We recently connected with Jill Lanyon and have shared our conversation below.

Jill, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Traveling has always been a passion of mine, as is planning and being organized. After planning several Disney trips for my own family and then helping many friends with theirs, I asked myself, how can I get paid for doing this? The timing was right with my husband traveling so much for his work where I needed to have a more flexible job that allowed me to work but also be present in my young girls lives. We got back from a Disney Cruise and I applied. 2 weeks later I accepted my dream job from Hi Ho Vacations as a travel planner.

I have now been doing this for 3 years and been able to be with my girls so much more due to working from home and making my own schedule! My success relies on me and those who support my business. I am the captain of my own ship now and I love it!! Best decision I ever made was to leave the corporate world and go after my dream.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I live in Dallas Born and raised here, as was my husband. I am a mom to 2 beautiful elementary aged girls. I am a free travel planner with Hi Ho Vacations. We are small but mighty agency who is awarded as a Platinum earMarked Disney Authorized agency as well as Preferred with Universal and preferred with Sandals and Beaches.

I provide free services for those who want to visit any Disney Destination, meaning Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California, Aulani in Hawaii, Disney Cruise Lines cruises as well as Adventures by Disney, which includes river cruises. I also work with Universal Studios in both California and Florida. For all of these I help with their resort choices that best fit their families needs in their budget as well as help book all their dining and any extras they may want to make their trip even more special. Once they are about to travel, I provide a custom itinerary with step by step process of how to ride certain rides, strategies to best make use of their time as well as many tips and tricks!! You get this all for free when you book a trip with me.

In addition to just theme parks, I send many clients to All Inclusives – adult only and family friendly options in Mexico, Caribbean and cruises on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Virgin Voyages (adult only) and of course Disney Cruise!

There is no extra cost to book through me v directly on their website. What most don’t know is that when you book a Disney, Universal, all inclusives and even cruises, there is a built in commission in your trip and it just goes back to corporate BUT if you book with me, then it comes to me and you get all the help that you WILL need. In the world we live in right now with unpredictability due to pandemic, you want someone in your corner to help you when the need arises!!

So in turn, when you book through me, you are supporting not only me, but my family and my dream!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

REFERRALS- REFERRALS- REFERRALS!!!

90% of my business is referrals from either clients who have traveled or friends and family spreading the word.

Many don’t realize that just a simple click of “share” on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or tagging me in Instagram can do world of wonders for me!!

I don’t expect them to share everyday, but when you see something that peaks your interest OR you think a friend or family member might be interested, share!! It’s pretty simple and it’s FREE for you, but it helps me tremendously.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

March 2020- Pandemic!

Try selling travel in a time of a pandemic when travel is a no go!

I had only been doing this for around 9 months when the world shut down for travel. I felt like Sven from Frozen trying to sell ice in an ice storm! So what did I do? I kept at it and built up my clientele so that when the world did open back up I had a hand to play persay. I marketed every place I sold in detail. I gained their attention in places they’d want to escape to when the world opened up for travel.

Once Walt Disney World opened their gates, it was game on!! So many people just wanted to go. Many wanted to wait and see what happened. Once those people came back from their trips, and then shared their experience and how I helped them it was a domino affect.

Now I’m the busiest I’ve ever been. Additionally, with the news this last week of no more COVID testing to re-enter the United States from international travel it’s been even busier! Many who wanted to travel to all-inclusives in the Caribbean, Mexico with Sandals/Beaches and other amazing All Inclusive resorts or go to Europe/Asia with Adventures by Disney have been reaching out as they no longer have to fear about getting quarantined.

Persistence has helped me so much! Don’t ever give up!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @TexanDoesDisney & @FunInTheSunWithJill
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TexanDoesDisney & www.Facebook.com/FunInTheSunWithJill
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-lanyon-travelplanner/
• Twitter: @texandoesdisney
• Other: I manage my 2 categories on 2 different Facebook/Instagram pages. Disney/Universal is @TexanDoesDisney and my All Inclusives/Cruising is @FunInTheSunWithJill

Image Credits
Me :) Or Disney PhotoPass images I get with my Annual Pass.