Many of you have recommended me to your friends and family who are planning Disney vacations. Thank you so much for doing this! The best compliment I can receive is when you recommend me to others.
Many have already booked their hotel but are feeling confused and overwhelmed. Confused about Genie+. Overwhelmed with the parks themselves. Wondering how they should best spend their time.
They are not alone!
The planning that comes AFTER booking your hotel is often the most daunting part of the process. And the most important. It is where you’ll get the most value out of your vacation dollars!
Unfortunately, when folks come to me for help after they have already booked their hotel or tickets, I can’t help them. My services are complimentary. But they are only for those who book their hotel and ticket packages with me.
The reason for this is because of how I am paid. I am paid a commission for my time, knowledge, and services by the suppliers I work with. I will receive this payment after you have traveled.
Fun fact: the suppliers build the cost of my services into their prices. So even if you use me/someone like me or not, you are paying for our services!
To avoid confusion, let me outline how the process works. I'll explain when you can expect certain things to happen and why working with me is awesome!
The Steps of Working with Me, Your Travel Agent
Step 1 – Book a No-Obligation Vacation Planning Call
You’ve decided you want to go to Disney and have NOT booked your hotel or bought your tickets yet. Let’s have a chat!
Starting the planning process with a quick 15 – 20-minute phone call is my favorite method. It lets us get to know one another. It makes it easier for you to tell me all about your family and the vacation you are dreaming of. You can ask me all kinds of questions.
This conversation also saves us tons of time going back and forth over email. It also makes it easier for me to tailor my recommendations for you and your family.
I use an online scheduler to make it easy for you to find a time that works for us both. (I hate playing phone tag!)
Don’t have time to chat? That’s okay. You can fill out this quote form instead.
Step 2 - I’ll Send you Options to Consider
After we’ve had our chat, I’ll get to work! I will send you 3 – 5 different vacation package recommendations. I will base them on what I’ve learned about your specific needs.
Your recommendations will include a personalized website with more information about Disney and the hotels I’ve recommended. It will also have links to video room tours. My favorite!
I pride myself in being quick to respond. You should receive your recommendations from me that same day, or early the next day after our chat.
Step 3 – Pick One and Pay the Deposit
Take your time looking over the recommendations. If you want to see other options, let me know and I’m happy to price those out as well.
Once you’ve picked the perfect package, I put it on a three-day hold. I'll send you the confirmation to look over to make sure it’s perfect.
I will also send you a secure form to safely share your credit card information with me. This is for the $200 refundable deposit that makes the reservation official.
I do everything directly with Disney. They will be processing your payment and you will be able to take advantage of their generous cancellation policy.
Step 4 – I’ll start tracking your vacation and alert you of important timelines.
Now that we have made the deposit, the fun part begins! I will start keeping track of all the important timelines as it relates to your reservation.
I will let you know when and how you can make park reservations (where needed). I'll alert you when you can make dining reservations. I'll keep track of the final payment dates.
I will also help you with other important aspects of your vacation. Things like a stroller or ECV rental, ground transportation, and travel protection. Anything your family might need to have the best vacation possible.
Even better, I also watch for promotions Disney releases that could save you money. I'll automatically apply them to your reservation. You don’t have to lift a finger. (I love sending those “Surprise! You just saved hundreds” emails to folks.)
Throughout this entire process, I am a quick email or text away if you need anything. I also have a few fun surprises and pixie dust I may sprinkle on you along the way.
Important Note about Booking Dining and Experiences
While I keep track of your dining booking windows, I don’t make your dining reservations for you. Dining reservations are made through your personal Disney account, which I do not have access to.
If you are traveling to Disney World, I can call those reservations in for you. However the phone lines open up after reservations can be made online, so some of those hard-to-get reservations will already be sold out by then.
Instead, I will teach you exactly how, when, and where to make reservations based on your family’s personal preferences. I will even provide you with a helpful worksheet you can use to keep everything organized and ready when it’s time.
It’s super helpful to have another quick phone call before its time to make dining reservations. Then we can home in on the perfect reservations for your family. I’ll give you tips and tricks to help you land those hard-to-get ones.
Step 5 – Make Final Payment on the Package
When it’s time, I will remind you of when your final vacation payment is due.
I will also make that payment on your behalf with Disney.
Step 6 - You’ll Start Receiving Tips & Tricks from Me
Once you make the final payment, the countdown to Disney begins!
This is when I’ll start sending you all kinds of tips and tricks to help you make the most of your time at Disney. You'll learn things like the best way to navigate the parks, when to get into virtual queues (where applicable), and how to make the most of Genie+ (that's a big one).
Having a planning call at this point in the planning process can be so helpful. We can dive into your questions and fears, and I can help put those to rest. These are my favorite planning calls to have!
Disney changes things all the time. It’s best to keep all these final tips and tricks to the last 30 days before you leave. Then it will be fresh in your mind once you are there and you have current and up-to-date information.
Step 7 – You go on Vacation! I am still here to help you.
Armed with everything I’ve taught and done for you, you are ready for your trip!
My goal is to make you feel confident when you hit the parks. You know exactly what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Your focus is simply on having the best time and making magical memories with your loved ones.
Even when you are on vacation, I am still available to help you. You’ll have my cell phone number and can text me with questions or for help with issues that may arise. I’ve always got your back!
How Does This Sound?
Using a travel agent that specializes in Disney is a no-brainer. It doesn’t cost you anything extra. We can help you get the most value out of your vacation dollars, and we make it easier for you to have the magical vacation of your dreams.
When you are ready to start planning your next vacation, click here, and let’s chat! I would love to help you.
I am a travel agent with Magical Vacation Planner. I make it easier for you to plan an unforgettable vacation with your family. Click here to schedule a Magical Vacation Discovery Call to learn more and get your free, no-obligation quote.
Or head here to request access to my exclusive Disney Vacation Planning Vault, full of worksheets and resources you can use to plan your next Disney vacation.
