Founder Interview With Mitchell Haley & Michael Darnell, Magical Keys Vacations
Photo Credit: Magical Keys Vacations
Mitchell Haley and Michael Darnell are the innovative minds behind Magical Keys Vacations, an agency that turns travel planning into a personalized and enchanting experience. Born from their own magical moments and a desire to create memorable vacations for others, their venture began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The duo leveraged their backgrounds in art and their passion for Disney to create a travel service that stands out in a dynamic marketplace.
During the interview, Mitchell and Michael shared their professional journeys, which include transitions from the performing arts to entrepreneurship. They discussed the challenges and successes of starting a business during uncertain times, emphasizing their commitment to offering unique travel experiences. They also described how being openly gay has influenced their business, enabling them to infuse their personal values into creating enriching and magical experiences for their clients.
Can you walk us through your professional journey and how you got to where you are today?
I, Michael, am from Tucson, Arizona, and was adopted from Santiago, Chile at five weeks old. After my parents divorced, I lived with my mother, and around the age of eleven I discovered my passion for dance. This led me to pursue a formal education at the University of Arizona School of Dance, which is one of the top ten dance schools in the United States. From there, I moved to Chicago with a small and contemporary jazz company. I spent a couple of years focused on this and even dabbled in musical theater, but it became challenging because, as you likely know, pursuing art is not always the easiest path. So I shifted careers, worked at Lululemon for seven years, and then began working with Mitchell at his fitness studio. Eventually, this path led us to co-found Magical Keys Vacations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I, Mitchell, am from Harrodsburg, Kentucky which is a very small town. I lived there for the first 25 years of my life and went to college receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on computer information systems and a bachelor's degree in dance. After college, I moved to Chicago and danced professionally for seven years. Similar to Michael, dancing professionally can be challenging financially so I started teaching at a Megaformer Fitness Center, while also teaching dance part-time. Then in 2019, I proposed to Michael at Disney in front of Cinderella's wishing well which sparked the idea of starting a travel agency.
“Drawing from our professional dance background, we learned the hustle and grind required to succeed in entrepreneurship. We were also helping family and friends plan their trips to Disney, so moving into this field seemed like a good shift for us. When we decided to launch Magical Keys Vacations, we went through a 12-week intensive training program with Careers on Vacation™ Mastermind, learning the ins and outs of the travel industry. Now, after almost three years of hard work, we’ve grown as agency owners and people.”
What inspired you to offer the services you provide?
Our inspiration came from the magical moment of our engagement at Disney. A friend of ours, who is also a travel agent and the mother of one of our dance students, not only booked our trip but provided invaluable guidance and moral support throughout. She helped orchestrate the perfect proposal, suggesting the best spots for photographs and ideal timing, making everything feel seamless and special. This experience left a lasting impression on us, and that’s when we realized we wanted to give others the same magical experiences by creating special moments for them.
Photo Credit: Magical Keys Vacations
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey as service providers, and what did you do to overcome this?
One of the biggest challenges can be last-minute emergencies, which is stressful for all parties. However, it’s our job to stay calm and keep the client calm as well. We had one client who was supposed to leave for Disney in a few days, and her daughter ended up in the hospital, so they couldn't go. She was extremely stressed, but we told her we would handle it. Within a matter of minutes, we were able to call Disney, get everything squared away, and they were able to relax. We’re so grateful they listened to us regarding Travel Protection because it saved their butts. It was a great experience for us to learn how to handle these situations with composure and compassion while also stressing the importance of travel protection to our clients.
If you could give one piece of advice to future LGBTQ+ service providers within your field, what would it be?
Take the risk and do what you love! There is only one of you, and each of us has our own unique voice and perspective. No one can do exactly what you can, so why not share your unique vision with the world?
When we launched our business, it definitely pushed us out of our comfort zones. We found ourselves questioning whether we were making the right decisions. Wondering if what we were doing was how it was supposed to be done. Thinking we needed to follow standard protocols otherwise we wouldn’t be successful. But what we realized is that the conventional path to success isn't what people are necessarily looking for anymore.
“People want to see the real you and are drawn to what makes your offering distinct. This realization allowed us to simply be ourselves and bring our unique perspective to our business. So, we encourage you to step beyond the usual boundaries, embrace your individuality, and make your mark.”
How does being openly gay inspire or impact your business?
We live in a very open community, so as far as being a gay-owned business, we don’t see a negative impact, luckily. If we were located in other areas—smaller towns like in Kentucky where Mitchell is from—there’s a good chance we would have difficulty getting clients to come in. Also, owning a strictly online business helps 'cut the fat.' The negative people who wouldn’t want to work with us just don’t contact us, which is a win for everyone. One client contacted us saying they saw our site and wanted to work with us because we're the best in our field and wanted to support LGBTQIA+ businesses, which was awesome.
What brands or services by LGBTQ+ founders are your go-to's and why?
We have two LGBTQIA+ brands that we absolutely love and think others would, too. The first is "The Vision Method by Craig Miller." He is a certified self-love coach who specializes in working with performers. He offers 1:1 coaching, workshops, Reiki healing, tarot, and sound therapy. He’s also the one who told us about Famm, which led us to this wonderful community.
The second is "Cookies and Conversations by Leah Tibbs." She has created an amazing company where she makes phenomenal cookies and includes conversation cards to create a deeper connection between ourselves and each other.
This ties in with why we love Famm. Even though we're in a gay-friendly neighborhood, we find it hard to discover LGBTQIA+ businesses to support. Now, with this community and family that's being created, we have access to many other businesses we wouldn't have known about otherwise. We're so thankful for that.
Photo Credit: Magical Keys Vacations
Who is your favorite LGBTQ+ celebrity and why?
There are so many!
Mitchell would say Dan Levy is probably his favorite. His creation of 'Schitt's Creek' and what it represents are extremely important and educational, especially for families who may struggle to understand their kids or friends. The number of people he has touched, given hope to, and opened eyes with a comedic yet heartfelt show is unbelievable. He’s full of talent and love.
Michael would say Neil Patrick Harris, with his amazing journey both in front of and behind the camera. As a strong and confident gay man living his true self, Neil Patrick Harris is an amazing actor capable of playing both straight and gay roles. A Broadway legend, he leaves you in awe with his singing and heartfelt performances on stage. He is truly an incredible man.
Share one fun or unusual fact about yourself.
Mitchell used to do Colorguard/Winterguard in college, the people who spin flags, rifles and sabres with the band while dancing. Michael grew up playing the trumpet and danced!
