Wish Upon a Star with Us
Wish Upon a Star with Us is a US-based leisure travel agency founded in 2009 that provides personalized vacation planning through a network of over 100 travel agents across 20+ states, serving families, couples, and groups booking Disney, Universal, cruise, and all-inclusive resort trips on a commission-based model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersCollinsville, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wish Upon a Star with Us does
Wish Upon a Star with Us is a US-based, privately held leisure travel agency founded in 2009 and headquartered near St. Louis, Missouri (Collinsville, IL). The company provides personalized vacation planning through a nationwide network of over 100 dedicated travel agents operating remotely across 20+ states, with customers matched to agents based on destination preference. Its service portfolio covers Disney destinations (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Aulani), Universal theme parks (Orlando and Hollywood), cruise vacations across multiple major lines, all-inclusive beach resorts (Sandals, Beaches, Hyatt Inclusive Collection), guided tours (Kensington Tours, National Geographic Expeditions, Adventures by Disney), group travel, and SeaWorld. Preferred-agency statuses with Disney (Gold Level Earmarked), Universal, Sandals, and Hyatt Inclusive Collection (Elite Emerald) function as its core supplier relationships.
The business model is a commission-based affiliate model: planning services are provided at no additional cost to the customer for most destinations, and revenue is generated through commissions paid by travel suppliers (Disney, cruise lines, resorts, tour operators) on bookings made through the agency's agents. There is no disclosed subscription, per-trip fee, or markup pricing model for consumers. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the agency website, phone (618-344-6366), email, and contact form, supplemented by content marketing (blog, destination pages), an email newsletter for last-minute deals, organic social (Facebook, Instagram), and customer referrals. The company is registered as a seller of travel in multiple US states and is a member of Travel Leaders Network and the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).
From a technology and operating perspective, the company runs no proprietary software product; the core technology is a WordPress-based website, and there is no mobile app, public API, SDK, or third-party integration. Operations center on human travel-agent expertise: founder Debi Mitchell has led the company since inception, with Sara Toerner (Director of Education & Development) and Bri Totsch (Intake & Mentorship Program Director) overseeing agent training and onboarding. The 15-year operating history, scaled agent network, and accumulated supplier designations position the agency as an established mid-sized player in the US Disney/Universal/cruise specialist segment.
Wish Upon a Star with Us firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wish Upon a Star with Us
- Legal name
- Wish Upon a Star With Us
- Website
- https://wishuponastarwithus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Wish Upon a Star with Us is a US-based leisure travel agency founded in 2009 that provides personalized vacation planning through a network of over 100 travel agents across 20+ states, serving families, couples, and groups booking Disney, Universal, cruise, and all-inclusive resort trips on a commission-based model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wish Upon a Star with Us industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Travel Agency Services
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520), Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (56159)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bespoke Multi-Day Itinerary Planning & Custom Tour Design (THAJALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Group, Family & Multi-Generational Travel Planning (HSACAKAK), Private Cruise Concierge & Itinerary Planning Services (THAEAEAH), Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts (THAGAKAB), Adventure & Expedition Custom Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAC)
Keywords
Where Wish Upon a Star with Us is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Collinsville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wish Upon a Star with Us business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Travel Agency Commissions: The agency earns commissions from travel suppliers (Disney, cruise lines, resorts, tour operators) for bookings made through their agents. Planning services are provided at no additional cost to customers for most destinations, with revenue generated through supplier commissions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Travel planning services included with booking |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Wish Upon a Star with Us product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wish Upon a Star with Us is a US-based travel agency providing personalized, human-led vacation planning services through a network of over 100 dedicated Vacation Planners across 20+ states. The agency books Disney destinations (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Aulani), Universal theme parks (Orlando and Hollywood), cruises across multiple cruise lines, all-inclusive beach resorts (Sandals, Beaches, Hyatt Inclusive Collection), guided tours, and group travel. Planning services are offered at no additional cost to customers for most destinations, with the agency earning commissions from travel suppliers.
Product overview
Wish Upon a Star with Us is a travel agency providing personalized vacation planning services through a network of over 100 travel agents. The company operates as a single-service model focused on human-led travel planning rather than a software product. Their core offerings include Disney vacation planning (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Aulani), Universal theme park vacations (Orlando and Hollywood), cruise vacations across multiple cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity, Carnival, Holland America, and expedition cruise lines), beach resort vacations (Sandals, Beaches, Hyatt Inclusive), guided tours (Adventures by Disney, Kensington Tours, group tours, National Geographic Expeditions, RV travel), and group travel coordination. Services are provided at no additional cost for most destinations, with revenue generated through commissions from travel suppliers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Disney Vacations
Companies that use Wish Upon a Star with Us
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wish Upon a Star with Us technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wish Upon a Star with Us partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Disney (Earmarked by Disney)coreGold Level Authorized Travel Agency status with Disney. The agency specializes in Disney destinations including Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, and Aulani, Hawaii.
- Universal Orlando ResortcorePreferred Travel Agency status with Universal Orlando. Agency helps plan Universal theme park vacations including Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and Epic Universe.
- Sandals ResortscorePreferred Travel Agency status with Sandals Resorts. Agency specializes in couples beach vacations at Sandals all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean.
- Hyatt Inclusive CollectioncoreElite Emerald Agency status with Hyatt Inclusive Collection (Hyatt Ziva, Secrets, Dreams resorts). Agency helps plan all-inclusive family and couples beach vacations.
- Travel Leaders NetworkmajorMember of Travel Leaders Network, a major travel agency network providing resources, preferred supplier relationships, and industry support.
- American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)minorMember of ASTA, the leading trade association for travel advisors in the US.
- Royal CaribbeancoreCruise line partner offering family cruises, Alaska adventures, Caribbean vacations, and destinations worldwide.
- Princess CruisescoreCruise line partner offering worldwide cruise destinations with personalized service and enriching experiences.
- Norwegian Cruise LinecoreCruise line partner offering freedom and flexibility at sea with diverse dining, entertainment, and immersive shore excursions.
- Disney Cruise LinecoreDisney Cruise Line partner offering magical family cruises with world-class entertainment and uniquely themed dining.
- Adventures by DisneycoreDisney-guided tour partner offering VIP access, immersive experiences, and stress-free travel for families worldwide.
- Kensington ToursminorPrivately guided tour partner offering customized journeys with expert planning and premium service.
- National Geographic ExpeditionsminorExpedition tour partner offering educational adventures led by experts with unique access and experiences.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wish Upon a Star with Us competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dreams Unlimited Travel: Long-established Disney-specialist travel agency offering personalized planning for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Adventures by Disney. Directly comparable as a same-vertical, commission-based, agent-network model.
- Magical Vacations by Stacey: Disney-focused travel agency with a network of independent agents providing free planning services. Closely comparable on customer value proposition (no-fee planning), vertical focus, and IC-driven GTM.
- Be Our Guest Vacations: Earmarked Disney travel agency with a network of agents focused on Disney and Universal vacations. Same preferred-supplier status, same family-vacation niche, and same commission-only model.
- MEI Travel and Mouse Fan Travel: Combined agency platform representing multiple Disney/Universal specialist brands under common ownership (MEI-Travel Group). Closely comparable in vertical, agent-network model, and preferred-supplier statuses.
- Small World Vacations: Family-focused travel agency specializing in Disney and theme park vacations with an independent agent network. Directly comparable in target customer (families), product mix (Disney-led), and commission-only economics.
- Glass Slipper Concierge: Disney-specialist travel agency offering free concierge planning with an agent network. Comparable on customer segment (Disney families), no-fee model, and Earmarked-level preferred status.
- The Vacationeer: Disney and Universal specialist travel agency with a remote agent network. Comparable in vertical focus, family target segment, and commission-based free-planning model.
- Pixie Vacations: Earmarked Disney travel agency focused on Disney destinations with an independent agent model. Closely comparable on supplier status, niche vertical, and agent-network distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Travel Leaders Network: Large US travel agency network and consortium of which Wish Upon a Star is a member. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering overlapping travel services across many verticals, but at significantly larger scale and broader vertical coverage.
- AAA Travel: Established travel agency arm of AAA serving millions of members with Disney, cruise, and resort bookings. Comparable on commission-based booking model and destination services, but a broad incumbent versus a niche specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wish Upon a Star with Us social profiles
Digital presenceWish Upon a Star with Us financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wish Upon a Star with Us leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Wish Upon a Star with Us funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wish Upon a Star with Us M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wish Upon a Star with Us
What does Wish Upon a Star with Us do?
Wish Upon a Star with Us is a US-based travel agency providing personalized, human-led vacation planning services through a network of over 100 dedicated Vacation Planners across 20+ states. The agency books Disney destinations (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Aulani), Universal theme parks (Orlando and Hollywood), cruises across multiple cruise lines, all-inclusive beach resorts (Sandals, Beaches, Hyatt Inclusive Collection), guided tours, and group travel. Planning services are offered at no additional cost to customers for most destinations, with the agency earning commissions from travel suppliers.
Is Wish Upon a Star with Us a public or private company?
Wish Upon a Star with Us is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wish Upon a Star with Us founded?
Wish Upon a Star with Us was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Wish Upon a Star with Us based?
Wish Upon a Star with Us is headquartered in Collinsville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wish Upon a Star with Us make money?
One revenue line is on record: travel Agency Commissions.
Who are Wish Upon a Star with Us's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dreams Unlimited Travel, Magical Vacations by Stacey, Be Our Guest Vacations, MEI Travel and Mouse Fan Travel, Small World Vacations, Glass Slipper Concierge, The Vacationeer and Pixie Vacations. Broad incumbents are Travel Leaders Network and AAA Travel.
Does Wish Upon a Star with Us have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wish Upon a Star with Us.
What industry is Wish Upon a Star with Us in?
Wish Upon a Star with Us's product category is Travel Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJALAB, Bespoke Multi-Day Itinerary Planning & Custom Tour Design, with a secondary code of THAKAFAB, Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies. Its NAICS code is 561510 and its SIC code is 7900.