MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet – Erin Hamson

MickeyTravels is excited about our new initiative – The MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet. We will feature a different MickeyTravels agent on a daily 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 Erin Hamson from Perryville, Maryland

Name: Erin Hamson

Where are you from? My family and I are from the small town of Perryville, Maryland; located at the northern part of the Chesapeake Bay.

First memory of Disney? As I look through my mind’s eye one of the very first memories I have of Walt Disney World is the first time I rode Space Mountain. I remember the way I felt getting into the seat in my mom’s lap (they still had tandem seating then). I remember the thrill of the ride starting and the excitement I felt as we raced through outer space. My childhood imagination was convinced we were flying by real stars. I have recently had the opportunity to take my own daughter on that same ride, albeit not in a tandem seat, but I was right behind her. I wonder if it will be one of her first memories too.

What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? From the smallest of details, to the grand views of enchanted castles there is magic literally behind every corner of Disney for me. However, what make Disney so very magical to me is how the magic knows no age, no gender, no race or disability. From my littlest of clients to the oldest, the magic is just as real. Whether you are a man or woman, boy or a girl, seeing your dreams come to life or meeting your beloved favorite charter is magical to everyone. Whether or not you have light skin or dark, or you experience life through the lens of a disability, we all experience the same DISNEY MAGIC!

Favorite Disney destination and why? I would say for me my favorite Disney destination changes from time to time depending on the demographics of my family at that time. Right now if I could pick up everything and spend a day Disney style, I would head to Walt Disney World and spend the day in Magic Kingdom watching my children’s faces light up as they experience the wonder of Disney magic.

Favorite Disney Character and why? Off the cuff I would say my say my favorite Disney character at Walt Disney World is Crush. I love going to Turtle Talk with Crush and hearing all that he has to say!

Favorite Disney Attraction and why? My favorite Disney MUST DO attraction…which mind you is hard to list just one, but I think it might have to be Finding Nemo The Musical found at Walt Disney Worlds Animal Kingdom. I love how the puppetry, the dancing and the acrobatics magically take you into the story and before you leave you are singing along…”In the BIG BLUE WORLD…”

Favorite Disney Resort and why? While I have enjoyed each of the Disney resorts I have been to, I believe my most favorite so far has been the Polynesian! As soon as you step out of your car or off of the Magical Express you are transported into a tropical oasis. The recreation on the resort property is just fantastic and the character dining and the Spirit of Aloha show there have given me many great memories.

Favorite Disney Restaurant and why? My favorite Disney restaurant has recently changed, but I have to say it is a down right tie, and the two could not be any more different. The first one is Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom. What a magical experience for my entire family! And yes, I did eat “The Gray Stuff” and it was indeed delicious. However Be Our Guest is tied with Biergarten in Epcot. What a FUN experience! We ate and danced and ate and danced some more, then didn’t want to leave at the end. My 3-year-old son had as much fun as my 65-year-old father!

Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why? Picking my favorite Quick service location is a toughie…there are so many amazing dining options to choose from that do not lack for magical appeal simply because they are not a table service location. Perhaps I would say based on yummy factor, The Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom is pretty high on my favorite list.

3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why? If I could have a meal with any 3 Walt Disney World characters they would be…

1. Remy from Ratatouille, because he would surely be having the most delectable meal there is and of course we would savor every bite!
2. The Fairy Godmother, she surely use her magic to make our meal surrounded by an enchanted world of magic and wonder…as long as we don’t sit there past midnight we will be fine…and…
3. Aladdin, who would of course have Abu along and in my mind those two would add just the right amount of FUN to the night. AND who wouldn’t want to be taken home by a hansom, down to earth prince, on a magic carpet! YES PLEASE!

Favorite Disney snack and why? There is nothing like a cream cheese pretzel from Walt Disney World or heading to Gaston’s Tavern for just about ANYTHING in there. But if nothing else trying the LeFou’s Brew is worth the visit into Gaston’s!

Favorite Disney Movie and why? So many movies to choose from…so many beloved stories and tales that blur generational lines. If I had to pick just one movie, I might land on Tangled as my current favorite. A night in with the family and Tangled on the living room TV and all are happy.

3 Favorite Disney Song and why? To follow in line with the Tangled theme I would have to say one of the greatest songs is I see the Light. What can I say, I am a sap for a love story. “Baby Mine” from Dumbo is for sure a favorite of mine. Not only do I remember watching this movie as a very small child and crying as Dumbo’s mom rocked him to this song, but I now sing it to my babies! Finally I will say that my other favorite Disney song would have to be, “When You Wish Upon A Star” which is from Pinocchio, but is such a quintessential Disney song!

Disney character you’re most similar to and why? For sure I have to say I am most similar to Pollyanna! We are both daughters of missionaries and always look to the cheery side of life. We both have lots of friends and will do just about anything for them. Pollyanna goes to Baltimore and I am from Baltimore! Hmmm might be time to watch some Pollyanna again!

If you could be one Disney mascot for a day who would it be and why? Hands down!! If I could take a day to be any Disney mascot it would be Stitch for sure! He has so much fun and does all kinds of funny things…of course I would also LOVE to operate PUSH (the talking trash can) for a day too…hmmm…

If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why? Another one of my very first memories of Walt Disney World is laughing so hard at the “boat driver” on the Jungle Safari! I had peach shorts on and he asked me if I was “feeling peachy” I thought he was so funny. Since then I have ridden that ride SO MANY more times, and I never fail to laugh…if I could be a cast member I would want to drive a boat on the Jungle Cruise and make some 5 year old “feel peachy”.

Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent? The best part of my job as a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent is that I get to be a part of helping families experience the magic that Disney offers. I know that the work I do will lead to memories for families that will last them a lifetime. It makes me work all the harder for my clients!

Why should I book my vacation with you? Booking a vacation with me means having someone who really cares walk through the whole process of booking your Disney vacation process. From choosing the best time of year to the best resort for your family all the way to what rides your kids might want to hit first. I devote myself not just to taking care of the logistics and planning of each booking, but I also really care about each family’s individual needs and do everything I can to ensure the most MAGICAL vacation possible!

Feel free to reach out to Erin with any questions or comments. Erin can be reached at erin@mickeytravels.com or 1-443-553-5921. She can also be found on our website at www.mickeytravels.com/erin