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Our Story
Linda & Wayne Douglas
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Linda also worked for almost 13 years as an Investigative Analyst, with a high-level security clearance, for the Department of Justice, Bureau of ATF. Because of her background in graphics, her duties included using a very sophisticated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Geospatial Software called ESRI ArcMap. Linda spent a year and half attending college to learn this very advanced mapping software. The outcomes gave her a tool to track “Possible Terrorist Activities, Anti-Government Extremists, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, Drug Traffickers and Arsonists” for ATF. She was the only analyst for ATF, in the 4-state area, able to use this software. When the word got out, she was asked by other ATF regions and other agencies to create “Threat Assessments” for their special projects from the Gulf to Canada as well as track agent’s travels “live” down to Mexico. So you are in very “Good Hands” with this Travel Agent! And you can trust her with your personal information, as she guarantees your plans are discreet and confidential with her and this agency! |
Linda Douglas:
Linda had a background in Marketing and Advertising and worked as a Graphics Specialist and Trade Show Exhibit Booth Coordinator for many years for a government contractor, besides being an Office Manager and Administrative Assistant for several other in-house advertising agencies.
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Linda wanted to plan for future retirement and decided to learn and do something to “see and make people happy and have fun for a change”. And because of her love of mapping, learning the “Travel Industry” became a priority. She had developed a love for travel during her time working with ATF attending many ESRI Conferences in San Diego, and other mapping seminars, and because she also loved GIS maps and the ability to see aerial views from planes, she began Photographing the land from the air on all her trips and from there it was just history and the idea of working in the “Travel Industry came to be”!
A mentor, a travel agent and a wonderful family friend was found actually by accident, who graciously taught Linda the travel business, and it all fell into place. Linda worked with her and learned the business for 2 years, evenings and weekends before retirement.
Linda retired from ATF in 2012, and loved the travel industry so much, shortly after, both Wayne and Linda purchased their own Travel Franchise, and became Co-owners of the business and worked it successfully for 5 years. They decided to not renew the Franchise and become a “hosted” Travel Agency on their own in May 2018 and became just “Dream Vacations KC” without the franchise name. Linda looks forward to this new voyage with Dream Vacations KC and knows it’s going to be a great one!
Linda’s specialty is experience with 1st time Cruisers, Reunions, Special Events such as “Live-Loud” Music Cruises, Honeymoons, Anniversaries, LBGT, and Exotic Get-Aways, both Land and Sea!
A “Charter” member of the Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialist Assn. (DWHSA) Linda has spent many hours training on the best resorts and hottest and newest trends for Honeymoons and Romantic Get-aways. Certifications also include Hawaiian Destination Specialist, Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant and Disney Vacation Planner.
Both agents are members of the National Association of Travel Agents (NACTA) for over 5 years and Cruise Line International Assn (CLIA), AM Resorts Master Agents and Sandals Certified Specialists.
A mentor, a travel agent and a wonderful family friend was found actually by accident, who graciously taught Linda the travel business, and it all fell into place. Linda worked with her and learned the business for 2 years, evenings and weekends before retirement.
Linda retired from ATF in 2012, and loved the travel industry so much, shortly after, both Wayne and Linda purchased their own Travel Franchise, and became Co-owners of the business and worked it successfully for 5 years. They decided to not renew the Franchise and become a “hosted” Travel Agency on their own in May 2018 and became just “Dream Vacations KC” without the franchise name. Linda looks forward to this new voyage with Dream Vacations KC and knows it’s going to be a great one!
Linda’s specialty is experience with 1st time Cruisers, Reunions, Special Events such as “Live-Loud” Music Cruises, Honeymoons, Anniversaries, LBGT, and Exotic Get-Aways, both Land and Sea!
A “Charter” member of the Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialist Assn. (DWHSA) Linda has spent many hours training on the best resorts and hottest and newest trends for Honeymoons and Romantic Get-aways. Certifications also include Hawaiian Destination Specialist, Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant and Disney Vacation Planner.
Both agents are members of the National Association of Travel Agents (NACTA) for over 5 years and Cruise Line International Assn (CLIA), AM Resorts Master Agents and Sandals Certified Specialists.
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Wayne Douglas:Wayne was a Hyundai Auto Technician at Northtowne Hyundai for almost 21 years and was the first Hyundai certified Technician in Kansas City working for 9 years at Hendrick Auto Dealership in Overland Park, KS. Before that he was a Nissan, VW and Datsun Technician at Fred Angle Datsun in Gladstone and worked in the same automotive shop for over 18 years. Both Wayne and Linda are British Car enthusiasts and at one time they owned two 1977 MGB’s. Both of them worked over a year to completely restore the 1st one, and they attended many car and All British competitions winning several 1st place ribbons for their division
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Wayne retired in 2013 due to a terrible auto accident. He was test driving a customer’s car and had just finished putting in a new transmission for a customer’s car. The day was extremely hot about 95 degrees with high humidity and the shop was over 110 degrees, as they didn’t have air conditioning in his shop. He passed out bringing the car back to the dealership making a left turn and hit an 18-person van head-on. He was in a little “Hyundai Accent” and he is over 6’ feet tall. The crash broke 2 bones badly in the right leg and crushed his hip and pelvis on the other leg.
Wayne ended up having 7 surgeries to repair all the damage over 2 years, and pushed his walking back each time several months. During all the surgeries and time spent waiting in the hospital, Linda worked on her travel certifications, and became a Disney Vacation Planner, Hawaiian Destination Specialist, and a Princess Commodore Cruise Line Expert. Both are Sandals and Beaches Certified Specialists, and Special Needs at Sea Advocates, which they used at least 3 times on trips during his recovery. So they are very experienced in determining “Special Needs At Sea”.
Wayne ended up having 7 surgeries to repair all the damage over 2 years, and pushed his walking back each time several months. During all the surgeries and time spent waiting in the hospital, Linda worked on her travel certifications, and became a Disney Vacation Planner, Hawaiian Destination Specialist, and a Princess Commodore Cruise Line Expert. Both are Sandals and Beaches Certified Specialists, and Special Needs at Sea Advocates, which they used at least 3 times on trips during his recovery. So they are very experienced in determining “Special Needs At Sea”.
The accident was just one month after they purchased the franchise and were starting up the new business. Wayne was in ICU for 2 weeks and in the hospital for 8 weeks and then 4 weeks in a rehab center. Linda struggled with trying to care for and transport Wayne back and forth to Doctors appointments, while at the same time starting up a new company! It wasn’t easy but she made it all work! Wayne didn’t walk for almost a year and during this time of not being able to work he lost his job, but a year and half later was able to return to another dealership for about a year until he retired. So he then turned his attention to the travel business full time.
During the time he was not able to walk, he spent many, many hours learning the travel business and getting certifications and put his time recuperating to very good use!
Wayne is certified and specializes in Romantic River Boat Cruises and Luxury Ocean Lines, which includes: AMA Waterways, Uniworld, Avalon, and Viking River Cruise Lines. Ocean Cruise lines include Crystal, Oceania, Silversea, Regents, Seabourn and Azamara Ocean Lines.
As wells as a Sandals and Beaches Certified Specialist and Special Needs at Sea Advocate, so, you can also put your trust for the very best vacation with him!
During the time he was not able to walk, he spent many, many hours learning the travel business and getting certifications and put his time recuperating to very good use!
Wayne is certified and specializes in Romantic River Boat Cruises and Luxury Ocean Lines, which includes: AMA Waterways, Uniworld, Avalon, and Viking River Cruise Lines. Ocean Cruise lines include Crystal, Oceania, Silversea, Regents, Seabourn and Azamara Ocean Lines.
As wells as a Sandals and Beaches Certified Specialist and Special Needs at Sea Advocate, so, you can also put your trust for the very best vacation with him!
Linda & Wayne were devoted “Ballroom Dancers” before the accident and have spent many hours learning the steps to all the Ballroom dances that included Cha Cha, East Coast and West Coast Swing, Tango, Waltz and Salsa. Their favorite dances are the Cha Cha and East Coast Swing, and they loved to go dancing at least 3 nights a week before the accident. They participated in Ballroom “Spot Light Dances” dancing a montage of Roaring 20’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s Dances and Linda made all her costumes.
Wayne has trouble now with his hip and is not able to keep up the pace to dance, but they are in hopes of returning someday to their love of dance when he feels better. At least they can say “we have danced across 2 Oceans and back…and loved every minute of it!”
Wayne has trouble now with his hip and is not able to keep up the pace to dance, but they are in hopes of returning someday to their love of dance when he feels better. At least they can say “we have danced across 2 Oceans and back…and loved every minute of it!”
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“We are happy and excited to make a new start and continue this journey with our business and know we will be the best agency we can be and we are here for all of our family, friends and Kansas City Dancers! Even though we don’t dance anymore we still love and miss all of you and hope you keep us in mind for your next travel plans and vacations!”
We are experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate about Travel!
Your Dream Vacation KC Travel Consultants!
You can count on us 24/7!
Your Dream Vacation KC Travel Consultants!
You can count on us 24/7!
Linda & Wayne Douglas
Dream Vacations is a Veteran Owned Business!
These Logos represent many hours and years of dedicated time and training and our commitment to be the very best we can be as your Vacation Planners!
We LOVE What We Do and Are Very Proud to Share Our Knowledge With You!
