Aly Hirst - Travel Advisor for Living With The Magic Vacations

Aly Hirst - Travel Advisor for Living With The Magic Vacations I live in Gilbertsville, PA with my husband, our two daughters, and our crazy but sweet Labradoodle.

Elite Lead Travel Advisor at Living With The Magic Vacations: Helping busy families plan stress-free vacations to Disney Destinations, Universal, cruises & all-inclusive resorts — with expert guidance every step of the way. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Disney-obsessed gal; needless to say, becoming a Travel Advisor that specializes in Disney vacations is like a dream come true! I was born and raised in Connecticut and am still a New Englander at heart. When I’m not busy planning vacations, you’ll likely find me at the dance studio where both of my girls spend MANY hours each week (and sometimes I even take a class too — tap is my favorite!) — I’m definitely living the Dance Mom life. In 2005, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management from UMass Amherst. I then spent 5 years living in the DC area and worked in various areas of hotels, including the front desk, sales and special events. I moved to Pennsylvania in 2010 and continued working in hotel sales until the birth of my first child in 2012. Not only have I traveled to the Walt Disney World Resort countless times, but I’m also a former Cast Member (RIP Spoodles at Disney’s BoardWalk). I have been the “Disney Expert” for my friends and family for years and always love helping them plan their magical Disney vacation. Beyond Disney Destinations, my family loves cruising, Universal Orlando Resort and all-inclusive vacations to the Caribbean — Aruba is my favorite island to date! As a Travel Advisor, I’m always working on staying up to date with all the latest travel industry news and love to attend training sessions with brand partners like Disney, Universal and Royal Caribbean (just to name a few). My Specialty Destinations:
Walt Disney World
Disneyland
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios Hollywood
Cruising (Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are my clients' favorites)
All-Inclusive Vacations to the Caribbean & Mexico

I understand that planning a vacation can feel overwhelming, especially when you already have so many other things you’re juggling in life. My job is to take the stress of the planning off your plate so that you can rest assured I’ve got all of the details covered for you. And the best part: I’m only a phone call, email or text away — you’ll always have direct contact with me to help you every step of the way — even if you need something when you’re on vacation. As a Travel Advisor, nothing feels better than hearing my clients tell me how amazing their vacation was and that they couldn’t have done it without me. Wherever your heart desires to travel, I would love to help you plan your next incredible vacation!

Would you rather:🚢 Unpack once and visit 4–5 destinations on a cruiseOR✈️ Spend the whole vacation really exploring one ...
09/17/2026

Would you rather:

🚢 Unpack once and visit 4–5 destinations on a cruise

OR

✈️ Spend the whole vacation really exploring one destination

I love both, but I'm curious which camp you're in!

💰 CAN WE TALK ABOUT PAYING FOR VACATION FOR A MINUTE?One misconception I hear sometimes is:“I'd love to plan next summer...
09/15/2026

💰 CAN WE TALK ABOUT PAYING FOR VACATION FOR A MINUTE?

One misconception I hear sometimes is:
“I'd love to plan next summer's vacation, but I can't pay for a vacation right now.”

Here's the good news:
For many of the vacations I book, you don't HAVE to pay for the entire vacation when you book it.

Depending on the destination, we may be able to secure your reservation with a nominal deposit and then your remaining balance isn't due until much closer to travel.

And if you'd rather not have one large final payment? You can make payments along the way.

I sometimes jokingly call it vacation layaway. 😂

You get your vacation on the calendar, secure the room or cruise cabin you want and then have months to budget for the remaining balance.

Every vacation has different deposit and final-payment requirements, of course, so I'll always explain exactly what applies to yours.

But if the reason you haven't started planning Spring Break or Summer 2027 is because you assumed you'd need to pay thousands of dollars immediately…

That may not be the case at all.

And heading into holiday-shopping season, spreading out those vacation expenses can feel awfully nice. 😉

I'm absolutely going to respect your vacation budget.But I'm also going to tell you when spending a little more could si...
09/13/2026

I'm absolutely going to respect your vacation budget.

But I'm also going to tell you when spending a little more could significantly improve your vacation.

Because cheapest and best value aren't always the same thing.

Maybe the slightly more expensive hotel puts you within walking distance instead of paying for transportation every day.

Maybe that Disney resort gives you a benefit your family will actually use.

Maybe a cruise cabin costs a little more but has enough space that four people aren't climbing over each other for seven nights. 😂

Maybe the least expensive all-inclusive requires a 90-minute transfer while another option is 15 minutes from the airport.

Or maybe I look at all of it and tell you:
Nope. Take the cheaper room. You don't need the upgrade.

That happens too!

My goal isn't to make your vacation more expensive.

It's to help you understand what you're getting for the money you're spending so you can decide what's actually worth it to your family.

That's a very different question from: “What's cheapest?”

25 years.It’s hard to believe that much time has passed since September 11, 2001.For those of us who lived through that ...
09/11/2026

25 years.

It’s hard to believe that much time has passed since September 11, 2001.

For those of us who lived through that day, there are certain moments that are simply impossible to forget — where we were, what we were doing, and the feeling of watching something unfold that we couldn’t quite comprehend.

Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the families whose lives were forever changed, and the first responders and ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage in the middle of unimaginable circumstances.

Thinking especially of everyone who carries the loss of that day personally, even 25 years later.

We remember. 🇺🇸

If you're looking at a Beaches vacation for your family, these two come up ALL the time — and they're both great, but fo...
09/10/2026

If you're looking at a Beaches vacation for your family, these two come up ALL the time — and they're both great, but for very different reasons.

Beaches Turks & Caicos is the bigger, busier, “there is always something happening” option.

Think:
🌊 Huge resort
🍴 Tons of dining choices
🏊 Multiple pools
💦 Big waterpark
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Lots for different ages
🏖️ That ridiculously gorgeous Turks & Caicos water

It's fantastic for families who want choices and love the idea of having a LOT available without leaving the resort.

Beaches Negril feels smaller and more relaxed. You still get the Beaches family-friendly experience, kids programming, dining and activities — but the resort is easier to navigate and sits on one of Jamaica's most famous beaches.
For some families, smaller is actually better.

If your kids are younger, you don't want to walk forever to get everywhere or you picture your vacation being primarily about the beach and relaxing together, Negril can be really appealing.

So which is “better”? Neither.

The better question is: Which one fits your family?

And that's exactly what I help my clients figure out. ❤️

🎉 MOMS… THIS ONE IS FOR YOU.How much of your life is spent thinking about everyone else?The school schedules. The activi...
09/08/2026

🎉 MOMS… THIS ONE IS FOR YOU.

How much of your life is spent thinking about everyone else?

The school schedules. The activities. The appointments. What’s for dinner. Who needs new shoes. What everyone needs packed for vacation. 😂

So for once, we thought it should be your turn.

I teamed up with some of my fellow travel advisors at Living With The Magic Vacations for a special September giveaway created just for moms. 💕

✨ Enter here:
https://alyplansmagic.myflodesk.com/timeformom

It’s quick and easy to enter — and you just might end September with a little something for YOU.

And if there’s another mom in your life who could use that reminder too, feel free to send this her way or share this post with her. 💗

Entries close Sunday, September 20 at 11:59pm ET. Winner drawn at random and announced Tuesday, September 22. Must be 18+ and a US resident. No purchase necessary.

As summer begins winding down, I’d love to hear about the best trip—or best day trip—your family enjoyed this year. ☀️Ma...
09/06/2026

As summer begins winding down, I’d love to hear about the best trip—or best day trip—your family enjoyed this year. ☀️

Maybe it was:
🏖️ A week at the beach
🚢 A cruise
🏰 A theme-park vacation
⛺ A camping trip
🚗 A quick road trip
🏡 A visit with family
🍦 Or simply one really great summer day close to home

Travel doesn’t always need to be elaborate to create meaningful memories.
What was the highlight of your family’s summer?

BONUS if you share a picture!!

Rain in the forecast during your Universal Orlando vacation?Don’t panic—but you may want to adjust your park plans. ☔️Be...
09/05/2026

Rain in the forecast during your Universal Orlando vacation?

Don’t panic—but you may want to adjust your park plans. ☔️

Between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida can often be easier to navigate during stormy weather because many major attractions are indoors.

At Universal Studios Florida, families can usually find indoor options such as:
🎢 Revenge of the Mummy
🤖 TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D
🍌 Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
🛸 MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
🧙 Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
🎭 Indoor shows and entertainment

Islands of Adventure also has several excellent indoor attractions, including The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

However, more of its major attractions are outdoors—including Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, The Incredible Hulk Coaster and several water rides.

Those attractions may temporarily close when lightning or severe weather is nearby.

A few rainy-day tips:
• Keep ponchos handy
• Wear shoes that can handle getting wet
• Watch attraction statuses in the Universal Orlando app
• Prioritize outdoor coasters while the weather is clear
• Save indoor attractions, shopping and meals for heavier rain

Rain doesn’t necessarily mean a ruined park day.

With some flexibility, it may even encourage other guests to leave—and give your family a chance to experience more once the weather clears.

Would you put on a poncho and keep going, or retreat somewhere dry?

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