Amber - Universal & Disney Travel Advisor

Amber - Universal & Disney Travel Advisor Family travel planning for Universal & Disney Cruises. Practical advice from an allergy mom. Take what works, skip what doesn't.

09/23/2026

If your kids would lose their MINDS over a Minion-themed room AND you want to save money on Universal Express Pass, this Universal Orlando resort needs to be on your list.

Planning Universal Orlando? Get my FREE Universal booking guide at the top of my page!

09/22/2026

You took the PTO. You booked the trip. You boarded the dog. You made it to Universal.

Now you get to spend your vacation standing in line. 😂

So… is Express Pass worth it?

For me, sometimes absolutely. It depends on your dates, crowd levels, which rides you want to do, and how much your time is worth to you.

If you’re doing a shorter trip, traveling with kids, or just don’t want to spend hours waiting in standby, Express can be a game changer.

But I’m not going to tell you that everyone needs it. There are trips where I’d skip it, too.

That’s where the planning comes in. 👀

My new non-tips series starts here. 👀 Because I’m tired of the endless list of things you’re supposedly supposed to do o...
09/21/2026

My new non-tips series starts here. 👀 Because I’m tired of the endless list of things you’re supposedly supposed to do on vacation.

Check in at midnight.
Book the verandah.
Decorate your door.
Do this. Don’t do that.

But what if you don’t?

I’m breaking down what actually happens when you skip some of the things you keep hearing are “must-dos.”

Not because you should skip them.
Not because the advice is always wrong.

Just because you should know the tradeoff and then decide what works for your family.

Take what works. Skip what doesn’t.

09/21/2026

If you’re doing Disney AND Universal on the same vacation, this is one thing I want you to understand before you start adding extras to your budget.

Lightning Lane and Express Pass both help you spend less time waiting in standby lines, but they aren’t interchangeable.

The right answer can be completely different for the same family at each destination.

That’s why I don’t start with, “Do you want Express?” or “Are you buying Lightning Lane?”

I start with:

• When are you going?
• What does your family actually want to ride?
• How many park days do you have?
• What does your itinerary look like?
• How much waiting are you willing to do?

Then we figure out whether the extra cost actually makes sense.

Don’t buy the upgrade because you think you’re supposed to. Buy it because it solves a problem your family actually has.

If you’re planning Disney and Universal together, which one are you more unsure about?

Most people wait until they’re hungry and standing right outside the restaurant. That is how you lose 20 minutes waiting...
09/21/2026

Most people wait until they’re hungry and standing right outside the restaurant. That is how you lose 20 minutes waiting on a screen.

Place your mobile order while you’re still standing in line for a ride so the food is ready after you walk up and tap “I’m here.”

What is your absolute favorite quick-service meal in the parks? 🍔

09/20/2026

Trying to book the Royal Gathering free princess meet-and-greet ahead of your Disney Cruise can be its own Olympic sport.

Tell me I’m not the only one who has watched those spinning circles and wondered if I was actually going to get in. 👀

09/20/2026

“I will never go on another Disney cruise.”

That one stuck with me.

Because when a client has a genuinely bad experience, I don’t think my job is to convince them they’re wrong.

I think my job is to listen, advocate, and tell the truth.

I love Disney Cruise Line. But that doesn’t mean every sailing is perfect.

And this one definitely wasn’t.

If your kids are under 8, one solid park day often beats hopping and burning hours on buses.Honest answer: hopping sound...
09/19/2026

If your kids are under 8, one solid park day often beats hopping and burning hours on buses.

Honest answer: hopping sounds fun until you calculate the transit time. Plan the day around energy levels, not the ticket type.

09/19/2026

If your child has a food allergy, you probably have a LOT of questions before booking a Disney cruise, like “How do I bring their Epi pen?”

This is a new series to answer those questions from a parent + travel advisor perspective, because allergy planning doesn’t stop just because you’re on vacation.

Welcome to Disney Cruise: Allergy Edition. 🚢

Save this series if food allergies are part of your family’s travel planning.

Client Question of the Week:“I have blood sugar issues and I’m worried about waiting in line. Should I just buy Express ...
09/19/2026

Client Question of the Week:

“I have blood sugar issues and I’m worried about waiting in line. Should I just buy Express Pass, or should I go through Universal’s accessibility process?”

My answer? I wouldn’t automatically spend the money on Express Pass just because you’re concerned about waiting in a conventional queue.

If a disability makes it difficult for you to wait in a standard attraction queue, Universal has an accessibility accommodation process that may be worth looking into.

Here’s where IBCCES, the IAC and Universal come in:

IBCCES handles the Individual Accessibility Card (IAC) registration.

The IAC is part of the documentation used to begin Universal’s accessibility accommodation process.

Once you have an approved IAC, Universal reviews your individual needs and discusses the appropriate attraction queue accommodation with you.

And this part is important: an approved IAC does not automatically mean you receive an AAP.

The AAP is one possible accommodation, and it isn’t designed to let you skip the line. It provides an alternative way to wait.

So before spending hundreds of dollars on Express Pass because you think it’s your only option, I’d at least learn how Universal’s accessibility process works and see what applies to your situation.

That’s one of the things I help my clients figure out before they ever walk through the park.

Have a Universal planning question you want me to answer next? Drop it below.

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