Top 5 Must-Know Tips for Aspiring Disney Travel Planners
Planning Disney vacations is not an easy task for most people out there, but for those who would like to become travel agents for Disney, it is the best job in the world! However, making client’s experiences magical requires a certain amount of skill, detail, and love for the profession.
If you are at the initial stages of becoming a Disney travel planner, we present to you five of the most crucial tips which will help you formulate a strong foundation:
Know the Disney Destinations and Parks Inside and Out
Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California are not the be all and end all of Disney. If you are planning to work as a travel planner, you will have to ready yourself with knowledge of all the Disney properties including Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Hawaii’s Aulani, and Adventures by Disney.
Every destination has its own exciting features, such as year-round festivities, activities for each season, special cuisines, and entertainment. Invest time to familiarize yourself with the designs of the parks, popular rides, and conveniences offered, such as Genie+ and Lightning Lane which allow guests to avoid standing in lines.
Know the Details of Current Promotions and Special Offers
Disney is known for constantly adjusting its prices, specials, and packages, which help boost revenues, especially during holiday seasons and off-peak times. As a travel advisor, you should put your clients in a position to take advantage of them. There may be promotional periods where different amenities are available in a discounted package.
Develop Strong Customer Service Skills
Satisfying a client is mainly achieved by offering superior customer service. This is even more important when there are kids in the family that want to meet princesses or when young couples prefer romantic dinner in a quieter area.
It is important to limit the typical travel stress clients face by doing things such as changing a booking, updating itineraries, or giving advice on dealing with full parks and long lines. This will also help build your repeat and referral business.
Get a Good Grasp on Disney’s Reservation Systems
As a Disney travel planner, this means mastering the reservation windows of Disney. For dining reservations, families can make them 60 days ahead of time when visiting many parks, while certain park reservations and some other experiences require booking some months ahead.
Additionally, learn about the My Disney Experience app, which is used by guests for a wide range of activities including mobile food ordering and joining virtual queues.
Build a Niche
For a travel agent to prosper in this industry, they need to offer some type of specialized area of expertise. For instance, some planners may focus on family vacations, while others may focus on luxury Disney vacations, first time visitors, or international visitors. With time, your skills and experience will allow you to acquire steady clients.
Becoming a Disney Travel Planner Is a Great Career Move
Whether you’re starting out or you’ve been doing it for years and just want to improve, the knowledge of these key areas will help you to become a successful Disney travel consultant. Every client’s Disney dream vacation can be attained with skill, focus, and a little bit of pixie dust!