Destination Magic Agency Trip – Days 1 and 2
In September, I had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World for the first time on a FAM (For Agency Members) Trip. The purpose of this trip was for travel agents like myself to learn more about the different resorts, gather photos and videos to use for future promotion.
The schedule for the trip was as follows:
- Saturday: Evening Meet and Greet
- Sunday: Resort Tours and More
- Park Day: Park Hopper Ticket Required
- Breakfast and departure
As an added bonus, I found out that the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was happening on the Friday before the evening Meet and Greet. I decided to book my flight for Friday morning so I could attend the party. It was my first time experiencing the event, and it was truly an unforgettable adventure.
Despite the forecast of rain, I was determined to make unforgettable memories at the Magic Kingdom. As soon as I landed, I wasted no time and immediately checked in at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, dropped off my bags, grabbed a quick meal, changed into my costume, and set off to the Magic Kingdom.
@waltsentme Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2022 #WaltDisney #WaltDisneyWorld #Disney #MagicKingdom ♬ Sunroof - Nicky Youre & dazy
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On day 2, I decided to spend my time volunteering at Give Kids The World Village (GKTWV) instead of visiting the theme parks. I had the opportunity to learn about GKTWV through a Disney podcast and a Facebook group that holds auctions and donates all proceeds to the village. I discovered that GKTWV is entirely run by volunteers and staff are compensated, but not motivated by money. Through the Facebook group, I met a friend named Rudy who works there full-time after retiring and moving to Florida.
I spent my first 3-hour shift as a pool attendant, helping guests with towels and ensuring they had everything they needed. I was even given a walkie-talkie and got to use it when a child requested Toy Story on the big screen near the pool.
After my shift, Rudy gave me a private tour of the village, where I learned that everything is donated and companies are not allowed to display logos for advertising purposes.
My second shift was at the ice cream parlor, where I served ice cream to the guests. One little boy shared his story with me, which touched my heart. I couldn’t imagine the struggles of the parents and was grateful to have the opportunity to brighten the kids’ day. This experience has left me wanting to return and volunteer during my next visit.
After volunteering, I met with fellow travel agents at the Polynesian Resort and checked into Saratoga Springs. I didn’t take photos of my previous room, as it was one of the pirate-themed rooms that no longer exist, but I thoroughly enjoyed my room at Saratoga Springs and plan to return.
We met in the lobby of the Polynesian and made our way to the owner of the agency’s room, which was a bungalow. The views were stunning and we got to watch the fireworks from the balcony. While it is worth booking a bungalow if you plan to spend time in it, I recommend saving the money if you plan to spend most of your time in the parks.
@waltsentme Disney’s Polynesian Bungalow tour #MagicKingdom #WaltDisneyWorld #Disney #TravelAgent ♬ Lofi Vibes - Gentle State
With that, days 1 and 2 of the FAM trip were over and day 3 was packed with events. Day 3 was our resort tour day, where we woke up early and visited 6 different resorts, taking many photos and videos along the way.
Thank you for reading.
~Enrique
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