Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Bentley.
Hi Colleen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi! I’m Colleen Bentley and I’m the Owner & Founder of WDW Park Planners, a Disney Concierge Planning Service. I started the company in 2018 as a side hustle and after the business took off, I decided to go full time with it in January 2020 (what a time to do it!). I grew up traveling to Walt Disney World with my family and always had passion for the details that went into making our family’s trips extra magical. After several trips as an adult to The Most Magical Place on Earth, I saw an opportunity. Planning a trip to Disney is unlike any other vacation, and the words I constantly heard from people were “stressful” and “overwhelming.” The planning of the details was what I enjoyed most, and so my Concierge Service was born. Prior to starting WDW Park Planners, I graduated with a business degree from the University of Notre Dame. I worked for many years in the advertising agency world before switching to work client-side at a financial planning firm. I was the first Marketing hire at the company and built the department from the ground up. I loved having the opportunity to start something from scratch and always saw myself starting my own company – this job experience really solidified that for me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Going full-time with WDW Park Planners in the midst of a pandemic was a major challenge, to say the least. There are already so many unknowns with starting a company, but the number of unknowns was exponentially higher and seemed more overwhelming during the start of COVID. Watching the parks shut down was devastating, but in the grand scheme of things, much bigger issues were going on in the world – so it was just a lot to process! Fast forward to January 2021 and we had our best month yet for the business, hired our first Planner, and are growing like crazy! A lot happened in a year, and it’s so rewarding to have made it through everything and to still be on our feet.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
WDW Park Planners is a Disney Concierge Planning Service. We help Make Every Minute Magical on your family’s vacation! Planning a trip to Disney requires a lot of advance work. As your personal concierge, we’re here every step of the way to answer all of your questions and be your go-to Disney expert. On top of that, we take all of the heavy lifting off of your plate to plan the perfect trip for YOUR family. From booking accommodations, purchasing tickets and making park reservations to booking transportation, making dining reservations and securing stroller rentals – we’ve got you covered. No one wants to wait in long lines and deal with crowds. With our expertise, we’ll help you get the most out of your park time by creating a completely customized touring plan for you to follow in the parks. You’ll even get corresponding park maps that show you exactly where to go! The best part of all – we’re available throughout your vacation to help answer any questions or make changes to your plans on the fly. That way you can enjoy every special moment with your family and make memories that last a lifetime.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Continuously learning is the key to being successful. For me the best way to learn is through experiences – both through my own and other people’s. That’s why networking is so important. I love hearing people’s stories about their own experiences in the business world or the Disney world. Networking allows you to meet and connect with inspiring people who can teach you so much. You never know where connections may lead you – whether it’s a future partnership or a great mentor!
Contact Info:
- Email: wdwparkplanners@gmail.com
- Website: https://wdwparkplanners.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdwparkplanners/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wdwparkplanners
Image Credits
Jade Shimon
