My very first trip to Walt Disney World was in 2002. I was six, and my mom had booked the trip the old-fashioned way — over the phone. The Cast Member on the line told her she should reserve a meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table, so she did. That was the extent of our planning. No blogs. No Google. No clue what we were doing.

It was me, my mom, my aunt, and my toddler cousin. We showed up wide-eyed and totally overwhelmed. We had no idea what to prioritize, how to get around, or even what parks were where. But we loved every minute of it. I remember watching the parade like it was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen. I remember Mickey ice cream bars and my mom trying to hold it all together. When we got home, she said we needed a redemption trip. So we went back. Then again. And again after that. And eventually, we started figuring it out.

A few years later, we brought my twin cousins along. Same crew, plus two five-year-olds. We might have known a little more by then, but it didn’t matter. That trip was chaos. Melt-down city. There was a moment where we were all crying, even the grown-ups, sitting on a bench near Gertie the dinosaur in Hollywood Studios. That trip is when it really hit me that families needed help planning these vacations. The magic is absolutely real, but so is the stress.

Over the years, Disney became our place. My mom and I took countless trips together, usually from Christmas Eve through the New Year. We’d pack a little tree, wrap presents, and celebrate in a resort room like it was the most normal thing in the world. Those are some of my favorite memories. Not just of Disney, but of life.

In college, I moved to Orlando and worked for Disney. I loved being part of the magic, but what I loved most was sharing it with other people. I saved up to fly my then-boyfriend out for his first visit. Watching him light up while eating a churro on Main Street was when I really understood what Walt meant about this place bringing out the kid in all of us. That moment made me want to help more people experience Disney that way. Not stressed and scrambling, but fully present for the memories.

In 2020, we got married at Walt Disney World. We spent a week there with all our favorite people, and I’ll never forget riding Soarin’ with my grandfather, who had always said he’d never go to Disney. He turned to me after the ride and said, “I understand why y’all keep coming back.” I cried. Of course I did. I'm crying again just writing this.

Now I’m a mom, bringing my own kids into the magic. Our oldest had his first Disney trip at just a month old. We weren't there for him, but he showed up in time to tag along. Watching him grow up loving Disney has been surreal in the best way. Now we’re making new memories as a family of four.

This story could have gone so differently. That first trip could’ve been the last. But the magic stuck with us, even through the chaos, the tears, the heat, and the missed reservations. And somewhere along the way, it became clear that helping families plan Disney trips wasn’t just something I could do. It was something I had to do.

Because I’ve been the overwhelmed mom. I’ve been the wide-eyed kid. I’ve been the one pushing the stroller, making the plans, booking the trip, and hoping it all goes smoothly. And now, I’m the one who helps you do it differently.

So you can show up, soak it in, and finally understand why we keep coming back. If you’re ready to plan a Disney trip that actually feels like a vacation, let’s make it magical.