Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Riordan.
Shannon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From a very young age, I’ve had an undeniable affinity for all things Disney®. When asked in Kindergarten what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was simple: Minnie Mouse. While I didn’t quite land the polka dots, I came remarkably close to fulfilling that childhood dream by founding my own Disney-focused travel agency and becoming a travel advisor specializing in Disney destinations.
I launched the agency in 2017 after realizing I was already serving as the go-to Disney vacation planner for friends and families. With a background in business and entrepreneurship, I recognized an opportunity to turn my passion into a profession—one rooted in expert guidance, thoughtful planning, and exceptional service. Over the years, the agency has grown to include additional advisors and an expanded portfolio of destinations, including Universal, multiple cruise lines, and luxury all-inclusive resorts. I take great pride in acting as a true “vacation fiduciary” for my clients, delivering seamless, personalized experiences trip after trip.
I hold degrees in business and entrepreneurship and completed the Disney College Program during my undergraduate studies. That experience provided an in-depth education in Disney operations while instilling lasting lessons in professionalism, customer service, and the art of creating magic for every guest.
My firsthand travel experience is extensive. I’ve visited Walt Disney World® Resort 46 times (not including weekly visits while working as a Cast Member during my college internship), traveled to Disneyland® Resort six times, stayed at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i, sailed nine times with Disney Cruise Line, and explored the American Southwest through Adventures by Disney. I’ve even experienced Hong Kong Disneyland while studying abroad in China. Chances are—I’ve stayed there, ridden that, eaten there, and bought the Minnie ears.
Beyond Disney, I’ve been fortunate to expand my expertise through personal travel and professional training with brands such as Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Secrets and Dreams Resorts, and Excellence Resorts in Mexico, among others. These experiences allow me to bring a well-rounded, informed perspective to every itinerary I design—no matter the destination.
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?
Like many businesses, 2020 was a challenging year. For the first time ever, Disney Parks were closed for extensive periods of time, cruise ships weren’t sailing, and everyone was staying home. As people began feeling more comfortable though, the travel business rebounded thankfully, so those of us that weathered the storm were there to serve our clients when they were ready to travel again.
As a small business owner I wear many hats, so in addition to my day to day tasks and working with clients, I’m also completing accounting duties, marketing strategies and social media posts, supporting and mentoring other agents, and handling the logistical sides of the business. In 2025, I came across a travel agent with a similar business name, which prompted me to start the process of filing for a trademark on my business name to protect the agency and prevent confusion for clients. To say dealing with the government for that process was frustrating is an understatement! But it is part of the learning process and things we do to protect the entity that we’ve built.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Spirit of Adventure Travel?
The agency will celebrate its 10th Anniversary in May 2026, which is an incredible milestone for me. When people hear that I am a travel agent by profession (and especially with Disney destinations) their first response is typically – wow, what a fun job! And it is! While they see photos of me traveling to fun places on social media, the part they don’t often see is behind the scenes – the early mornings when I get up at 4:50 AM to make Walt Disney World dining reservations for clients; or working on the airplane to finish one more proposal; calling suppliers to make last minute changes when clients need to pivot their plans due to weather or illness; late nights staying up to work “on the business” instead of “in the business.” I love what I do, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. I work extremely hard to make Spirit of Adventure what it is today. At time of writing I have 15 sub-agents with the agency in addition to myself. We ranked #29 out of thousands of agencies with our host agency. Individually, I was ranked 102 out of over 12,000 agents overall, and number two for Walt Disney World bookings and number two for Disney Cruise Line bookings. This doesn’t happen overnight. It is showing up consistently, putting in the work, and providing unparalleled customer service and expertise to my clients.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The biggest piece of advice I have is to find your niche. When I was starting my business, obviously my passion was Disney and I was initially doing it as a side hustle, so it was easy for me to only take on Disney clients. That allowed me to become the “go-to” expert and it was an easy referral when they heard someone mention taking a Disney vacation. (You need to talk to Shannon!) I was attending a Chamber event and the speaker said you don’t always catch more fish with a wider net. There is a reason doctors specialize in areas – you don’t visit the dentist when your foot hurts. There is an immense amount of information for every destination or brand, so in order to not make mistakes, it is best if you dive in to one area, and know it inside and out so that your clients have a good experience and they can trust the advise you’re providing, and then grow and expand from there.
Be patient. As I mentioned before, success doesn’t happen overnight with the travel industry and I’m always very upfront with potential agents I’m interviewing about this. Travel is a marathon and not a way to earn quick cash as a side business. When you don’t charge fees and only rely on commission, you typically don’t get paid until after people travel. This means you’ll do a lot of work up front and you’re not compensated until later. You have to be consistent and patient and trust that seeds you plant today will bloom in the future.
Pricing:
- When booking a Disney/Universal package, our services are free.
- Theme park ticket-only: $25/person per planning day
- $200 custom cruise or speciality land quote
Contact Info:
- Website: http://spiritofadventuretravel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritofatravel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spiritofatravel
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spiritofatravel/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spiritofatravel
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/spirit-of-adventure-travel-overland-park
- Other: https://www.travelleaders.com/agent/310074
