These two travel agencies are the first in Canada to go platinum with Disney

"If you can dream it, you can do it,” the late, great Walt Disney once said.

Two Ontario-based travel agencies have made their dreams come true by achieving platinum-level status in Disney vacation planning – and it’s the first time, ever, the designation has been awarded in Canada.

ClickTheMouse Travel and Pure Magic Vacations Inc. are now platinum producers in the Disney EarMarked Program, which recognizes stellar sales performance in Disney vacations.

“To reach Platinum level is a landmark achievement and we are thrilled for ClickTheMouse and Pure Magic Vacations,” said Hayden Yates, director of sales, Canada for Disney Destinations in a statement to PAX.

“We never gave up”

Sandra Pappas, owner and manager of ClickTheMouse Travel, said her team was “very excited” when they heard the news.

“It feels great,” Pappas told PAX. “Reaching Platinum status has been a long-time goal of ClickTheMouse – ever since Disney announced the Earmarked tiers. We have an amazing team of agents who have worked so hard for this, even with the COVID setback.”

True to Walt Disney’s famous quote: “We dreamed it, and we did it!” said Pappas.

To become Platinum, an agency must achieve certain sales goals, as outlined by Disney Destinations.

“It took a lot of hard work – some sweat and some tears,” Pappas said. “But we never gave up.”

As owner of ClickTheMouse, Pappas ensures she has the “best group of agents possible” to make the magic happen.

“We work as a close-knit team and that is the key to our success,” she said.

Of course, there have been challenges along the way.

“Definitely the big one, COVID,” Pappas explained. “We were set to have a great 2020, 2021 and 2022, but as we know, the world shut down. Having said that, the revenge travel wave we had when everything started to open up was bigger than we had thought! The amazing thing is that even though this wave is over, we are still increasing our sales!”

What does Pappas love about selling Disney vacations?

“It’s such an incredible product to sell – especially for someone who loves the destination,” she said. “Our agents are all big fans of Disney and spend their yearly family vacations at a park or on a Disney cruise and even Adventuring with Disney. It’s a brand I personally have loved since I was a child.”

“Disney has a way of making you ‘feel’ when you visit their destinations.”

ClickTheMouse specializes in both Disney and Universal vacations.

“We feel having a niche in what we sell exhibits our expertise and passion for these destinations,” said Pappas, who has just under 50 agents on her team.

Her advice to other travel advisors looking to sell Disney?

“Whatever it is that you sell, sell what you love and it will pay off in the end,” she said. “If you are interested in selling Disney, you have a lot of homework to do. Disney destinations can be complex, but knowing them and loving them will make selling them easier.”

“Your guests will feel your passion, which will keep them coming back to you to book their Disney vacations. There are so many little things that can make a guest’s vacation go from ordinary to ‘magical.’ Make your guests understand that the help of an expert is key to having this magical experience.”

Memory makers

David Power, president of Pure Magic Vacations Inc., is also over the moon with his team’s accomplishments.

“Our team is thrilled and very proud to have received this recognition from Disney,” Power told PAX. “It was a goal of our late founder and it is a special accomplishment to achieve this honour as part of her legacy.”

Power said he is lucky to have a team that “is passionate about the product and is dedicated to working together to provide the best experience for our clients.”

“This dedication continues to bring old and new clients to Pure Magic Vacations,” Power said.

One of Pure Magic Vacations’ biggest challenges over the years was the passing of its company founder, Carolyn Williams, “who was a phenomenal role model,” Power said.

“COVID also presented the entire industry with challenges and our team worked tirelessly to bounce back to continually be market leaders,” he added.

The team at Pure Magic Vacations loves making people’s Disney dreams come true.

“Nothing makes our agents happier than hearing about the memories that they helped clients create,” Power said. “The core of what we do is sharing our knowledge, experience and passion for all Disney travel products.”

The company, also a Platinum-level agency in Canada for Universal, uses its substantial and shared knowledge to assist clients at every stage of the vacation experience, Power explained.

“We help convert the dream to the reality,” he said. “We identify each client’s wants and needs and apply it to their specific situation to create the best memories possible.”

The operation is run by a network of roughly 70 agents – “We are a team, but also a family,” Power said.

Power’s top tip to travel advisors who are considering Disney?

“Many agencies shy away from Disney because it is much more work than the sale and planning of other vacations,” he said.

“The best advice that we can share is to know the product and work with agents and agencies that share your passion.”

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.