Jamie Feast
In recent years, travel agencies that have focused on theme park vacations—primarily Disney and Universal’s domestic theme parks—have sprung up.
A quick look at Travel Weekly’s Power List proves it. For years, Small World Vacations (No. 42 in 2022) was the only Disney-focused agency on the list. This year, Marvelous Mouse Travels (No. 45) joined the list at No. 45, and at least a few others have said they expect to hit the milestone next year.
These agencies don’t just sell Disney or Universal. Of course, other Power Listers sell theme parks, and for many agencies parks are a strong focus.
Travelmation is a milestone in itself
Another recent success story: This month, Fort Lauderdale-based Travelmation signed its 1,000th independent contractor in the midst of its 10th anniversary.
In the past two years, Travelmation said, its ranks of advisers have doubled.
“Travelmation” is a combination of travel and animation, said founder and president Adam Duckworth. He started the agency in 2012, when there were few agencies focused primarily on Disney.
Connected: Disney says park attendance often exceeds 2019 levels
Duckworth himself was originally a travel advisor.
He attributed some of his agency’s recent growth to its expansion beyond Disney during the pandemic, when Travelmation launched a marketing campaign focused on both Disney and Caribbean and Mexico vacations.
Travelmation also sells some tours in Europe. It’s a full-service agency with roots in Disney, Duckworth said.
From the beginning, he said, his goal has been to be “the best home a travel agent could ever have.”
Travelmation’s 1,000th agent, Matt McKee of Cumming, Ga., signed with the agency last week. Duckworth said in a statement that he was humbled and grateful.
“From the beginning, we built Travelmation to be the best travel agency on the planet,” added Duckworth. “From a generous dollar mentality, to minimal agent fees, and a supportive agent community unlike anything I’ve seen in the industry, Travelmation is simply the best.”
