With her infectious smile, childlike giggle and Minnie Mouse ears Bonnie Clark is a kid at heart.
That personality melds beautifully into her role as the owner of a Stonington-based travel agency specializing in Disney vacations. When it comes to creating magical vacations within a budget, though, Clark is no kid, but a dedicated travel agent determined to make dreams come true.
“I love saving people money,” Clark said. “I’m not wealthy, I’m on a budget too, I know how it is."
It’s that know-how that took Clark from working as a coat-check at Foxwoods Resorts & Casino to founding her own business in 2007.
It all began when Clark and her husband took their two children to Disney World in 2003.
“I ended up practically shoving the kids out-of-the-way to Minnie Mouse,” Clark said with a laugh.
Clark helped plan that trip with the use of a travel agent and then started planning her own families’ iterneries. On the suggestion of her husband she decided to become a full-time travel agent taking classes online to become an authorized Disney Vacation planner.
In 2007 she started working from home as a travel agent and eventually created her own company Get Your Ears On!, located in the Quiambaug Cove Professional Center.
“I love sharing my knowledge with people,” Clark said. And while she can and does plan other vacations for clients who come from all over the country she loves the Disney vacations the best.
“I get so excited about Disney,” Clark said. “I love it when people come in and they have never been before.”
By now Clark is no stranger to Disney. She has been every year since 2003 sometimes twice a year. She recently got back from Peru where she went to experience the Adventures by Disney Vacation and from the Fantasy Cruise Line by Disney.
Her no fee Disney service will do as much or as little as people want. She can plan itneries and restaurant reservations or just book the vacation.
“I always try to keep the price as low as possible,” Clark said. “I feel bad there are people out there paying more than they should be.”
She said the word she hears the most from her clients is that planning a Disney vacation is just overwhelming.
“I try to educate them.”
