Today, Leigh Rosica from Mousekeplanner will be sharing with us. Like all the rest of the agents we’ve featured, Leigh and her agency are a ‘no fee’ Disney Destination Travel Agency. You pay these agents the exact same amount that you’d pay if booking Directly through Disney… but with these agents, you get the added benefit of their helpful planning services ~ all for FREE!
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| Photo courtesy of Mousekeplanner |
WDW Hints: Can you tell us a few of your ‘favorites’ at WDW?
Leigh:
Favorite Resort: Beach Club and Polynesian
Favorite Restaurant: Boma and Le Cellier
Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
Favorite Ride/Attraction: Pirates of the Caribbean and Rock n Roller Coaster
Favorite Character: Mickey Mouse and Tinker Bell
Favorite dessert (and where it’s found): Dole Whips! Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom, and Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian Resort
WDW Hints: What little known thing do you like to recommend to your clients to try at WDW?
Leigh: Try to go to Disney during a special event or a different season than usual. If you always go in the summer, try to go in the fall or winter the next time. It’s amazing how different your trip can be based on the time of the year that you are going. There is always something new and different going on at Disney!
WDW Hints: What made you decide to go from a “Disney fanatic” to a Disney Vacation Planner? When did you become a DVP?
Leigh: Actually I had friends tell me that I needed to become a Disney Vacation Planner! I grew up in Florida and have been going to Disney since I was a child. After many many personal trips and after helping many friends plan their trips I took the next step and became a travel agent in 2011 and then opened up my own agency in February of 2012.
WDW Hints: Do you find yourself going on Disney vacations more, less or about the same since becoming a DVP?
Leigh: I have been going a lot more. Both with my family and then on my own for “research”. Disney offers so many wonderful opportunities for us as agents to experience Disney. I have attended on site agent education programs and have taken advantage of special offers and rates for agents to be able to come down and experience Disney more. I truly believe the more I visit the more I can offer my clients! And I am not complaining!
WDW Hints: Is there anything tedious about the job? (I’ve heard of some agents waiting on hold for hours with Disney reservations – is that true?)
Leigh: Yes it is true! I have been know to be on hold for up to an hour! But I wouldn’t call it tedious. I get up bright and early at 5:45, coffee in hand and begin to wait online to book Advance Dining Reservations for clients 180 days prior to their trip. And I have been known to apply special promotions or offers without them even knowing it! I am happy to offer those services to my clients. It just gives them the peace of mind knowing that these details are being taken care of for them.
WDW Hints: Do you book airfare for your clients?
Leigh: I can, but I usually do not. My clients like to be able to choose the best dates and times that work for them and their family.
WDW Hints: What extra perks or special gifts do you give to your clients that other DVPs may not give?
Leigh: Well I don’t want to give away all our secrets! But we usually offer Disney Gift Cards or special Disney Florist deliveries to our clients. All of our cruise clients receive on board credit when they book with us. Right now we are offering a Princess Tervis Tumbler to all princess runners who are registered for the Princess Half Marathon when they book with us in one of our room blocks. But the most important thing is my constant monitoring of their reservation. I am constantly watching for Disney Promotions and deals and when they come out I will apply them immediately if they can benefit by them.
WDW Hints: I enjoy booking my own ADRs right at 180 days out, if I were to book my vacation through you, can I still have control over my own ADRs or do you take over everything?
Leigh: Of Course! We know that planning your Disney Vacation can be just as fun as taking it! Our clients can have full control over their trip, right down to their ADR’s.
WDW Hints: What fun opportunities have you been given since becoming an agent?
Leigh: So many! I have been able to attend agent education training at Disney and have met some wonderful colleagues that I now consider friends. I am very active in the running community and this will be my third year coming down for a runDisney event and the people that I have met through these groups are amazing!
WDW Hints: I just priced out the following vacation for Presidents week – can you beat the prices I found or offer an upgrade?
• Dates: February 18 – February 23 (5 nights). 2 adults 2 children (ages 2& 4)
• Room only reservation at Beach Club (Garden room) = $2830.52 (from Disneyworld.com)
• 4-day Park Hopper Tickets through Undercover Tourist (using mousesavers secret link): (2 adult, 1 child) = $916.86
• Grand total = $3747.38
Leigh: Actually I can beat that offer! Through out the year, Mousekeplanner partners with Disney Group Sales to bring our clients Agency Exclusives. Right now we have one running for the peak week of Presidents week that falls into Princess Marathon Weekend. With our promotion you choose your package components. Room with tickets and/or room with dining. This is a wonderful way for our clients to purchase the dining plan without having to purchase theme park tickets! However, if they do purchase theme park tickets with us, everyone gets a FREE water park admission or ticket to Disney Quest. PLUS, each registered Princess Half Marathon runner will get a Princess Tervis Tumbler.
Our total for the scenario above would be =$3162.46
WDW Hints: Do you have any experience with runDisney?
Leigh: I am a huge runDisney fan! I have ran the past two half marathons and am currently training to run Goofy in January 2013 (Goofy is when you run the half marathon on Saturday and then run the full marathon on Sunday). I will also go back down in February to run the 5th anniversary of the Princess Half Marathon. If you are a runner who will runDisney for the first time, it’s nice to be able to get travel advice from someone who has experienced it. I can help you with all the ins and outs of the action packed weekend!
WDW Hints: Thank you so much for your time, Leigh!
Leigh: Thank you! This was a lot of fun and I am honored that you have included me!
Editors Note: You can contact Leigh through her website, Mousekeplanner, or on her facebook page and she’ll be happy to assist you with booking your next Disney Vacation!
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