How to Become a Disney Travel Agent - NerdWallet (2025)

If you’re a fan of Disney and you like to travel, it’s possible for you to combine these passions into a career or side hustle. By becoming a Disney travel agent, you can earn money by making bookings for clients and also save on your own Disney adventures.

Here's a look at how to become a Disney travel agent and the ways it can save you money and help you earn some cash while helping others make their Disney dreams come true.

Why become a Disney trip planner?

As a Disney travel agent:

  • You can receive benefits on personal travel, such as discounted hotel rooms, free theme park tickets and complimentary Disney cruises.

  • You control your own schedule and how much you work.

  • You will be able to work from home in most cases.

  • You’ll earn a commission on successful bookings.

» Learn more: 10 ways to save on your first — or next — Disney vacation

How to become a Disney travel agent

Becoming a Disney travel advisor is similar to the process of becoming a regular travel agent.

First, you’ll need to meet specific travel agent requirements — but there are additional criteria needed to specialize in selling Disney vacations.

You’ll have to become familiar with Disney’s entire portfolio of products including Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Lines, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii and Adventures by Disney. In addition, clients may also ask Disney travel agents to book Universal Studios, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line packages.

  • If you’re already a travel agent, you can register for Disney travel agent training on the Disney Travel Agents website. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll need to complete the College of Disney Knowledge training, which includes online classes and information about Disney Destinations.

  • If you’re not already a certified travel agent, you’ll need to become one before signing up for Disney travel agent training. Certification programs vary in terms of cost, time commitment and requirements. Once you've completed a program, you can choose to join a travel agency or operate on your own as a small business. At this point, you can register for the Disney training.

Once finished, you’re eligible to become an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and entitled to all the benefits that the designation includes.

Save money as a Disney vacation planner

Disney travel agent benefits are one of the reasons to become a Disney vacation planner. Perks include special access to discounted hotel rates and other advantages, like:

Disney travel agent discounts

Disney travel agents can take advantage of discounted rates on accommodation and park entrance fees for their personal trips as well. This also applies to Disney branded hotels, in addition to other properties, cruises and excursions that include:

  • Disneyland Resort Hotels.

  • Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

  • Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

  • Adventures by Disney.

  • Disney Cruise Line.

  • Select all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.

The discounts will vary based on where you’re going, but you can expect to save up to 50%.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Adventures by Disney are guided vacation packages, which include Antarctic cruises, European getaways and more.

» Learn more: What a travel agent can do for you that a search engine can't

Complimentary Disney Park Hopper tickets annually

Businesses want you to be familiar with what you’re selling. After all, the better you know a place, the more capable you’ll be of helping clients choose the right vacation.

To that end, Disney provides Authorized Disney Vacation Planners with complimentary theme park tickets. As a standard Disney travel agent, you’ll receive a one-day Park Hopper ticket to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland each year.

Or, if you want to visit for a longer period of time, you can opt for discounted two- to 10-day Park Hopper tickets at Walt Disney World.

🤓Nerdy Tip

The highest-performing travel agents are recognized by Disney’s EarMarked. This invite-only program grants extra support and perks, such as additional complimentary theme park tickets.

» Learn more: Is the Disney Park Hopper worth it?

Discounted Universal Studios tickets

Cheaper tickets aren’t limited to Disney. As a Disney travel agent, you’ll also receive up to four half-price tickets to Universal Studios per year.

» Learn more: How to go to Disney World for cheap

Discounted Disney cruises and increased commissions

Disney cruise travel agents can also score reduced or free tickets to Disney cruises. Depending on the travel agency you work with, agencies with a high number of sales can earn increased commissions on sales associated with cruises.

» Learn more: How much does a Disney Cruise cost?

How much do Disney travel agents make?

Disney travel agents work on commission, which means that they make money only when their clients book and complete vacations.

Disney pays up to a 10% commission to travel agents, depending on the package booked for the customer. Disney cruises yield a higher commission. If you’re working independently, you’ll receive the full commission amount — so if your client booked a $5,000 vacation pretax, you’d receive $500 in commission.

You can also opt to join an existing travel agency. These companies offer more support and can help you if you’re just getting started. Depending on the agency, it can also provide marketing support and send leads your way.

If you choose to join a travel agency, you’ll split your commission. The rate for this will vary based on where you’re working, but you can expect to receive up to 75% of the total commission Disney pays out.

This means that if you had a client taking a vacation that cost $5,000 pretax, Disney would pay the travel agency $500. At a 75% split, you would be paid $375. It’s less than you’d make if you were operating on your own, but it may be worth it for the added support and access to interested clients.

» Learn more: The best Disney resort for adults

Final thoughts on becoming a Disney travel agent

There’s no denying that there are benefits to becoming a Disney travel agent. This includes free theme park tickets, discounted rates at official Disney hotels and even savings on cruises. Aside from these perks, you can also turn your passion into a job by selling Disney vacation packages to customers.

Whatever your reason for wanting to become a Disney travel agent, you’ll need to first become a certified travel agent, then complete Disney’s specialized training program.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

  • Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

  • Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

  • Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

  • Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent - NerdWallet (2025)

FAQs

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent - NerdWallet? ›

$35,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $45,500 is the 75th percentile.

How much can you make as a Disney travel agent? ›

$35,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $45,500 is the 75th percentile.

How to get clients as a Disney travel agent? ›

Top Tips from Successful Disney Travel Agents
  1. It will require a very personal love for all things Disney. ...
  2. Learn how to sell up, especially as your clientele matures. ...
  3. Visit as often as you can. ...
  4. Develop your personal expertise. ...
  5. Develop your personal service value proposition.
Jan 13, 2020

How much does a Disney trip advisor make? ›

The estimated total pay range for a Vacation Advisor at Walt Disney Company is $15–$24 per hour, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Vacation Advisor base salary at Walt Disney Company is $19 per hour.

How do I start off as a travel agent? ›

Here are some steps on how to become a travel agent:
  1. Get formal training. ...
  2. Develop your interpersonal skills. ...
  3. Research planning and budgeting techniques. ...
  4. Grow your travel industry knowledge.
Apr 1, 2024

Is it worth being a Disney travel agent? ›

Disney pays up to a 10% commission to travel agents, depending on the package booked for the customer. Disney cruises yield a higher commission. If you're working independently, you'll receive the full commission amount — so if your client booked a $5,000 vacation pretax, you'd receive $500 in commission.

Can you work part time as a Disney travel agent? ›

It's a flexible career option

You can work part-time or full-time, depending on your schedule (and you can also ramp up your business over time). In particular, becoming a Disney travel agent can be an especially great career option for parents.

Do travel agents get free Disney tickets? ›

Also, as a Disney travel agent, you may get free park passes as a reward for your work. Or, if you live close to a Disney theme park, you may be able to get discounted rates so you can provide more firsthand knowledge of the park for your guests.

How do I market myself as a Disney travel agent? ›

Create compelling content. To attract potential clients, you need to create engaging and informative content that showcases the magic of Disney vacations. This can include blog posts, social media posts, videos, and guides.

Do you pay extra for a Disney travel agent? ›

Usually free to you

It doesn't cost you any extra to book through an agent vs. booking straight through Disney. Disney pays commission to the agency that books you, but at no cost to you.

What is the highest paying Disney job? ›

Highest paying jobs at The Walt Disney Company
RankJob TitleHourly Rate
1Senior Software Engineer$80.37
2Consultant$50.95
3Business Analyst$49.71
4Finance Analyst$47.70
16 more rows

How much does Disney pay their planners? ›

Get feedback on your pay or offer

The estimated total pay range for a Planner at Walt Disney Company is $62K–$97K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Planner base salary at Walt Disney Company is $78K per year.

Can you live off being a travel agent? ›

It's really a side gig or part-time job for most. There are some that are able to make a living off of it, but it's hard. It takes a long time to build your client base too. There are many agents who do this full time but it usually takes many years to build a client base large enough to support full time.

Are travel agents still in demand? ›

Employment of travel agents is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 8,600 openings for travel agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Is it smart to become a travel agent? ›

Being a travel agent is worth it many times over. It's a career path where you get to set your own schedule, make people happy, live out your passion for travel and make a fantastic living. It does take effort and commitment, but the work is fun and rewarding in so many ways.

Does Disney offer travel agent rates? ›

Qualified Travel Professionals who have fulfilled the most current College of Disney Knowledge online curriculum requirements and have a valid IATA or CLIA card (“Travel Professionals”) enjoy special savings on select departures (“Travel Agent Appreciation Program Rates”).

Do travel agents make 6 figures? ›

According to a recent survey, full-time travel agent employees earned an average of $50,115. Corporate travel advisors typically earn more than leisure travel advisors. A report profiling corporate travel managers indicated an average travel agent salary of $128,439 for those in supervisory positions within companies.

Do travel agents make a lot of money? ›

The pay isn't necessarily exorbitant—the median income is $38,700 a year, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, but according to Pindar, it can actually be much higher. “Agents make anywhere from $50K to $100K on the low end and up to $250K to $500K annually,” says Pindar.

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