Decoding the Pyramid: Investigating the Allegations against Magical Vacation Planner.

Magical Vacation Planner (MVP) is a company that offers vacation planning services, specializing in Disney vacations. The company employs travel agents who help clients plan and book their trips to various Disney destinations. Some people have raised concerns about MVP and questioned whether it is a pyramid scheme. A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members and promises high profits based primarily on recruiting others rather than selling products or services. In a pyramid scheme, the focus is on recruiting new members who are required to invest money upfront. The money invested by new recruits is used to pay commissions to existing members at the top of the pyramid.

First of all, welcome to the DisBoards!

Most Disney vacation discounts seem to apply only to agents, not family members, however, and you need to be actively selling before you re eligible for them. And once you ve shown your worth and made them a significant amount of money, paid for extra training, helped line their pockets and proven to be a valuable earner, you get to become a Team Leader.

The money invested by new recruits is used to pay commissions to existing members at the top of the pyramid. This unsustainable model eventually collapses when recruitment slows down or stops altogether. In the case of MVP, there is no evidence to suggest it operates as a pyramid scheme.

Become a travel agent

A friend of mine is trying to get me to sign up to be a travel agent (for a small fee of course). Has anyone done this and can you get discounts at Disney?

ksoehrlein

Once (and Future?) CM

First of all, welcome to the DisBoards!

I am just starting out in the travel industry, focusing on Disney. I would try to not pay a start-up fee if I were you. Your friend might split commissions with you instead so it doesn't cost you anything up front. That's the route I'm taking.

Disney offers a great free correspondence course, the College of Disney Knowledge. After you graduate, there are onsite Masters programs, but they are more work than play. Most Disney vacation discounts seem to apply only to agents, not family members, however, and you need to be actively selling before you're eligible for them.

I'm giving it the old college try, but I highly doubt it will make me a millionaire or even pay for more than a couple of nights at a Value resort each year. Then again, it's a chance to talk about WDW with people who are actually interested in what I have to say. I enjoy that part so much, that I'd do it for free!

strasfamily

DIS Veteran

How do you ge info for the College of Disney Knowledge? Do you have to be an established travel agent to participate?

scanmom

DIS Veteran

I would like to know too! I have planned and booked trips for several of my friends and coworkers, so I think I could handle being a disney travel specialist. I wouldn't want to make alot of $'s doing it, but I think it is fun, and if I could get a few discounts, all the better!

Amberle3

Likes to absorb the park
Joined Mar 8, 2004

Just a heads up:

Anything that you get "signed up for" to be a travel agent is a card mill. Basically it's kind of like a pyramid scheme. Most of the money people make is by signing other people up.

Travel agent discounts are almost a myth nowdays. Yes there are *some* to be had out there, but in order to qualify for them you have to have an IATA card, which you earn by producing X amount in sales per year. Also many hotels have web specials that are lower than the travel agent rates, and in many places the travel agent discount is a whopping 10% or equivalent to the AAA rate.

I know all this because I'm a travel agent. I spent 8 months in school taking full-time courses for this, and then spent another 2 years after that getting Certified.

There's a lot more to being a travel agent than just paying for a "membership".

ETA: Yes, you have to be an established travel agent before you can take the Disney courses.

Also, depending on where you live there are local or state laws in effect governing travel agents. You may be required to be registered with the state before you can legally sell travel to people (even for yourself, if you're acting as an agent). You may be required to have a minimum amount of insurance (E&O/liability) before you can legally sell travel to people. Even if it's not a requirement the E&O insurance is something that every travel agency should have. If you're acting as a solo travel agent then you should definitely have it. Some "host" agencies will say that you're covered but won't provide you with any official documentation to back it up, and there have been cases of people having to use the insurance and oops, suddenly they're not covered. My E&O costs $1250 a year.

Unlike a typical pyramid scheme, MVP sells legitimate products and services – vacation planning assistance. Clients pay for their vacation packages, and travel agents earn commission based on those sales. The travel agents are not required to recruit new members or pay any upfront fees to be a part of MVP. Additionally, MVP is an accredited agency with the Travel Institute and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). They follow industry standards and regulations, which further demonstrates their legitimacy as a travel agency. The agents undergo training and certification processes to ensure they are knowledgeable and qualified to assist clients with their vacation plans. It is important to differentiate between legitimate multi-level marketing (MLM) companies and pyramid schemes. MLM companies operate on a similar principle of rewarding members for sales and recruiting new members, but they do so within the boundaries of legal and ethical practices. MVP appears to fall under the MLM category, as they primarily generate revenue through sales of travel packages rather than recruitment. In conclusion, there is no substantial evidence to support the claim that Magical Vacation Planner is a pyramid scheme. The company offers legitimate vacation planning services, operates within industry regulations, and does not require travel agents to recruit new members or invest upfront fees. It is crucial to conduct thorough research and evaluate the facts before making any judgments or assumptions about a company's business model..

Reviews for "Can Dreams Become Nightmares? Debating the Pyramid Scheme Allegations of Magical Vacation Planner."

1. John - Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

I was extremely disappointed with my experience with Magical Vacation Planne. I was initially excited about the idea of planning a magical vacation, but I quickly realized that it was just a pyramid scheme in disguise. The company kept pushing me to recruit more people and earn commissions, instead of actually providing any valuable services. The whole experience felt scammy and I would not recommend it to anyone.

2. Sarah - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

I had high hopes for Magical Vacation Planne, but I was left feeling deceived and unsatisfied. They promised to help me plan the perfect vacation, but it quickly became clear that their main focus was on recruiting new members to the scheme. The information and tips provided were generic and nothing that I couldn't find for free online. It felt like my money was going straight into the pockets of those on top of the pyramid, rather than actually enhancing my vacation planning experience.

3. Michael - Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Magical Vacation Planne is nothing more than a pyramid scheme. They lure you in with dreams of planning the perfect vacation, but the reality is that you're just being manipulated into recruiting more members and earning commissions for the people at the top. The whole concept is deceitful and dishonest. Save your money and invest in a reputable vacation planning service instead.

Behind the Magic: Examining the Pyramid Scheme Claims against Magical Vacation Planner.