How To Become a Disney Travel Agent

As a home-based Travel Agent, you are an Independent Contractor position, and income is 100% commission based, so there is no cap on what you can earn. I coach my Advisors that you get out of it what YOU put into it, and your income fully depends on:

• How much time you invest
• What you sell (Disney, Universal, cruises, all-inclusive, etc.)
• Your ability to build and develop client relationships

The agency earns a commission for every traveled booking made and the split varies per agency.

At Mom Approved Travel, there is a reasonable and mutually sustainable, competitive split between the Agency and the Agent.
Travel Advisors begin seeing income once bookings begin to travel. Some grow to full-time, others build a flexible part-time income stream. 

“Disney Travel Agent” is a common consumer term for a professional Travel Advisor who specializes in Disney vacations.

The Advisor typically operates an independent travel business through an established travel agency rather than working as an employee of Disney.

No. There is no universal professional credential called Certified Disney Travel Agent.

Disney provides education for registered travel professionals through its College of Disney Knowledge, but supplier training should not be represented as a professional certification by that name.

Disney has its own employees, but the independent professionals most consumers call “Disney Travel Agents” generally operate through established travel agencies rather than as employees of Disney.

You do not necessarily need previous professional Travel Advisor experience.
Everyone had a first client once.

But the skills you already have matter.
People coming from careers in sales, customer service, education, marketing, healthcare, project management, events, operations and entrepreneurship may already have skills that translate beautifully into travel advising.

• Organization.
• Communication.
• Attention to detail.
• Problem-solving.
• Sales.
• Follow-through.

Those things matter, and if Disney is going to be your specialty, when reviewing applications, I also want to see recent, relevant firsthand Disney travel experience, not just that you loved Walt Disney World when you were eight.

Yes. Many independent Travel Advisors operate home-based travel businesses and work with clients remotely.

Yes. A Travel Advisor business can be built part time as long as you have enough consistent availability to serve clients professionally and continue developing the business.

Mom Approved Travel has both full-time and committed part-time Advisors.

Part time can absolutely be professional.
A pastime is something different.

HOW: Professional Travel Advisors are generally compensated through commissions paid on eligible travel they sell. The supplier pays commission to the travel agency, and the agency then pays the Advisor according to the commission structure outlined in the Advisor’s independent-contractor agreement.

WHEN: That means you typically do not get paid the moment your client makes a reservation.
Commission is usually tied to completed travel and the supplier’s payment schedule.

PLANNING FEES: Travel Advisors may also charge professional planning or service fees if permitted by their agency.

The agency earns a small commission on traveled bookings made with Agency credentials. 

At Mom Approved Travel, this commission is subject to a reasonable, competitive and mutually beneficial split.  We utilize direct deposit to pay our Travel Agent commissions, consistently, on-time and accurately.

Travel Advisors may find clients through personal networks, referrals, repeat business, community connections, social media, marketing and agency-generated leads where available.

A sustainable business should not depend entirely on someone else providing clients.

Not simply because they become Travel Advisors.

Professional rates, familiarization opportunities or other supplier benefits may occasionally be available based on eligibility, sales production and supplier policies, but these are not guaranteed.

Absolutely.

A Travel Advisor can specialize heavily in Disney while also developing expertise in Universal vacations, cruises, all-inclusive resorts and other travel depending on her agency relationships, clientele and business goals.

EarMarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is an agency designation.

If Disney will be a major part of your business, an agency’s Disney relationship, expertise, training, support and sales history are all reasonable things to consider when deciding where to affiliate.

Yes! We are an authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency, also known as an EarMarked Agency.

For the right fit, yes! We do have a few open application times throughout the year, but will always consider a great applicant.
Please go to https://www.momapprovedtravel.com/join-the-mat-team/ to apply

Ask questions before signing an independent-contractor agreement. A lot of them.

You should understand:

• independent-contractor terms
• fees
• commission structure
• commission payment timing
• training and ongoing support
• technology and business tools
• supplier relationships
• lead policies
• client ownership
• sales expectations
• what happens if you eventually leave the agency

Do not choose an agency based on commission split alone, support, tools and resources vary widely.
A higher percentage on paper doesn’t necessarily make something the better business relationship.
Training, support, technology, supplier relationships, professional development, culture and access to leadership all have incredible value.

An agency is not automatically better because it is huge.
It isn’t automatically better because it is tiny.

You need the business relationship that fits the business you want to build.
And a good agency should be comfortable answering your questions before you sign anything.