ORLANDO — Walt Disney World is opening its latest attraction, high-speed roller coaster Tron Lightcycle / Run, on April 4. It’s one of many new or returning experiences on the campus here this year, and the team at Disney Destinations Sales Solutions has spent months ensuring that travel advisors have access to the knowledge and content to help them sell.
“We’re grateful for the trade,” said Jodi Bainter, director of travel agency sales at Disney Destinations Sales Solutions. “They do a great job on a couple levels. They do some great discovery. They talk to new families. They introduce new families to the Disney portfolio. They’re very good at helping them think about what they want to see when they’re there and making sure that they can plan their time properly.”
In short, Bainter said, “They’re very good at aligning the best vacation to what the guest is seeking.”
Bainter spoke alongside Javier Moreno, senior vice president of Disney Destination Sales Solutions, during a media event previewing what’s coming to Disney World this year.
In addition to Tron, there is a Toy Story-themed restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, that opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on March 23.
On April 1, Narcoossee’s restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa reopened with a refreshed menu and interior.
Two favorite nighttime spectaculars, “Happily Ever After” and “Epcot Forever,” returned to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, respectively, on April 3. And April 22 marks the 25th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Later this year, the Disney100 celebration will come to Walt Disney World. Disney100 began in January at Disneyland, celebrating 100 years of the Walt Disney Co. At Disney World, which wraps up its 50th anniversary celebration on March 31, Epcot will play host to Disney100. There, the World Celebration neighborhood will be completed, and a Moana-themed walkthrough attraction will open, where guests will follow the journey of water from the skies to the oceans and back again.
Two restaurants will make their debut this year: Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs and the Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk. New and returning character greetings will happen throughout the year.
Bainter said that a focus of her team is inviting travel advisors to Disney World to experience the product for themselves.
For those who can’t visit in person, Disney continues to develop education and resources. Bainter pointed to the Disney Travel Professionals accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
“We are constantly now really trying to put out content that’s fresh and relevant and new, and for those agents that can’t get here, they can see it,” Bainter said.
Moreno said those social handles have been growing over the past year or so.
“We are getting a lot of great feedback,” he said. “We love it, because we want to deliver the best tools for them, and that is a process we’re learning. And I think in a year, we’ve done a tremendous improvement in the content and the frequency.”
Disney’s other home for travel advisors is Disneytravelagents.com. That includes the College of Disney Knowledge course and modules that are added to cover new topics.
Bainter also pointed to Disney’s business development managers as its “best asset” for advisors. Advisors looking for their BDM can use the Contact Us page on Disneytravelagents.com; Bainter said submissions are monitored frequently.
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