How do I become a Disney World Travel Agent?

How to Become a Disney World Travel Agent

• Answer:

  If you love Disney World and visit it frequently, your friends and co-workers probably ask you for advice on planning their own trips. You can turn your knowledge into a part-time or full-time job as a travel agent focusing on booking Disney World vacations. You can do it right from home for a minimal investment. If you are willing to invest the time to build up a client base, your travel-agent business can be successful. Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Things You'll Need Telephone Computer with Internet connection Fax machine or online fax service Host agency Instructions Put together a home office set-up. You will need a computer with an Internet connection, a telephone and a fax machine or online fax service. If possible, get a phone line that is separate from your home phone. This will allow you to tell when a business call is coming in so you can answer professionally. Locate several potential host agencies. In order to book Disney World vacations, you need a special identification number. Rather than getting one yourself, it is much easier to link up with an established agency. They will allow you to use their number, and may also refer clients to you, in exchange for a percentage of your commissions. Your host can be a local travel agency or an Internet-based office. The Home-Based Travel Agent website recommends checking out potential host agencies with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints. Contact the potential host agencies, letting them know you are interested in working with them. Be prepared to describe your special Disney World knowledge. If you can bring in your own clients, tell them so. Both of those things will make you appear more valuable. If more than one host agency is interesting in working with you, compare the commission rates and choose the one that offers you the best deal. Ask if there are any other charges. A reputable host agency should not charge any upfront fees or monthly service charges. Their money should come strictly from your commissions. Register at the Disney World website for travel agents. You will not be able to do this until you have a host agency, as you need to have an identification number to do so. Sign up for the College of Disney Knowledge through the Disney travel agents website. This will allow you to take several free courses that teach you more about Disney World and other Disney destinations. Once you complete the series of courses, you will graduate and be able to use special logos and designations when you advertise yourself as a Disney-focused travel agent. Completing the College of Disney Knowledge is not necessary to book Disney World vacations, but it gives you more credibility. Tips & Warnings Tip: If you don't want to add a separate phone line in your home, your phone company may be able to add another phone number to your existing line. When a call for your Disney World travel agency comes in, it will have a distinctive ring. This will allow you to answer it professionally. Warning: Some host travel agencies are actually scams. They will charge you high fees and won't offer you any support. They won't have any interest in your success since they will make money when you pay them upfront rather than counting on your commissions. Never work with a host agency that wants payments from you.