Today we’d like to introduce you to Jody Everson.
Jody is a natural planner in all aspects of her life, and that is especially true with planning Disney and Universal (and beyond!) vacations. To her, planning and researching for months and months is almost as exciting as taking those first steps onto Main Street, U.S.A. or arriving at the airport for an all-inclusive getaway or walking into CityWalk to the first Universal park of the day! Being a travel advisor is definitely her dream job — well, after playing Elsa in the Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire show — and she is committed to helping clients plan trips they will never forget.
After working in higher education for ten years, Jody wanted a more flexible, kid-friendly job. So she turned to her love of Disney & Universal and travel planning and now helps other families plan their dream vacations. “I often tell my clients that I care about their vacation more than them!” Jody says. “I’m so very devoted to my clients and making sure they have all they need.” The best part of her job is seeing the smiles from the children — and parents — in the photos that they send her, Jody says. “I am helping make precious and treasured memories and solving problems and making life easier for parents and grandparents. I feel like a rockstar because kids get to have such a blast and the times of their lives partly because of me!” She loves helping families who are not sure where to start in planning their trips. “I love helping solve problems and putting together the puzzle for them. I just *get* all of this, but I know it is overwhelming to many. I’m happy to be here to work through the details for and with you.” Jody visits a Disney and/or Universal destination almost monthly (and Caribbean or Mexico destinations several times a year), so she knows first-hand the experiences her clients will have. “It’s so important to have feet on the ground and be on top of all that is new for my clients.” Originally from Georgia, Jody now lives in Dallas, Texas. She is married to Zak and has a young daughter and son.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Can I just say 2020?! HA! After building a successful business for a few years, the pandemic hit. It hit the travel industry HARD. It’s still rough to some extent. No one has ever experienced anything like it – not me, not our agency, not Disney, not the cruise lines, no one. There were lots of cancelations and moving of dates (and we are still doing many of those a year later!), but I have to admit that I became closer with many clients. I really helped them solve problems that they didn’t need to deal with, and also I’ve helped provide fun and hope for the future for them. But I do see the light, and many people are back to traveling or planning to travel in the near future!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in helping families make memories. I book and plan vacations to Disney, Universal, cruises, international all-inclusive, and even some resorts in the U.S. I also work with couples and friend groups who want fun getaways. My goal is always to make the booking/planning process easy and efficient and seamless for my clients. I am doing this job nearly 24/7, and I know I’m very reachable and approachable for my clients. For Disney and Universal, I’m there literally almost every month! So I always have boots on the ground to stay on top of the latest (this has been especially important since the pandemic). I’m so proud every time I know that I’ve made a process or experience easier for others. Vacations should be fun! Leave the details to me.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I become very friendly and relatable to my clients. I’m reachable and open with them. I want to be their partner or friend in this process; I don’t want it to just be a business transaction! And really, there is no pressure because they don’t even pay me! The vendors pay us a commission after they travel. So we don’t even have to talk fees or money. I love that.
Contact Info:
- Email: jody@smallworldbigfun.com
- Website: www.itsajollyholidaywithjody.com
- Instagram: @itsajollyholidaywithjody
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jodyeversonsmallworldbigfun
- Other: https://smallworldbigfun.com/agents/jody-everson/
