You've got a friend in me - Randy Newman
- Stefanie
- Apr 24, 2022
- 6 min read
I'm really excited to be able to do my very first Q&A Post with my dear friend, Kristal who co-founded her Travel Agency with her amazingly cool friend, Kristin. They are based out of Denver, Colorado and not only can they take you for the best poke bowl you've ever had but but will introduce you to the best local breweries and buy you a flight! These girls have gone on the coolest vacations, which helps them plan incredible vacations for others. I hope to feature Kristal's expertise often in this space because she brings a different understanding to Disney planning (a behind the scenes look, so to speak). It always surprises people when I tell them I (an admitted Type A) use a Travel Agent to book my Disney Trip. The truth is, it makes paying for a Disney vacation easier. I am likely Kristal's least exciting client. When she books my family's vacations she gets an itemized list with dates, resorts, transportation needs, reservations, and add-ons. I've already got everything I need to do it myself, but she brings a value to me (and my family) that I can't get on my own: free time to pay and insider scoop to the extras I can add on to my vacations. I had a lot of fun putting these questions together and hope you'll enjoy our conversation.
Without further adieu, I introduce you to Kristal!
Stef: Kristal, my favorite Travel Agent Extraordinaire, I’m so excited to have you “here!” I know you’re very busy, so I appreciate you taking time to answer some of the all-time top questions from my readers. (Okay, more like, the top questions I annoyed you with the first time you booked a vacation for my family.)
Kristal – Thank you so much for having me! Your blog is such an awesome source of info, I’m so happy to be able to share my area of expertise with your readers.
Stef: Before we get into any questions though, let’s first get the biggest misconception out of the way. Booking through you costs how much extra for clients versus booking directly through Disney?
Kristal – Awesome question! It costs ZERO extra dollars and in many cases actually saves you money because Disney Travel Agents have access to deals that aren’t available to the general public. Once you book through me, Disney simply pays me a commission for that booking so our Disney planning services are free to you!
Stef: I ask that first because so many people I know prefer to book directly instead of an agent because 1. They don’t quite understand how it works and 2. They don’t understand the perks!
Friends, I have 4 children (ages 11, 9, 7, 4) which means when my family goes to Disney, we have to buy three adult tickets and three children’s tickets. I’m not sure if you’ve looked lately but it’s not an inexpensive purchase. I have to say that given the new park reservation system, far and away the BEST reason to use a Travel Agent is because when you book you are putting down a fraction of your total cost but still able to make your park day reservations!
Can you explain how payment works?
Kristal - Absolutely! As long as you book more than 30 days out, your full payment amount is not due at time of booking. You would only have a deposit due (usually $200) and your final payment wouldn’t be due until 30 days before you travel. You can also make as many payments as you want, so if you want to book a year in advance and spread your payments out over 12 months, that’s totally doable! It makes budgeting for Disney so much easier!
Stef: So now that we’ve gone through the heavy hitters, let’s talk about step 1. When a client tells you they’re interested in booking a Disney vacation, what is your first question and why?
Kristal - Great question! Obviously, the budget and size of your group are very important, but I really want to know how much time you have to spend there. Disney World is a BEAST. There is so much to do and most families that I work with have limited time to do it all. I want to help you make the most of the time you have there, so you can do and see all that you want to without getting burnt out
Stef: What would you say is the sweet spot for booking?
Kristal - I usually say that 6-9 months out is a great time to book. Travel agents usually have access to any deals that will be available for your travel dates by that time. There is also usually plenty of park availability when you book this far in advance, so you generally don’t have to worry about park reservations filling up. Flights are usually at their best price 4-6 months out too, so I can help keep an eye on flights so we make sure that we book them at the best price.
Stef: Other than hotel reservations and park tickets, what else are you able to help clients with on their Disney vacations?
Kristal - I can help with Genie+ reservations, park reservations, dining reservations, recommendations and reservations for After Hours parties, flights, airport transportation, and so much more! In my opinion, the best thing about working with a Disney Travel Agent is that you’re working with someone who has been to Disney many times before. So in addition to being able to book all of those “extras” for you, I can offer you my favorite tips and tricks to make a memorable and relaxing vacation.
Stef: I have my absolute favorite resorts to stay at but, as someone who regularly works with people trying to figure out where to stay, can you tell me how you talk through resort options?
Kristal - The biggest factors I would look at before recommending a resort would be the size of the party, the ages in the group, and the overall budget. For example, I would recommend different hotels for a family of 6 with 3 generations than I would for a couple traveling by themselves. The cool thing is that Disney has hotels to fit any group and budget, so I always recommend staying at a Disney property if you can. The convenience of transportation on site and the magic of staying so close to the parks just can’t be beat.
Stef: Once someone books a vacation, what can they expect to receive from you?
Kristal - Once you are booked, I would walk you through all of your next steps including setting up your My Disney Experience account, making your park reservations, dining reservations, Genie+ reservations, and more. I can even do all of this for you if that feels a little overwhelming. Disney policies change often, especially in the last 2 years, so my job is not only to help book your vacation, but to help you navigate all of the current processes and help you make the most of your trip.
Stef: What if something happens and I can’t go on my trip? What are my options?
Kristal - Disney offers travel protection that you can add onto your package for a small fee. The cost and coverage does vary based on the size of your group and the state in which you reside, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared for an unexpected illness, injury, emergency etc. And Disney Travel Protection can be added to your package any time before your final payment is made.
Stef: Alright, last question for today. What is your favorite time of year to visit Disney and why?
Kristal - To be honest, I would go any time of year, but my favorite would have to be fall. First, the weather is fabulous. Second, there are so many events happening that time of year and the parks are somehow even more magical. In October, you get to witness the Halloween decorations for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. In November, the parks transform into Holiday decor. And if you can travel outside of the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks, the crowds tend to be smaller.
If you are looking for help planning your next Disney (or honestly, any kind of vacation) you can find Kristal at:
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