Please Support Small Business Saturday!

***  FREE STUFF for sharing this post - Be sure and read to the bottom of this!

Disney is no small business.   But when you book your trip through an authorized Disney travel agent (like myself!) you are supporting a local business.  Doesn’t cost you a penny more and in fact may save you money in the long run.  

The best benefit for you is that you have access to my expertise and one-on-one planning.  I am your direct link to Disney or Universal!  If you book yourself and need to make changes, have a question or just want to get some advice, you can call Disney/Universal.  But you’ll have a different agent every time that doesn’t know you or your situation.  And be prepared for a long wait on the phone. 

With me, I get to know what you want out of your trip and work to make it the best possible.  If there’s any need to call Disney/Universal, I will do that for you.

For more info on my services and that touchy subject of how I get paid (and how you support this local business) - click here:  An Uncomfortable Subject... How Do I Get Paid?

*** Please share this post to spread the word and support my business! I really, really appreciate your support!  So on Saturday, I will draw a name from the list of people that share this for a fun prize!

Want to Know the BEST Christmas Gift? A Trip to Disney!!

Take it from me, the best gift in the world is travel.  You make tons of memories that will last a lifetime.  I can hear some of you saying, "Yeah, but memories fade or I like to give a gift they can hold in their little hands...."

Well, I have a couple of solutions to those hesitations - pictures and souvenirs.  

I love reliving our past vacations by looking through old photo albums.  And I still have some souvenirs from family trips taken many, many years ago.

And the fun thing about Disney is that you can give them a Disney item that lets them know that a trip is the gift while still having something fun to open.  Check out my past blog post (click here!) about Christmas surprise ideas - and do yourself a favor and watch the video there for a great laugh!

I am able to book trips to Disney through 2018, so even if you're not planning on traveling until late next year, you can have your trip booked and ready to give as a gift.  I'd love to put together a package for you to give to your loved ones on Christmas morning!

Don't forget - trips are able to be booked with only a $200 deposit (on Magic Your Way Packages) and are fully refundable up to 30 days prior to travel.  So if you book now and your plans change, it would be easy to cancel or modify them. 

Also, check out the current specials here.  If you don't see a special that applies to you, I will always monitor and let you know if a new special becomes available and I would apply it to your trip if that happens.  

So booking early only has benefits - you have your pick of resorts and you're booked in time to allow me to get your Advanced Dining Reservations 6 months in advance!

Contact me and let me get started on the gift of a lifetime!!

Magical Honeymoons

This weekend I had a great time manning a booth at a local bridal show.  My intent was to offer my services to book honeymoons for the visiting brides.

I know that Disney isn’t the first destination that comes to mind when considering a honeymoon trip, but I was surprised that most of the brides I spoke to hadn’t even considered it.  Reasons varied, but it mainly came down to it being a “kid’s vacation” and cost.

So this post is intended to show you that it can be affordable and it’s certainly an appropriate destination whether you have kids or not.

First, the cost…  The beauty of a honeymoon trip is that you’re only paying for 2 people!  So instead of paying for a whole family for plane tickets, hotel, park tickets, food and souvenirs, you’re already cutting costs by it just being the 2 of you.  May not seem like a big deal now, but when you’ve got 3 kids like I do, you realize just how much those little rugrats cost!  

Of course, you’ll want to return to Disney when you have kids since the experience is completely different and wonderful with them, but enjoy the cost savings without kids at this point in your life.

So for an example, here are some prices for a Disney World vacation coming up this Spring.  These prices include 5-night accommodations and 4-day Park Hopper Tickets:

All-Star Movies - $1700

Coronado Springs - $2200

Animal Kingdom Lodge - $3000

Compared to a lot of honeymoon destinations, those prices are downright cheap.  

So the other reason people hadn’t considered Disney is due to there being a lot of kids around which may make it a bit less romantic than a trip to an adults only beach resort.  OK, so yes, there will be kids around.  But if you know where to go, you can find your own romantic spots and really not notice the kids.  I can help you find out about those spots!!

There are so many AMAZING restaurants at Disney World, I can’t begin to list them all.  Here are a few of the most romantic though.  

Le Cellier

Jiko - The Cooking Place

Monsieur Paul

Victoria & Albert’s

All of these restaurants are what my kids would call “fancy” and they have no interest in eating there.  Granted you might run into a family that takes their kids there but they would be expected to sit quietly and eat and I doubt you’d even notice them.

These are just a few of the restaurants - there are tons more.  There are also great night-life spots on Disney’s Boardwalk like a dance hall and a dueling piano bar.

Sure, Disney can be exhausting if you are like me and run from attraction to attraction.  But it doesn’t have to be that way if you’re looking for more ways to relax after a busy season leading up to your wedding.  Check out this previous post about ways to relax at Disney and do some of them.  The resort pool is a great place to relax during the day.  It’s basically kid-free since they’re all at the Parks!

Be sure and announce the fact that you are on a honeymoon - wear cute shirts or hats.  At the very least, you've got to stop by Guest Services for a Just Married button.  You’ll feel like a celebrity with all of the special attention you get from Cast Members!!

I’d love to help you plan your Magical trip - with or without kids.  I promise I’ll make it stress-free and remember, my services are always free!!  Give me a call!

I LOVE my job!!!

I LOVE my job!  How many of you can seriously say that?  I’ve never been able to honestly say that until I started planning Disney vacations for others.  I’ve had several jobs that I enjoyed due to my co-workers or environment, but never really loved the job itself.

Now, when a new client contacts me, I’m excited - actually thrilled - to log in and start researching their request.  I used to look forward to the end of a work day and now I can’t wait to get started when someone needs my help.

So I hope you will remember me when you’re thinking about checking into a Disney vacation.  I will help because I want to - not because I get paid to do it.  Although that in itself is a great incentive to make clients happy who then refer me to others!  Also keep in mind that you will never pay me for my services.  Disney does that and it doesn’t cost you a cent more than if you did it yourself.  (For details on how I get paid, take a look at this past post).

I want each and every person that visits a Disney Park to have the same Magical, welcoming, heart-warming, fuzzy feeling that I get when I visit.  If I can do anything at all to help your Dreams come true, I will do it.  

So please, if you have just a second, consider sharing my information with friends.  It’s as simple as mentioning me to someone, sharing my post on Facebook or forwarding my newsletter.  Or hey - rent out a skywriter and do it that way.  I would probably double up on the referral bonus for you if I gained a client via skywriting!  

What NOT to Buy on a Disney Trip

Disney vacations are magical, wonderful, memorable...  and cheap?  No, you've never heard anyone say that I'm sure.  To be honest, trips to Disney are expensive.  You can save money here and there, but as a whole, it does cost a bit more than an average family vacation.  Totally worth it I believe!  

But since the upfront cost of the vacation is a bit higher than other places, it's always wise to look for areas in which you can save money.  I've blogged about saving money before, but in this case I want to specifically talk about items you're better off buying before seeing the "Welcome to Disney" sign, both for cost and convenience.

Ponchos - you may think of California or Florida as always sunny and warm but it does rain.  In Florida, we usually get rained on often.  When the rain starts is not the time to go searching for a poncho.  Besides the ridiculous costs of them at the parks, you don't have them right with you.  I go to the dollar store and buy one per person per day and throw one for each of us in our backpack each morning.  They're lightweight so it's not a pain to carry them around.  And they're cheap enough to be considered a "one-time-use" item so I don't try to fold them up and carry them after it's rained.  We just toss them in the trash and go.  

Sunscreen - along the same lines as ponchos, the cost of sunscreen is crazy.  Besides, I like to put it on before we even leave the room in the morning so that we're set for a while.  And if you have anyone in your group that is sensitive to some ingredients, it's nice to have your own brand that you know works for them.  

Water Bottles and Flavor Packets - I always carry a water bottle for each family member to save us time as well as money.  No waiting in a line for drinks - we can just grab the water from the backpack at any time.  (I bring a sharpie with us to put our initials on the bottles - you might want to do this if you don't relish the thought of sharing your germs.)  The flavor packets come in super handy for kids who may not like the way the water tastes - I don't think it's bad but it may not be what you're used to.  I also have a Diet Coke addiction so need my caffeine fix fairly often.  Did you know they make flavor packets with caffeine?  You're welcome.  Just don't mix yours up with the kids' packets!

Hand Sanitizer - We have a certain germaphobe in our family that won't touch anything that anyone else may have touched.  He doesn't hold the bar on the bus, won't touch handrails...  But at an amusement park, sometimes you do have to pull down on a safety bar or just hang on!  Disney does a good job of providing hand sanitizer throughout the parks but it's just more convenient to carry a little bottle of it in your bag.

Medications and First Aid - Disney also has first aid stations but pretty much just one per park.  If you have a blister, the last thing you want to do is walk back a mile from where you are to get a band-aid.  Carry a few in your bag along with over-the-counter pain medication and you'll save yourself from buying them at sky-high prices in the closest gift shop that is within limping range.  

Souvenirs/Disney Merch - While you are going to want to make a purchase of a few Disney souvenirs, you can make your kids happy by sneaking in a few you buy ahead of time.  Just hide them in your suitcase and once they go to sleep at night, put them out and say Mickey left them.  Won't stop every meltdown but if you tell them there might be a prize that next morning, it might curb some of the greedy gimmies.  One thing I never miss out on, though is the Disney candy from Goofy's Candy Co.  Goofy makes the best licorice of all time!  

If you're going to Disney, you'd make me the happiest travel agent of all time if you pick me up a bag of this.  Can't get it elsewhere.  Do yourself a favor and get one for you too!!  :)

Want to plan a trip to Disney to get me some licorice?  Call me and I'll give you a free quote!!

Disney World for Less than $2000 for a Family of Four? Yes!

The main reason that people tell me they aren't traveling to Disney World is the cost.  While I admit it can be pricey, you can make a couple of choices that will lower the cost.

It sounds great to stay in a Moderate or Deluxe resort (and I highly recommend you do if you're able!).  But if cost is stopping you, consider a Value resort.  They are still on Disney property so you don't lose any of the perks of that.  And Disney customer service is the highest standard no matter which resort you choose.  Cleanliness and safety are top-notch across the board.

Here is an example of affordability...  I pulled up a quote for the following:

•  A family of four - 2 adults and 2 kids, ages 4 and 6
• June 5 - June 10 (5 nights lodging)
• All-Star resort (Music, Sports or Movies)
• 4-day base Theme Park Ticket
• Complimentary Magical Express
• MagicBands
• My support and knowledge to enhance your experience

The cost of this family's trip would be $2333 at today's prices for everything listed above.  My family has taken a quick trip to Dallas or Kansas City that has set us back nearly that amount.  

I can't guarantee at the time that you wish to travel that there will be a special, but this price is not based on any of the current Disney specials.  It's the current standard rate for a summer vacation.

Another example using a current special that Disney is running is even less.  If your travel dates are in the Fall, you might be able to use this special (based on availability):

• A family of four - 2 adults and 2 kids, ages 4 and 6
• August 20 - August 25 (5 nights lodging)
• All-Star resort (Music, Sports or Movies)
• 4-day base Theme Park Ticket
• Complimentary Magical Express
• MagicBands
• My support and knowledge to enhance your experience

The cost of this vacation package is $1971 at today's prices!  

You can always upgrade to a Moderate or Deluxe resort, and depending on the special available, it may not be much more.  You can also spend a little more if you want a Park Hopper ticket, but if you don't plan to do more than one park per day, then the base ticket is a great deal.

Give me a call or shoot me an email.  I'd love to check prices for your situation!!

An Uncomfortable Subject... How Do I Get Paid?

I know you’re afraid to ask… but how do I get paid doing this fun job?

I often hear that people don’t want to “bug me” so they just muddle through planning a trip themselves.  

But there are two things that should make you want to bug me and have your friends and family bug me too!

1 - I LOVE planning trips to Disney and Universal.  Every time I log in or call about a trip, I head right down memory lane.  Poor Don had to institute the “only once every three years” rule so I wouldn’t plan a trip each and every season.

2 - I actually make money doing this.  I know, it’s crazy that I’m paid to do something I truly love.  I would probably do this for free, but I have three growing boys that are seriously about to eat away every penny we have.

People always get a little uncomfortable discussing money, but let me give you the basics.  You pay Disney the same price whether or not you go online, call it in, or have a travel agent do it for you.  The exact same price.

If a travel agent books the trip, Disney then pays the agency a commission which I receive a portion of.   So even if I did nothing but book the trip, you aren’t paying a dime more than if you did it yourself.

The reason Disney is willing to give a portion of their profits to a travel agent is that they know that the Guest is more likely to enjoy their vacation.  There’s a better chance of Guests returning to Disney again and again if they are given guidance by someone with a knowledge and passion for their product.  Universal uses the same model. 

I’ve talked before about the reasons to use a Disney travel agent - you can look back at this blog post for a refresher - Do You Really Need a Travel Agent to Book a Disney Vacation?

So why would you not want to use a travel agent?  Let me answer some of the most common reasons…

*  I want the cheapest rate and can do that myself.  —  Nope!  You just aren’t going to find it cheaper on your own.  And I will monitor and possibly find a cheaper rate as it gets closer to your trip.  I will apply it automatically and let you know!  And if time is money, I’m saving you tons of it by doing the leg work for you.

*  I love Disney too and want to plan it all myself.  — This one is totally understandable as I feel the same way!  But the cool part is, I can book it and then let you take over the planning if you like.  I will still be there for questions and will still monitor for better deals.

*  How do I know you won’t up-sell me?  —  Trust me, I am the queen of getting a good deal.  I spend way more time then I should figuring out how to save a penny or a bit of time.  I will never lead you towards spending more just to spend more.  I want you to get the absolute most out of your vacation for the least money and hassle.

So PLEASE consider contacting me when you’re thinking about a trip.  And I would be so appreciative if you would forward my information to your family and friends.  Word of mouth is the best advertising I can get!  I’ve got those three boys to feed, you know…  :)

PS - if you refer a friend and they book a trip, your next meal is on me!  I'll contact you to find out your favorite restaurant and send you a $10 gift card to the place you choose!  Easy!!

Why Should You Have Me Book Your Disney Trip?

I've talked about this before but just wanted to remind everyone why it's a good idea to use a travel agent (preferably me!) when booking a Disney trip!

My services are totally free.  You will pay the same amount as you would if you booked on your own.  Often times, you'll pay less using me because I will monitor upcoming specials and apply them to your trip if possible!  Plus, check out some of my other posts - I have lots of ideas that will help you spend less once you are there.

I can work with any client anywhere!  People often think they have to live near me to use my services and that's not the case at all.  Most of my communication is done over email and phone.  I can ship any documents to you (at my cost) that you may require.

I think it's obvious that I love all things Disney!  That love makes it fun for me to learn and research the new options at Disney and investigate any questions you may have.

Take advantage of my referral program!  Simply forward on my name, email, website...  to your friends and family.  I always ask new clients how they heard of me and if they mention your name (and of course, book a trip!), I will contact you to find out your favorite restaurant and send you a $10 gift card to it!