Swindon-based agent recalls feeling like a ‘film star’ on her Cover Stars trip and loves Disney so much she has just been back with her family. By Harry Kemble.
Q. Why did you enter the Cover Stars competition?
A. I’d actually entered in 2018 but had had to pull out, but it was meant to be with this trip to Florida. I had to do it. It was an experience that I would never be able to replicate. It was fabulous – priceless.
Q. What was the highlight of the trip?
A. I felt like a celebrity walking down Main Street with our Disney VIP tour guides Jon and Mallory and then seeing the castle – it even made me cry.
Q. What was your favourite attraction and why?
A. AVATAR Flight of Passage, where you fly on your own banshee under waterfalls with the wind in your hair. It’s so amazing that I went on about it to my husband for two years after our Cover Stars trip.
Q. What was your favourite theme park and why?
A. I loved Magic Kingdom, with the Cinderella Castle and the princesses. You’re experiencing the magic that you experienced watching the films growing up. I could live there. Animal Kingdom was also pretty spectacular. It’s huge and there are so many different animals. There’s something really moving and breathtaking about it.
Q. Did you enjoy Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and other attractions at Hollywood Studios?
A. They had the Millennium Falcon, where you’re basically driving a falcon. I tried to FaceTime my husband when I was there but he didn’t want to see it – he wanted to wait until we were there as a family on holiday, which we did this summer and he loved it.
I loved Magic Kingdom, with the Cinderella Castle and the princesses. You’re experiencing the magic that you experienced watching the films growing up.
Q. Is there increased interest in Star Wars after the release of series such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett?
A. My customers have watched the series on Disney+. So many children have experienced the series and now their parents want to share in that. All the series have had a massive impact – there’s definitely been a bigger uptake.
Q. What did you like best at EPCOT?
A. We went to the International Food & Wine Festival where we sampled food and drink from around the world. My highlight was the Irish area where they had a Baileys and Guinness drink. There’s a proper English pub in the England area and dojos in the Japan area. They also give you an idea of what is going to be launched in the coming years. There’s a video and board that outlines what the Walt Disney World’s vision is.
Q. What about Typhoon Lagoon water park?
A. This is where I had my photoshoot. It was gorgeous. As we had special early-morning access, we were pretty much the only people in there and it was absolutely stunning. When I went outside after the photoshoot, there were hundreds of people waiting to go in and I could hear them saying ‘Who is that?’ I felt like a film star.
When I went outside after the photoshoot, there were hundreds of people waiting to go in and I could hear them saying ‘Who is that?’ I felt like a film star
Q. What was your Cover Stars photoshoot like?
A. We had to send in a couple of pictures of what we wanted to wear before going on the trip. I love the dress that I wore because I felt like a princess in it. At the photoshoot it felt like my wedding day as we had a hair stylist and make-up artist there.
Q. Had you visited Walt Disney World Resort before?
A. I’d been to Disneyland Paris but not to Walt Disney World Resort. I felt a bit of ‘mum guilt’ that I was experiencing it without my family.
Q. What was it like being with the other Cover Stars?
A. We’re all friends for life. We met up at the Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards after the Cover Stars trip and we’re still in a WhatsApp group and chat every single day.
Natalie on… How she became a homeworker
I started nearly 24 years ago at Going Places as an apprentice in Chatham, Kent, where I am originally from. We then moved to Northern Ireland when Thomas Cook took over Going Places, before later moving to Wiltshire. I then had my daughter, but Thomas Cook was not very accommodating when I wanted to work flexible hours. One of my friends told me about Hays Travel, so I joined them as a personal travel consultant in 2015. This month is my seven-year work anniversary.
My annual sales are roughly £1.2 million and even during the pandemic I was still hitting that amount. I’m very proud of that, but it has been tough at times
The pandemic was really tough. Because we earn a commission-based salary, we had to pay back commission, which was really hard. I worked every single day and during the lockdowns I had to homeschool the children.
I’ve been really lucky with customers as they have been so understanding. My annual sales are roughly £1.2 million and even during the pandemic I was still hitting that amount. I’m very proud of that, but it has been tough at times. If it were not for the support of my customers, my family and my husband, I would have thrown in the towel.
