Visit Mickey, Travel Planning by Lea

04/28/2025

So you found my page, which means you want to go to Disney? That’s fantastic!

For guests who haven’t visited a Disney Park in the last five years, it can be nearly impossible to know what to expect. The landscape changes rapidly with new systems to help optimize your trip, new attractions to explore, and different accommodations to choose from. If you're not aware of what has changed, you might end up struggling to navigate it all -- and even feeling disappointed.

Disney is not the same as it was when you were a kid; there have been countless advancements and upgrades. Do you really want to spend hours online trying to educate yourself about how to optimize your trip by sifting through outdated posts from strangers explaining terms like "Lightning Lanes," "Advanced Dining Reservations," "After Hours Events," and "Rope Drop"? You don’t have to do that! You can receive up-to-date travel planning guidance from a Disney Travel Professional—and it won’t cost you a thing.

Disney pays me to take care of you. So when you book your resort, tickets or package through me, I'll help you every step of the way. We'll talk through which is "better:" Disney World or Disneyland. I can help you decide which of the 20+ resorts is best for your family and which of the more than 200 dining options you'll want me to reserve for your trip. I'll provide guidance and tips on how to best spend your time in the parks, so you're spending less time in lines and more time making memories.

Don't get stuck feeling confused or overwhelmed on your vacation. No one wants to leave a vacation thinking, "I wish I'd known about..." Let me take the stress out of planning, so you just pack a bag, show up, and have an amazing, care-free experience.

04/28/2025

Thank the Phoenicians, GEO-82, an adults lounge inspired by Spaceship Earth, will open on June 4th:

Take a first look at the menu, with reservations opening May 6! 🍸🍽️ http://di.sn/61842oiya

04/28/2025

☀️ Happy Monday! The sun is shining on the Three Caballeros pool at Disney's All-Star Music Resort today. Hope it's clear blue skies wherever you are! 🌞

04/28/2025

At bedtime tonight, my son and I played a game: "What would you do first on a Disney Cruise?"

Him: Go to Cabanas (the buffet)
Me: Nice! What next?
Him: Get a second plate at Cabanas.

Can you blame us for fantasizing about Mickey Waffles served with views like this?

04/25/2025

If you had just *one hour* at a Disney Park, but with unlimited money and no wait times, what would you do?

04/24/2025

🚢 5 Things you might not know before your first cruise:

1. Board Early for Maximum Fun: Get on the ship early to enjoy activities or hot tubs before the crowds arrive!

2. Pack Smart & Light: Your luggage might take a while to reach your cabin on day one, so pack a carry-on with your swimsuit, sunscreen, meds, and a change of clothes. Remember to keep your outfits versatile or plan to do laundry to save space!

3. Decorate Your Cabin Door: Personalize your cabin door with fun decorations to easily spot your room among the many similar-looking doors!

4. Embrace All the Fun: Don’t hold back—join in on dance classes, trivia, and other onboard activities for a more unforgettable cruise experience! And don't feel pressured to fit it all in. Sometimes hanging out on the ship during port days is the best way to relax!

5. Keep Your Key Card Handy: Use a lanyard for your room key—it's not just for access, it’s also your ID and payment method!

What other tips would you add for first-time cruisers? 🛳️✨

04/23/2025

Yesterday was one of those days that had me rethinking my choice to be a travel planner.

Sometimes, I have to sit on hold for hours to resolve an issue for a guest. Last night was one of those frustrating nights. At 7 PM, when I should have been spending time with my kids, I was on the phone with a vendor discussing a problem. It happens, but it still really stinks.

But then, this morning, I had a call with a new client about helping them plan a return trip to Disney. We chat about what went right (or wrong) on their first trip, what they want to experience again, or what new things they want to try. We discuss the pros and cons of a longer ticket versus a Park Hopper, as well as the best room location for their family. By the end of our hour, it was like we'd become friends — two moms having a morning coffee and talking about our shared love of the joy Disney brings to our families. (And, yes, it was her husband's idea to go back!)

This conversation was exactly what this travel planner's spirit needed after a hard day. I'm so energized by the chance to help her — and many more guests who will start feeling like friends before their trip even begins.-Lea

04/21/2025

Great announcement for families going to Disney World in 2026:

Throughout all of 2026, guests staying at one of our more than 25 Disney Resort hotels will get a free dining plan for their kids (ages 3 to 9) when purchasing a dining plan as part of their package for the other members of their party (ages 10 and up). Dining plans can help guests maximize their stay with added peace of mind, letting them enjoy some of the many dining locations we offer from meals to snacks and kid-friendly favorites.

The kids free dining plan offering can be combined with other select special offers, meaning they may still be eligible to take advantage of other deals we later roll out for 2026!

04/18/2025

🥂💖 Congrats to the soon-to-be newlyweds on their upcoming honeymoon at Hideaway at Royalton Saint Lucia! 🌴✨ Get ready to soak up the sun from your swim-up pool just outside your suite! Enjoy catamaran excursions, fishing, swimming, and so much more. With both family-friendly and adults-only areas, this resort is the perfect place to create unforgettable memories and return for future trips! 🥂💖

Thank you to the bride and groom for entrusting me with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

04/15/2025

Not saying these iconic paintings from the cabins on the all new Disney Destiny would make a great desktop screensaver, but...

04/13/2025

Visit Mickey's owner Tricia is on an Adventures by Disney River Cruise in the Netherlands! Follow along...you can almost smell the 🌷 tulips in her photos!

04/12/2025

A new attraction is coming to Disneyland Paris. The fun swinging ride will feature chairs inspired by the characters of UP.

04/11/2025

🎶 Today is National Barbershop Quartet Day 🎶 I can't miss this chance to shout out to everyone's favorite Main Street performers, the Dapper Dans!🗣

🎤 NGL, I stop to listen to these singers harmonize any chance I get and sometimes tear up a bit. 🥹❤️

04/10/2025

Disney+ subscribers can take advantage of summer savings with great rates on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels, starting from only $99 per night! 🌞 For example, book a standard room at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort for a total of $198 (plus tax) for a 2-night stay. 🏨

I can help you bundle this with park tickets as low as $89/day or a kid's ticket offer as low as $59.07/day, plus get free waterpark admission on check-in day ... That's an incredible Disney deal!

This offer is valid for 2-night stays or longer on most nights from June 29 to July 31, 2025. Here are the special rates available:

- $99 per night +tax for Standard Rooms at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort 🌟
- $169 per night +tax for Woods View Rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside 🌳
- $229 per night +tax for Cars Family Suites at Disney's Art of Animation Resort 🚗
- $249 per night +tax for Deluxe Studios at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort 🏡
- $339 per night +tax for Savanna View Rooms at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge 🦒

04/09/2025

04/01/2025

I have guests heading to Disney for the first time with their kids, both under 5, so I wanted to share some restaurant recommendations for Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom. Here are my suggestions, but comment with your own recommendations. Did I miss any of your must-try places? Were any of these a "one-and-done" for you? 😄🏰

**EPCOT:**
✨ Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
🌱 Garden Grill Restaurant
🐟 Coral Reef Restaurant
🍻 Biergarten Restaurant
🏵️ San Angel Inn Restaurante

**HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:**
🍖 Roundup Rodeo BBQ
🎉 Hollywood & Vine
🎬 Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
👽 Oga's Cantina

**MAGIC KINGDOM**
👑 Cinderella's Royal Table
🍽️ Be Our Guest Restaurant
🌸 The Crystal Palace
🇺🇸 Liberty Tree Tavern
🌳 The Plaza Restaurant
🍝 Tony's Town Square Restaurant
🚤 Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

03/31/2025

It's taking everything in my power not to check flights for this ...

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Pixar Animation Studios film franchise “Toy Story,” Rex will make his debut at Pixar Pier in California Adventure for a limited time beginning June 1, 2025.