Disney Tips Part 2 ... From a Disney PLANNER!

Yesterday I blogged about a few of the tips I learned from our Disney trip to Magic Kingdom, including the items that I consider must-haves for the park! Catch up HERE if you haven't read it yet!

When I found out we were Disney-bound, I knew that I didn't have the time it would take to properly plan out a "perfect" trip. I jumped on Pinterest, typed in "Disney vacation tips" and -- WHOA -- was quickly overwhelmed. This is when I connected with Jenny with Dream Vacations and didn't look back. There was no fee for me to use her services (at all!!!) and she knows the parks like the back of her hand. 

Jenny was a wealth of knowledge and helped me to understand Fast Passes (including BOOKING them for me!), educated me on the must-sees of the park, she planned dining reservations for us, she basically did it all. 

Today I thought you might like to hear some tips from her. She truly is a wealth of knowledge!

Hey there - I'm so excited to be chatting with April today about her Disney vacation! I'm Jenny, and I've been married to my wonderful husband for almost 13 years!! We live in Loveland, Ohio and have two beautiful kiddos, our son who is 8 and our daughter who is 5.

Jenny, when was your first Disney trip? 
Gosh, I think I was 4 years old? My guess is that I've been more than 30 times now! We went several times growing up and I always enjoyed it, but my love for Disney really started when I become a mom! I've been to Walt Disney World in MANY stages of my life: as a child, teenager, newly engaged couple, married but no kids, with our first baby, 35 weeks pregnant with my second, and now many trips with both kids! I've been blessed to experience Disney in lots of different "scenarios"!  We've also been on two Disney Cruises and last year, we took our kids to Disneyland in California and Aulani, Disney's Resort and Spa in Hawaii!

Why did you decide to become a planner? 
I've always loved giving my friends and family advice for their Disney trips, and one day, it occurred to me that I could probably become a Disney travel agent! Long story short, I began working as an associate for the travel agent we used for our honeymoon (while I was still teaching full time), and about 18 months ago, I decided to buy my own franchise of Dream Vacations! I was able to resign from my teaching job, and I'm living my dream of being a "work at home" mama!

As a planner, what is the one piece of advice you always tell your clients? 
Have a game plan. Disney is not the vacation to "wing it" - so much planning is involved to ensure you get the best trip possible. I'm not saying every minute of every day needs to be filled, but I always recommend having your 3 Fast Passes booked in advance (why wait in a long line if you don't have to?) along with some dining reservations.

What are your top 3-5 essentials to bring to the park? 
 1. A portable phone charger - you'll be on your phone ALL OF THE TIME between taking pictures and using the My Disney Experience app and your battery will start to run low!
2. Extra set of clothes for kids - my kids are 8 and 5, and I STILL keep an extra set of clothes in my backpack for them (including undies!). You never know when someone is going to drop their Mickey ice cream bar down the front of their shirt or get soaked on Splash Mountain...
3. Hand sanitizer - no explanation needed, lol
4. Ziploc bags - these come in so handy! I use them for extra snacks, keep my phone dry on a water ride, etc. So many uses!

What are your favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom? 
This is a tough one, as Magic Kingdom is my FAVORITE park!
1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (my family's favorite ride in ALL of Walt Disney World)
2. Peter Pan's Flight
3. Seven Dwarves Mine Train
4. Splash Mountain

Favorite foods at Magic Kingdom? 
So many good choices! I LOVE the cupcakes from the confectionery, Mickey ice cream bars, and a new favorite is LeFou's Brew from Gaston's Tavern... it's a slushy apple juice drink with a passion fruit foam on the top! So refreshing and yummy!

How can people get in contact with you? 
Feel free to email me at jmeiners@dreamvacations.com or you can like my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/jennymeinerstravel

As your travel agent, I'll take care of doing as much or as little of the planning as you'd like! I'll book all of your dining reservations, Fast Passes, give you ideas of how to plan your day, and all kinds of insider tips and tricks!

Want to know the best part? My services are FREE for you - I don't charge any type of planning fee. I'm paid by the companies I work with (Disney, Royal Caribbean, Sandals, etc.), so there is no extra cost for booking with me. My prices will be the same as what you see on Disney's website! By booking with me, you're getting free "concierge" services and supporting my small business as well! While Disney vacations are my specialty, I plan and book many different types of vacations including but not limited to cruises, all-inclusive resorts, Hawaii, and European adventures.

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Jenny has offered a $50 DISNEY GIFT CARD giveaway for you!
A Disney gift card can be used at Walt Disney World, 
Disneyland, Disney Cruise, Disney Store, or disneystore.com.

Here's the deal:
1) You must be on Facebook
2) Like Jenny's page here: www.facebook.com/jennymeinerstravel
3) Leave a comment below confirming you liked her page AND saying what your favorite Disney movie, character, or theme park ride is.
4) A winner will be chosen using random.org and will be announced Friday!