MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet – Jamie Farber
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 Jamie Farber from Michigan!
Name: Jamie Farber
Where are you from? Grand Rapids, Michigan (on the west side of the state)
First memory of Disney? I’ve been told many times the first time my Mom felt me move was at Walt Disney World, but I guess that’s not something I remember so it really doesn’t count. My first real memory is watching the Main Street Electrical Parade with my extended family when I was about eight. My grandmother was normally a very calm, cool person, but as each float passed by, she’d get more animated, pointing out the characters and lights, which has remained with me because it was so out of character for her and was my first inkling that Disney was truly a magical place.
What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? It’s not just one thing and I don’t know that it’s anything tangible. Disney’s magic, in my eyes, comes from the cast members who work there, the attention to detail in each and every experience and the ability of the Disney brand to transport you to a different time and place. To me, Disney’s magic is something you can’t fully explain until you experience it — and once you do, you’re hooked!
Favorite Disney destination and why? This one is really hard. I love all the Disney destinations for different reasons. Disney Cruise Line is fabulous to me because it allows me to spend time with my boys, but also have some adult time and some alone time. Disney’s Hilton Head Resort is a hidden gem, in my mind, and one of our favorite places to kick back and enjoy being a family in a beautiful location. If I had to choose one though, it would have to be Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The first time I see the castle each trip, I usually tear up because I know I’m home. It’s a feeling of joy, excitement and anticipation. It’s also a place where I feel free to indulge in my inner child. No one looks at you funny when you dance to the music, sing along with a parade or wear a silly hat. It’s nice to be able to let loose, remember past trips and enjoy the current one with my family.
Favorite Disney Character and why? Since I was young, I’ve always been convinced I was a Disney princess, so my favorite character is a princess. I’ve always been drawn to Cinderella and she’s definitely my favorite character. I know there is a lot of criticism of Cinderella and the older princesses that they wait for a man to rescue them, but I’ve never believed that. I love what Walt Disney once said about Cinderella, pointing out that she believed in dreams and in doing something about them. He pointed out that she went to the castle to get Prince Charming instead of waiting for him to come to her. I also think I relate to Cinderella so much because I believe in happy endings and dreams. There is a lot of bad in the world, but I choose to focus on the positive and believe that as long as I keep on dreaming, the dreams that I wish will come true.
Favorite Disney Attraction and why? It’s so hard to choose just one! I think I’d have to go with Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom. The show is just incredible with great singing and dancing and I LOVE the Lion King music, so that makes it even better. To me, it’s one of the can’t miss experiences when you visit Walt Disney World.
Favorite Disney Resort and why? This one could go any number of ways, but I think ultimately, Port Orleans Riverside is my favorite resort. I love the laid back atmosphere, the main pool area and the boat to Downtown Disney. My favorite thing about Port Orleans Riverside though is the grounds. I’ve always had a small obsession with the South and Riverside transports me there. The trees and river combine to take me to another place and force me to relax. It’s a great respite from the hustle and bustle of the parks — and the moderate price point is a great selling point as well!
Favorite Disney Restaurant and why? Another difficult choice. I think I would have to go with breakfast at Crystal Palace. It’s a combination of experience and food that puts it over the top. I love Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore and the food is really good too. My very favorite item on the breakfast buffet is the puffed French toast, which actually can be found on the kid’s buffet. It’s fabulous and reminds me of an elephant ear from the fair! The other factor that makes the Crystal Palace breakfast my favorite is timing. I like to schedule our breakfast for very early, before the park opens. That way, we are able to get into the park before the crowds are large for pictures, then we hit the buffet and head out to start our day!
Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why? Sunshine Seasons in Epcot is my favorite because of all the options. I love that you can choose from a variety of different cuisines that will make everyone in your party happy.
3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why? Cinderella because she’s my favorite, Mickey Mouse because he’s such an icon and has been around since the beginning, so there would be lots of great stories and Anna from Frozen because she seems like a lot of fun and is very relatable.
Favorite Disney snack and why? The Butterfinger cupcake at Starring Rolls in Hollywood Studios. I love cake and frosting is, to me, the best part of any cake product. There is so much frosting on the Butterfinger cupcake, along with Butterfinger crumbles, and it all is SO good. It’s a must have for me on every trip.
Favorite Disney Movie and why? The Lion King is my favorite movie. I adore the story, the music and the message. No matter how many times I see it, the beginning still gives me chills and brings me to tears.
3 Favorite Disney Song and why? “Circle of Life” because it’s so powerful and true. I often find wisdom in Disney movies and songs and that is one of my very favorites. “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” is one of my top three because it speaks to how I try and view life everyday and offers me a reminder that we need to keep believing in magic. “Let It Go” is my third favorite because it helps me remember that there are always going to be things holding us back, but we need to let them go and be who we really are, no matter what other people might think.
Disney character you’re most similar to and why? I would go with Anna from Frozen on this one. Her love of family is something I can relate to very strongly and her tendency to babble when nervous is a trait I also possess — and her love of chocolate and wanting to stuff it in her face when she’s nervous is also very much like me.
If you could be one Disney mascot for a day who would it be and why? I’d love to be Mickey Mouse because everyone wants to see him and you’d get to interact with people of all ages. I also think Mickey is someone that makes everyone happy and it would be great to view the world through his eyes for a day.
If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why? It sounds funny, but I would love to work in Guest Services at Walt Disney World. Normally, people head there when something has gone wrong with their trip and they are in need of some magic. When I’ve been in Guest Services, I’ve normally witnessed frazzled, hot, frustrated people and the Guest Services Cast Members are able to turn things around, usually fairly quickly. I’d love to be able to spread that kind of pixie dust and help people get their vacations back on track.
Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent? Far and away, the best part of my job is getting to know new people and helping them plan a magical trip for their family. It sounds trite, but it’s really what I enjoy most. Each family is different with wants and needs that are unique to their circumstances. I love getting to plan trips that work for those families and finding ways to make each trip special and memorable for everyone.
Why should I book my vacation with you? You should book your vacation with me because I promise to treat it as if it is my own. Each family I work with will get my personal attention and expertise — along with my dedication to your trip. I want to create magical memories for each and every family that books a trip with me. I also want to make sure you head to Disney feeling fully prepared for the theme parks and any other aspects of your trip. I will take the stress out of planning your trip so you can enjoy and magical vacation with your family. Sit back, relax and let me sprinkle your vacation with my own brand of pixie dust!
Feel free to reach out to Jamie with any questions or comments. Jamie can be reached at jamie@mickeytravels.com or 1-616-646-7082. She can also be found on our website at https://mickeytravels.com/team/jamie-farber-michigan-disney-travel-agent/
