If you're planning a Disney vacation, the agent you pick matters more than most people think. A good one saves you time, money and stress. A bad one can leave you on your own right when you need help the most. I've been a Disney travel agent since 2010, and here's what I'd tell any family trying to decide who to trust with their trip.
Start with the basics. You want someone who has actually been trained on Disney and knows how Disney works. Here's what to look for.
This is a designation Disney gives to travel agencies, not individual people. According to Disney's planDisney panel, agencies have to meet several requirements to earn it, including a multi-year track record, Disney's standards of excellence, and a specialization in Disney destinations. Disney also suggests looking for the official Authorized Disney Vacation Planner logo, the one with a Mickey hat on top, on the agency's website (planDisney).
I'm a certified graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge, and it's one of the first things I'd look for in any agent.
The College of Disney Knowledge is Disney's own training program for travel professionals. It covers the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa (Disney Destinations). Disney calls its courses the first step in formal Disney training for travel professionals who sell Disney vacations (Disney Destinations).
Why does it matter to you? An agent who has completed the program has learned Disney's resorts, parks, cruises and vacation options from Disney itself, not just from blogs or social media. That training gives them a solid base to answer your questions and match your family with the right trip.
Disney changes constantly. Ticket rules, transportation, dining reservations and park policies all shift from year to year. An agent who has been doing this a while has seen those changes happen and knows how to plan around them. I've been booking Disney trips since 2010, and Fun Park Go is based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, under a Travel Leaders affiliation. We're also a Universal U-Preferred agency, which helps if you want to add Universal Orlando to your trip.
Credentials tell you an agent has done the training. Qualities tell you what it's actually going to be like to work with them.
If I had to pick one quality that matters most, it's firsthand experience. I usually go to Disneyland or Disney World every year, and there's no substitute for walking the parks and riding the transportation yourself.
Here's a story that shows why. When I was at Disney World last year, I ran into someone who was trying to plan their day with ChatGPT. ChatGPT had given them the wrong information. It told them the Skyliner was at a location where it actually isn't. I was able to set them straight, and that saved them over an hour of riding the monorail and buses just to find out the Skyliner wasn't there.
Online tools can be a great starting point, but they can't tell you what it's really like on the ground. An agent who has been there can.
A lot of people get caught up on discount tickets. I understand why, because tickets are a big part of the cost. But in my experience, many families don't realize how much they can save by bundling the hotel and tickets together in a vacation package. Depending on the size of your family or group, I've seen that save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. A good agent will look at the whole trip, not just the ticket price.
Anyone can book a trip. What separates a great agent is what happens after you leave home. I give all my clients my personal cell phone so they can call or text me while they're traveling. We also give them a 24/7 hotline they can call in case I'm not available. If something goes wrong on vacation, you shouldn't have to sort it out alone.
For a fuller look at the day-to-day work, see what a Disney travel agent does.
Watch out for these two:
Before you commit, I'd ask any agent these questions:
A good agent will be happy to answer every one of these.
Not with us. Fun Park Go's planning is free because we're paid by the travel suppliers, not by our clients.
In many cases, yes. Here's how to transfer your Disney reservation to a travel agent.
No. We're based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and we plan trips for families all over the country.
Yes, on vacation packages. With Fun Park Go, packages can be paid over time with a payment plan. Park tickets bought on their own must be paid in full when you book. Learn more about Disney payment plans.
No. We book hotels, park tickets and vacation packages, so you'll book flights separately.
I'd love to help your family plan your next Disney vacation. Planning with Fun Park Go is free, and we can set up a payment plan on your vacation package so your trip is paid off before you go. (Park tickets alone are paid in full.) Request your free planning consult, and let's get started.
Fun Park Go is an independent travel agency in Idaho Falls, Idaho, affiliated with Travel Leaders, planning vacations since 2010. Not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company.
