Summer 2024

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From the Editor

Welcome to the first ever issue of the Magical Magazine for Travel Agents! I created this magazine for education, for fun, but most importantly I made it for community.

The travel industry can can feel like an isolating place full of separation and competition. But what if it didn’t feel like that? Could we create a place to come together? Not just to ask a travel question, but to actually form friendships and community.

I want to see that happen and I want you to be part of it! Subscribing to this magazine was a great start, now I want to invite you to come hang out on the discord. Scan that QR code in the corner and it will take you there!

Happy Planning!

Executive Contributors

Sam G, Tennessee

Hi! I’m Sam Gruber, owner of Happiest Things Travel and The Happiest Things Collective. I visited Walt Disney World for the first time when I was 17 years old. I fell in love with it. I didn’t get to visit over and over again when I was a teen and young adult, but the magic always called to me after that first trip. Once I got older and had my son, we went back I knew after that I wanted to spend my days planning trips for other people so they could experience what I had felt. I attended Careers On Vacation; becoming a CTA. I opened my own agency and became a very frequent visitor to Walt Disney World!

Mary Katherine B, Virginia

Hi! I’m MK, Agency Owner of MK’s Magical Adventures. I love empowering people from all walks of life to travel with confidence by equipping them with knowledge and tools they need and crafting their next level adventures so they can have the most helping memorable and wonderful vacations possible When I’m not galavanting around Disney World or setting sail on a cruise, you can find me playing fetch with our Border Collie, knitting up a sweater, or searching for the next best cup of coffee.

Jenna Caron

Follow Jenna here

Thomas Carpenter

Connect with Thomas here Vacation Grocery Delivery

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Special
Thanks to:

Christie B, Massachusetts

I'm Christie Bramante, owner of Jolly Holidays Travel and a Travel Advisor Mary Poppins who specializes in magical Walt Disney World vacations! Raised on pixie dust thanks to yearly trips to Orlando with my parents, I've always harbored dreams of working at the theme parks. Now, I'm making those dreams come true instead by helping families plan their own magical adventures. As a celiac, I'm passionate about seeking out allergy-friendly park treats and ensuring everyone can enjoy the wonders of Disney without worry When I'm not immersed in the world of travel, you can find me lost in a good book - I also work in a library!

Amanda Hicks, MFT-I

Read more about Amanda here

Kristy F, Wisconsin

I’m Kristy Faytle, Owner and Founder of Palm, Park & Sea Travel. I’ve been in the event and travel planning industry for over 15 years and currently living my dream as a travel planner specializing in Disney and Universal Destinations. My favorite thing about my role is meeting and connecting with the families that I’ve been so lucky to help. When I’m not working on my company, you can find me hanging with my husband and three kids, staying active, and drinking large amounts of coffee.

Journey Across the Board

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Next Page with Meg

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INTHIS ISSUE

STARWARSDAYATDISNEY’SHOLLYWOODSTUDIOS

RELAXANDUNWINDATDISNEY’S GRAN D F L O R I D I NA TROSER S E ND CLIENTGIFTSWITHVACATIONGROCERY DELIVERY
C E L E BRATING

A Royal Weekend at the Grand Floridian

4 Lessons Learned For Future Smooth Sailings

Mental Health Corner with Amanda

Dining Prepared: 5 Things Your Clients Need to Know

Terms and Conditions: What Do We Need To Keep Our Business Safe?

Halfway to Halloween!

Table of Contents 18 10 30 Park Updates
Jenna’s Journey
May The Fourth Be With You! The Ultimate Disney Experience The Perfect ‘Rest Day’ Surprise and Delight Your Clients 7 10 13 17 19 20 23 27 29 31 35 37
We’re

Park Updates Character Relocations

Do you have character locations included in client packets? If so, you may need to revise them. With the conclusion of most of the Flotillas in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, some characters have made their way back to their pre-covid meeting spaces or other places around the parks. You can always check on the My Disney Experience App to find locations and times for characters.

June will also bring character meet and greet changes. With the opening of Communicore Hall & Plaza at EPCOT, characters will more than likely shift again. Keep an eye on MDE to stay up to date on changes.

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Food Court Refurbishment

In the month of July, Disney’s All-Star Movies food court, World Premiere, will undergo refurbishment. Clients will have to utilize mobile order to order food and drinks. Offerings will be limited, so your clients will food allergies may want to relocate. Clients can also walk between the All-Star resorts and visit their food courts as well.

EPCOT Food & Wine Dates Announced

Haveyouheard?ThedatesoftheEPCOTInternationalFoodandWineFestival haveofficiallybeenannounced.Yourclientscanenjoyfoodandfestivitiesfrom all around the world from August 29th to November 23rd! Many fan favorites will return such as Belgian Waffles with Berry Compote at the Belgian Global Marketplace. Emile’s Fromage Montage will also return to guide your guests around and encourage them to try something cheesy and adventurous. Make sureyourclientsknowtograbaFestivalPassport! IamexcitedtoseehowtheopeningofCommunicoreHallwilladdtothefestival. DTAhintsthatitwilladd“excitingfreshelementstothefestival.”Don’tforget thatEattotheBeatwillalsoreturn.Keepaneyeoutfordatesandartists.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Do you have clients visiting Magic Kingdom Park on or after June 28th? If so, they will have the opportunity to try to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! See how I didn’t say they would have the opportunity to ride? That’s because Disney will open Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as a virtual queue. This means there will be no standby line when the ride first opens. Your clients will have to grab a spot in the virtual queue starting at 7 a.m. the morning of their park visit. They will also have a second opportunity at 1 p.m. Clients can also purchase Genie+ to try for a ride through the bayou. Disney hints that a standby line will go into effect sometime after the chaos of the opening lessens. Keep an eye out so that your client care stays up to date!

PhotobySamG. PhotobyChristieB. PhotobyChristieB.
PhotosbySamG.

Club Level at the Grand Floridian:

A Royal Weekend

Ican see why Princess Diana took her boys to stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. As soon as you step on property it is easy to feel like royalty. Walkingunderthemonorailplatform,towardsthe mainentrance,weweregreetedbyakindCast Member Shecheckedthestatusofourroomandlet usknowitwasn’treadyyet.

ABellServicesCastMemberwascalledoverto grabourbags.Thefourofuswereguidedthrough theopulentlobbytotheelevator.

Weweretakenuptothethirdfloorwhichisthe firstofthreelevelsof theRoyalPalmClubandgreetedwithapretty purplelemonade-likedrinkinfancyglasses.

After we were introduced to the Concierge, we were taken up a floor where the food in the club was available. At the time we arrived (around 12:30) snack type foods were available to graze on.

Veggies, chips, fruits, Uncrustables, and bags of pretzels were available to grab and go. A beautiful espresso machine shone brightly for anyones afternoon pick-me-up. Mini fridges were full to the brim with cans of soda, boxes of juice, and cups of yogurt. But the pièce de résistance was the cooler FULL of Mickey Premium Bars, Mickey’s Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Strawberry Popsicles. All there for the taking.

As someone with a gluten allergy I was interested to see what I would be able to eat At the time we arrived I could have most of the offerings except for the pretzels, pasta salad (I’m told it was delicious), and Uncrustables. We spent time checking out the club level seating areas (available on all 3 of the club level floors), the balcony, and even visiting the door of the suite Princess Diana allegedly (according to Google) stayed in

Our room was ready at 2 pm. It was located on the first level of the club floors We opted to go to Bell Services ourselves to grab our luggage instead of waiting for it to be delivered. We were eager to swim and wanted our pool gear as soon as possible.

After doing my travel agent thing (locking my family out so I could do a room tour video, they know the drill by now) we grabbed our suits and headed to the pool.

Incase you haven’t seen these new Mary Poppins themed rooms, I’ll try to explain them. Though I doubt my words or pictures could accurately portray the beauty.

They are like a breathe of fresh air. The light blues and bright whites of the room are the exact opposite of stuffy. The mural and wallpaper accents of flowers give you the feeling of the first days of Spring

The whimsy nods to Mary Poppins are so well done they feel fancy and subtle Not in your face and garish that a room based off a kids movie could have easily been.

After hanging out at the Beach Pool and racing down the slide 100 times, we headed back up to our room to get ready for dinner.

I know, I know we had access to the club level food but it is tradition at this point to eat at Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace.

We did check out what they had to offer though. Chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, stuffed shrimp, “crab” cakes, various cheeses and deli meats, sandwiches, strawberry soup, grilled veggies, chicken salad in tomato cones, and a selection of beers and wines were available

I asked a Cast Member what I would be able to eat with a gluten allergy. She grabbed a chef for me and he walked me around and showed me what would be safe to eat

I do want to say that if you or your client has a severe allergy or celiacs, I don’t think any of the offerings would be safe due to cross contamination. I took this in consideration and ended up not eating anything that wasn’t sealed in a package.

After watching fireworks, we made our way back up to the club to discover that dinner selections had been cleared to make room for desserts.

Milk and cookies, brownies, caramel apple shooters, chocolate mousse, cupcakes, and cheesecakes-all at our fingertips. My family grabbed a little bit of everything (I think they enjoyed it all) and headed to our room

Being in the main building came with a lot of noise Resort guests as well as visitors to the various lounges and restaurants in the main building added to the volume of the lobby music. But after a long day of travel, swimming, and exploring I quickly fell asleep in spite of the clatter.

The next morning my husband and I were up early to rope drop Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. We grabbed some fruit on the way out, but the breakfast spread that morning looked impressive

Breads, pastries, and cereals were available for grab and goes along with fruit For more of a sit-down breakfast there were Mickey waffles (I only saw them Saturday morning), scrambled eggs, and breakfast meats.

After a morning of seeing lots of animals, riding on the back of a banshee, almost getting eaten by a T-Rex, and spotting the disco yeti, we headed back to the resort to grab a bite with our kiddo that opted to spend the day at the pool with family.

The same snack type foods were available. We grabbed some bags of chips and ate some carrot sticks before hitting the monorail and heading to see Cindy’s castle.

We took some pictures and rode the wildest ride in the wilderness before heading back to the resort to change in to our Star Wars disneybounds (Did I mention it was May the Fourth?)

Before making it to our fourth park, however, we made a quick stop in to EPCOT for Hunter’s favorite snacks: bean buns and canned coffee at Mitsukoshi Department Store Staying at the Grand Floridian made quick stop just that, by hopping on the monorail just off the second floor of the lobby.

Once we had the goods in hand, we headed off to the Skyliner to catch a ride to Hollywood Studios.

I quickly realized I didn’t want to be in the middle of the festivities so we grabbed some food and headed back to the resort.

We made it back in time to watch Aladdin on the lawn and ended the night with more desserts in the club.

Sadly, it was our last night. I honestly wasn’t prepared for how much I would LOVE this resort. Photos of the rooms before renovations gave it more of a stuffy feel Now, though, the rooms are airy and light. I can’t wait to see what they do in the lobby.

I’ll be honest, I don’t think the price is going to justify some carrot sticks and light bites for every client. The price of the standard rooms vs club level rooms can differ into the $500's. That’s a lot of money per night to have access to food your clients may or may not like or may not be able to eat due to allergies.

The resort, however, is perfect for families who don’t mind to spend a little extra and want to be able to kick back vs non-stop park days.

PhotosbySamG.

So starting out, tell me about you and why you chose to become a travel agent.

So I'm a psych nurse by day but I have beengoingonDisneyvacationseversince I can remember. When I went to Disney World on my honeymoon in 2022, it was mywife'sfirsttimeandweboughtintothe Disney Vacation Club She was just like ‘okay, we both love this, we both have a ton of food allergies, so Disney is a great place to go and not have to worry about anything’sothat'swhyweloveitthere.

We had used a travel agent for our honeymoon and she had done everything for us. I was like, oh my God, like this is... I just never knew about it. I was one of those people that like didn't know you could use an agent for free. So I used one for our honeymoon. And I was like, wow, thatwasamazing.

Jenna’s Journey:

From life-long Disney lover to experienced professional, this Canadian agent shares her story.

She did everything for us and made everything really easy and seamless. So that's sort of, when I was planning, I was like, ‘oh man, I would love to do this’. Like this looks like so much fun. But it was reallyhardtofigureouthowtodoit,tobe honest.

I did years of research like ‘how do I become a travel agent that specializes in Disney?’‘DoIneedtogotoschooltobea travelagent?’

So once I started my Disney Instagram, I started interacting more with people who are travel agents and who aren't just Disney Parks fans in general. I started connecting with people who worked for the agency I would end up working for. It was hard for me to find an agency that was hiring in Canada; that would hire someone with no travel agent education. Otherthan,like,Iknoweverythingthereis toknowaboutDisney Right?

So... Fortunately, I got in contact with the right people and I was able to get a job with Click the Mouse, which was awesome. But it's like it was like a two year thing in the making of like, I want to do this How do I do this? Where do I research this? I didn't even know where to look. And then I just ended up talking to the right people and it ended up working out and it ended up that they needed more people out west because they're based in Toronto So like they're out East, they book a lot of Walt Disney World. So us out West, there's a couple of us. We do a little bit more Disneyland, a lot of Disney World too, and anything else Disney, but we book a lot of Disneyland out here.

You mentioned using a travel agent to book your honeymoon. How did it go and did it end up influencing the way you book travel?

It was a little hard for me to let go of control,butitwasgoodbecauseitwasmy firsttimepostCOVIDandsoalotofthings hadchanged.Itwasreallyhelpfulthatshe knew all of the information to help me sinceIhadn'tbeensinceCOVID.

It was the longest trip I'd ever taken. Usually when I would go, it would be for five to seven days and do like a one park per day. It would be fairly simple. Not muchtableservice,verybasic.

But for our honeymoon, we went for two weeks There were a lot of dining and additional experiences that we wanted to do, including golfing, and I'd never been golfing at Disney before So it was really helpful to have somebody who just obviously knew more than me at the time. I really liked the experience. It was it was hard to let go of control. Yeah, a little bit. Butshedidagreatjob.Soitwasfine.

Does it influence the way I book travel? I don’t think so I did have a good experience, and I remember what she did forme,stufflikethat.

But I do feel like, of course, when you're starting, you also sort of don't really know what you should be offering, what you couldbeoffering,toyourguests.

So I think over time, I've tried to develop, you know, things that are more unique to me, I suppose, and unique to our agency thatmakesbookingwithusspecial.

Itryanddoalittlebitofextras;likeIhave my blog and I always refer people back to that. It's like if you have questions or you need information on something, always referring back to these things instead of just being like here's a link to Genie+ on the Disney website, good luck, you know, I use my own more personal experience to makeitalittlemorepersonalizedthanjust offering opinions I think guests like to hear if you liked certain experiences or maybe didn't like an experience People are like, ‘Oh, like I want to go to Cinderella's royal table or whatever; what are your thoughts?’ I'm not going to be like,Iloveit.becauseIdon't,youknow,it’s notforme.SoIthinkofferinganopinionis also valuable, not just being like, hey, yeah, I'll book whatever you want, you know?

What is your favorite thing to eat on property?

We really like Sebastian's Bistro at Caribbean Beach Resort. If we're talking restaurants, we really like Sebastian's Bistro because number one, they do old fashions made out of rum because we can't have- well, I could have whiskey technically Tashacan'tbecauseshe'salso allergictobarley,whichisthiswholething with alcohol that like you never know the ingredients of alcohol But anyway, they can make you a rum old fashioned at Sebastian'sBistro,likeacustomone.

And we don't have to worry about allergiesthere.Sothat'sgreat.

Butthey[Sebastian’sBistro]alsojusthave areallygreatlikefamilystyleveganmenu

WereallylikeTopolino'sforbreakfast Wecanhavethepopcorn.There'snodairy in it. It's not real butter. So that's a great snack.

And of course the allergy beignets they whip oh my gosh you know the usuals, yeahtheusualstuff.

Thereareliterallysomanygoodthingsfor us to eat, it's crazy, and if we're there during a festival, there's always so much, it'sawesome

So you said that you found your host (Click the Mouse) through Googling ‘agencies in Canada’, right?

Pretty much, yeah And then just like connecting with some people on Instagram.

Also, I do photography a little bit on the side.IwasfollowingafewDisneywedding photographers on Instagram. One of the Disney wedding photographers was an agentforClicktheMouse.Ireachedoutto her and I was like, listen, I've been trying to do this for like two years. I see that you work for a Canadian agency, which is really what I'm looking for Like, do you have any idea of their hiring or who I should send my resume to? A resume I didn'tevensendaresume Like,what'smy resume? I don't have any travel experience except for going to Disney for mywholelife,right?

She recommended I message my now boss,Sandra.

I messaged her and the rest is history. So it ended up working out. It was just so random. It felt like it was hard to find people, the right people to talk to. It was hard

Being Canadian, did you need any qualifications?

Yeah So because my agency is based in Ontario, you have to get your, it's called your TICO certification Basically, you do your little certification. It's a course. I think it costs like $50. It wasn't super expensive or anything, but it's basically just like sort of like a regulatory body kind of for agents in the province of Ontario. I couldn't tell you what somebody in Alberta needs, to be honest, which is where I'm from. But because my host agency is in Ontario, I needed to have all of their qualifications. So I did my TICO training and then of course all the Disney andUniversaltrainingandthatwasit.

So how do you prepare your clients to travel to the U.S.? What things do you as Canadian citizens need to know before you come to America?

Pretty much you just need your passport Like all of us Canadians are pretty used to traveling international So like you need yourpassporttogetin,period.Nodriver's license is going to work. All my guests are...we are Canadians. We're used to going to the United States all the time. That'soneofthemostpopularplacesthat wetravelto.

Imentionitmore,Iguess,tocruiseclients. It's just like obvious it's sort of like an unspoken thing of like, you're going to the United States, you are going to need your passport And like, when you're going on a cruise, they're going to check your passport

What about phone plans and currency?

IhaveaCanada/US planbecauseIcallall the time Most people don't though So when guests are traveling, they can either rely on the wifi, which is, I mean, it's okaynotthebest,butit’sfreeatleast.

Because it's something like, depending on your phone plan, it's like $10-$12 a day to use your data in the United States. So it's notcheap.

For currency, I personally use my credit card for everything just because I'm a big points person. I know I pay a bit of a fee forthat.Butforme,it'ssortofjustlikeit's worthittojustusemycreditcard.

Some people like to bring cash or we can use our Disney gift cards We can get the Disneygiftcardshere[inCanada],justlike peoplecanintheStates

What advice would you give to someone trying to get into the travel industry or are new to the travel industry?

I think that, you know, looking back, it was good that it took so long for me to find an agency, to be honest Because, in the moment, I'm a very impatient person So I was like, I just feel like I want to do this I feel like I could be good at it. And I was getting frustrated when the ball wasn't rolling. I couldn't find like what I was lookingfor.

I didn't know, at the beginning, I didn't knowwhatIwasdoingorwhatIshouldbe looking for in an agency. And thank God it tooktwoyearsandIfiguredouttheboxes Iwantedtocheck.Ididn'twanttojoinjust any agency. I wanted to make sure that I join one that I'm going to have support andlikethepeoplethatI'mworkingwith Even though it is a very independent job, you'reworkingwiththesepeople

So I'm glad it ended up taking a little bit longer so that I could find the agency that was right for me. I think that's the most important thing; don't just join the first one that you see that's hiring because, and if it is a good fit for you, amazing, but like, it doesn't have to be an agency with like a thousand agents. You know what I mean?It'ssonotpersonable.

I prefer the smaller agencies where you know everybody, where you are on talking terms with everybody You might not know everyone face to face because I live far away from everyone, but you know, yougettoknowthemonlineandvirtually.

Make sure you choose an agency that has goodtraining BecauseIfeellikesomejust don't They'resortofjustlike,oh,well,just figure it out And then you make mistakes and like, sometimes that's okay, but sometimes it's not. It's like, these are people's vacations. If you mess it up, there might be repercussions. I think that it's important to find an agency that has good education, but also one that you actuallythinkyou'regoingtolike,because youdon'twanttobebouncingaround.

How would you tell somebody to show up authentically on their socials?

Show their face for sure. Don't just post the stock Disney images when they email you from DTA: new promotion, blah, blah, blah. And then they just like put it on Instagram,thatpicture withDisney'scopy underneath. And that's it. It's my pet peevewhenpeopledothat,tobehonest.

I don't work in social media. I'm not a social media manager or anything, but like I said, I've had my photography business for like five years at this point So I'm sellingmyselfinthattoo

Asaphotographer/vendorforsomebody's wedding, if you're not showing as yourself and selling yourself, you're not going to hired, well you'll get hired, but you're not going to connect with the people who you actuallywanttoconnectwith.

Ithinkthatshowingupassomeonewhois gay, who is vegan, who has a ton of allergies, who is a huge animal and dog lover, showing up as me, that is going to attracttherightclientsforyou

So I think that that's super important Super, super important. Don't post those stupid images, those stupid stock images on your Instagram with no hashtags and just being like, message me for quote. Whatisthat?

To follow along with Jenna’s travels and see some showing up authentically inspo, find her on instagram @_displannerjenna

(4)LessonsLearned ForFutureSmooth Sailings

What happens when a seasoned travel agent ignores her own advice, and what we can keep in mind...

Ifeltsicktomystomach.MyheartracedasI refreshedtheappoverandover,watchingour arrivaltimeintoOrlandokeepcreepinglaterand later.TherewasnothingIcoulddobutwait andhopethat,eventhoughuptothispointour traveldayhadbeenadisaster,thingsfromnow onwouldworkoutperfectlytogetustherejustin time.AndasIpulleddownonthescreenand watchedthelittleairplanespinwhilerefreshingthe infoforwhatfeltlikethemillionthtime,all Icouldthinkwas,“Whydidn’tItakemyown advice?”

Ifyou’vebeeninthissituationbefore,atthispoint you’regettingPTSDflashbackstothemomentyou realizedyourvacationmightbeoverbeforeiteven began ImadethebigmistakethatItelleverysingle oneofmyclientstoavoid–flyinginthemorningof mycruisedeparture.

I was taking my 7-year-old on his first Disney Cruise for his birthday – a 3-night sailing on The Wish out of Port Canaveral. He could barely contain his excitement in the days leading up to the trip. So, imagine my dread when I heard the captain tell the plane that because of bad weather in Orlando, we were being rerouted to Pensacola to wait out the storm. As I turned to tell my sweet son we might not make it in time to catch the ship, I felt like the most terrible travel agent in the world. And worst of all, I was disappointing my favorite client.

I learned four very important lessons that day At least I walked away with something to show for the anxiety I felt while we were at the mercy of the airline and the weather Next time you are planning a client’s cruise vacation (or your own!), keep these in mind for a smoother travel experience

The most obvious – don’t fly (or drive!) in the morning of your cruise departure. Use my story or use your own if you have one, but try to make your clients understand the importance of this extra day in their itinerary Too much can go wrong with travel – mechanical delays, weather, computer issues with the airlines, traffic jams or flat tires if you’re driving, the list goes on. It is not fun to start your vacation under that kind of stress and it took a solid day to finally calm my nerves.

Try not to check bags.

I know this can be tough if your clients are going on a longer cruise or traveling with a large family, but keep in mind that waiting for baggage or dealing with any lost bags can create a Sophie’s choice that no one should have to make - wait for my bags and miss my vacation or go on my vacation without my bags. I’ll take neither for 500. Even if they make the smart decision to fly in the day before, that doesn’t mean their bags will too. If bags have to be checked, recommend to your clients putting Apple AirTags in each of their bags so they can track the location of their items at all times.

Buy the insurance.

The only thing that kept me remotely sane while my son and I were waiting to learn our fate was the fact that I had purchased the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan. I knew that if we would be forced to change our plans, at least some - if not allof the cost would be recovered. Knowing we had this safety net didn’t exactly put a smile on my face, but it did keep my anxiety at a manageable hum rather than a full-blown nuclear attack. And let’s be honest, unexpected events happen in life all the time. Anything that might cause someone to cancel their vacation is going to be disappointing or even devastating in itself. By purchasing a travel insurance policy, your client can avoid losing a significant investment on top of what they are already having to endure that caused them to miss the trip.

Make sure you have record or documentation if a client goes against your advice

In my case, I had no one to blame but myself. A client that decides against purchasing an insurance policy or doesn’t want to arrive near the day before embarkation might try to blame you if everything doesn’t go according to plan. Which, as we know by now, is a very real possibility. A good method of practice is to have clients sign a waiver acknowledging that you as the agent offered insurance and if they choose not to purchase, they are assuming the risks (work with your legal representation to get the proper language in place). For port arrivals, make sure you are recommending they arrive in port the day prior to embarkation via email. If they arrive the day of and miss the ship because of flight delays or roadside troubles, you’ll be able to point to that recommendation if your advice gets called into question.

My story does have a happy ending, thankfully. We finally landed in Orlando with enough time to grab our bags from the overhead bin (something I did right – not checking bags!), disembark the plane, and sprint to the Disney Cruise Line Ground Transportation rep with minutes to spare We spent three incredible days on The Wish meeting characters, becoming hooked on room service, and making those coveted magical memories

My last thought – the travel Gods don’t care that you’re a travel agent. We are subjected to the same travel hiccups and horror stories that every other traveler is. Treat yourself like your favorite client and take your own advice when planning your personal vacations – because why wouldn’t you listen to an expert, respected travel planner?

Mental Health Corner with Amanda

Let’s talk about self-care, we have all heard about it. It is talked about everywhere, but are we actually listening? On one hand, society tells us “It is important to take care of yourself, you can’t pour from an empty cup.” On the other hand, it is saying, “You have to meet these deadlines, you have to get all these things done, if you don’t you are failing.” So, which one is it? It’s true, taking care of yourself is important and you can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s also true, that deadlines and tasks have to get done in life. So how can we balance these two statements? You guessed it, self-care! Selfcare can take many shapes and forms in our daily lives It doesn’t have to be this grand gesture like we see in the movies when the woman is running a bath and lighting all the candles and wearing an eye mask. Don’t get me wrong, it can be, and if that IS your self care, I love that for you. But for the people who don’t like baths (me) it can look different. When participating in self-care, it is essential that whatever it is you are doing, it recharges you

Which sounds self-explanatory, and I’m sure you are thinking, “yeah Amanda, that sounds obvious.” When I started learning and implementing self-care practices, I wasn’t doing things that recharged me, I was doing the things portrayed in media, like going out with friends, getting your nails done, or running a bath. I found out that that is not what refills my cup. All of those things are fun, they are just not what recharge me! My self-care practices are going for a walk, working out, trying a new coffee shop, watching a movie that I liked when I was younger, and listening to music. Self-care is different for everyone; you have to try things and figure out if you like them or not.

Practicing self-care daily reduces levels of burnout.

Like I said before, learning to incorporate selfcare does not have to be grand. It can be planning something at the end of the week, so you have something to look forward to. It can be making your favorite meal. Maybe you like doing art and that is what makes you feel rested. Whatever it is, I encourage you to add at least one self-care practice into the upcoming week. What are you going to add?

5 Lead Magnet Ideas

Disney Recipe Dupes 1. Remember,
2. “Which Resort Matches You” Quiz 3. Pros and Cons of Traveling to WDW in the Winter PDF 4. “5 Things You Should Know Before You Plan Your WDW Trip” 5. 10 Hidden Gems in WDW
all lead magnets should funnel in to a welcome sequence. Will you have the same sequence or multiple depending on what you’re selling?

DINING PREPARED: 5 THINGS YOUR CLIENTS NEED TO KNOW

Let’s be real, the Disney Dining Plan is not what it used to be. For better or worse, it’s different. And that means that we need to change the way we talk about it with those trusting us to plan their magical vacations.

Clients don’t know what they don’t know, and it’s on us as trusted travel professionals to prepare them with all the hidden must-knows that are sprinkled into every Disney trip.

After all, we want them to have the best time ever and be wowed by how much invaluable information we imparted on them, right?

So if you’re not telling your clients these five things when pitching the dining plan, I urge you to start today.

1. It’s about the experience not the expense!

Once upon a time, the Disney Dining Plan was like a golden ticket to mealtime bliss a savvy way to score some serious savings while munching your way through the parks. But let's face it, times have changed, and that dining plan magic isn't quite as potent as it once was.

Now, don't get me wrong, it's still a gamechanger, but setting your clients' expectations straight is key.

Is it possible to save money by utilizing the dining plan? Yes! With careful planning and a whole list of other considerations.

Should you be marketing it as a money saving hack? Not in my opinion.

Most people will be lucky to break even by adding the dining plan to their vacation as opposed to paying for meals out of pocket, so calling it a trick to saving in your budget is pretty disingenuous.

So how should you talk about it?

To me, the best way is to tell people to think of the dining plan as a budgeting buddy for the trip. Pop it into your package, spread the cost by utilizing a payment plan and by the time you’re walking down Main Street, you have a Walt Disney World Resort that feels like an allinclusive dream

And let's not forget the sheer convenience of it all. With your dining credits preloaded onto your magic band, mealtime becomes a breeze. Simply scan, dine, and repeat no fuss, no muss, just every Mickey shaped snack item you can dream of at your fingertips.

2. Use them or Lose Them!

I know I’m not the only person to see this recurring post in Facebook Groups: “Help! My vacation ends tomorrow and I’ve got a mountain of meal credits left. How can I get a refund?”

Sadly, we know the answer is… you don’t. Those credits? They're use it or lose it, my friend. And trust me, you don't want to be that person cramming snacks into your carry-on at check-out because you've got credits to burn and a plane to catch.

And you should trust me because that’s me, I’ve been that person!

That's why it's crucial to prep our clients ahead of time, arm them with the knowledge they need to make the most of their credits. With a little foresight and some handy tools like dining reservations and personalized recommendations, we can steer them clear of last-minute snack hoarding and ensure they depart with memories not leftover meal credits and regret.

3. Added Gratuity

Let's skip the whole tipping debate though, let's be real, Disney's service is top-notch and definitely deserves a shoutout. But here's the deal: when it comes to the Disney Dining Plan, gratuity isn't included in most meals

Now, if you've got a party of six or more, brace yourself for an added 18% gratuity automatically tacked onto your bill. It's all laid out when they hand you the check, so no surprises there.

Whether your clients decide to tip or not is totally up to them, but either way, don’t let it come as a surprise to them.

GIve them the full scoop so they budget accordingly. Unlike their meals, gratuity isn't prepaid, so it's something they'll want to factor in when planning their Disney dining adventures.

4. Mealtime vs. Magic Time

Let’s talk about meals themselves. Sure, food at Walt Disney World Resort can be exceptional and a trip highlight for many, but if your clients are all about meeting characters and hitting the rides, they might need a heads-up

Table service meals from start to finish can clock in anywhere from an hour or more. And if you're eyeing a character meal, be prepared to hang around even longer. Not everyone is into that kind of downtime.

So before your clients jet off to the Magic Kingdom, give them the lowdown on meal times. Set those expectations early so they're not disappointed when they're in the park, trying to rush through dinner just to catch the fireworks. A little prep goes a long way in making sure their Disney dreams come true without any hiccups

5. Mouseketeer Menus

Ever heard this one before? "We're on the dining plan, but our kid's got an appetite like a grown-up. Why the extra charge when they order from the adult menu?"

Well, because children 3-9 with dining plan credits are meant to stick to the children's menu wherever one is available, which is almost everywhere

Now, can they order an adult meal? Sure! But be prepared for some added costs, just like when you opt for fancier drinks or meal upgrades.

If your children are always hungry and the snack or meal credits just won't satisfy, the dining plan might not be the best fit for your family.

On the flip side, the Disney Dining Plan can be a lot of food, if your crew isn't big on snacking or prefers lighter meals, the dining plan might end up being more than they can handle.

At the end of the day, it's all about what works best for your clients and ultimately, it’s up to them to decide what feels right. But it’s up to you to lay out all the details beforehand, so they can make the most informed decision possible.

Because when it comes to Disney dining, knowledge is key to a magical experience. We all know that planning a Disney vacation is SO MUCH MORE than just booking a room and selecting tickets and calling it a day. It's about crafting a vacation experience that's as magical as can be

So, let’s all vow to do better when it comes to empowering our clients with the knowledge they need to make the most of their Disney dining experiences

From managing expectations to navigating the ins and outs of mealtime adventures, we've got the tools to ensure their vacations are nothing short of spectacular. After all, when it comes to Disney magic, every detail counts.

Christie Bramante Owner- Jolly Holidays Travel

Terms and Conditions: What Do We Need To Keep Our Business Safe?

What are some essential documents and contracts that travel agents need to have in place?

Everybody needs to have a terms and conditions document. That’s the most important document.

I know there are some people who think that they can get by without one, but in this day and age, credit card companies are now requiring that you have a terms and conditions document in order for you to win a chargeback dispute. If you don't have a terms and conditions document and if that document doesn't have language referring to cancellation policies, then it's virtually impossible to win a chargeback dispute.

So that's the first piece of it. There are terms and conditions documents that are kind of floating around out there. There are subscription services where you can buy a cookie cutter terms and conditions document; I have a strong view that those aren't going to work for most people because terms and conditions documents really are unique to every business. So somebody who sells a lot of Disney might need something different than somebody who does a lot of destination weddings versus somebody who does a lot of adventure travel-or school groups or corporate travel.

Every business is a little bit different. I feel like people are going to be best protected if they have a terms and conditions document that is specifically custom for their agency.

The other thing that is really important is credit card authorization. I mentioned chargebacks earlier. The credit card companies are now requiring that you use very specific language in order to survive a chargeback dispute. And so if you don't have the right language for that, it's going to be a problem to win a dispute.

So the terms and conditions document and the credit card authorization, those are the two most important things to protect you from liability. There are other documents, client agreements, which is kind of like a shorter, more user-friendly way to get people to sign on to your terms document. I provide templates of that for people. Insurance waivers, Those things are important, but not nearly as important as the terms and conditions document and the credit card authorization language.

For the terms and conditions, is this something that we just need to have stated on our website, or do we need clients to sign those individually?

So you do need clients to actually agree to it. So it's not the sort of thing where you can just put it on your website and let it sit there. But, they don't have to sign it wet ink on paper. When I draft terms and conditions documents for people, I also include as part of the flat rate, talking through the workflow and how to get your clients to agree to those terms. You want to be easy to work with. You don't want to be rubbing their nose in a bunch of legal stuff.

So that's where a client agreement can come in. Rather than sending them 10, 11 pages of legal stuff, you can just have them check a box on a form that says ‘I agree to your terms and conditions’ which are located at, and then www.wherever you've posted it

How often should we update those terms and conditions?

It really depends. You want the terms and conditions to be stable and consistent. You don't want to be constantly changing them.

But I would say if something changes in your business, like the types of trips you're booking or the types of clients you're working with, you would want to reach out to your lawyer to make sure that you're still covered.

If you have a relationship with a lawyer, they can keep an eye on all of that for you. So for my clients, if there's something that changes in the industry, like a new regulation we have to deal with, or a new problem that's cropping up as part of the big picture in the industry, I will reach out to my clients who I represent and say, ‘hey, I'm recommending that you put this additional language into your terms document’. I don't really send invoices with those updates. That's just as easy as me sending out an invoice to people, but I would say, if you've got a lawyer who represents your business then you've got somebody you can reach out to if you need something.

You've also got somebody who's keeping an eye on the industry who can let you know if there's something that you should be concerned about. We'll give you a heads up.

How long should we keep our contracts after a client has traveled?

I would say you might want to keep them for a couple of years.

If you've got a technology tool that you're using, for instance-like TravelJoy, Travefy, or Tern-to have your clients agree to your documents that way; your tech tool will keep those on file for quite some time. And then you can archive them. You don't have to delete them. So a good technology tool is definitely your friend. If you find something that you're comfortable using, Vacation Creation is one that a lot of Disney agents use, I know those people, they're terrific. There's also Vacation CRM. Tern is relatively new. I know a lot of people are excited about that. But certainly Vacation Creation is something that specifically I know has a lot of traction with Disney agencies.

What would be the downsides of using things like LegalZoom, an AI software or a subscription for our contracts?

There are a lot of things that I see in those templates that are actually problematic. I see that some of those cookie-cutter things have, what I would consider, tour operator provisions.

I think arbitration language is sometimes problematic because if you're forced into arbitration but you've got a dispute with a client that involves the supplier, you can't really pull the supplier into an arbitration the way you could if you were in a court of law.

But the biggest issue, I think, is that if you're using something that is not drafted custom for your business, You don't really have a relationship with an attorney that you can pick up the phone and call if you've got a question about something, something changes in your business, or if you have a dispute and you want to make sure that you're covered.

So, really, the big difference is are you buying a document or are you establishing a relationship with somebody who's going to actually be there to answer the phone if you have a problem and you need help?

What would we do if a client wanted to challenge a cancellation fee or a nonrefundable planning fee?

There are a lot of different ways that this could play out, right? So if somebody does a chargeback and if they're doing a chargeback on a supplier payment, for example, you use the client's credit card to make a payment with Disney Vacations or with Fun Jet or Classic Vacations or whoever your supplier is.

If the client tries to reverse those charges, what they're doing is they're telling the credit card company that it's a fraudulent charge. And if you're the one who used their credit card to make that payment with the supplier, it's sort of like they're accusing the travel agent of credit card fraud.

So what generally happens is the supplier will reach out to you to say, ‘hey, your client disputed those charges’. And at that point, you're going to want to show them your credit card authorization and your terms and conditions so that they can see that you had authorization to use that card and that you had a terms and conditions document that has the right language in it. Then it's the supplier's responsibility to fight the chargeback.

If it's your fee that they're disputing, then it's going to be between you and the credit card company to prove that you had authorization to charge that fee. So that's why things like, you know, ‘just charge my card you have on file’ or taking a credit card number over the phone or by text message, that's not going to be enough to protect you. So you're really going to want to make sure that you start with the right language in place for that.

What sort of lawyer should we reach out to to kind of draft these forms?

There are only about six or seven of us in the entire country who do this work. We all represent people across the country.

ASTA has an attorney referral program, and I participate in that attorney referral program. I think there are a couple of other attorneys in there.

We have discounted rates for ASTA members. We're pretty easy to find. There's also an organization called the International Forum for Travel and Tourism Advocates, the IFTTA. That's an international organization that I belong to and most of the other travel industry attorneys belong to that organization.

You can reach out to us there. But I would say if you're a hosted advisor, if you're a hosted agent, you can ask for recommendations through your agency owner.

If you are in need of legal advice or need your own contracts drawn up, I encourage you to reach out to Thomas Carpenter by email at tcarpenter@carpentertaylor.com.

Check out Thomas’s webinars on YouTube!

Thomas R. Carpenter is an attorney in private practice, representing clients in the, arts, entertainment, media, and travel industries. With 30 years of experience, he has run the legal department of two major entertainment industry labor organizations and served on the leadership team that led the merger between the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (“AFTRA”) and the Screen Actors Guild He was named Labor Counsel of the Year by the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel in 2012 He serves on the advisory board of Uniglobe Travel Center, is a Professional Educator with The Travel Institute, and participates in the International Forum for Travel and Tourism Advocates He is also a co-founder of Huckleberry Travel, an award-winning travel business

CLIA: ICRUISELINE nternational Association IC: Independent Contractor T&C’s: termsand conditions Supplier: touroperators, resorts,hotel,cruise bline,orairlineswe ooktravelthrough IATA: InternationalAir Transportation Association CRM: CustomerRelations Manager(whereyou doemailmarketing) BDM: Business Development Manager ASTA: AmericanSociety ofTravelAgents FIT: FreeIndependent Traveler FAMTrip: Familiarization Trip(invitationby supplier) AP:Annual Passholder TermsandAcronymstoKnow

Mickey Caramel Apples

Youwillneed:

Granny Smith Apples

Ghirardelli Chocolate Melt Wafers

Marshmallows

Kraft Caramel Bits

Red Candy Melts

Green Candy Melts

Dowels

Piping Bags

1.Washandthroughlydryyour apples.

2.Placeadowelthroughthetop ofeachapple

TomakeaMickeyApple:

5.Oncethecarameliscooltothe touch,removefromfridge.Place marshmallowstoeachsideofthe doweltomakeears.Theyshould sticktothecaramelbutyoucan securethemwithtoothpicks whiledippinginchocolate.Melt theGhirardellimeltsandrepeat thedippingprocesstocomplete yourMickeyApple.Placebackon parchmentlinedplateandchillin thefridgeuntilthechocolatehas hardened.

ORforaPoisonApple:

5.Meltredcandymeltsaccording topackageandrepeatthedipping process.Oncetheappleiscoated inred,chillinthefridgeuntilcool tothetouch.

6.Meltgreencandymelts accordingtopackageandpourin apipingbag.(don’toverfillyour bag).Startbypiping2rounded trianglesforeyesocketsandan upsidedownheartforthenose. Pipeanoutlineofthe“poison drips”aroundtherestofthe appleandfillinwithgreencandy melts.Placebackinfridgeuntil firm

3.Meltthecaramelaccordingto thepackage (Meltingthecaramel andthechocolatesinabowlor cupjustslightlywiderthanthe applewillmakethedipping processeasier)

4.Givethecaramelaminuteto slightlycool,thendipyourapple makingsuretoswirlarounduntil completelycovered Scrapethe bottomoftheappletoremove excesscaramelandplaceona parchmentlinedplate.Placein refrigeratortocool

Oncefirm,youcanputthemin individualcellophanebagsandtie themupwithahalloweenribbon togifttofriendsorclients.Ordig rightinandpretendyou’re walkingaroundDisneySprings!

Lead Magnet Idea:

HostahalfwaytoHalloween partyandmakeappleslive (virtuallyorinperson)talkabout MNSSHP.Collectemail addressestosignupforthe partyandplugthemintoyour emailmarketing(with permissionofcourse)

We’reHalfway toHalloween!

The anticipation is finally over! Disney has finally announced the dates to the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! May 6th brought the news we were waiting for, Mickey would bring his party to the Magic Kingdom beginning August 9th through October 31st.

In addition to the yearly trick-or-treating around the park, the amazing fireworks show hosted by Jack Skellington himself, the spellbinding “Hocus Pocus Villians Spelltacular”, and the spooky ride overlays; Disney has hinted at some rand new haunts.

Some characters will get brand new costumes and more villan sightings have been hinted at- I wonder who will join in on the fun! A new dance party will hit the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland; inspired by the soon to be released “Descendants: Rise of Red”. Bruno will meet guests with his niece, Mirabel, in Fairytale Garden. Most importantly for families with littles- Disney has moved up the parade time to 8:15 so no one has to miss out on the spooky fun of the “Mickey’s Boo-Too-You Halloween Parade”!

Do you have your MNSSHP Marketing in place? If not, its time to get started!

Don’t forget, the Halloween party is the one time of year adults can dress in costume. (Check the costume guidelines) Encourage your clients to go for it! It’s fun!

May the Fourth Be With You!

IspentSaturday,Maythe4th(StarWarsDay) hoppingtoallfourparks.AsaStarWarsfanIwas excitedtovisitDisney’sHollywoodStudios,butI wantedtowaituntillaterinthedayhopingthatit wouldn’tbeAScrowded...Iwaswrong.Wespent themorningatDisney’sAnimalKingdom,the earlyafternoonatMagicKingdom,weeven hopedintoEPCOTtograbHunter’sfavorite snacksfromMitsukoshiDepartmentStore.

Thenitwastimetoheadtothemainevent.We hadbeenseeingpeopleinStarWarsT-shirtsall day,butthededicationtothefandomwas apparentintheStudios.Peopleweredressed headtotoeinelaboratecostume(I’mnotsure howsomeofthemweren’tagainstdresscode requirements).

HoweveritwasINSANELYcrowded.More crowdedthanmyanxietywantedtodealwith,so wegrabbedabiteatmyfavoritequickservice, DockingBay7FoodandCargo,andheadedout.

Am I glad I experienced some of Star Wars day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Yes, it was fun seeing all the fans and their creativity. Will I do it again? Maybe not, but I’m glad I experienced it. There isn’t necessarily anything special that Disney puts on, but there is normally special snacks and merch to check out! And if you can brave the crowd, you can witness the masses raise and light their sabers at dusk.

Ingredients:

1 cup salted butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp molasses

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1 ts baking soda

1 ts cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

3 cups quick oats

1.Inastandmixerorhand mixer,combinesoftened butter,brownsugar,and granulatedsugar.Mixuntil lightandfluffy

2Addvanillaextractandeggs andmixuntilcombined

3.Inaseparatebowl,mixflour, bakingsoda,cinnamon, nutmeg,andoats.

4.Withthemixeronlow(or combinebyhand)adddry ingredientsslowly.Once combined,turnspeedupto mediumhighandmixuntil fullycombined.

TheWookie Cookie

a thick oatmeal cookie sandwich filled with fluffy frosting is usually found at Backlot Express inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Use this dupe recipe when you’re missing a stroll through the parks.

5.Usingacookiescoop, portioncookiedoughontoa parchmentlinedpanorintoa discshapedsiliconemoldfor thatmoreauthenticWookie Cookielook ForHollywood Studiossizecookiesusea scoopandahalfofdough Roll thescoopsintoballs Place thedoughballsatleast3 inchesapartforthelarge cookies.(Ifyouareusing glutenfreeflourIrecommend freezingthedoughbefore baking.)

6.Bakecookiesat350for1520minutesforlargecookiesor untilthetopsofthecookies aresetandnolongershiny.

7.Oncethecookiesarecooled scooporpipeagoodamount offrosting,andachocolate garnish,andenjoy!

For the frosting:

1 cup salted butter

1 cup marshmallow fluff

2-4 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1.Inastandmixerorhand mixer,combinesoftened butterandmarshmallowfluff Mixonhighuntilfluffy

2.Addvanillaextractandmix untilcombined.

3.Slowlyaddpowderedsugar. Oncecombinedturntohighto whipfrostingtogether.Add morepowderedsugaruntil desiredconsistencyifitisnot thickenough.

To make the chocolate bandolier: melt chocolate wafers in brown and white according to package 1 on a piece of parchment, pipe a rectangle of brown and fill it in.

2. Add white squares 3 place in fridge to chill 4.

The Ultimate Disney Experience: The top

6 things you need to know about embarking on a Disney VIP Tour

When it comes to visiting Walt Disney World, there are a million different ways your clients can experience the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. With those million different ways, come a million different budgets.

One of the most exclusive ways to experience Walt Disney World is embarking on a VIP tour experience Disney’s VIP tour experience is an incredibly fun and exciting adventure that is the ultimate in Disney excitement. While incredibly worth it, the tour is pricey. With that being said, I’m here to share the top 6 things your clients need to know before deciding if the VIP tour experience is right for them.

Unlocking the Magic:

Exploring Disney VIP Tours – Cost, Tips, and Extended Adventures

As I mentioned above, the experience is pricey. On their website, Disney indicates the tour price ranges from $450.00-900.00/hour with a 7 hour minimum expectation. While tips aren’t an expectation, it is a wise idea to encourage your client to tip your tour guide for stellar service. Plus, I’m are confident that your clients will want to tip their tour guide after seeing all the work that goes into making their day fantastic!

Navigate the Enchantment: Pricing Details, Tipping Etiquette, and Tour Duration Options

Additionally, while 7 hours is the minimum tour length, your clients can choose to extend their tour up to 10 hours I’ll cover how to book later, but just know that it’s important to factor in when your clients want to start and end their tour as it has an impact on the overall cost. Also, be mindful that your clients must have park hopper tickets if they wish to visit more than one park, so this cost needs to be factored in as well if they were considering opting for tickets that only allow entry to one park per day.

Unveiling the Magic: What’s Included in a Disney VIP Tour?

One of the things everyone wants to know when considering a VIP tour is what’s included in the experience The essential factor that makes the VIP experience so special is the VIP tour guide I always encourage clients to ask their tour guide how they got into VIP tour guides because their stories with the Walt Disney Company are fantastic These elite team members have often spent many years working for Walt Disney World and are excited to share their wealth of knowledge with you when it comes to park easter eggs, fun facts and more. While much of their knowledge is fun, a ton of it is also highly practical and it can feel like you’re traveling the parks with a personalized GPS. If a member of the party is utilizing an ECV, they also seem to have this magical way of clearing a path- a skill that I personally found invaluable!

Park Perks: Lightning Lane Access and Ride Secrets

In addition to a spectacular VIP tour guide, your clients also receive lightning lane access, at least once, for every ride in all four theme parks I say at least once because some rides do have a limit of once or twice per ride. Additionally, for certain rides, the entry point is different than the entry point for the traditional lightning lane. In certain instances, this shortens wait times even more dramatically. We found this to be particularly true in Disney’s Hollywood Studios where we wanted to do a ton of things in a short period of time!

Snack Time Magic: Savoring Treats with Your VIP Guide

Your client’s VIP tour guide also provides a round of snacks/drinks twice during the tour. This is something the clients communicate about with their guide directly. If there are specific snacks they are interested in enjoying that fall outside of that snack allotment, the tour guide will often act as a “runner” and grab your snacks while the groups is enjoying a ride. We’ll chat more about this later, but it’s amazing how much time this ends up saving in the long run

Effortless Transits: Private Transportation and Back Door Entries

One of the best features of the VIP tour experience is the private transportation and back door access to each of the four parks. This is particularly helpful if someone in the party is using an ECV or has a stroller as it makes the entire transportation process exceptionally simple and saves the time and hassle of waiting and subsequently boarding one of Disney’s public transportation options. Not only that, but the back door access puts you much closer to many of the “heavy hitters” than entering through the front of the park with everyone else. The back door entrances are often much closer to the rides than you’d expect which saves a bunch of time getting from place to place.

Front-Row Views: VIP Access to Parades and Fireworks

If you aren’t already impressed with all the perks, VIP tours include special access areas for parades and fireworks. For parades, VIP guests get to enjoy the parade with complimentary snacks from the main street train station, which provides a fantastic view. The VIP Fireworks viewing area in Magic Kingdom offers the opportunity to experience the fireworks in a more spread out and relaxed area and allows for a completely different viewing experience.

Family-Friendly Flexibility: Special Considerations with VIP Guides

Finally, while it’s up to the discretion of each tour guide, some guides are willing to sit with a child so parents have the opportunity to enjoy a ride together- a luxury that may not be available if infants or young children are present on vacation. A tour guide may also be willing to take on that ride with a child if your clients are concerned it may turn their stomach upside down. While it never hurts to ask, I’d like to remind you that the tour guide is allowed to say no to either or both of these things. However, our tour guide Tyler mentioned that he has assisted families in both ways.

Perfectly Paced Adventures: VIP Tours for Groups & Celebrations

One of the beauties of the VIP tour is that it can accommodate up to ten participants. With the limit being on the higher side, it makes the tour a fantastic option for two families to enjoy together. It also makes the tour a fantastic option for large Disney Celebration trips such as bachelorette parties or parents/grandparents celebrating a milestone anniversary with the whole family. It’s important to note that Disney is very particular about this ten person rule however, so I highly suggest booking two tour guides if you intend to have more than ten people.

Optimizing

Your VIP

Tour: Duration, Attractions, and Dining Tips

As mentioned above, the minimum tour length is 7 hours and the maximum is 10 hours. If your clients intend to hit most, if not all, of the “heavy hitters” I highly suggest planning for ten hours. While many of these rides themselves are quick, some have extended pre-shows which extend the total amount of time required to experience the ride Two such rides are Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Strategic

Time Management: The Tour Guide’s Insightful Planning

Because pre-shows tend to extend the total amount of time required for specific rides, it’s crucial to prepare your clients to chat with their guide about what their group wants to accomplish The tour guide will be able to provide specific guidance as it relates to the groups specific day, but plan on these rides taking a bit longer than expected due to the pre-show elements that assist in the story-telling experience of the ride. I found that our tour guide’s ability to map out the approximate time each ride would take was incredibly helpful as he could consistently make sure we were accomplishing what we had hoped to

Efficient Touring: Time Usage Tips and Dining Strategies

It’s important to note that you can’t “break up” the seven hours and anytime spent on things like dining reservations is included in the tour time. I mention this, because using tour time to dine is, in my opinion, an incredibly unwise way to use the time Make plans to eat quick service during your VIP tour and go a step further and plan orders ahead of time If your clients share this information with their guide at the beginning of the day, they may even tell them when to place the order and say ‘you’ve arrived’ so the guide can pick up their meal while they’re on a ride so the group can eat “on the go.”

Deciding on Disney Magic: Is a VIP Tour Your Client’s Perfect Fit?

Does everything above have your clients jumping at the chance to experience a VIP tour, or wondering if it’s the right choice for their next Disney adventure? While my family and I found the experience incredible, it definitely isn’t the right fit for everyone. Knowing how you “like to Disney” is a pretty essential piece of deciding if the VIP experience is the right choice for your client and their family.

Pace Preferences: Matching Your Disney Style to VIP Tour Dynamics

If your clients enjoy Disney at a more leisurely and relaxed pace, a VIP tour may not be a great fit. Following our trip, we discovered that we would likely opt for one less park day in favor of a VIP day in order to give everyone a chance to rest their feet either before or after the experience We opted for touring on our last day as we felt that it would be a great way to end our trip and it wouldn’t leave the rest of our trip feeling lackluster.

Strategic Timing: Choosing the Right Day for Your VIP Adventure

A VIP tour also may not be a great fit for a family that really needs that mid day break However, if your clients typically need a break, but want to head back to the parks and stay late into the evening, a VIP tour may be a great option. This could be particularly useful for something like attending a Halloween or Christmas party after visiting the other parks first. In this instance, we learned that tour guides can hit up candy or cookie stops, which really allows you t it li that experience. The other tremendous benefit in this scenario is that no one else lightning lanes which makes your lightning lane access be even more beneficial! idea so much, that we’re considering using it during our next VIP tour!

VIP Tours must be called in to book. If your client is ready to be VIP for the day, make sure to call (407) 560-4033 at the 60 day mark. Make sure to state you are a travel agent and provide your IATA or CLIA number.

Owner- MK’s Magical Adventures

UpYourT-ShirtGame WithaSmallShop

Top(s):SavedByaMouse

Bottom(s):Amazon

Top: The Lost Bro’s Bottom: Amazon Top: Main Street Tourist Bottom: Amazon

ThePerfect‘RestDay’

Clients sometimes don’t realize all there is to do around property outside of the parks Here’s a perfect example of a full day without a park ticket!

8:00AM-RiseandShine!Yougottosleepinalittle bitafterthatlongparkdayyesterday,butitstimeto getreadyforbreakfast!

9:00AM-You’realldolledupanditstimetohead overtoDisney’sGrandFloridianResort&Spafor your1900ParkFarecharacterbreakfast!Headover totheresortbusstopandboardthebustoMagic KingdomPark.Onceyoumakeittothepark,head throughsecurity.Don’tentertheparkthough-head tothemonorail!OnceyouarriveatDisney’sGrand FloridianResort&Spaheaddownthestairsandto thebackofthelobbytofind1900ParkFare!

10:00AM-HaveamagicalbreakfastwithTianaand friends!11:30AM-Whileyou’reintheMagic KingdomParkresortarea,headovertoDisney’sFort WildernessResort&CampgroundandvisittheTriCircle-DRanchandmeetCinderella’sponies.You couldevengohorsebackridingifyou’reuptoit!

1:00PM-Timetoheadbacktoyourresortforadip inthepool!Hitupthequickserviceofferingsorpool sideloungestofuelupforanafternoonof swimming!

5:00PM-Afteranafternoonofsoakinginthepool, itstimetoheadtoyourroomtogetreadyforthe evening!Goaheadandgetreadyfordinnerortakea nap-itisyourrestdayafterall!Onceyou’reready, you’llheadbacktotheMagicKingdomresortarea. Youcantakethesameroutefromthemorning(but getoffthemonorailatDisney’sPolynesianVillage Resort)orheadtoDisneySpringsandthengrabthe bus.Onceyouarrive,headthroughthelobbyandto theleft.(Ifyourodethemonorailheaddownthe stairsandtotheleft).YouwillpassCapt.Cook’sand TraderSam’sGrogGrotto.You’llfindTraderSam’s TikiTerraceonthepatio.Seatingisnextavailable,so ifthere’sanopenseatgoaheadandgrabit.Enjoy somedrinksanddeliciousporktacoswhileyoulisten toliveukuleleperformance.

9:00 PM- After grabbing a Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai, head down to the beach and grab a spot to watch the fireworks. (Make sure you check the fireworks schedule for the day and adjust your schedule accordingly).

9:20 PM- Watch Happily Ever After fireworks!

9:45 PM- Grab a bus to Disney Springs. Once you get there its time to decide: call it a night and head back to your resort OR keep the night going and enjoy the entertainment in the springs!

SurpriseandDelightYourClients

Who doesn’t love surprising and delighting their client? I know I love getting that message from a client on a trip saying that they received a special surprise from me It’s just another way we set ourselves apart and keep our clients coming back for more. It’s more than just getting some snacks or a stuffed animal. It’s showing your clients that you are more than a booking agent; you take the time to craft vacations for groups to remember for years to come

When choosing a service to make or deliver your client gifts; I encourage you to check out the Facebook Page: Ear For Each Other. It was started amidst Covid to support displaced CM’s. It is full of former CM’s doing the things they love and it is where I found the three companies I want to feature today!

VacationGroceryDelivery

Vacation Grocery Delivery is a fantastic choice for not only a grocery delivery service, but also for sweet treats, breakfast boxes, and popcorn buckets! Their gift baskets range in size and price so you can find something to satisfy any budget! I, personally, have gifted the popcorn bucket gift baskets before and my clients absolutely loved being able to refill the bucket in the parks! Vacation Grocery Delivery’s offerings mean that if you are looking to send a cutesy gift like a popcorn bucket or a practical case of water to your clients, they have you covered. Did I mention they have special rates on some of their gift baskets just for travel agents AND free delivery to the resort especially for us? Check out their website today! Scroll down on the Gift Baskets page and you’ll find the Travel Agent special items!

PhotoscourtesyofVacationGroceryDelivery

Journey Across the Board

Welcome to Journey Across the Board luxury grazing and gourmet charcuterie ranked as one of Orlando’s top grazing services and the only company exclusively commissioned by the Disney company for entertainment events .

Owner, Jon is a self-declared “foodie” and worked in F&B simultaneously thru his 25 year performance career at Disney creating new shows such as Turtle Talk and Finding Nemo the musical while also training service staffs, opening new restaurant concepts and working with chefs on menus and concepts…

Making each guest feel like a Star is always the goal with fresh and organic content no matter vegan or carnivore or any allergy or any theme we can dream up…

Working with Travel planners is one of our favorite things as ultimately we both want to spoil our guests with : +personalized welcome gift boards +celebrations and any theme boards +allergy friendly from vegan to carnivore +cabana/pool day grazing boards

+twilight wine pairing board as they relax on their off-park day

From luxury stays to first visits let us help you create the extra magic you provide as a travel advisor.

Journeyacrosstheboard.com for all orders Or email us at journeyacrosstheboard@gmail.com if you have a concept question or grazing table request

PhotoscourtesyofJourneyAcrosstheBoard

Meg is a lifelong theme park fan and a former Cast Member of 14 years (after being laid off during the pandemic). She founded Next Page with Meg in 2021 to use her magic-making skills. Rounding out her roles is that of wife and a mom to three young elementary and preschoolage children.

She often finds herself seeking creative ways to engage her family. She is known for making just about any outing or place they visit an adventure. So it is a natural extension for her to create ways for other people to find moments extraordinary!

Next Page with Meg

Digital Download is an email file that includes a page of trivia, a photo hunt, and a brain teaser all themed to the location plus an answer key.

She creates scavenger hunts for locations including Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Universal Orlando, and any home. She calls them Story Hunts because you look for details that tell the stories around you. They are suitable for groups of all ages, mobility, and levels of knowledge. There are options for Digital Downloads and physical Storybook Boxes making them great client gifts! People use her hunts on a rest day, in between reservations, and everything in between! They are perfect for any celebration, a 1st visit, or a 100th!

Here are a few of her products:

Storybook Box Hunt is a storybook box assembled and delivered via mail or Central Florida Resort drop-off It includes clues, envelopes to open with tasks/puzzles, a special spy pen, and a small completion prize that requires a combination to open. An answer key will be provided but sealed in an envelope. Extra pens and extra prize sets are available, depending on the parties' needs and numbers.

Digital Download Certificates are great if you have extra add-ons like a Royal makeover, building a Droid or light saber, or casting spells with a wand. These highly themed certificates are emailed, which you print and then fill in a name, date of the event, and who is gifting it.

Letter Bundles bring magic to life with themed correspondence for you and your family! They include personalized letters on themed stationery and other surprises They are great for revealing an upcoming trip and setting the stage for the magic to come!

Any of these offerings provide a blueprint for discovering fun details and delighting in stories around you. Everyday objects become tools to solve a greater puzzle, revealing creative and interactive opportunities to explore Follow "Next Page with Meg" on Facebook and Instagram. Coming soon is a Travel Agent loyalty program!

PhotoscourtesyofNextPagewithMeg
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