MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet – Gail Child

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 Gail Child from New Jersey!

Name: Gail Child

Where are you from? Fair Haven, NJ

First memory of Disney? Age 8 staying at The Contemporary

What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? EVERYTHING! The genuine feeling of being in a fantasy world where everything runs perfectly.

Favorite Disney destination and why? Disney World. Every location within Disney has its’ own special magic from the rides and the characters to the restaurants and the resorts.

Favorite Disney Character and why? Rapunzel. She lives every moment enjoying life the way we all should.

Favorite Disney Attraction and why? Soarin’. It’s the ultimate vacation in 5 minutes.

Favorite Disney Resort and why? Bay Lake Tower. It is absolutely perfect my family of six. We have space to spread out, relax and re-charge after an exciting day at one of the parks. We are able to eat breakfast in the room with the use of the full kitchen and eat-in area and the best part is we are still on the monorail line.

Favorite Disney Restaurant and why? That’s a tough one but I’m going to have to say Kona Café. The food is always so delicious and yet the atmosphere is so relaxing.

Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why? Yak and Yeti. It is the yummiest counter service in all of Disney.

3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why? Rapunzel, Belle and Goofy. Rapunzel has the greatest outlook on life. Belle is such a genuinely warm-hearted person who would have some great book recommendations. Goofy because I can completely relate!

Favorite Disney snack and why? Kitchen sink from Beaches and Cream. It is the ultimate indulgence.

Favorite Disney Movie and why? Rapunzel. It has adventure, comedy and romance all rolled into one movie.

3 Favorite Disney Song and why? ”Beauty and the Beast”, “Let it go” and “Jolly Holiday”. “Beauty and the Beast” is so beautiful, “Let it go” has such powerful lyrics and “Jolly Holiday” just makes me smile.

If you could be one Disney mascot for a day who would it be and why? Stitch. I could have so much fun and be a little naughty at the same time.

If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why? A greeter on Main Street because there is nothing more priceless that seeing “that” smile when a guest looks up and sees Cinderella’s Castle.

Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent? Being able to create the most magical vacation ever for a guest.

Why should I book my vacation with you? I enjoy creating and assisting guests with their Disney vacations as much as I love creating my own!

Feel free to reach out to Gail with any questions or comments. Gail can be reached at gail@mickeytravels.com or 1- 888-480-4933. She can also be found on our website at www.mickeytravels.com/gail

Top 10 must-dos at Disney World

Having grown up with Disney, I have seen so many attractions come and go in the 40 years that I have been visiting the ‘Most Magical Place on Earth’. There is one, eh, or 10 things that remain constant, that is, my top 10 must dos every trip. When clients ask what are the top MUST DO things to do, my answers are always the same.

1. Stay at a Walt Disney World resort. Not only, will it save you time, but it will, in the long run save you money after you factor in parking fees, transportation, and dining. Remember, you cannot purchase a Disney Dining Plan if you are not a Disney Resort Guest. That in itself is a HUGE savings. I have done the math……over and over again. My clients always return to say, ”I am so glad we decided to take your advice and stay on the property.”

2. Always purchase a Disney Dining Plan. Always. It will never be less expensive to pay out of pocket for the same meals. About 10 trips ago, my family decided to “just try it”. We were going to be “smart” about our meal choices. We kept all of our receipts to add up our food and drink expenses and then compare them with the cost of the meal plan. We were there on a 6 night package. I was so excited to get home to add it up and see just how much we actually saved. We quickly realized that we were’t so smart. We spent a whopping $490 more, you read that right, than we would have spent purchasing the Plus Dining Plan. ALMOST $500 MORE! Since then, I will never go to Disney any other way.

3. Choose your dates wisely. I get calls every day from clients who want to go when Disney is least crowded. Typically, Disney is most crowded when schools are out, so choose a date when the least number of schools are out, perhaps a State Holiday like Mardi Gras in Louisiana. If you choose a national holiday, the crowds will be heavier.

4. Don’t skip any of the 4 theme parks because you heard that one was not that great. I can’t tell you the number of clients who will call and tell me they want to skip Epcot because their “kids will be bored with nothing to do in the countries”. I am here to tell you that if you give it a chance, all 4 theme parks have something for everyone. One of our favorite rides is Maelstrom in Epcot’s Norway Pavilion. Don’t miss it.

5. Don’t miss the classics. Dumbo, Pirates, The Jungle Cruise, Splash, Space and Big Thunder Mountains, It’s a Small World, Carousel of Progress all at Magic Kingdom. ALL CLASSICS! They are part of the history of Disney World. Put them at the top of your list.

6. Date night! Mom and Dad deserve some grown-up fun! Have your travel agent make reservations at one of the children’s activity centers or in-room childcare. The children will have a fabulous time making crafts, playing games and watching movies at one of 5 centers at Walt Disney World while mom and dad partake in the adult festivities that Disney has to offer such as a romantic dinner at California Grill on the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort as you look through the window and watch Wishes Fireworks over the castle as you dine. Want something more casual? How about drinks around Epcot’s World Showcase with a stop in your favorite country for dinner followed by Epcot’s Illuminations Dessert Party. The possibilities are endless.

7. Dine with the characters. If you have little ones who want to meet the characters, this is the way to go. Sure, you could stand in line at the parks, but if you dine where the characters are, you can meet 4-5 characters with no line. Characters will come right up to your table during your meal. They will sign autographs, pose for photos and spend a little personal time with your family. The best part……character meals are included on the Disney Dining Plan.

8. Weigh your ticket options. Base, Park Hopper, Water Park Fun and More…..choices….choices…..choices. If you truly plan on enjoying just one park per day, knowing that some parks close at dusk, as well as following a strict itinerary regarding dining venues, then base tickets are for you. If a more flexible schedule with the ability to hop from park to park in the same day, then consider adding the Park Hopper option to your tickets. If water parks and DisneyQuest are in your plans, then you will want to add the Water Parks, Fun and More option, as well.

9. Do not miss the opening and closing at Magic Kingdom. Even if you have to go back to your resort for a mid-day nap, get to Magic Kingdom before it opens. Stand in the crowd at rope drop. This is truly an indescribable magical moment that so many people miss. Likewise, there is absolutely nothing like being at Tomorrowland Terrace or Fantasyland watching Wishes overhead. If you are lucky, Tinkerbell will fly right over you!

10. Do have a game plan before you even leave. I make itinerary for all of my clients so that they do not get overwhelmed and know exactly which parks they are going to and where they are dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, everyday of their stay. The biggest mistake guests make is showing up without a plan and most of their day is wasted running back and forth to different attractions. If you have a good travel agent, a good game plan, and utilize My Disney Experience for fastpass reservations with the help of an experienced agent, you are sure to experience the most in the shortest amount of time, saving you time and money.

For more information on all the MUST Dos at Disney World please feel free to contact us for a free quote! All of ourDisney planning services are 100% FREE!

Making Magic One Vacation at a Time…

MickeyTravels Agent Virtual Meet & Greet – Stacy Conrad

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 Stacy Conrad from Louisiana!

Name: Stacy Conrad

Where are you from? I am from South Texas, but transplanted to the Louisiana Gulf Coast

First memory of Disney? My first memory of Disney was our family’s first road trip in 1978. It took 2 days and I remember the excitement. Once we arrived, we entered the park, I nearly ran into Robin Hood, The Fox and was terrified, but the fear soon turned to excitement when I stood on Main Street and looked up. The castle was more beautiful and magical than I could have ever imagined. Returning year after year, I must say the feeling never goes away.

What makes Disney MAGICAL in your eyes? Being able to shut the world out and with family in a setting like no other, where the line between fantasy and reality is a blur.

Favorite Disney destination and why? Hands down, Walt Disney World because it brings me back to my childhood.

Favorite Disney Character and why? Ariel is my absolute favorite character because I feel as though I can relate to her story. She overcame so many obstacles and never let anything hold her back from her dreams. She was strong and passionate about what she wanted.

Favorite Disney Attraction and why? It’s a Small World. It’s a classic. It has been my favorite since I was a small child and will always be.

Favorite Disney Resort and why? Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort. After a long day at the parks, it is so nice to walk into Wilderness Lodge, sit in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace or the geyser in the lobby and feel like you are at a secluded resort in the mountains. It’s like two vacations in one!

Favorite Disney Restaurant and why? Be Our Guest, not only for the atmosphere, but the excitement trying to get the reservation to the food. It is amazing!

Favorite Disney Quick Service Restaurant and why? Tangerine Cafe in Epcot is my favorite quick service restaurant because Greek food is my weakness.

3 Disney characters you’d like to have dinner with and why? Ariel, Alice and the Stepsisters. Have you ever met them? They are hilarious. It would definitely be an entertaining meal.

Favorite Disney snack and why? Dole Whip! Is there anything else?

Favorite Disney Movie and why? The Little Mermaid because Ariel is my favorite!

3 Favorite Disney Song and why? It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, one of my favorite rides. Main Street USA, no matter where I am in the world, when I hear “Im walkin right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A.” I stop whatever I am doing and am instantly standing right in front of the castle. It’s a Small World, because it truly is a small, small world.

Disney character you’re most similar to and why? That depends on the day of the week and who you ask.

If you could be one Disney mascot for a day who would it be and why? Cinderella! She is an original!

If you could work at one of the Disney theme parks, what job would you want and why? Animal Kingdom as a performer in The Festival of the Lion King, my favorite show at Disney.

Best part about being a MickeyTravels Disney Travel Agent? There are so many things I love about my job, but the overwhelming feeling of joy I get when my clients send me updates from their vacations and tell me that they couldn’t have done it without me truly tops the cake.

Why should I book my vacation with you? Having traveled to Disney World since the mid-70s, I grew up with Disney. I watched parks and resorts being built from the ground up. I am passionate about my clients vacations and handle them as if they were my own. I don’t keep office hours and am always available for my clients. Best of all, I handle as much or as little of your vacation as you wish and will make sure that it is more than magical.

Feel free to reach out to Stacy with any questions or comments. Stacy can be reached at stacy@mickeytravels.com or 337-849-3937. She can also be found on our website at www.mickeytravels.com/stacy