If your unending love for Disney knows no bounds, you will want to share your experience with fellow Disney enthusiasts. What better way to live the magical dream of Disney than becoming an agent yourself? Let us find out how much Disney travel agents make to figure out if this can be lucrative for you.
Should you become a Disney travel agent?
If the following answers are affirmative, then this pursuit is ideal for you:
- Did I help my family and friends navigate Disney parks?
- Do I know the Disney parks in and out to become an agent?
- Can I make this experience magical for people who book my services?
How to become a Disney travel agent?
For starters, Disney travel agent jobs suggest that you need to create experiences for tourists and travelers who wish to experience Disney parks. As an independent contractor, you become entitled to a percentage of the total booking amount that covers the Disney experiences.
To sell Disney packages, you need first to familiarize yourself with the entire portfolio of Disney. The products and packages that you offer to cater to would include:
- Disneyland parks
- Disney World parks
- Universal Studios
- Disney Cruise Lines
- Adventures by Disney
- Sandals and Beaches Resorts
- Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line packages
Disney travel agents are no different than regular travel agents. So, if you’re already in this business, it will be easier. You need to familiarize yourself with the criteria required to become a travel agent and also learn Disney agents have different rules.
Here are two possible scenarios and how you can become a Disney travel agent in either case:
As an existing travel agent
You need to make an account with Disney Travel agents to sign up for the experience of College of Disney Knowledge training. It is a virtual class where you will learn about Disney destinations.
As an uncertified travel agent
You need a regular travel agent certification before enrolling in the Disney travel agent training program. The cost, timespan, and requirements will differ according to region, educational qualification, etc.
After you have the certification, you start your business and then enroll with Disney. While the latter has a difficult route, it isn’t impossible to become an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
How much do Disney travel agents make?
When starting, you can make a 10% commission for each Disney package you sell. For instance, if someone chooses to book your service for $5,000, you will earn $500 from the deal. One important thing to note is your payment comes through after the person or group completes their Disney parks trip.
For cruises, it is different, as commission depends on the number of people who book your service. Commissions can be 15% or more in such cases. If you are an independent business owner, the entire commission amount is your earnings. However, host agencies are growing at the moment, and if you collaborate, you will have to share a certain percentage of your commission.
How much do Disney travel agents make a year?
Your yearly income goal as a Disney travel agent depends on two things:
- How many bookings you can make per month
- What is the amount of money per trip booked
Disney bookings are worth thousands of dollars. You can make $100 to $1000 per booking, depending on the number of people. Solo and couple travel bookings will be shorter, while families will be larger now if you want to earn $50,000 per year. You need to book at least 8 to 10 trips every month to make $400 to $500 per trip booked.
One upside of being a Disney agent is that you never go out of work (until, of course, there is a pandemic). Disney crowds are getting larger every day, which gives agents more and more scope to grow their business. Partnering with host agencies is also not a bad idea, as diving work will bring more bookings even if you need to share 20% to 50% of your commissions.
How to scale as a Disney travel agent?
Since you need to go through travel agent certifications to niche down on Disney, here is another thought – not going all in on Disney parks and cruises but keeping more options open. If becoming a travel agent is your goal, you will scale up faster even if you’re services are limited to Florida or California.
People flying in from other countries or US residents traveling across states might not just visit Disney parks. Offering more packages that your clients can club with Disney Park experiences will make you more money.
You can choose to only cater to Disney experiences if you want to have complete authority or branch out. While branching out will bring in more opportunities, choosing to work on Disney experiences alone will bring customer reliability.
Final thoughts
Don’t look at the competition when wanting to become a Disney travel agent. The demand for this business goes parallel to the supply. So, one addition to the business will also bring thousands of opportunities. If you’re worried about the number of trips you can book, consider incorporating more travel services to provide a complete experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it hard to be a Disney travel agent?
Being a Disney travel agent requires you first to become a travel agent. Once you master this skill, you can either choose only to offer Disney travel agent services or incorporate other travel services to scale up your business. Host agencies can also help in this regard by booking more packages in exchange for sharing commissions.
2. Do Disney travel agents get free trips?
No, you do not get free trips to Disney parks or cruises, but you do get discounts on experiences associated with Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney. Some perks like amenities and room upgrades are perks you can expect.
3. How much do travel agents make for booking Disney?
10% to 15% commission is the average amount a Disney travel agent can make with every booking. So, if you sell a trip worth $60,000, you can make $600 to $900 from one trip.
