The Commission Scandal at Magical Vacations Travel
I spent 20 years building my career with Magical Vacations Travel. Now, the owner is allegedly closing the company and keeping over $200,000 in commissions that belong to me and my fellow agents. This is my story of betrayal, the active FBI probe, and why Disney is still paying her.
For over 20 years, I proudly worked as a part-time travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel (MVT), a New Jersey-based agency owned by Michele DeNofa. It was a good run—two decades of helping families plan unforgettable trips. My work was structured around earned commissions, a standard practice in the industry: I would make the booking, the supplier (like Disney or Royal Caribbean) would pay MVT the commission, and MVT, in turn, would pay me.
But in 2024, the foundation of this trust began to crumble. Agents, including myself, started noticing something deeply wrong: our commissions were not being paid.
The False Promise of a Smooth Exit
The situation reached a head in September 2025, which was a natural transition point for me. DeNofa announced she was closing MVT. She offered the agents a lifeline: we could seamlessly move our bookings and clients to another host agency, Keys to the Castle Travel.
For me, after two decades in the business, this felt like the perfect, natural stopping point. I decided to retire then and there, stepping away from this as my part-time job. Full time, I am an educator. While the move to Keys to the Castle Travel initially seemed like a positive step for my former colleagues and ensured clients weren't left stranded, it was actually the last act of a devastating betrayal.
The Big Theft: Despite having helped transition the business, the money we had earned was gone. DeNofa withheld commissions totaling over $200,000 intended for her travel agents. To me, it seems she never had any intention of paying us. She kept the massive sum, and did not formally disclose that we would not be getting paid for our work. I and dozens of other agents, scattered across the country, became victims of what we believe to be systematic embezzlement.
Seeking Justice: Law Enforcement Steps In
The scale and scope of this theft quickly moved it from a simple business dispute into a multi-jurisdictional criminal matter. Our pursuit of justice has drawn the attention of several powerful regulatory and investigative bodies:
New Jersey Department of Labor (NJ DOL): Given that MVT operated out of Haddon Heights, NJ, the state DOL is investigating the agency for potential violations related to unpaid compensation and labor laws.
Haddon Heights Police: Local police are involved in the investigation, indicating the start of a potential criminal case at the local level. DeNofa has refused to answer questions, according to the detective assigned to the case.
The FBI and Wire Fraud: Because agents live all over the country and the commissions were transferred across state lines, the FBI has been notified. This is critical, as the alleged scheme to steal commissions could be prosecuted as federal wire fraud.
The Disney Complication
Our collective frustration has been amplified by the varying responses from the major travel suppliers:
Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando learned of the investigations and, commendably, stopped sending commission payments to Michele DeNofa. This step has protected future earnings for the agents now at Keys to the Castle Travel.
Disney Destinations, however, remains the primary problem. DeNofa is still actively collecting our earned commissions from Disney because, as Disney representatives have reportedly stated, they have no internal mechanism to investigate or intervene in an agent-owner commission dispute of this nature. It is disheartening to see a company built on magic effectively enabling a fraud by continuing to send stolen funds.
DeNofa was supposed to work at Keys to the Castle Travel following the closure but has since been reported as no longer employed there. Her stated solution to the financial disaster she created is to file for Bankruptcy, a maneuver that will likely make recovering our earned money nearly impossible.
A Silver Lining for the Scammed
I may be retired, but I am standing with my former colleagues. We are fortunate that Keys to the Castle Travel stepped up in an incredibly difficult situation. They are in no way involved in DeNofa's alleged crimes, and they have done a wonderful job taking on and supporting many of the former MVT agents, prioritizing the clients caught in the middle and treating the agents with respect.
This experience has taught me that even after 20 years in a field built on dreams, you can still be a victim of outright theft. Our fight continues for every dollar of the $200,000 that was stolen from us.
About Darren:
Darren is an Orlando-based travel writer and YouTuber who specializes in helping travelers make the most of their vacations to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Through detailed travel guides, reviews, and insider tips, Darren gives families, couples, and first-time visitors everything they need to plan magical Orlando theme park trips and unforgettable cruise adventures.
🎥 Watch his latest videos and travel guides on YouTube: Orlando Parks Guy
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I spent 20 years building my career with Magical Vacations Travel. Now, the owner is allegedly closing the company and keeping over $200,000 in commissions that belong to me and my fellow agents. This is my story of betrayal, the active FBI probe, and why Disney is still paying her.