MickeyTravels Virtual Agent Meet & Greet with Jessica Pagan

MickeyTravels is excited to bring back The MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet! We feature a different MickeyTravels agent on a regular basis. We’re proud to have the best Disney Travel agents in the world as part of our MickeyTravels team and this will allow you to get to know them even better. Today the spotlight shines on Jessica Pagan from Georgia!

Name: Jessica Pagan

Where are you from?  Originally from Hammond, New York

First memory of Disney?  Watching Tinkerbell fly from Cinderella’s Castle on Christmas night.

What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? Their attention to detail.

Favorite Disney destination and why? Castaway Cay. This island was so beautiful and relaxing. There was something for everyone. Snorkeling was my personal favorite activity.

Favorite Disney Character and why?  Rapunzel. I love how brave and bold she becomes.

Favorite Disney Attraction and why?  Tower of Terror. The theming is top notch and I love a good thrill ride!

Favorite Disney Resort and why? This is a tough one, but I’m going to have to go with the Port Orleans Resorts. We enjoy the boat to Disney Springs, the carriage rides, and being able to enjoy the amenities of both, regardless of which one we’re at (you’ll find my family walking to French Quarter for beignets if we’re staying at Riverside or walking to Riverside to listen to ‘YeHaa’ Bob if staying at French Quarter).

Favorite Disney Restaurant and why?  ‘Ohana. Those pot sticks and bread pudding at dinner are to die for!

Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why? Flame Tree BBQ. Huge portions, unique offerings, and fantastic prices.

3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why? Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, so I can ask them questions about Walt and hear their side of the story about how it was all started.

Favorite Disney snack and why? Just about anything found in the World Showcase at Epcot. It’s impossible to narrow it down. France, Morocco and Germany are my must-dos.

Favorite Disney Movie and why?  Tangled. I love Rapunzel!

3 Favorite Disney Songs and why?

Belle (Beauty and the Beast) – The first Disney song I memorized. I play this on our way to all Disney trips!

Mother Knows Best (Tangled) – This is an ongoing joke in my house. Mother Gothel obviously wasn’t a great mother, but I love breaking into song when my son or husband asks me ‘why’? … Why?? Because motherrrrrrrrrr knows BEST!

I’m Almost There (Tiana)- My second favorite Disney movie and Princess. I love how upbeat and catchy it is.

Disney character you’re most similar to and why? Meeko. We’re both funny with a love for food.

If you could be one Disney character for a day who would it be and why? Daisy. I love her personality. Plus, I wish I could pull off that bow!

If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why? I would love to be a bellhop for Tower of Terror! Not only is it my favorite ride, but speaking in a ghoulish tone all day would be fun.

Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent? I love planning magic all year round. I love that I can help people feel the love that I have for Disney.

Why should I book my vacation with you? I have been vacationing with Disney for the past nine consecutive years and have lots of firsthand experiences. I treat each vacation as if it’s my own and pay close attention to detail.

Contact me at jpagan@mickeytravels.com for all my FREE Disney vacation planning services.  I can’t wait to hear from you and to help make memories that will last forever!

MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet with Theresa Benge

MickeyTravels is excited to bring back The MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet! We feature a different MickeyTravels agent on a regular basis. We’re proud to have the best Disney Travel agents in the world as part of our MickeyTravels team and this will allow you to get to know them even better. Today the spotlight shines on Theresa Benge from Oklahoma!

Name: Theresa Benge

Where are you from? Oklahoma

First memory of Disney? Although my first trip to Walt Disney World was not until adult hood; there was always a Disney presence in our home growing up. I remember the first time I went to a movie theater as a child it was to see Bambi, and I was in love!  The characters just seemed to come to life and you felt like you were  apart of their story; their world. My dad would read to me The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh before bed and I would dream of the hundred acre woods and our far off adventures! Plus my mom always collected Disney memorabilia she loves Mickey!

What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? I think the beautiful scenery, landscaping, and the friendly smiles you get from cast members at Disney help with the magic.  When you are there and you hear the music and the energy it makes you forget about the little things in life that don’t matter and you can enjoy having fun!

Favorite Disney destination and why? I absolutely love Walt Disney World! There is so much to do and see.  The possibilities of your trip are truly endless and it can be a different experience each and every time you visit.

Favorite Disney Character and why?  Winnie the Pooh – I really enjoyed the time reading with my dad and he’s the most cuddly bear I know!

Favorite Disney Attraction and why?  I love Soarin’ – It gives you the total experience of hand gliding from the sights to the smells that you imagine you would smell.

Favorite Disney Resort and why?  Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite resort – It feels so warm and inviting.  The colors and textures are so beautify done next to the carved wood decor.  At night you can also go out and use the night vision glasses to look at animals on the savannah, which is pretty amazing.

Favorite Disney Restaurant and why?  ‘Ohana – We’ve had the character breakfast and dinner at ‘Ohana and both are just wonderful.  It feels very family friendly and it’s at the beautiful Polynesian Village Resort so you get the experience of seeing another resort.

Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why?  Yorkshire County Fish Shop – I love the fish and chips at Yorkshire!  Plus you have an amazing view of the World showcase while you enjoy your lunch.

3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why? Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh. They are some of my favorite characters!

Favorite Disney snack and why? I recently discovered this on our last trip and I’m so glad we found it!  It’s at the Kabuki Cafe in the World showcase and it is called Kakigori, It is Japanese shaved ice with sweet milk topping. It is the perfect cold treat on a nice warm Florida day.

Favorite Disney Movie and why?  I’m not sure I can just pick one! Aladdin has always been a favorite of mine, I like the adventures they have and of course the Genie is a favorite. I think it tells us that it is always better to be ourself and to tell the truth.

3 Favorite Disney Songs and why? Be Our Guest; I Can Show You the World; and Under the Sea!  I think they are all catchy little tunes and super fun to sing along to!

Disney character you’re most similar to and why? I think because I have long hair I relate to Rapunzel, but she also sees a lot of good in the world and people and I try to find the good in every situation.

If you could be one Disney character for a day who would it be and why? I would absolutely love to be Mickey! I think he brings so much joy to so many people and seeing all those smiles would just be so magical.

If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why? I would love to be a tour guide at Magic Kingdom! You get to talk about all things Disney and have interaction with others who love Disney as much as you do.

Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent? Talking about Disney! I love everything about planning a trip, the excitement of counting down the days, discussing where you want to go on what day, making dining reservations, making fast passes, and seeing the joy on families faces when they take pictures!  It is memories that will last a lifetime!

Why should I book my vacation with you? When you book a vacation with me, I will treat your vacation with the care and thought as if I were going on that vacation.  I will put every effort and thought into planing the most magical Disney experience I can.

Contact me at tbenge@mickeytravels.com for all my FREE Disney vacation planning services.  I can’t wait to hear from you and to help make memories that will last forever!

MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet with Emily Steinkamp

MickeyTravels is excited to bring back The MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet! We feature a different MickeyTravels agent on a regular basis. We’re proud to have the best Disney Travel agents in the world as part of our MickeyTravels team and this will allow you to get to know them even better. Today the spotlight shines on Emily Steinkamp from Pennsylvania!

Name: Emily Steinkamp

Where are you from?  Mechanincsburg, PA

First memory of Disney?  My mom saved up for a long time in order to take my three sisters and I to the parks. We traveled down with my aunt, as my dad wasn’t much of a traveler and it was the best vacation we ever had.  My family was on a tight budget so vacations didn’t happen really ever, so as you can imagine this was a magical surprise.

What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? You get to escape realities of life- the sights and sounds, make it my happy place.  I can’t help but smile when thinking about Disney.

Favorite Disney destination and why? Disney World is by far my favorite for the fact you never take the same trip twice.  There is so much to see and do your vacation itineraries are endless!

Favorite Disney Character and why?  Ariel-  I like Ariel because of the music and undersea adventures that she has within the movie.  I also love her new ride in Fantasyland.

Favorite Disney Attraction and why?  Splash Mountain is my favorite!  I realize the movie has some negative connotations, but when I was younger my dad always read a book about Brer Rabbit that the scenes bring back memories of my childhood.  Also, the theming and music of the attraction keeps you entertained from start to finish!

Favorite Disney Resort and why?  My goal is to stay at them all!  But right now, my favorite is Wilderness Lodge.  We took my son for his first birthday and I remember stepping into the grand lobby- seeing the tepee hanging from the ceiling, the expansive fireplace and hearing the water was so tranquil.  Plus, the grounds around the resort makes you feel you are among the western forests though you are in sunny Florida.

Favorite Disney Restaurant and why?  Chef Mickey’s, mainly for the memories.  I can recall nearly every Disney vacation I have taken; Chef Mickey’s was a stop on our dining tour.  It’s a great opportunity to get pictures with the classic characters of Disney and there are plenty of food options for even the pickiest eater.

Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why?  Flametree BBQ at Animal Kingdom is wonderful!  The BBQ is delicious and you can always find a seat amongst the trees for a shady place to cool off and enjoy a meal.

3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why?   Goofy, Chip and Dale for I feel they would make the entire meal fun with lots of laughs!

Favorite Disney snack and why?  Who doesn’t love the traditional Dole Whip on a hot summer day.

Favorite Disney Movie and why?  Beauty and the Beast, the classic.

3 Favorite Disney Songs and why?  There are too many to pick, in fact I have the album of the Disney World attractions downloaded on my phone and my kids and I always listen to it on long car rides to bring the Disney magic home.

Disney character you’re most similar to and why?  I would have to say I am most like Snow White, I need to have things in order at home.

If you could be one Disney character for a day who would it be and why?  I would want to be Belle- who doesn’t want an enchanted castle to explore?

If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why?  Disney World- notice a trend here?  This is truly home for me, thinking about and being in Disney makes me so happy.  As your agent, I would love to share my tips for navigating this massive park and share all the wonderful options to your family.

Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent?  Gosh where do I begin?  As a mom of two, this gives me time for something I enjoy.  I love to find discounts for my clients, get them the reservations they are yearning to make their trip magical and the opportunity to make the business my own.  It truly has been a blessing to work for MickeyTravels- the owners are amazing and have made this experience all I had imagined.

Why should I book my vacation with you?  Type A is my middle name, or at least it should be!  Details are my strength, so as your personal agent it is my goal to ensure all aspects of your trip are covered by sending you tips, reminders and of course helping you as much or as little as you like.  Helping others build out a Disney itinerary is just as much fun as if it were my own. It truly would be an honor to support you in your plans and the best part all of my services are free!

Contact me at emilys@mickeytravels.com for all my FREE Disney vacation planning services.  I can’t wait to hear from you and to help make memories that will last forever!