How to Become a Disney Travel Agent

We’ve put together an in-depth guide below on how to become a travel agent for the Happiest Place on Earth. But if you’d prefer to get answers right away, just click vacationlab.io/join to chat live with our team and learn firsthand how to become a travel agent for Disney, and gain access to all our other travel partners as well. Best of all, clicking the link is completely free - no dues or fees from us, ever!

Disney is really, really big.

I know, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. After all, Disney isn’t just about Mickey Mouse & friends, but also about huge cruises that sail across the Caribbean, magnificent hotels, and even a beach resort in the middle of Hawaii. Being a Disney travel agent means becoming an expert in everything related to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and even Aulani, their perfect little spot in the Aloha State.

It might take you a while to master everything related to Disney, but you will eventually get there. You will need to study their cruise ships, both theme parks at Disneyland and all four at Disney World, and, above all, plan the perfect itinerary for families that visit Florida and California to have fun. It isn’t uncommon for families to spend a week in Florida to enjoy Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, and then set sail on the Disney Wish to visit their private island of Castaway Cay and the beautiful Caribbean.

Being a Disney Travel Agent goes beyond the theme parks and entertainment options too. You will need to help guests manage their trips by booking hotels, helping them understand what a Lightning Lane is, and also discussing the different stateroom options onboard a specific ship. With time and experience, all of this will be part of your DNA. But wait a minute: know that you should also research and learn about Universal, since many families that want to visit Disneyland or Disney World will also want to visit parks like Universal Studios Hollywood or Islands of Adventure.

It’s a lot to take in, and we hope this guide will help you with the initial steps and what you need to kickstart your journey as a Disney Travel Agent. Oh, did you know that many people become Disney Travel Agents as a side gig? They love Disney so much that they want to share that feeling with other families and see the smile on their faces when they finally visit Mickey at the Happiest Place on Earth. Yes, being a Disney Travel Agent really is that fun.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about becoming a Disney travel agent. We will cover:

• What Do You Do as a Disney Travel Agent?
• Benefits of Becoming a Disney Travel Agent
• Skills Required to Become a Disney Travel Agent
• Finding a Disney Host Agency
• The Best Host Agency for Disney 
• Tips for Those Starting Out
• Training Courses for Disney
• Getting Paid
• Free Stock Library
• Disney Travel Agent FAQs

Disney Gives you a Ton of Options

Disney is huge, but you already know that. 

You can even be a Disney Travel Agent and choose to focus on a particular destination, like Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line. Each of these is full of guests eager for their next amazing vacation, and you should be there to help them. Sure, competition is fierce since many people want to be Disney Travel Agents, but rest assured - there will be no shortage of guests looking to book their vacations. You need to focus on your training, put your name out there, and start building a solid client base.

Disney Always Has Something New for You (and for Guests)

Disney isn’t just big, but it’s also getting new updates every year (and sometimes every month, honestly). We regularly see new lands and rides introduced at Disney World and Disneyland, while Disney Cruise Line debuts new ships, stage shows, and restaurants annually. This means guests are always eager to experience what’s new, and they’ll turn to you to book their next vacation.

A big tip? Always research upcoming Disney attractions in advance to show your guests that you know what you are talking about. This includes staying informed about upcoming updates like the new Villains-themed area in Magic Kingdom, the Tropical Americas land coming to Animal Kingdom, and the launch of Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure.

Discounts for Travel Agents

Let’s be honest - Disney can be expensive. Disney Cruise Line is one of the best cruise lines out there, but a single short trip with them can cost thousands of dollars. So, what do you get as a Disney Travel Agent? Discounts!

Perks for travel agents include a free one-day Park Hopper ticket each year for either Disney World or Disneyland, as well as discounts of 10% to 50% on select Disney Resorts. Not bad, right? You can also save up to 50% on Disney Cruise Line sailings during the offseason! Now that’s a great way to spend time with Mickey and get a nice tan in the Caribbean.

Disney & Famvia are a Match Made in Heaven

VacationLab’s sister website, Famvia, is packed with everything you need to know about Disney. Seriously, we have hundreds of guides and reviews covering Disney Cruise Line, Disney World, Disneyland, and even Aulani.

We’re talking about planning guides, weather guides, crowd calendars, reviews for nearly every ride and attraction at Disney World and Disneyland, and in-depth reviews and previews for every Disney Cruise Line ship. Phew! That’s a lot.

Even if you’re just starting out as a Disney Travel Agent, I doubt you’ll find a more complete database of Disney information online than what we offer on Famvia, all free for you.

As a Travel Agent, You Can Also Spread Pixie Dust!

C’mon, is there anything cooler than working with Disney and planning magical trips for guests from all over the world? Millions of people dream of a Disney vacation, and with your expertise, you can help make that dream come true.

Some jobs are boring, right? You sit in an office all day, and nothing exciting happens. But being a Disney Travel Agent means making someone’s day! Many guests don’t know much about Disney ticket prices, itineraries, or even how to get there, but you can be their Tinker Bell, guiding them with a little pixie dust.

In the end, an honest “thank you” from a happy guest will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy!

What do you do as a Disney Travel Agent?

Good question, young padawan.

As a Disney Travel Agent, you help people fulfill their dreams of visiting Disney! Yes, you get to spread pixie dust and make dreams come true, all from the comfort of your home. Your job includes things like researching and booking Disney hotels, assisting with theme park tickets, finding the perfect stateroom that fits their budget on the Disney Fantasy, and much more. You’ll be there for your clients before, during, and after their trip!

Of course, problems may arise during their vacation. Maybe their dinner reservation at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios got canceled, and they need help finding a new character dining spot. Perhaps their hotel room isn’t that great, and they want to move to another location. Or maybe they’re aboard the Disney Wish and have questions about the Kids Club. You’ll be their guardian angel, offering support and guidance.

Remember, a travel agent’s job isn’t done until your guests return home and are truly satisfied with their trip. Being helpful and offering assistance whenever needed is a great way to build credibility and expand your client base.

Of course, being a travel agent for any travel supplier requires a certain set of skills, and if you want to specialize in Disney, there are some specific ones you'll need. Let’s take a look.

Communication Skills

As a travel agent, you always need to be polite and informative, especially when working with Disney guests. Keep in mind that 99% of the time, you’ll be talking to families with children, so consider that when planning trips and explaining what they can do at Disney World, Disneyland or onboard Disney Cruise Line.

Disney can also feel very complex, especially for first time guests. If you are focusing on the theme parks, you need to help guests with Lightning Lanes, Virtual Queues and how they can get to the theme parks. If you’re working with Disney Cruise Line, explaining how the Kids Club works and the concept of Rotation Dining is important, as is explaining what’s included (and what’s not) in their cruise fare.

Stay Up to Date with Everything Disney-Related

Disney is always evolving, and you should be one step ahead of the changes. New rides are being introduced all the time to Disney World, new stage shows and entertainment options debut on Disney Cruise Line and sometimes even the way that theme parks work change, like it’s the case when Disney changed the traditional Disney Genie+ for Lightning Lane Passes,

You need to research some basic things like:

• The main Disney theme parks
• Disney ticket options
• Lightning Lane Passes & Virtual Queues
• What’ Included in a Disney Cruise Line fare
• Rotational Dining on Disney Cruise Line
• Aulani
• Special Events (Disney After Hours, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party…)
• …and more!

Understand Universal as well

Disney and Universal go hand in hand when it comes to theme parks. If a family is visiting Florida, you can bet they’re considering a trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. That’s even more certain now with the launch of Epic Universe in 2025, which is generating incredible hype and will be a major destination for years to come.

Universal Hollywood is also extremely popular, especially if you’re selling Disneyland vacations. It’s home to Super Nintendo World, which remains a top attraction and continues to draw huge crowds.

Want to maximize your sales, expand your expertise, and build your reputation? Research Universal and consider becoming a Universal Travel Agent as well!

Work on Your Social Media or a Website

There are thousands of Disney travel agents out there, and with so much competition, it can be hard to stand out. You need to show people that you're an expert in the field, and what better way to do that than by posting on social media? 

Write articles and blog posts, share pictures from your Disney trips, and, if possible, create a personal travel agent website. Building credibility and immersing yourself in the Disney Bubble will make more guests turn to you when it's time to book their next trip!

Guess what, you’re already browsing one of the best host agencies around! We have a lot of information about Disney on our sister website, Famvia, and plenty of travel agents across the globe who can help you with Mickey & Minnie. We’d love to have you here, of course, but here are some tips for choosing a host agency. Look for host agencies that:

• Have a good track record and good online reviews
• Offer an interview process and listen to you
• Share commissions with you fairly (typically starting at 70% for the travel agent)
• Are as magical as Disney!

VacationLab is the best host agency if you want to focus on Disney, cruise lines, other theme parks, and even beach resorts. Here’s why!

• So, you don’t have experience as a travel agent? That’s fine! We're here to help you from the start.
• We have a (reallllly) fun interview process and listen to what you have to say.
• We offer SORS - our very own Travel Dashboard to help you manage bookings and travel rewards. Yes, SORS like in sorcery, it’s that good.
• We provide exclusive courses, like Mastering Travel Social Media, to support travel advisors of all backgrounds.
• We offer a commission split starting at 70%, and they can reach up to 80%!
• On our sister site, Famvia, we offer hundreds of in-depth guides and reviews covering major cruise lines, beach resorts and theme parks. This, of course, includes Disney, where we have hundreds of guides and reviews of theme parks, individual rides, cruise ships and so much more. 
• We’re always ready to listen, chat, and lend a helping hand!

Become a Disney Expert

If you plan to become a Disney travel agent, you need to know the ins and outs of Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. You need to research the main theme parks, the most popular cruise ships and understand terms that make sense for a fan of Mickey Mouse. We are talking about Lightning Lanes, Virtual Queues, Rotational Dining, Dress Codes and so much more.

Lucky for you, VacationLab’s sister site, Famvia, offers hundreds of original articles dedicated to Disney. From a comprehensive beginner’s guide to everything Disney World has to offer, to a 6 thousand word guide for Disney Cruise Line, there’s everything there for you to kickstart your career as a Disney expert, and all for free.

Here’s a small example of what you can find there:

• Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World
• First Timers Guide to Disney Cruise Line
• Disneyland Park Early Entry & Rope Drop Guide
• Magic Kingdom Review
• Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Review
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Review
• Itineraries and Destinations for Disney Cruise Line

There’s a lot of information there, so use all this info to familiarize yourself with Disney before trying the training courses!

Prepare for your Interview

When applying to a host agency, you need to research and understand both the host agency itself and the travel supplier - in this case, Disney. 

You don’t need to know every single detail right away, as you'll have time to expand your knowledge and receive guidance from the host agency. However, it’s important to familiarize yourself with key details upfront, such as Disney’s main theme parks, cruise ships, Rotational Dining, the new Disney Cruise Line ships launching in 2025, and the best rides at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Remember to stay calm, ask questions to show your interest, and before you know it, you'll be a Disney travel agent!

Expand Your Knowledge to Universal as Well

Disney is huge, but Universal theme parks are major destinations too. If you're selling Walt Disney World and Disneyland, there's a good chance your guests will also want to visit Universal, especially in 2025 with the launch of Epic Universe.

Becoming a Universal Travel Agent not only allows you to sell more and expand your client base, but it also helps you craft better itineraries that include both Disney and Universal parks, such as Magic Kingdom and Islands of Adventure.

The Earmarked Travel Agencies

You may occasionally come across the term "Earmarked Travel Agencies." This designation means that Disney has recognized a travel agency for achieving a certain level of sales over a specific period. While Disney doesn’t disclose the exact sales volume required, they personally invite agencies that meet their criteria. In practice, Earmarked Travel Agencies are those with extensive experience working with Disney and have booked numerous trips in the past.

Commission Payout

For theme parks, Commission payment to travel agents depends on whether the guest purchases a vacation package, tickets, or a VIP tour. Typically, commissions are paid after checkout or once tickets have been mailed to or picked up by the guest. For more detailed information on commissions, please check this out.

For Disney Cruise Line, Disney pays commissions after the trip is over. You don’t get paid when the client books the trip, only when they travel.

Disney World Travel Agent Rates

While exact commission percentages are protected by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between travel partners, suppliers, and host agencies, general commission ranges are as follows:

• Disney Theme Parks: Typically between 6% and 15%
• Disney Cruise Line: Typically between 10% and 20%

First, let’s take a look at a 3-Nights Cruise on the Disney Wish for 2 Adults in a Concierge Stateroom.

Total Cost before Taxes and Fees: $9,200

_{Note: Commissions are always paid on the pre-tax amount!}

_{Note: Cruise lines also deduct what are called “NCFs” or Non-Commission Fares and typically range from $100 - $250 per person.}

Gross Commission Amount Available: $9,200 less $300 in NCFs

16% * $8,900 = $1,424 Gross Commission

Assume you have a 70% Commission Split with you agency

70% = $996.80 to YOU

30% = $427.20 to the Agency

And now a Disney World vacation. Let’s take into consideration a 5 Nights vacation at Boardwalk Inn with 4 Day Park Hoppers for a Family of 4:

_{Note: Commissions are always paid on the pre-tax amount!}

Total Cost before Taxes and Fees: $7,500

Gross Commission Amount Available: 10% of $7,500 = $750 Gross Commission

Assume you have a 70% Commission Split with you agency

70% = $525 to YOU

30% = $225 to the Agency

Disney Travel Agent Salary

Determining an exact salary for a travel agent can be challenging, especially for those specializing in Disney. With multiple theme parks, cruise itineraries, varying commission structures, and sales potential, it's difficult to come up here and pinpoint an exact number.

However, according to several reports, the salary for Disney World travel agents ranges from $40,000 to $80,000 per year, with the average falling around $55,000. Some agents who book higher volumes and build a strong client base can earn more than $100,000 annually.

Disney Travel Agent Course

The good news is that Disney offers a single training program where you can learn all about Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani.

The College of Disney Knowledge is Disney’s official training program, designed to equip you with everything you need to become a Disney expert. It features interactive courses, videos, seminars, and hands-on experiences, covering key topics like theme parks, cruises, and beach resorts.

Training includes a wide range of subjects, such as:

• Disney Destinations
• Resort Accommodations
• Attractions & Entertainment
• Dining Experiences
• Planning & Booking
• Special Events & Packages

To become a certified Disney travel agent, you must complete a series of courses followed by an online exam. Upon completion, you’ll receive an official certification and may gain access to exclusive benefits.

To maintain your certification, travel agents must complete annual training.

Disney World Travel Agent Course Requirements

To apply to the College of Disney Knowledge, you must first be part of a host agency. Then, simply head to the link above, fill out the required fields, and select the courses you’re interested in. The College of Disney Knowledge is free.

Disney Travel Agent Perks

As a travel agent working with Disney, you can enjoy some pretty good perks for your vacation as well! Keep in mind, however, that these benefits become available after you've gained experience and completed a certain number of bookings. 

Perks include a free one-day Park Hopper ticket each year to either Disney World or Disneyland, and discounts ranging from 10% to 50% at Disney World Resorts. You can also score some pretty good discounts with Disney Cruise Line, ranging from 10% all the way to 50% off select sailings.

These special discounts are typically available during the off-season, such as in September or October, and can be really valuable for staying at some of the more expensive Disney World resorts, like the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Village.

VacationLab gives you access to thousands of images and videos from major cruise lines, theme parks, and beach resorts.

By joining us, you'll also gain access to our exclusive database, which makes it easy to showcase images and videos to your clients based on their preferences. We have thousands of pictures and videos related to Disney, from individual rides to shows, cruise ships and so much more!