How do Travel Agents Make Money??

It’s been quite some time since I talked about how the travel industry works with travel agents and how we’re paid. It’s not as straight-forward as you might think! So, here’s the lowdown on how I get paid doing this fun job…. 

The only reason I bring this up is that I talk to people often that book on their own because “they didn’t want to bother me.”  That puts both of us at a disadvantage! Booking on your own means you won’t get my expert advice (I also won’t be able to help if issues arrive on a trip that I didn’t book), and I don’t get paid!  

There are two main things that should make you want to bug me and have your friends and family bug me too!

1 - I LOVE planning trips to the destinations that I consider “my favorites”.  Every time I log in or call about a trip, I head right down memory lane.  I only book vacation spots that I love and am excited to work on.

2 - I actually make money doing this.  I know, it’s crazy that I’m paid to do something I truly love.  I would probably do this for free, but I have bills to pay just as you do!

People always get a little uncomfortable discussing money, but let me give you the basics.  You pay Disney/Universal/Sandals… the same price whether or not you go online, call it in, or have a travel agent do it for you.  The exact same price.

If a travel agent books a Disney World trip for example, Disney pays the travel agency a commission and then the agency pays the agent a portion of that commission.   So even if I did nothing but book the trip, you aren’t paying a dime more than if you did it yourself.  But on top of helping you figure out the best plans for your trip, I’m there for questions, checking for potential discounts released after booking and helping with any issues that arise during travel.

The reason Disney is willing to give a portion of their profits to a travel agent is that they know that the Guest is more likely to enjoy their vacation.  There’s a much better chance of Guests returning to Disney again and again if they are given guidance by someone with a knowledge and passion for their product. 

One little interesting nugget is that most vendors do not pay commission until AFTER the trip has ended. Then of course, there’s a bit of lag time as the agency has to get collect payments and then send out the agent portion. So it’s often a couple of months after the trip before I’m paid.

And if the Guest cancels the trip? Most likely, I’m not getting paid at all. I completely understand when circumstances change, but just keep in mind that any travel agent you use is probably doing a fair amount of work for free when it comes right down to it.

So why would you NOT want to use a travel agent?  Let me answer some of the most common reasons…

*  I want the cheapest rate and can do that myself.  —  Nope!  You just aren’t going to find it cheaper on your own.  And I will monitor and possibly find a cheaper rate as it gets closer to your trip.  I will apply it automatically and let you know!  And if time is money, I’m saving you tons of it by doing the leg work for you.

*  I love Disney too and want to plan it all myself.  — This one is totally understandable as I feel the same way!  But the cool part is, I can book it and then let you take over the planning if you like.  I will still be there for questions, will still monitor for better deals and be available if issues arise.

*  How do I know you won’t up-sell me?  —  Trust me, I am the queen of getting a good deal.  I spend way more time then I should figuring out how to save a penny or a bit of time.  I will never lead you towards spending more just to spend more.  I want you to get the absolute most out of your vacation for the least money and hassle.

So PLEASE consider contacting me when you’re thinking about a trip.  And I would be so appreciative if you would forward my information to your family and friends.  Word of mouth is the absolute best advertising I can get! I’ve got those bills to pay, you know!  :)

PS - if you refer a friend and they book a trip, your next meal is on me!  I'll contact you to find out your favorite restaurant and send you a $10 gift card to the place you choose!  Easy!!

Miller Twins 50th Birthday Extravaganza - by guest blogger Lori (Lisa's Twin)

When Mouse first mentioned going to Disney for our 50th birthday, I agreed, mostly assuming this little adventure would never actually happen. Not because I didn’t want to spend a glorious week with my very best friend in the whole wide world, but because I absolutely could not imagine myself spending a week in a place I never, not once, had a desire to go. I’m also not a traveler - I’ve pretty much perfected my routine and don’t care to vary, not even a little bit. I also don’t care for children - at all. (I figured Disney would be thick with them (and I was right), but aside from being goosed by a small child while waiting in line for Peter Pan, it was mostly hilarious watching them throw MAJOR hissy fits when things weren’t working out for them and watching their exasperated parents).

One of the things Mouse sent me before our trip that I really appreciated was a spreadsheet with our itinerary. I am not a “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of person, so this was much appreciated.

Day 1 - Travel Day + Universal Studios

One thing Mouse and I agree on is FIRST FLIGHT OUT. We do not agree on last flight back, and we can visit that later on in this post – turns out I was right about this one. 😊 Anywho, all went off without a hitch traveling to Orlando. All went great getting to Hard Rock Hotel, except as predicted, we couldn’t check into our room yet. This left me in the hotel lobby digging for my magic wand in my packed suitcase and trying to arrange my backpack “just right” all while Mouse was standing there in a huff and tapping her foot (not really, but she may as well have been) because we were *delayed by 3 minutes and it was a catastrophe*. Oh, and it’s at this time that I realize it’s hotter than hades and I am already dehydrated. All was right with the world about 45 minutes later, though, because I was at Platform 9 ¾ and on my way to HOGWARTS!

We spent day 1 and 2 at Universal. Most of our time was spent at Hogwarts, casting spells and trying like mad to forget we were born Muggles. For those of you who don’t know, Mouse has quite a sweet-tooth. I do not. Seriously, if my mom didn’t swear she had both of us on the same day 6 minutes apart, I really might question this whole twin business because we are so very different. But Mouse had to have the Butterbeer, in fact, she had to be monitored in order to not make herself sick. As you can see by my photo above, Butterbeer sounds much more appealing than it tastes.

Day 3 – Epcot, Boo Bash, Magic Kingdom: I LOVED Epcot. SPACE! NATURE! This place was super, super cool. I should back up and note that we checked out of Hard Rock on this morning and moved over to POP Century for the remainder of the trip. This day is where my feet really started to turn against me and I wondered how sympathetic you know who was going to be. Had motherhood changed her? Had she grown kinder in her advanced age? Spoiler alert: NOPE.

While at Epcot, we changed into our Halloween costumes for the Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom. The Boo Bash was just like regular Magic Kingdom, except that you get free candy, free popcorn, free sodas and free ice cream. By the time we left there, we each had 4 or 5 bottles of diet coke in our backpacks, bags of free candy and had eaten two or three ice cream bars each. Mouse, however, also cashed in on the popcorn – stashing several bags of it in her backpack which I assume she took home to her boys (haha, she did not share). By this time, we had walked around 30,000 steps and I was questioning why I had agreed to the Boo Bash when I knew that my bedtime is 9PM and we wouldn’t be leaving Magic Kingdom until much later. When we arrived back to Pop Century after midnight, we got off the bus and started walking toward our room – which was roughly a mile from the entry – when I saw a poor woman in front of me who I could tell was miserable. I mean, her feet HURT. I could tell with every step that she wanted to cry. About that time, Mouse turned around and looked at me and, apparently, I was walking exactly the same as that poor soul.

We locked eyes and started crying we were laughing so hard.

Day 4 – Magic Kingdom: Good times, but I think this park would have been loads more fun if you had small children with you. OR, if you had seen alllllllllllll of the Disney movies, which I hadn’t. I didn’t have a clue what was happening most of the time and I was on serious overload at this point. We did ride Space Mountain 5 or 6 times, and I will say that Disney indeed puts the “Magic” in Magic Kingdom when it comes to special effects, details, little “extras”. Oh, and fireworks. I was mighty impressed with the fireworks at Magic Kingdom – I cannot imagine the amount of cash they spend each night. (Epcot fireworks are AMAZING, too, by the way).

Day 5 – Hollywood Studios: Holy cow, people. Star Wars. That’s it. I am not a Star Wars nerd – no offense to those of you who are. But this place was magnificent. Magnificent! It’s absolutely incredible. You must see it for yourself especially if you’re a Star Wars nerd. And don’t forget Toy Story! So fun!

Day 6 – Animal Kingdom + Travel Day Home: This place was super cool, too. The Safari was awesome, the Everest roller coaster was fun, Avatar was amazing! We stayed here until about noon when it was time to leave for the airport. Ms. Mouse was a sad little mouse, but it turns out we were going to get a whole extra night to spend together!

There was a tropical storm in the area so our flight was delayed out of Orlando. We arrived in Atlanta waayyyy after our flight to OKC had departed. We hopped a flight in Atlanta to Houston, stayed in a very sketchy hotel near the airport and flew home the next morning.

All in all, I had the BEST time. We have been home for 7 weeks and my blisters healed (3 days ago). Was it worth it? YES. I think the only way I enjoyed Disney is by going with someone who knew what to do and where to go, etc. We were very lucky it wasn’t crowded at all while we were there, but I can’t imagine just heading off to Disney with no direction because there’s just not enough time in the day to see everything and do everything because that would have been a cluster and a half.

Do yourself a favor and talk to Mouse before you take a trip. She can make all the reservations, get you discounts if available, tell you which transportation to take from which hotel to which park (because you do not want to get on the bus to go to Epcot when you can just get on the air tram thingy – trust me on this one), etc etc. AND, it doesn’t cost you a dime.

With any luck, she will be sympathetic to you if you get blisters. Heck, she can probably even recommend which kind of shoes to wear.

My Favorite Disney Bathrooms - Yes, I Do Mean Bathrooms

I am REALLY missing the Disney parks being open. Even though I didn’t have a trip scheduled during the closure, I’ve had to cancel a lot of amazing trips for my clients and it’s so sad. Plus, you know I’m a bit strange and often open the app just to check wait times. Knowing there is NO ONE there is really depressing.

So today I’ll dig a little deeper into the lesser appreciated areas of the parks - the restrooms! Maybe weird, but what else have you got to do today other than read this? Here are the restrooms to be sure to visit on your next trip. Keep in mind, I’m more interested in highly themed and unique spots - I’m sure there are some options that are great because they’re less visited and more private. That’s for a future post…

My very favorite - Rapunzel’s restrooms in the Magic Kingdom. Also known as the Tangled Toilets, these are my favorite due to the amazing theming. The interior of the restrooms is perfect. The men’s room has frying pans and wanted posters:

The women’s room has a beautiful mural:

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The exterior of the restroom is one of my favorite areas in all of Walt Disney World. I LOVE the detail so much!

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Next on the list are the restrooms in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Just like every area of that land, you are completely immersed in the story. These restrooms keep you from feeling like you left Batuu and made a rest stop on Earth. My only complaint is that there isn’t really a good counter top here. When I visited this restroom, I had arrived at the park at 3:30 am (Opening Day!) and had worn my glasses. Once the sun came up, I went in to put in my contacts. Tough to balance my case and eyedrops on the ledge of that sink. But I’ll deal with a little inconvenience for such a cool area.

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A bathroom that kids will especially love is in Toy Story Land. The funny part of this one is that it’s called the Cooties restroom due to a Cooties box and a Cootie built on the roof. Kids won’t have a clue what that game is I imagine, but it’s fun for the adults to remember. The bright colors and attention to detail sets this one apart.

I have to cheat a bit on this last one because it’s not at Disney - it’s over at Universal. It’s a part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hogsmeade. The “public conveniences” as the restrooms are called there, have a bit of a surprise. Remember Moaning Myrtle? She doesn’t just haunt the restrooms in Hogwarts, she also hangs out in the Hogsmeade restrooms. Of course, as the rest of the Harry Potter areas at Universal, you’ll feel fully immersed in the story, even in the restrooms.

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Now that you know the best places to “go”, let’s get your trip scheduled!! Give me a shout - it’s always FREE to book with me!!


All Aboard the Hogwarts Express!!

Are you a Muggle? Sadly, I am too. But guess what? Even Muggles can ride the Hogwarts Express! I don’t know about you, but anytime I read a Harry Potter book or see a movie, I wish I was able to be a part of that world. And while I can’t change the fact that you’re a Muggle, I can help you experience the magic of the Hogwarts Express.

Our train compartment on the Hogwarts Express!!

Our train compartment on the Hogwarts Express!!

First off, the Hogwarts Express is only at Universal Orlando. It runs between the King’s Cross Station in the London area of Universal Studios Florida (on platform 9 3/4 of course) and Hogsmeade station in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. ** IMPORTANT - To board the train, you will need a park-to-park ticket.

This ticket will allow you unlimited rides on the train as you go back and forth between the two parks. And don’t assume just because you rode the train one way that it’s the same on the return trip - it’s not! So be sure to ride both ways. The ride takes around 4 minutes each way.

The train compartments hold up to 8 passengers so if your group is larger you’ll be split up. Take a seat and along the way you’ll see a lot of familiar Harry Potter landmarks and friends out of the window. (It’s actually a video but looks pretty darn realistic).

While you can’t roam the aisles of the train, you can see silhouettes of happenings in the aisles - watch out for Dementors!!! You’ll also hear audio of what’s happening out there so pay attention.

A really fun feature is walking through King’s Cross Station and passing through the wall into Platform 9 3/4. Lag back a bit from your party so that you can get a picture of those ahead of you as they walk through the "wall" forming the entrance. Clueless people will try to push past you so hold your ground!!

Below are pictures of some of our rides on the Hogwarts Express. FYI, I would totally be wearing my Gryffindor robes if it didn’t embarrass my goofy family. Have you ridden the Hogwarts Express? Put your thoughts in the comments!! And if you haven’t… Be sure and give me a call and I’ll book and plan your trip to the Wizarding World for free - even if you’re a Muggle!!

So What's in the Backpack??

If you look at our pics from Disney (there are a few), there’s always a big backpack hanging around. Doesn’t always look great in pictures but we couldn’t travel without it. So what do we carry in it? Glad you asked…

Camera - I took my big camera with the zoom lens but honestly with the advancement in phone cameras, you could probably get away with just your phone!

Phone - Obviously you need your phone! Don’t forget to download the MyDisneyExperience app before you go. Have any questions on how to use the app - ask me!

Battery Charger and Cord - With a full day at the parks using your phone and camera, you will most likely drain your battery. We invested in a battery charger that will charge 3 batteries at once which helps when you have kids with phones. Don’t forget your cord to plug in to your phone!!

Water - You can get free water at Quick Service locations but you’ll have to wait in line to do so. And it’s just a cup with no lid so if you don’t finish it, you can’t really save it for later. Take bottles with lids so that if you need to hop on a ride you can put it in your bag for later.

Flavor Packets - My kids aren’t fond of the taste of Florida water, so I bring flavor packets to help the taste. And you can get them with caffeine which helps a caffeine addict like myself!!

Sunglasses/Glasses - It’s typically sunny in Florida and although most of the rides/lines are indoors or in the shade, you may find yourself out in the sun for more than you expected.

Eye Drops/Contact Case - I wear contacts and nothing is quite as bad as a speck of dirt under your lens. Be prepared with the drops so you’re not miserable!

Wallet - Although you can charge everything to your MagicBand if you’re staying on site, I always like to have a credit card with me just in case. I always want to have my ID on me and a few dollars for emergencies.

Ponchos - Grab a few cheap ones at the dollar store. I usually get enough for us to each have one per day. That way if a rainstorm hits (which is typical in Florida), we can use them and throw them away without worrying about folding up wet ponchos and putting them back in our bag.

Gum - Are my kids the only ones that chew gum nonstop? Disney doesn’t sell gum in an effort to keep their parks clean and the animals safe. PLEASE be kind and discard only in the trashcans if you bring your own!

Ibuprofen - Along with a lot of walking comes sore feet. This is an easy one to bring that will be much cheaper than buying at the parks.

Chapstick - My family has a chapstick addiction. Don’t leave home without it.

Kleenex/Wet Wipes/Hand Sanitizer - You can always run in a restroom if you need to clean up a bit but sometimes you don’t want to walk those extra steps! And we all know Don is a germaphobe so having hand sanitizer is a must for us.

I also carry a few empty ziploc bags - they can be handy for a half-finished snack (which rarely actually happens). Or if you think the rain might return, you can shove those ponchos in there without getting the rest of your bag wet. I also like to have them to put our phones in if it’s particularly wet or we’re going on a wet ride.

A good idea is to put all of this in one bag (unless you plan to split up for a good portion of the day). That way you only have one person in your party go through bag check and everyone else can get on in the park which makes it faster for all. Don’t be a martyr though - take turns carrying the bag. I usually like to carry it since I’m always needing something out of it. And I call it my “workout” since I try not to actually work out on vacation. But if your kids are older, let them help!

Also, a backpack with side pockets for bottles really helps in that you don’t have to constantly take off the bag to root around for drinks. Keep a couple on the outside and you’re always ready.

Want more tips and tricks to help your vacation be as Magical as it can be? Call me! I’d love to plan and book your Disney Destination or Universal Vacation with absolutely NO FEES!!