Disney trip planner offers years, 'ears' of experience

With more than 40 trips to Disney World banked in her personal memory book, Jackie VerMeer isn’t your average Disney fan.

She’s not your typical travel agent, either. As an authorized vacation planner with Ears of Experience, VerMeer is dedicated to helping people have magical and affordable Disney vacations, and her expertise doesn’t cost customers a dime.

“We concentrate on concierge services, but I can plan a trip from scratch, too, and do as little or as much as the customer would like,” VerMeer said.

After 20 years of planning and booking Disney vacations for family and friends, the Brandon woman turned her passion into a full-time profession.

“It’s in my heart. Disney. The magic,” she said.

VerMeer took her first Disney vacation in 1992 with her husband and three children.

“We thought our first trip was going to be once-in-a-lifetime – just one time,” she said. “But we fell in love with it.”

Even today, her adult kids still love to go.

“Mom, I’m having Disney withdrawal,” her daughter recently said.

Last year VerMeer and her husband, Jim, even renewed their wedding vows on a Disney cruise – one of nine so far.

She’s planned dozens of Disney trips since joining Ears of Experience last year.

“I just love it. There’s just such a range of packages, from luxury through value. I think I can always find a package in their budget,” VerMeer said. 

Budget is what VerMeer starts with when she’s helping a family customize their Disney experience. She keeps each family’s best interests in mind.

“I’m not sure I want to sell the biggest package – I’d rather take a lesser commission to know they get to go, especially kids,” VerMeer said. 

She adds hotel recommendations, dining plans, and park tickets, including Fast Passes that get you to the front of lines with little or no wait, park-hopping options for those who want to take in more than one park in one day and Disney shows.

Hollywood Studios is VerMeer’s favorite Disney World theme park, specifically for its roller coasters – “I’m a big rider,” she said – but recommends visiting Magic Kingdom the first day, especially for families with kids, and flying with Allegiant Air, which offers nonstop flights from Sioux Falls to Orlando.

VerMeer can even plan your daily Disney schedule, a service she offered to a family she met at last month’s Brandon Expo. The family had all of their tickets and accommodations booked but approached VerMeer at her booth with no plan of how’d they conquer Disney World.

The Disneyphile hopped on a plane Monday with her daughter to take photos and video for her website, disneydreamsbyjackie.com, which she plans to take live soon.

VerMeer enjoys travel planning and acknowledges that not everyone does. 

“If it’s not fun for you and becomes a chore, you can have the ease of just having your vacation planned,” she said. “It can get overwhelming how much Disney has to offer.”

VerMeer said the average Disney package price for a family of four staying at a moderate-level hotel for five to six days is $3,500, depending on the season. Her favorite week of the year to visit the happiest place on earth is the first week in December because the crowds are light, and Christmas decorations are bright and plentiful.

She can also book vacations to Disneyland in California and any of Disney’s overseas destinations, including Tokyo, Hong Kong and Paris, as well as Disney cruises. If Ears of Experience offers a promotion after she’s booked your package, she can even apply those savings to you.

VerMeer visits a Disney location two to three times a year, on average. In March, she’s headed back for training with Ears of Experience.

“Disney teaches everyone in the world customer service,” she said.

For more information, contact her at (605) 929-7960 or jvermeer@themouseexperts.com.