Sometimes, the best vacation isn’t at a resort or hotel. Instead, it’s at a theme park. When traveling by yourself or with family, theme park stays can be much more fun and engaging because there’s more to do and more to see. One of the best theme parks for families with older children is Universal Studios, which has two locations on either coast. Because this park is such a great destination, it makes sense to become a Universal Studios travel agent with Boardwalk Travel.
Not only is the demand for these parks always high, but you get to experience the fun and magic vicariously by booking trips for your clients. If you’ve ever been interested in becoming a travel agent, let us help you realize your dreams! Here’s everything you need to know about how to become one.
A Brief Overview of Universal Studios
Like Disney, Universal Studios has two main theme parks. One of them is in Hollywood (Universal City, to be exact), and the other one is in Orlando. While both parks have a lot to offer, the Orlando location is much bigger, grander, and has a lot more to do. Before you can start booking trips for your clients, it helps to know as much about these parks as possible. Here’s a breakdown of each.
Universal Studios Hollywood
This is the original theme park, and it includes both the park and Universal City Walk. City Walk is open to the public, and it contains a variety of themed restaurants and shopping. As with the park itself, it’s geared mostly toward older children and adults, but there are some kid-friendly options.
As a Universal Studios travel agent, you’ll want to become familiar with the main attractions at the Hollywood location:
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Super Mario World
- Jurassic World: The Ride
- The Simpsons Ride
- Revenge of the Mummy
You can also check out our article detailing our picks for the best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood.
In addition to roller coasters, Universal Studios has multiple 3D ride experiences. Instead of going on a track, you sit in a stationary cart that moves and rumbles as if on the real thing. To make the experience more life-like and immersive, guests wear 3D glasses, similar to viewing a ride in virtual reality.
There are also a ton of shows at various theaters throughout the park, which happen throughout the day. There are not as many attractions as other parks like Six Flags or Disneyland, but there’s more than enough to fill two days. That said, if your clients only have one day to spend in the park, they can hit all the major attractions and not feel like they missed out on anything.
Universal Studios Orlando
Everything’s bigger in Orlando, and Universal Studios goes all out for its park on the Eastern seaboard. In addition to the standard Studios theme park, there’s also Islands of Adventure (a secondary theme park) and Volcano Bay (a water park). If your clients want the most rides and attractions, they should only do the Islands of Adventure or get a multi-park pass to do everything.
Universal Orlando has many of the same rides as Hollywood, including the Fast and Furious Ride, The Simpsons Ride, and Revenge of the Mummy. However, there are a few unique options, so if clients have been to one and not the other, they’ll feel like it’s worth going to both.
Islands of Adventure has more roller coasters, including Harry Potter and Jurassic World-themed ones. There are also a few Dr. Seuss rides, making the park ideal for little ones as well as big kids.
Finally, Volcano Bay is an incredible water park with a massive volcano sticking out of the center. It has one water ride and plenty of lounging space for individuals, couples, and families. There are three “villages,” each with a unique theme and atmosphere, so it’s unlike most water parks your clients have ever been to.
We’ve got a guide for this too! Check out our take on the best rides at Universal Orlando.
Universal Orlando also has its own City Walk, with unique restaurants and shopping options that are open to the public.
Booking at Universal Studios Orlando vs. Hollywood
Although both parks are owned by the same company, the experiences are much different. Let’s break down some of the various elements to consider when booking one trip vs. the other.
Transportation
If your clients are staying at Universal Studios hotels or resorts (two in Hollywood, eight in Orlando), they can either walk or take a shuttle to the parks and City Walk. However, if they want to do anything outside of the park, they’ll need to rent a car to get around. Los Angeles is huge, so it doesn’t often make sense to use ride-sharing services or buses to reach other destinations.
In Orlando, it’s much easier to stay in the Universal Studios bubble, especially if your clients have multi-park passes or Premier stays at a resort. With three parks and City Walk, there’s enough to do for at least three to five days, if not a week. That said, if your clients want to explore more of Orlando, they’ll still have to rent a car to see the rest of the city.
Other Parks
Both LA and Orlando are well-known for having multiple theme parks close by. However, in Hollywood, everything is pretty far away, including Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knott’s Berry Farm. In Orlando, everything is much closer, including Sea World and Disney World.
So, if your clients are staying on Universal properties, they’ll have to budget more time to reach other parks if they’re staying in Hollywood. In Orlando, trips should be relatively short, no matter which park they’re trying to visit.
Duration of Stay
Universal Studios Hollywood can easily be seen in a day, but if your clients want the full experience, they should plan for two. In Orlando, the best option is to visit all three parks, which would require at least three days. However, even with one park per day, there’s too much to see and experience to get to it all. Realistically, your clients should budget four or five days if they plan on hitting each park.
Express Passes
As with other theme parks, Universal Studios has its own version of line passes to cut down on wait times. These passes aren’t always necessary in Hollywood, but they are a game-changer in Orlando. If possible, it’s best to upsell your clients on getting these passes or upgrading to a Premier stay to have them included in their room rental.
Perks of Being a Universal Studios Travel Agent With Boardwalk Travel
As you can see, there are a lot of fun and exciting things to do at either Universal Studios property. As a travel agent, you get to help your clients build their dream vacation from scratch. However, while the process of booking trips and creating itineraries is fun, it also comes with a few perks.
When you become a Universal Studios travel agent with Boardwalk Travel, you can expect these benefits:
- Flexible Hours – Typically, working as a travel agent means making quotas and having a set schedule. At Boardwalk Travel, you are an independent agent, so you can pick when you want to work. This can either be a side gig on top of your regular job, or you can turn this into a lucrative career path.
- High Commission Rates – Another problem with traditional travel agencies is that they take a massive bite out of your commissions. Since you’re the one doing most of the work, you deserve the lion’s share of the earnings. At Boardwalk, you keep up to 70 percent of each commission. As you’ve seen, it’s easy to upsell different parts of a Universal Studios vacation package, so you could make a lot from a single trip.
- Perks and Discounts – Theme parks and hotels often offer perks and incentives to help keep their occupancy rates high. As a travel agent, you’ll have access to these perks to offer to your clients. However, you can also use them for yourself or your friends and family. If you haven’t been to Universal Studios before, you should go. This way, you can provide insider knowledge to your clients and speak from experience, helping you close more sales and provide better customer service.
- Excellent Support – Being a travel agent can be hard work, especially when you’re working with multiple clients. That’s why Boardwalk Travel offers superior support for all of its agents. Whenever you hit a snag or obstacle, you can reach out and get experienced knowledge to do your job. This way, you don’t have to be an expert in the field to succeed right away.
- No Lengthy Training – When you become a travel agent with a traditional agency, you have to go through weeks of training to start making commissions. The onboarding process for Boardwalk is much more streamlined, so you can start earning faster.
- Independence – Yes, working as a Universal Studios travel agent is a lot of fun, but what if you want to book Disney properties or cruise lines? Boardwalk Travel gives you the flexibility and independence to book what you want, how you want. This means you can attract more clients and book more trips, giving you more experience and money in your pocket.
Tips and Tricks for Succeeding as a Universal Studios Travel Agent
Thankfully, demand is always high for Universal Studios and other theme parks, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding clients. However, the key to success lies in the details. So, here are some insider tips and tricks to make this job work better for you.
Build Relationships With the Parks
A big part of being a successful travel agent is having relationships with your booking partners. In addition to the parks themselves, you should also reach out to airlines, car rental companies, and anyone else your clients may use during their vacation. These relationships can come in handy in several ways, such as:
- Discounted Rates – The more clients you book for a vendor, the more likely they are to give you discounted rates. This means you can get more referrals and earn more commissions.
- Specialty Perks or Upgrades – Some parks or rental agencies may offer free upgrades to give out to premier clients. You can also use these perks to help smooth over any issues that may arise so your clients always have the best experience possible.
- Preferred Booking Status – Resorts and hotels typically hold rooms for preferred agents, meaning it’s easier to get upgraded suites or high-demand rooms. The more valuable you are to these vendors, the more valuable you become to your clients and the more money you make.
Focus on Convenience
Typically, if people are booking their own vacations, they want to save money as much as possible. However, if they’re willing to work with a travel agent, that means they’re looking for convenience. Use this to your advantage and try to make their vacation as seamless and hassle-free as possible.
What does that mean exactly? For Universal Studios, it could mean booking your clients in properties next to the park so they don’t have to rent a car. Or, it could mean securing a shuttle from the airport to the resort directly. Similarly, convenience may mean including Express Passes or upgrades to make the experience far more enjoyable and memorable.
Overall, consider what would make your dream vacation as easy as possible. If you have to jump through hoops to get cheap rates and rentals, you may wind up stressing out and missing part of the trip. However, if everything is streamlined, you just have to worry about how much you’re going to enjoy each activity.
Be Realistic With Your Clients
As a travel agent, it’s in your nature to say “yes” to your client’s wishes or preferences. However, you must also know when to push back and give them a better alternative. For example, perhaps a client wants to see everything at Universal Studios Orlando in a single day. Since that’s not possible, you have to help them focus on the shows, dining, and attractions they care about most.
So, it’s best to get to know your clients before you start building their itinerary. It’s also helpful to know who they’re traveling with so that you can make the necessary accommodations. For example, if they’re bringing an infant, they’ll need a car seat and stroller to get around. If they can’t bring these items with them, you need to secure them as part of their booking. Similarly, if they have someone in a wheelchair, you have to adjust the booking accordingly.
Become a Universal Studios Travel Agent at Boardwalk Travel
With the right mindset and perseverance, becoming a Universal Studios travel agent can be extremely rewarding. Once you know the ins and outs of the parks, you can provide better customer service and help your clients get the best vacation possible. Are you ready to realize your dreams of working in the travel industry? Become an agent with Boardwalk Travel today!
