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The “Most Magical Place on Earth” sits on many families’ dream vacation lists. But the options and variations on a Disney vacation can feel like it's even more complicated than Moana’s quest to restore the heart of Te Fiti. That’s where you — a travel agent — step in to save the day. Below, we’re breaking down how to become a Disney travel agent: the steps, common questions and why you might want to consider this niche to complement your travel agent career.
(If you’re interested in learning how to become a travel agent in general, our guide has everything you need to get started.)
What is a Disney Travel Agent?
A Disney travel agent is someone who plans and books Disney vacations for their clientele. You may decide to focus only on Disney vacations, or, you can also book other types of trips and travel experiences for your clients.
Related Article: How to Become an Independent Travel Agent
Why should you become a Disney Travel Agent?
The job of a Disney travel agent isn’t only for the Disney-obsessed. Learning how to become a Disney travel agent is also a great way to help build a career that makes income while helping travelers plan a trip that, for them, means everything.
While some families frequently travel to Walt Disney World, Disneyland or another Disney destination, others only do so once in their lifetimes, which means hopes and expectations can be high. Stepping in to help families plan a bucket-list trip is not just a great career option, but also a rewarding way to give families the chance to make meaningful intergenerational bonds during a trip of a lifetime.
The benefits of becoming a Disney travel agent
Because these trips are often comprehensive (hotels, tickets, etc.), becoming a Disney vacation planner can be lucrative for travel agents, who can earn a substantial income even from a single trip. (If you’re interested in learning how to become a luxury travel advisor, the same concept applies.)
But there’s more to love about becoming a Disney travel agent.
It’s a flexible career option
One of the perks of becoming an independent travel agent is that you are your own boss — whether you’re selling Disney travel or otherwise. It’s a flexible career option: you can work from where you want, and when you want. You can work part-time or full-time, depending on your schedule (and you can also ramp up your business over time). In particular, becoming a Disney travel agent can be an especially great career option for parents.
In terms of how much you earn, travel agent commissions for Disney can be lucrative — and Disney offers them for most experiences, from single-day tickets to full vacation packages. For background, most independent travel agents partner with a travel agent host agency (like Fora). At Fora, we offer you all the resources to help you build and scale your business, including training on Disney as well as an IATA number, the legal framework needed to collect commissions for booking travel.
Commission rates vary by what you’re booking, with better rates for more substantial experiences. Generally, the rates hover around three to seven percent for multi-day tickets, and between eight and 16 percent for stays at Disney resorts or for major expeditions. Commissions really add up when you start booking for multiple families.
"From the day I started working as a Fora Advisor, I had all of the tech tools and educational resources available to help launch my new career," Fora Advisor Jennifer Lopez said. "I have also had the support and advice of all of my fellow Fora Advisors, which is an invaluable help when I am booking travel to places that are unfamiliar to me. With all of those elements, I was able to hit the ground running and make bookings from day one.
You can share your passion for travel and Disney
If you’re the type of person who nerds out over new attractions, great hotels and the latest Disney flicks, learning how to become a Disney travel agent is a great career option.
You’ll be able to share the magic of Disney with your clients, curating unforgettable experiences at beloved destinations — from the fairytale castles of Magic Kingdom to outposts from a galaxy far, far away.
Disney offers fun perks like free tickets & discounts for selling travel
Disney travel agents who book a certain number of experiences (it changes year to year) are eligible for all sorts of fun perks, such as theme park tickets. On occasion, Disney also offers special incentives. For example, Disney travel agents who sold three Adventures by Disney Danube River Cruise 2023 reservations received a complimentary cruise to enjoy themselves.
How to become a Disney travel agent: the steps
Learning to become a Disney travel agent is a relatively straightforward process. Read on for detailed steps.
1. First, you need to become a travel agent
You can’t apply to become a Disney travel agent directly. To book Disney vacations for others, you’ll need to become a general travel agent first.
Travel agents are certified sellers of travel through licensed host agencies like Fora.
2. Choose the right host agency
First things first, make sure you’re picking a host agency that partners with Disney and also offers training on Disney. (At Fora, we do).
"If I had to describe Fora's training program in one word, it would be robust," Fora Advisor Caroline Weilert said. "I love that Fora considers all angles related to training – business planning, destination overviews, hotel spotlights, mentorship programs, supplier overviews – and that it provides webinars, live trainings, recordings and best of all, access to the entire supplier community. Everyone at Fora is a learner and a trainer because we all have different types of knowledge to share with each other."
A few other considerations you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing a host agency include…
Make sure they offer a comprehensive training program
Especially if you’re just getting started, remember that you’ll want to find an agency with a comprehensive training program. At Fora, we offer travel agent certification so that you can learn everything you need to start building your Disney travel advisor business. We also have ongoing training so that you can stay in-the-know with the latest travel trends.
Look for an agency that aligns with your business goals and lifestyle
If you’re looking to work part-time or you are just starting out and ramping up your business, a host agency with a high booking minimum likely isn’t right for you.
Consider upfront and ongoing costs
For example, if the training program is super expensive, it might feel like a good investment on the surface, but it’s going to take you a long time to earn that money back. You want to find something that feels approachable. At Fora, we offer a flat-rate monthly subscription of $49 for everything you need.
Find a community that you align with
There’s a lot of pros to being an independent travel advisor, but it can also be lonely. We’ve built a community to make it easier than ever for travel lovers to develop meaningful and lasting businesses as travel agents. Our community is built around cooperation and inclusivity. We have built a community app, called Forum, for you to connect with fellow advisors in a digital space. We also have Local Chapters so that you can connect with others in real life.
3. Once you become a travel agent, unlock access to Disney’s travel agent portal
If you choose to become a Fora travel advisor, you’ll get access to Disney’s dedicated travel agent portal, which houses the company’s training program.
On top of standard travel agent training, Disney requires that all sellers of travel enroll in this program. Disney’s travel agent training is designed to familiarize yourself with Disney properties and experiences around the world. Once you’ve completed the training, you can start earning an income selling Disney vacations.
Become a Disney travel agent through Fora
If you’re looking for an opportunity to satisfy your travel-planning bug while organizing life-changing family vacations at Disney properties around the world, learning how to become a Disney travel agent is a great career option.
"Prior to working with Fora, I had only planned trips for myself and other family members," Fora Advisor Jennifer Lopez shared. "Working as a travel advisor had always appealed to me but I couldn't figure out how to do it on my own in a way that made sense. That is, I couldn't figure it out until I came across Fora."
When you’re ready to get started, apply to join Fora. We’ll set you up with all the tools and support you need to be successful as a travel agent, from training to community and tech.
How to become a Disney travel agent: FAQs
There are a lot of details to consider if you’re learning how to become a Disney travel agent. Many Fora Advisors who double as Disney travel agents share tips on Forum, our community app. We’ve gathered the most common questions below and provide in-depth answers sourced directly from experts with firsthand experience.
Do I need to become a Disney expert to be a Disney travel agent?
Becoming a great Disney travel agent is more about understanding the nuances of each park and resort while maximizing your clients’ vacations and experiences. Don’t feel like you need to watch every Disney film — unless you really want to, of course! Adding a little bit of Disney magic to your booking process is a great way to boost your clients’ excitement (and keep them coming back to you).
How much do Disney travel agents make?
It depends on how much and how often you book. As a travel agent, you’ll earn money from commissions made from booking travel. Depending on the vacation package, commissions vary. Fora can help you navigate the various options Disney offers and learn how to scale your business. If you have questions about travel advisor pay in general, like how travel agents get paid or how much travel agents make per booking, check out our guides.
Related Article: Everything You Need to Know about a Fora Travel Advisor Salary (and How Our Advisors Get Paid)
How many hours a day do Disney travel agents work?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to how many hours Disney travel agents work each day because most are independent business owners.
Many Fora travel advisors begin their travel agent career part time, booking everything from Disney experiences to hotel stays and cruises — while also working a day job or as a full-time parent. T he most successful travel advisors put in a lot of dedicated hard work, but are able to do so on their own terms.
With us, it’s up to you whether you transition to a full-time career or stay part-time. That’s one thing we love about becoming a Fora Advisor: endless flexibility to run your business how you want.
What types of Disney vacation packages can travel agents book besides Walt Disney World?
There are many types of experiences Disney travel agents can book and earn commission on beyond passes to Walt Disney World or Disneyland (in the United States or abroad). This includes vacation packages at resorts like Aulani in Hawai’i or Disney’s Vero Beach Resort in Florida, as well as Disney Cruises and National Geographic expeditions. There are also Adventures by Disney, which are curated vacations to popular destinations around the world, such as Cape Town in South Africa, the Greek Isles, Machu Picchu and many more.
Plus, as a Fora travel advisor, you can book Disney experiences as well as vacations outside of the Disney name brand.
Related Article: How to Become a Cruise Travel Agent
What support do I get as a Disney travel agent?
If you’re booking a trip to Walt Disney World or other Disney destinations, you’ll receive a wealth of resources from both Disney and your host travel agency (like Fora).
One of the most exclusive and special tools that Disney offers travel agents is its massive travel advisor online platform. It’s the mothership for Disney travel agents and Disney destinations. This comprehensive resource allows travel agents to find and book Disney resorts (including Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Aulani Resort in Hawai’i), Disney Cruise Lines, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions and more.
Beyond booking, you’ll also get helpful and detailed information about every attraction available in the Disney ecosystem, like the operating hours of It’s a Small World, for instance. With this intel, you can build the most detailed and comprehensive itinerary for your travelers.
Disney travel agents also get access to an extensive learning portal, called the College of Disney Knowledge. Inside the college is a series of courses that gives you an introduction to Disney resorts around the world.
As a Fora Advisor, you also get many more resources. Fora is a one-stop shop for everything you need to run your travel advisor business. Learn more and apply to become a Fora Advisor today.
Does a host agency have to be “EarMarked” or labeled as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Travel Agency?
Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are travel agencies that specialize exclusively in Disney vacations. They’re also known as “EarMarked” travel agencies. These certifications show that the travel agency has a long-standing reputation for selling tickets to Walt Disney World, as well as Disney vacation packages. However, you do not need to be EarMarked or an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to sell a Disney vacation package or Walt Disney World tickets.
Fora partners with Disney, and our travel agents can book all Disney vacation packages while also making income on other types of trip planning.
Once you become a Disney travel agent, can you only work with Walt Disney World and other Disney experiences?
Nope. Disney doesn’t employ any kind of policy that restricts the types of bookings you can make.
If you become a Fora Advisor, you can book many other types of travel, too, from hotels to cruises and even travel insurance. That also means you can specialize in other theme parks beyond Disneyland, like Universal Studios, or book other travel experiences like family vacations, honeymoons, corporate retreats — you name it. (Fora hosts regular destination training classes online to help advisors get to know places around the world, too.)
Do you need to build your Disney travel agent business from the ground up?
Disney offers plenty of resources to learn about their systems and properties, but they don’t send client leads to travel agents. This may be something your host agency helps you with, though. Learn more about how Fora helps advisors build their book of business.
Do you need experience to become a Disney travel agent?
Disney doesn’t have any requirements to become a certified Disney travel agent.
However, we do recommend participating in a comprehensive training program so that you can book travel for your clients confidently and professionally. We offer an initial certification program as well as ongoing training to meet you where you’re at during every stage of your career. Learn more about Fora’s travel advisor training program.
Ultimately, the best way to learn how to become a Disney travel agent is to dive in. With a community like Fora’s, we equip you with everything you need to start your travel agent career.
“I love being a travel advisor because it truly doesn't feel like ‘work,’” Fora Advisor Danielle Fisher said. “I get to help others while doing something I'm passionate about and enjoy. “I also love the flexibility so I can be a travel advisor, but also a stay-at-home mom with my two toddlers.”
Ready to get started? Apply to become a Fora Advisor.
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