Creating A Magical Experience: What I Learned On My Disney Vacation!

When it comes to Disney World, I’ve just one thing to say – they’ve got this thing figured out! After spending a week there on vacation with my family recently, I came back tired yet awe-struck at the megabrand that is Disney! We overpaid for things and stood in long lines, but who cares, we were at Disney and it rocked!

From the moment we checked in, we were welcomed by cast members wearing oversized gloves (as seen on our favorite mouse) and matching smiles. Our room was beautifully decorated, equip with animals made out of hand towels, bathroom facets that looked like genie lamps, and headboards that sparkled into the night. It was as if Disney knew we were coming at the end of the school year with a six year old daughter in tow and designed this experience with us in mind.

As small business owners, we may not have the millions of dollars to spend like Disney does, but we can offer our clients the same quality experiences.

Here are a couple of ways to do just that:

1. Deliver on your brand promise. Your clients have options. There are very few of us who do something that has never has been done. But client experience can make all the difference and be the deciding factor during the sales process.

At Disney, spreading the magic is woven into their brand. It’s a promise that everyone contributes to and keeps. It’s not just about the rides and the shows. It’s the memories you’ll make, take home with you, and share. Which for Disney has resulted in almost 600,000 Twitter followers and over 12 million likes on Facebook. Keep in mind, your goal is to create memorable experiences for your clients in a way that brings value to them. As a result, you’ll make them loyal fans of your business and advocates for your brand.

2. Stay connected. Things change. So many factors contribute to client buying behavior that even our best clients can become dissatisfied and contemplate a change. A good way to stay ahead of this trend is to stay connected to them and routinely ask for feedback. Some shy away from this because they’re afraid of negative comments. But, those can be the most helpful of all. Through the use of online tools like Survey Monkey or through personal phone calls (my preference), ask your clients about the value they’re receiving and how you can improve.

At Disney, we encountered surveyors walking around with clipboards and I was even invited to take a short survey at a mini computer station set up as we exited one of the parks. Checking the temperature of the crowd is a great way to stay connected and make sure you’re delivering what’s needed.

My experience at Disney was indeed magical. There is a little magic inside of all of us and with the right tools and processes in place, through our businesses, we can create exceptional experiences for our clients as well.