A travel agency known for booking Disney vacations has recently appeared in multiple news reports following Disney’s decision to end its relationship with the company. More recent coverage has focused on allegations raised by travel agents who work with the agency.
We have been monitoring broader media coverage of these developments, and the latest reporting focuses on allegations from customers of the travel agency who say they have not received their refunds. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a recent Disney Vacation Club rental crack down and roundup of the latest policy changes.
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Smart Moms Travel Agency Now Facing Allegations from Customer
Smart Moms Travel, a nationwide travel agency, has drawn media attention over the last few months following reports that include allegations from former and current employees regarding wrongful termination and unpaid commissions.
Disney previously shared the following statement with NBC Connecticut regarding the situation: “Based on concerns we have received regarding changes to Smart Moms Travel’s business practices, we have exercised our right to terminate our Authorized Disney Vacation Planner designation agreement with the agency.” You can see our initial summary of this controversy here.
After Disney released that statement, Smart Moms Travel CEO Lauralyn “LJ” Johnson spoke with NBC Connecticut during a Zoom interview. We cover that conversation with the news outlet here.
Then, another NBC Connecticut report stated that current employees of Smart Moms Travel are accusing the agency of withholding their commission. Two current employees, Ashton Chinault and Kathleen Wright, told NBC Connecticut that they have not resigned, have not been terminated, and were not paid in November for previous months’ commissions. According to Chinault, she is owed $3,250 for October and still currently has 145 families with future Disney trips booked. Wright claims she is owed close to $1,000 and is also still working with clients on future Disney trips. See all of those details in the separate article here.
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Now, a former client has now come forward with allegations that Smart Moms Travel has not issued her refund. Client Whitney Stallbaumer told NBC Connecticut that she chose to rebook her Disney trip in order to remove Smart Moms Travel’s access to her reservation, citing concerns due to the recent allegations involving the company’s CEO, Lauren Johnson, also known as LJ.
During her interview with NBC Connecticut, Stallbaumer said, “I mean, if she gets mad at her agents and can fire them and not pay them, what can she do to our trip?”
After Stallbaumer rebooked the trip, Disney refunded her original $200 deposit to Smart Moms Travel after her credit card information on the reservation had changed. She told NBC Connecticut that she has attempted to contact Johnson and Smart Moms Travel but has not received her refund or a response. During the interview, Stallbaumer said she reached out to the company “through Instagram, Facebook, email, and even sent a Venmo request at the recommendation of another agent.”
“I’ve sent an email. One of the other frustrating things is she is currently asking for applicants for a position and so I applied for that and was like, hey, I see that you’re reading these message. Can you please send me my refund?”
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Stallbaumer told NBC Connecticut, “It’s not something that I would, you know, file a police report on or be super stressed about. But I think her sitting on the vacation money of everybody else is kind of principle at this point.”
NBC Connecticut shared that they reached out to Disney for a response, but have not heard back yet, and also contacted Johnson twice over the past week to ask for a comment regarding this refund request and the allegations from her travel agents.
This story was first reported here by NBC Connecticut.
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