Disney World - The Online Guide -

Passporter WDW 2003
(UK customers)

Our Laughing Place - DWUOG's travel agent partner

Interview with Ahnalira Koan, of Our Laughing Place Travel.
How long have you been a travel agent?
All together, we’ve got over 25 years experiences amongst us; >) For me, the travel industry was the business I “graduated” into five years ago after 20 years as a psychologist. It only took me that long to realize that the best way to help folks be happy is to help them do something and/or go somewhere they love. Of course, research is the basis of all my theories; >) …and I LOVE Disney so it was a natural evolution to pick a focus that allowed me ample research opportunity, n’est-ce pas?
Have you always specialised in Disney travel?
Disney is what brought most of the OLP Travel pixies to the industry. Some of us got into the business with a ‘general’ love of travel and began to specialize in Disney with time. Most of us followed the hobby of planning all of our friends and family's’ Disney vacations into its natural progression; >) All of us have a passion for Disney that fuels to us to visit (at least) once a year and stay abreast of all the latest Disney developments.
Tell us a bit about your travel counsellors.
Here’s a link to our “meet the travel counselors” page - http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/lpt/OLPT.asp We currently have another travel counselor in training, Pat, whose info and picture will be added soon; >) In addition to what is written in each travel counselors bio, I’d like to add that we work together keeping abreast of discounts and information and making sure everyone’s clients gets the BEST service possible. Our “business goal” is to have fun making our clients’ vacations magical and memorable.
What is the College of Disney Knowledge?
The College of Disney Knowledge is an online training program Disney offers licensed travel agents (that’s us; >). It sets a standard of basic knowledge for everything Disney has to offer in theme parks and cruiselines. Every travel counselor who joins the OLP team takes this course as a prerequisite to joining the team. In addition, all of the OLP Travel counselors have attended week-long “anisette” Disney tracings, visiting all of the resorts and the Disney Cruiseline as well as learning the in and outs of how to best represent the needs of the client.
What 'extras' and other services do you offer customers apart from booking their hotel rooms?
We help with everything from PS dining arrangements and resort room requests to itinerary planning and tracking discounts that Disney puts out periodically (In this instance, we’ll apply the discount automatically if it is available). We’ll do our best to make every client’s vacation carefree and magical. We even sprinkle our special brand of pixie dust on every reservation; >) We can help with large group reservations as well, and – because we are licensed and insured as a full service agency - we can help with add-ons to other areas of Florida (and the world; >)
Do you book Cinderella's breakfast priority seating a lot?
We have a good track record of getting a Princess character meal for clients. Disney has been very cooperative in creating two additional venues: the Storybook breakfast in Norway of the World Showcase at Epcot and The Royal Family dinner at the Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare. Between these three options, we can ‘almost’ guarantee success, and – when clients want the castle breakfast and only the castle breakfast – we do our best with good success.
What's the best thing about your job?
Good question! …and almost impossible to determine one thing; >) Here’s a few all smooshed into one sentence: Helping make magical memories, Spreading the magic and wonder of Disney, Getting to travel vicariously through every client’s vacation, Hearing back from satisfied clients that we helped to make it the BEST vacation ever!
Do you get any strange requests from customers?
Interesting requests for sure! Strange… Never; >) OK, well… sometimes. We’re all so unique; >) I had a client once who was bringing a multi-generational group of family to Disney World and needed help making sure everyone’s personal values would be honored, in terms of who shared which room with whom to what activities were shared by whom, etc. It made for a very interesting itinerary!
How often do you get to visit WDW?
When I lived in Oregon (up until May 2001) we came 4 –6 times a year to keep our website updated (selfless research; >) Now I live in the Orlando area, and I am one of the luckee duckees to gets to go at least once a month. My favorite thing to do is to stay onsite for three nights at a time and immerse myself in the magic and wonder of it all. I still do that on an average of 4 times a year.
What's your favourite Disney Resort?
Whichever one I am staying at! I know it seems like a glib response, but it’s true. Every one of them wins my heart with the attention to theming detail. I suppose, in general, I am quite taken with the Epcot resorts because of the transportation ease to both Epcot and Disney’s MGM Studios.
Which is the most popular Disney Resort with your customers?
Interesting question! You know, a lot of clients have favorite resorts where they always stay. I think the three that have the most loyal returnees are Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside (or for y’all who’ve been going there for awhile – Dixie Landings; >), and the Polynesian Resort.

Visit Our Laughing Place Travel to plan and book your magical Walt Disney World vacation!

Recommend this page to a friend
Discuss this at the message boards.

Disney World - The Unofficial Online Guide is not affiliated with, maintained by, or in any way officially connected with the Walt Disney Company.
Walt DisneyWorld & it's theme parks, resorts, attractions & area names are trademarks of The Walt Disney Company. All information contained in Disney World - The Unofficial Online Guide, including prices, dates, times, availability, is subject to change & not official. DWUOG will not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented on any page in this site, and will not be held responsible for anything that happens as a result of following advice or information on this site, and does not represent the Walt Disney Company in any manner.
© text, photos, logos are all copyright Disney World - The Unofficial Online Guide 1998-2003.
Text and/or photos & artwork may not be used in any way, or form without permission.
Please note - In submitting any photos, reviews, tips, etc for use on the site, you agree to them becoming the property of wdisneyw.co.uk, and being used on the site indefinitely.