel doesn’t make you jump through endless hoops to start the career of your dreams. Instead, you pay a one-time fee and get access to tons of training, support, and booking options. The agency helps motivated individuals reach their goals with access to these tools.
Best of all, because you’re only paying a one-time fee, there’s no pressure to start selling right away. You can sign up with Boardwalk Travel today and learn the ropes before booking any vacations. Then, as you build experience, you can expand your business and start earning more money.
Step Two: Get Trained on Booking Disney Vacations
The best way to learn how to become a Disney travel agent with no experience is to get trained by someone who has experience in the field. Boardwalk Travel offers a robust and comprehensive training program where you can learn the basics of being a travel agent and then incorporate Disney-specific elements. For example, you’ll learn how to find and book Disney packages, as well as what these vacations entail so you can relay that information to your clients.
Because you’ll become an independent travel agent, the training moves at your pace. If you’re jumping in with both feet, you may finish the training in a couple of weeks. However, if becoming a travel agent is more of a side hustle, you can take as long as you want. Remember, there are no monthly fees, so you can take your time if necessary.
Step Three: Start With One or Two Bookings
Because you want to learn how to become a Disney travel agent with no experience, you don’t want to attract too many clients until you have a couple of bookings under your belt. This way, you can navigate through any challenges or obstacles and seek support if you have any issues. When there are multiple clients trying to use your services simultaneously, the process can get overwhelming.
If possible, try to work with friends or family members as your first clients. Then, you can learn the ropes without as much pressure to close the sale. Also, if you make any mistakes along the way, you don’t have to worry about losing your client in the process.
Once you have a few bookings done, then you can move on to the next step whenever you feel comfortable enough to do so.
Step Four: Start Promoting Your Services
Now that you’ve learned the basics and done a few bookings, you’re ready to start finding and working with more clients. Depending on your budget, you can either build a website or just create a few social media pages. As a rule, having a website makes you look more professional, and it instills confidence in your customers. However, you can focus on closing sales first and then expanding your marketing materials as you go.
Here are some tips on how to stand out against other, more experienced travel agents:
- Pay Attention to the Competition – Check out some other travel agency sites and see what kinds of services they offer. As an independent agent, you won’t have the same infrastructure, but you can deliver more personalized attention. Figure out your unique pitch and incorporate it into your promotional posts.
- Get Testimonials – If you book a few vacations with people who love your work, get them to submit a formal testimonial. Social proof can go a long way toward cementing your status as a high-quality travel agent.
- Share Your Enthusiasm – A big part of becoming a travel agent is the ability to help clients find their perfect vacation. So, it’s much more than a job—it’s your passion. Make sure to share that passion when promoting your services or speaking to potential clients. When they see how excited you are about booking their vacation, they’re more likely to close the deal.
Step Five: Get Certified and Licensed
Although certification isn’t necessary to become a travel agent, it’s always a good idea to go above and beyond, especially when you’re learning how to become a Disney travel agent with no experience. Licenses and certifications show that you’re serious about your career and that you’ve invested extra time and energy into being the best agent possible.
Beyond travel-specific certifications, there are some business-related licenses as well. For example, you’ll need to set up a business entity and obtain a reseller’s license. This license is required because you’re selling packages from a third-party vendor. So, without this document, the state could shut you down.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with booking some vacations for family and friends. Only once you’re ready to take the plunge and start your official business do you need to submit paperwork. Fortunately, almost everything can be handled online for maximum convenience.
What Does it Take to Be a Successful Disney Travel Agent?
Knowing the steps to becoming a travel agent is one thing, but succeeding at this job takes perseverance and skills. While you can learn the fundamental skills, there are a few other traits you should possess to ensure you thrive in this career.
A Love of Disney
Disney vacations are far different from any other type of trip your client could take. The Disney Corporation takes great care in providing a magical experience, particularly for younger guests.
Again, showing enthusiasm for your work is infectious and can make all the difference between closing or losing a sale. You need to be able to sell the experience before your client ever steps foot on a plane, cruise ship, or Disney property. If you’re not a huge fan of Disney, you’ll struggle to see the bigger picture.
A Specialized Focus
Technically, as a Disney travel agent, you can book resort stays, theme park visits, and cruise ship vacations. However, it’s often better to narrow your attention to one specific niche. While you can expand your offerings as you build a client base, staying focused allows you to hone in on the customers you want.
For example, maybe you love cruising and want to book Disney cruise packages. By specializing in these types of trips, you can devote most of your time to learning more about them. For example, you can familiarize yourself with the different ship amenities, destinations, and food options on board. With so many cruises available (including day trips), there’s a lot of information to process. So, if you’re juggling details about all types of Disney properties, it can get overwhelming.
Intimate Knowledge of Vacation Packages
One of the best ways to distinguish yourself as a Disney travel agent is to put yourself in your client’s shoes. Anyone can read a sales pitch and relay the same words to a potential customer. For you to succeed and thrive, you should dive deeper and add value to your pitches.
For example, if you’re booking Disneyland resort packages, you can look into the various perks and benefits. Guests at the resort get to go into the park early and leave late (on select dates), and they can take Disney transportation to and from the park. That level of convenience is incredible, particularly if your clients are staying in the area for multiple days.
By providing insider knowledge and insight, you can help your clients have the best vacation possible. You must also consider potential obstacles and setbacks. For example, what is the average weather like during each season? What happens if it rains? Do some exhibits close? Anticipating these questions puts you in a much better position to close a deal or upsell a better package.
Strong Customer Service Skills
Most of your job as a travel agent is working with clients to find out what type of vacation they want and how you can deliver it within their budget. So, you’ll be talking with customers all the time. If you have a background in customer service, that is a huge plus. While you won’t have to field many compliant calls, you still need to know how to communicate information to each person so they understand it thoroughly.
Overall, it’s best to take a customer-centric approach to the job. Yes, you make commissions on each package you sell, but satisfied customers are more likely to come back for their next trip. So, instead of looking at potential clients as a payday, try to build long-lasting relationships.
Self-Starter Mentality
One of the main challenges you can face as an independent agent is a lack of motivation. When you work with a traditional travel agency, you get a list of numbers to call, and you have to meet specific quotas. However, without that push, not everyone can start and maintain their own business.
Realistically, there will be times when you’re slow, so you need to know what to do to get more customers and earn more commissions. While flexibility is a good thing, you must still be disciplined when running your business.
Why Work with Boardwalk Travel Agency?
Although you could work for a different agency, there are some compelling reasons to sign up for Boardwalk Travel, such as:
- Flexible Working Hours – No minimums or quotas means you can work as much or as little as you like. You can take on only the clients you want and work as a side hustle or turn this into a full-fledged career.
- High Commission Rates – Most travel agents at a big company only make around 10 percent for each package. At Boardwalk Travel, you can earn as much as 70 percent on each sale.
- World-Class Support – Training is ongoing, especially as the travel industry changes and adapts. Boardwalk Travel connects you with experienced agents who can help you with any challenge you face.
- One-Time Fee – Most other agencies charge a monthly service fee. You only pay once with Boardwalk, so you’ll get a lot more value for your investment.
Start Your Career as a Disney Travel Agent Today!
If you’re excited at the prospect of booking Disney vacations for a living, sign up for Boardwalk Travel today! We make it so easy to follow your dreams and start earning commissions that you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
