Confessions of a Disney Travel Queen

Writing about Disney and family travel is easy for me… writing about myself is HARD. Despite how difficult it is to share about myself it is incredibly important to me to get to know my travelers so it is only fair that you get to know me as well. I thought the first anniversary of my company would be the perfect time to get a little personal. I started writing the story of how I got here and why I love what I do and why it is so important to me, but no matter how I wrote it it was boring. So I thought I would put a little spin on it and share more about myself in a different format, so here… these are my confessions. 

(p.s. If you are hearing Usher in your head or pictured Lindsay Lohan in a boa we  are so becoming friends!!) 

I am a Disney person. 

Before becoming a travel advisor I would make a pilgrimage to the Most Magical Place on Earth at least once a year (now it is more like 2-3.) When I would be leaving for vacation I would always get eye rolls and sighs… you are going to Walt Disney World… again! It was so disheartening I stopped telling people where I was going.  To them, it was just heat, crowds and expensive bottles of water. Soon I realized that if they just had the right plan and an itinerary that aligned with their interests they would experience the same joy I did. So I started helping friends and colleagues plan their trips and I fell in love with matching people to the right resorts, restaurants, and activities. My brother was shocked when he realized he could bring his girlfriend horseback riding and my friend finally convinced her husband to bring the family when I told her about the fishing excursions, there is truly something for everyone if you know where to look 😉 

My love of travel started when I was a kid at Disney World.

I used to visit Disneyland regularly as a kid when we would go visit my aunt in Southern California. But it was my first trip to Walt Disney World where I caught the travel bug. To me, EPCOT holds much more magic than the Magic Kingdom. It holds the adventure of discovering new places and people. I remember a cast member in the Canadian Pavilion who was holding a raccoon and telling us about his country. He soon also taught us how to hold a coonskin cap and with your finger inside moving just enough to give the illusion of a sleeping raccoon breathing. I was fascinated. I went from country to country trying to soak up as much as I could about the different languages, cuisines, and cultures. I knew I had to visit all of those places in real life but beyond that, it helped me develop an understanding of the world and the people in it. That even though we may be different we all love our food and our families. 

I am a recovering over-planner. 

When I started traveling on my own in college I wanted to go everywhere and do everything. I added things because someone told me it was a must-do, even if it did not interest me.  Even in Walt Disney World, I stretched my limited Spring Break budget to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table because one of a dozen guide books I read said I HAD to eat there. I was incredibly disappointed with how much I paid to eat generic food and have a rushed princess experience. I could have spent half the amount and enjoyed an incredible buffet, being entertained by Cinderella’s family just a short boat ride away at 1900 Park Fare. Not to say that the person who loved eating in the castle was wrong, it just wasn’t something that was tailored to poor college girls who decided to spring break at Disney. Making the right choices can completely alter your experience. It is important to decide what is best for you and not just do something because someone said so. Once I realized this I started only putting what I most wanted to do in my itineraries. I was less disappointed when I didn’t make it to an attraction because a wait for another was longer than expected because if it wasn’t on my top 3 for the day it was a bonus. I also left more room for spontaneity and it is really the memories of unplanned moments that I treasure the most. 

I have an addiction to post-it notes and color-coordinated calendars.

I love organizing things so much that I pursued a degree in event management and prior to entering the travel industry I was an event manager at an international tech company. I loved managing all the details of an event and taking it from a concept to reality. But when I managed my first sales incentive trip where I coordinated flights, accommodations, excursions, meals, thank you gifts, and award ceremony for the top performers of the company I loved it so much I took on corporate and incentive travel for the whole sales team.

I wore busy as a badge of honor. 

I was always proud to answer busy and rattle off everything I had going on when someone asked how I was. In fact, I came from a family that was consumed by the busy. I have 3 brothers, and by the time my youngest brother was born when I was 12 travel was no longer a priority.  With 4 kids, someone always had something that couldn’t be missed. I grew up traveling all over the country with my parents and was on my first flight at 6 months old, but poor Andrew didn’t get on a plane until he was in high school. It is so easy to let our daily lives get in the way of what is important to us. I knew I didn’t want that for my kids so I left my stable corporate job to start my own business. I still have to remind myself to put down the computer but I have created a life for myself where I can put my family first. 

 If you are ready to take a break from the busy and let me plan a family vacation you don’t have to worry about and can actually enjoy for a change grab a slot on my calendar, pour some wine (just not Chardonnay), and let’s chat 

Need a vacation but the idea of planning-it-all is overwhelming?

If you are ready to have the family vacation you’ve been dreaming of, without spending time researching, planning and making it happen, schedule a call today. I’m here to help busy working Moms plan, organize and book the perfect family vacation. With me, all you have to worry about is enjoying your well-earned time away with your family. If you are ready to stop trying to do everything on your own and see how I can help you schedule a complimentary trip planning session now.

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