You spent months planning, and then you open the door to your room and it isn't the one in the photos. Amy Blades and two of her Travel Advisors talk through how to avoid that moment by asking the right questions before you book.
In This Episode:
Meet the Advisors
Amy Blades, Founder & CEO and your host
Rachel Badowski, foodie experiences at Disney World and Disney destinations
Laura Durcholz, multi-generational family vacations at Disney destinations and Universal
Experience First, Budget Second
Amy doesn't start a client conversation with a number. She asks what kind of experience the family wants, then builds around it. Some families are never in their room and happily choose an inside stateroom. Amy, who is claustrophobic, wouldn't, but she is clear that a more affordable option is nothing to apologize for. Her line is that there is a difference between "a price of something and the value of something."
Laura prepares guests for how cruise rooms really feel. On the Disney Destiny, four of them stayed in a veranda room that sleeps five and skipped pulling down every bed. Amy adds that a water view can be quieter than a pool view, unless boats are going back and forth.
Location Changes Your Day
Rachel upgraded to a preferred room at All Star, which put her near transportation, the dining hall, and laundry. When it rained that trip, she was glad: "after a long day in the parks I did not wanna walk another ten minutes to my room." Amy learned a similar lesson when clients in a Little Mermaid room at Art of Animation called mid-trip about the walk to the bus, and she now asks how far a guest wants to walk.
When the Photos Don't Match
On a Myrtle Beach trip years before she became an advisor, Amy found popcorn on the floor and nothing like the photos. She suspects they were years old, and the couple ended up at a newer Marriott down the road. Laura's husband booked the cheapest hotel he could find on a booking site, and when someone's smoking set off the smoke alarm while she was in the shower, she ran outside and called her daughter. Laura now reads reviews before booking, and Amy's advice is to rely on an advisor who can share what they know firsthand.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you'd like someone to ask these questions before you book, you can meet Rachel, Laura, and the rest of our Travel Advisors at goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors. If you're a Travel Advisor, or thinking about becoming one, you can learn about building your own business with Goofy Getaways at goofygetaways.com/join-our-team.
