Here's How MickeyTravels Is Making Magic One Vacation At A Time

MickeyTravels LLC is an authorized Disney-only travel agency based in Long Valley. Since its opening in 2011, the company has grown into a nationally recognized leader in the Disney vacation planning industry and is one of about 10 agencies in the world that Disney has designated with Platinum earmarked status. So what makes MickeyTravels so special? Well, to start, its services are 100 percent free to clients!

Elyssa Antonelle, owner and managing director of MickeyTravels, has loved Disney for as as long as she can remember. That's why she treats every client with the tailored service they deserve, giving them a magical Disney experience every time. Read on to learn more about MickeyTravels and its upcoming adventures.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Antonelle: My husband, Greg, and I started MickeyTravels in 2011. We have supported our local community since then, sponsoring Long Valley Raiders, Long Valley Basketball and the West Morris Central Boys Lacrosse teams, among other local organizations. We’ve booked Disney vacations for several hundred local families and will book about 10,000 Disney vacations this year nationally.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Antonelle: I have been a Disney fan for as long as I can remember. My parents took my brother and I to Walt Disney World when I was 2 years old. Growing up, we visited Walt Disney World regularly. As an adult, I’ve been lucky to share the magic with my family (husband and three boys). I have a masters degree and was a stay-at-home mom for more than 10 years. However, when I found out that I could plan Disney vacations for a living, it was a no-brainer. There’s an old saying, “Find a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” I wouldn’t consider planning Disney vacations a “job” but rather part of my life. It’s making magic! I love it and wouldn’t trade it for any other job in the world.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Antonelle: Planning Magical Disney Vacations Worldwide.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Antonelle: Prior to starting MickeyTravels, I planned Disney vacations for a different travel company based out of Michigan for about a year. I was their leading producer and booked many trips for them. Unfortunately, the company had many legal issues and declared bankruptcy. I ended up losing more than $10,000 in commission that I had earned but was never paid for. This was a tough pill to swallow, but it led me to where I am today with MickeyTravels. It inspired me to do things the right way with MickeyTravels and has been the driving force in us becoming one of the top Disney travel agencies in the country. Our commitment to customer service is not just our slogan, “Making Magic One Vacation at a Time...,” but it is instrumental in our success.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Antonelle: The most satisfying part of my job is playing a part in making memories that families will always remember. Whether it’s planning a family vacation, a honeymoon or a multi-generational vacation, we treat each vacation individually and tailor it based on each client's needs and wants. I love when I get sent photos of their little girl dressed up as a princess or the family photo in front of Cinderella’s castle. There is a growing trend in spending money on experiences rather than on tangible items. Having a small part of planning these experiences is extremely fulfilling.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Antonelle: We distinguish ourselves from other companies in our industry in a couple of ways. First, we are a Disney-only agency. Many agencies specialize in Disney but book vacations for other destinations as well. We spend 100 percent of our time, energy and resources on Disney. We train only on Disney. We are experts on Disney and devote everything we have to our clients' Disney vacations. I would equate it to the medical profession in a way. If someone breaks their arm, they would want to go to an orthopedist to get the best care, as opposed to their general practitioner. It’s the same thing with what we do. If someone wants to go to Disney, they’ll be in great hands with us since that’s all we book, as opposed to another agency that books Disney AND everything else.

Second, I’m not shy saying we have the best Disney travel agents working for us. We have a very intensive hiring process and are much more concerned about the quality of our agents versus the quantity of agents. My husband, Greg, has spent more than 20 years in executive recruiting for some of the world’s leading companies, so we’ve utilized some similar strategies to identify, attract and bring on the best of the best to our team. I hear regularly from clients how happy they are with our agents. Those testimonials I receive speak volumes to our agents’ abilities.

Third, our presence within the Disney social media community is second to none when it comes to travel agencies. Our main MickeyTravels Facebook page has well over 120,000 organic fans, and we are able to communicate and engage with these fans on a real-time basis.

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Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Antonelle: The best advice I’ve been given when it comes to success is to never be satisfied with what you’re doing. When you’re satisfied, complacency sets in. When complacency sets in, you lose the passion for what you do. And when you lose the passion for what you do, it ultimately shows in the work you do. Greg and I are always striving to improve. We are always looking for new opportunities that make our clients' experiences better. We are always looking for ways to be better at what we do, and we (and our agents) are always in a constant competition with ourselves to be better than we were yesterday, last week, last month and last year.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Antonelle: Yes! We are very excited to announce that we are opening up a sister agency to MickeyTravels. The sister agency is called Let’s Adventure Travel LLC. Let’s Adventure Travel will not book Disney, however, it will book other destinations (Universal, all-inclusives, all other cruises, etc). We are excited to get started with Let’s Adventure Travel and will incorporate the same level of customer service and operate with the same level of tenacity that has made MickeyTravels a national leader.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Antonelle: Visit our website or email us at elyssa@mickeytravels.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Image Credit: MickeyTravels LLC

This Patch article is sponsored by MickeyTravels LLC.