Melissa Chalek with the Curated Travel Collection

03/24/2026

Tip Tuesday - Staying at a Disney resort and taking advantage of early entry? Be aware that at Magic Kingdom, early entry only includes Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Plan your mornings accordingly.

03/17/2026

Tip Tuesday - Do you enjoy Toystory Midway Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios? Have you ever popped all the lava balloons coming off the volcano? If not, try for that next time!!

03/10/2026

Tip - If you're visiting Magic Kingdom and not staying at a Disney Resort, you won't be able to take advantage of Early Park Entry.

If you're at the park for opening, consider going left at Cinderella Castle and starting your day in Adventureland or Frontierland. Early Entry at Magic Kingdom only includes Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, so those sections will already be full of guests. If you go the other way, you'll still be among the first into that section of the park and be able to take advantage of shorter lines.

02/24/2026

Tip Tuesday - Bring a reusable water bottle with you on vacation. Most destinations now have places where you can fill up water bottles, saving you some money and reducing your environmental footprint. One thing to keep in mind is that many places ask you to use a clean cup when using their water stations, so pick a bottle with a wide enough mouth that you can use one of the provided cups (hopefully not a paper cup), fill the water, and then transfer it to your water bottle.

02/03/2026

Tip Tuesday - There's tons of ways to see World of Color. My personal favorite is the dessert party. It's the only way to get a seat for the show, which is great not only to get off your feet but also because it means you don't need to worry about crowds (and the potential for not being able to see over the person in front of you that this short girl knows all too well). The desserts are also super yummy!!

01/20/2026

Some resorts just hit differently. Disney's Port Orleans resort has a special place in my heart because it was my family's go-to resort for years, so it always feels like coming home. But this resort, both Riverside and French Quarter, have a quieter, more relaxed vibe than many of the other Disney resorts, making it perfect if you want a place to unwind from the busy parks. There's still plenty of activities, but there's also lots of places of quiet escape. I love sitting by the Sassagoula River that connects the two sister resorts or taking the water taxi along the river to Disney Springs.

01/16/2026

Most Disney hotels now have gone to raised bed frames.

🥳 The great thing about this is that there's room to store your suitcases under the beds, which frees up a ton a space in the room!

😲 The down side is if you have a young child who still falls out of bed, that can be a long drop onto a hard floor. You can request bed rails for the bed if you think this may be a problem for your child. I always ask my clients with young kids if they want them, so be sure to let your travel advisor know if you'd like bed rails.

To make sure you're covered for even these little things, reach out to me when you're ready to book your next Disney stay!

01/15/2026

Big news Star Wars fans!! This May, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be changing, incorporating the original trilogy into the space. I'm so excited for this change. I hope they keep it a Disneyland exclusive so you'll still have the original Battuu with its full story line in Florida. I love when the two coasts offer unique experiences.

Who's excited for this change?

We have a good feeling about this. Disneyland Resort is unlocking the timeline at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the biggest way yet. Fans know that Batuu has played a role in the history of the galaxy for hundreds of years on the Outer Rim. Beginning April 29, 2026, visitors will be invited to immer...

01/09/2026

If you stay at Royal Pacific at Universal Orlando, you can ask for a complimentary lei at the front desk or guest services. It's a fun way to get into the Island spirit.

01/05/2026

I love staying in a room with a full kitchen. Being able to make a few meals saves money, compensating for some nicer meals out.

Do you like a room with a full kitchen when traveling? Or is vacation about avoiding chores like cooking and dishes?

01/03/2026

Josh and I have decided to take a holiday trip at the end of the year. I'm torn between going back to Disney, hitting Universal for Grinchmas, or just staying somewhat close to home at Hershey. What's your vote? Or do you have another suggestion?