Dreamers Do Travels with Chelsea

Dreamers Do Travels with Chelsea DISNEY Planning for Mama’s + Beginners | Tips + Tricks for Traveling with Littles | 💯 FREE Services

This summer, I realized we’re officially on the other side of the little-kid years.And I’ll be honest… it’s made me look...
08/13/2026

This summer, I realized we’re officially on the other side of the little-kid years.

And I’ll be honest… it’s made me look back at our old Disney trips a little differently.

We’re still making memories. Still finding the magic. Still soaking it all in.

It’s just a different kind of magic now.

Maybe that’s why I’ve found myself wanting to share more of the little stories behind these pictures. The ones that mean so much more to me now than I realized they would.

When A was little, he had a tiny Lightning McQueen car that went absolutely everywhere.It wasn’t just a toy.It was his c...
08/07/2026

When A was little, he had a tiny Lightning McQueen car that went absolutely everywhere.

It wasn’t just a toy.

It was his comfort item.

The kind that had to come to the grocery store, bedtime, vacation… everywhere.

We even bought a backup. It didn’t work. He knew the difference immediately. 😂

So when we planned our trip, staying at Art of Animation just felt right.

But here’s the funny thing…

When I think back on that vacation, I don’t immediately think about the parks.

I think about every single night on the walk back to our room.

A would climb out of his stroller, walk up to each of the Cars characters, wrap his little arms around them, lay his head against them, and tell them goodnight before we’d head inside.

At the time, it just felt like part of our evening.

Now it’s one of my favorite memories from that entire trip.

It’s funny how the moments we treasure most usually aren’t the ones we planned.

They’re the quiet ones.

The ordinary ones.

The ones that almost seem too small.

And somehow… those are the ones that stay with us.

Disney isn’t just for our kids memories… it’s for ours too.

Growing up doesn’t always happen in the big moments.Sometimes you notice it in something as simple as who they choose to...
08/04/2026

Growing up doesn’t always happen in the big moments.

Sometimes you notice it in something as simple as who they choose to sit next to.

When we took E for the first time, I wasn’t thinking about memories I’d look back on years later.I was just hoping we’d ...
08/02/2026

When we took E for the first time, I wasn’t thinking about memories I’d look back on years later.

I was just hoping we’d survive the day.

Then there was the trip where she fell asleep at dinner.

The Christmas party where both kids were asleep before the parade.

The years of autograph books.

The stroller naps.

The princess phase.

At the time, each trip just felt like… another family vacation.

Looking back, I realize it was so much more than that.

Without even trying, Disney became a timeline of our family growing up.

Every trip marks a different season.

A different version of E and A.

And somehow… that’s become my favorite part.

✨ I think that’s why I still love looking through old Disney pictures.

I’m not really looking at the castle.

I’m looking at who my kids were.

I wish someone had told me this before our first Disney trip.Not because I would’ve planned less.Because I would’ve plan...
07/28/2026

I wish someone had told me this before our first Disney trip.

Not because I would’ve planned less.

Because I would’ve planned differently.

I would’ve left room for the unexpected.

For the ride they wanted to do twice.

For the area they didn’t want to leave.

For stopping because the bubbles suddenly became the most important thing in the world instead of rushing to the next ride.

One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is that the families who come home saying, “We can’t wait to go back,” usually aren’t the ones who squeezed the most into every day.

They’re the ones who had room to enjoy the moments they never could’ve planned.

👉So if you’re planning your first trip…

Consider this your permission to let your vacation look different than your coworker’s.

Different than your cousin’s.

Different than that family in the Facebook group.

Because your kids are different.

Your family is different.

And this season of life is different.

✨The best Disney trip isn’t the one that checks every box. It’s the one your family still smiles about once you’re home.✨

If you had asked me five years ago what our family vacations would look like, I probably would’ve pictured long trips wi...
07/23/2026

If you had asked me five years ago what our family vacations would look like, I probably would’ve pictured long trips with plenty of time to do everything.

Life had other plans.

Now our calendar fills up months in advance. Between soccer, school, work, and everyday life, finding a full week away isn’t always realistic.

For a while, I caught myself thinking, “Maybe next year will be easier.”

But then I realized something.

This isn’t a busy season we’re just trying to get through.

This is our season.

It’s the season of early mornings, soccer sidelines, homework at the kitchen table, and trying to squeeze in quality time wherever we can find it.

Instead of waiting for life to slow down, we’ve started planning vacations that fit the life we’re living right now.

They may look different than I imagined years ago…

But somehow they’ve become even more meaningful.

I think that’s true of parenting, too.

Every season asks something different of us.

And every season deserves to be celebrated.

You don’t have to wait for a different season to make meaningful memories.

For the longest time, I believed a Disney vacation had to look a certain way.A full week.Every park.Every reservation.Ev...
07/21/2026

For the longest time, I believed a Disney vacation had to look a certain way.

A full week.

Every park.

Every reservation.

Every “must-do.”

Then life changed.

E & A got older.

Soccer schedules started filling our days.

School calendars mattered more.

Finding an entire week that worked for all four of us felt almost impossible.

Last year, we realized we had one long weekend that actually fit.

I remember looking at Rob & saying, “Is it even worth it for just three days?”

We almost waited.

I’m so thankful we didn’t.

That trip reminded me that Disney isn’t magical because of how many days you’re there.

✨It’s magical because of who you’re with.✨

It also changed the way I plan vacations forever.

Now, I don’t wait for the “perfect” week.

I look for the moments we can say yes.

Because if this season of life has taught me anything, it’s that time together matters more than checking every box.

Different seasons of life deserve different kinds of Disney trips.

When I first planned this trip, I remember feeling like the Christmas party was a must.Everyone talked about it like it ...
07/13/2026

When I first planned this trip, I remember feeling like the Christmas party was a must.

Everyone talked about it like it was the highlight of the holiday season, so of course I wanted to experience it too.

What I didn’t think about was who my kids were at that stage of life.

E was 4. A was 1.

By the time the party really came alive, they were exhausted. They both fell asleep before the first parade, and E even slept through the line to meet Minnie & Daisy.

At the time, I remember feeling disappointed.

Now I’m actually grateful for that experience because it completely changed how I think about Disney planning.

It taught me that the “best” Disney vacation isn’t about squeezing in every extra ticket or every special event.

It’s about choosing the experiences that fit your family in this season of life.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets are officially on sale for Walt Disney World Resort guests! Swipe through fo...
07/09/2026

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets are officially on sale for Walt Disney World Resort guests! Swipe through for dates, pricing & the key details to help you plan.

Disney Jollywood Nights tickets are officially on sale for Walt Disney World Resort guests! Swipe through for dates, pri...
07/09/2026

Disney Jollywood Nights tickets are officially on sale for Walt Disney World Resort guests! Swipe through for dates, pricing & the key details to help you plan.

Address

901 Timberline Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL
32830

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dreamers Do Travels with Chelsea posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category