Erika Brand, An Affiliate of Academy Travel and MickeyVacations.com

13/04/2024

DID YOU KNOW?!….

I also plan universal studios vacations?!

I will actually be heading there this summer with some friends and it’s going to be so fun.

Universal Studios Orlando consists of several parks! Universal Studios, Islands of adventure, and Volcano Bay- there water park. They also have what’s called City Walk which consists of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and more!

If you are a Harry Potter lover then you will LOVE Universal. You can ride the Hogwarts express and drink as many butter beers as you want!

If you are interested in booking a universal vacation, please reach out! My services are always free and I plan everything to your liking!

02/01/2024

Happy new year, friends!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are excited for a ✨magical✨ year! Last year we spent several times in Disney world and it was wonderful. I mean, who really has a limit on Disney trips?! BUT, this year, we are heading to a place we’ve never been- DISNEYLAND PARIS! Ahh. Just saying that out loud feels so surreal. We will be posting our faves from the trip as well as tips and things. Have you been to Disney Paris?? If so, give me all of the must dos and must sees!

My goal for this year is to really use my gift of Disney knowledge to educate you all and help make your trips as smooth and magical as possible! Stay tuned for Disney world tips and tricks. If you need help planning your trip, do not hesitate to contact me! I can plan your trip exactly how you want it to be.

24/10/2023

Happy Tuesday, friends! Hope your week is going well so far. Just wanted to do a little introduction of myself!

I’m Erika Brand and I’m a Disney obsessed, travel agent for academy travel. My love for Disney started years ago when my husband and I were trying for a baby. We decided to head to Disney for a fun, exciting getaway but came home OBSESSED. The magic, the smells, the feeling of “home”. It started an obsession that has bloomed into a profession!

If you’re looking for someone to help you book your trip, I’m your girl. I know the ins and outs of Disney, the tips and tricks, and everything in between. Send me a dm and we can chat!

Have a magical Tuesday!

03/09/2023

Happy Sunday! Hope you guys have had an amazing weekend so far. We recently took a trip to Walt Disney world and I’m going to be sharing a few highlights over the next few weeks!

First up, eating breakfast at Ale and Compass! This restaurant is located in Disney’s yacht and beach club resort.

We love this restaurant for a few reasons but the main reason is you get an entree of choice, trips to the Buffet, and a drink or coffee or choice, all for $22.

I got the breakfast flatbread and Daniel got the shrimp and grits. So so good. Here’s a little video to show you some of our time there.

29/05/2023

I’m so incredibly excited because guess where we are staying for our anniversary?

I’ll give you a hint: the resort feels like you’re in Hawaii and it’s home to the best noodles on Disney property.

Did you guess correctly?? If you said the POLYNESIAN village resort, you are correct!

This has been a dream of mine ever since I stepped foot into the lobby. We will only be staying for one night but it’s going to be so special! A few things we plan on doing are- relaxing by the beautiful pool, watching the ever after show from our room, eating Ohana noodles, and visiting trader sams. Any other suggestions you have?

Stay tuned because we will be documenting our stay and all of our adventures!

22/05/2023

Happy Monday, friends! Hope you had a great weekend.

Starting may 31, you can book Disney vacation packages for 2024! DID YOU KNOW, it only takes a $200 deposit to book your Disney vacation?!

One of the most common questions I get is “ how do you go to Disney once a year?” “How do you afford it?”. Well, the answer is: I’m able to pay for my vacation over 9-12 months!

When booking your Disney vacation, you pay a $200 deposit and then you can pay as much or as little as you like, until the final payment is due- which is one month before your trip.

It makes planning a vacation so much easier! And, want to know a secret? We never go into debt for it because we can pay slowly over time. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly. Whatever you want, as long as it’s paid before you leave.

SO! Let me book your vacation for you! Reach out with any questions you may have. Have a magical day!

15/05/2023

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a great weekend.

Let’s talk *After Hours Events*!!

One of my favorite things to do is attend a Disney’s After Hours event! What is an after hours event?? I’ll tell you!

An after hours event at Disney starts at 10 pm and goes until 1 am. BUT you can actually enter the park at 7 pm, so you have 6 hours in the park!
- this is a separate ticketed event that you must purchase separately from a normal park ticket.
-They range from $129-149 per ticket but let me tell you, ITS WORTH IT!!
- included in your ticket is snacks, ice cream, and drinks! As much as you want!
- because this is an after park hours event, the amount of people is very limited. And you know what that means?? NO LINES and NO CROWDS!

I am so excited because this august, me and my husband are attending the Epcot after hours event! I’m so excited.

Let me know if you have any questions! I’ll be happy to answer them and book a ticket of your own for you.

09/05/2023

HUGE NEWS!! The Disney dining plan is coming BACK!!!’

I’ve been waiting for this day for three years! When you book your trip for next year, you will also be able to add the dining plan. They will have the regular and quick service plans. you can start booking your 2024 vacation VERY SOON! Typically june is when you can start booking for the following year- let me know! I’ll be happy to book your vacation for you.

Another exciting thing…park reservations will NOT be needed starting January! This is exciting as you will be able to choose which park you want to visit without reserving it in advance.

It feels like things are finally back to normal in the Disney world and my heart is happy! Reach out if you have questions or want to book your vaca.

17/04/2023

Happy Monday! Feeling the Monday blues but looking at disney pictures helps 😉.

So many exciting things going on in Disney world!

1. Annual passes are BACK!! They suspended these right after Covid happened but they are finally back.
2. The new tron ride at magic kingdom is finally running! We got to ride it and it was so much fun. The whole design is incredible. Ride it if you get the chance!
3. Summer is approaching and there are deals on hotels! Hit me up for more info 😉
4. This summer, there will be several AFTER HOURS events going on! Hollywood studios, epcot, and typhoon lagoon. It’s worth the money, trust me!

My services are always free. Reach out if you have any questions or want to book your next vaca!

03/04/2023

Hey friends!

Hope you guys had a great weekend. We are heading to Orlando next week for spring break and we will be going to magic kingdom! I’m excited because Hudson will be getting his very first real haircut at the barbershop in magic kingdom- yay!

We will document the experience and share it with you all.

I also wanted to note that my travel agent services are FREE. I’ve gotten a few questions recently about how much it cost to use me. The answer is- NOTHING. It’s free and a lot less stress for you.

There are several promotions going on for the summer so reach out and let’s get that trip booked!

09/01/2023

Happy Magic Monday, friends!

Something really exciting is coming up- the festival of the arts at epcot!

This festival starts January 13th and runs through February 20th.

We love this festival because it’s in the winter months! Which means it’s cooler and less crowded.

What you can expect:
- food booths all around the world showcase
- new food booths!
- artist all around the park
- activities for kids to do such as: paint by numbers
- fun and different merchandise!

The pictures you see are from the festival in 2021!

Some things we are excited to try this year are…
1. The beef Wellington at the craftsman courtyard
2. Chorizo and potato empanada at vibrante and vivido
3. Brie bread bowl at art de la cuisine

Those are just a few! Follow along in Feb to see what we try!

03/01/2023

Happy Magic Monday, friends! There are so many things I could share about when it comes to Disney but one of my favorites is…helpful tips!

You can have a smooth, fun, easy trip OR a stressful, long, chaotic trip.

The key to a successful Disney trip is to know the ins and outs and to be extra prepared. There’s a balance of planning and also winging it.

So, here are a few tips!

1. Use the mydisney app! This will show you the wait times for rides, you can order food and merchandise, and see what events are taking place. This will help you organize your day.

2. If you plan things right, you won’t be waiting in lines. We always rope drop and start with our favorite ride. Then, we look at the app and determine which rides have the lowest wait times. If there’s an hour long wait for Peter Pan but Ariel is 10 minutes, ride Ariel! It’s tempting to want to ride your favorite rides straight away but this could result in waiting in an unnecessary line. So, ride the rides with the lowest wait time and go from there! You will eventually get to your favorites. We always say that if we wait for one or two rides it’s fine but anymore than that is too much.

3. Skip the Starbucks when you first enter the park. Guess what? Every single person is waiting in line for coffee and you just wasted 45 minutes of ride time. My advice…there’s a Joffreys coffee at the entrance to the parks, before you even head in. Grab it there and you won’t be waiting at all! If you absolutely need your Starbucks fix, wait a little and then go once the line has died down.

Stay tuned for more tips! 😊

29/12/2022

Hi friends!

Hope you all had a great Christmas! I took a little bit of a break to take care of my daughter but I’m back! Some exciting things are coming in the new year- we are heading to Disney world! February can’t come soon enough.

This trip is all about my daughter so we are excited to make this special for her. We also decided to do something a little different this time 😃…

We are big foodies and that’s always an important part of our trip. We also know that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to eat good food! So, we are going to be eating at quick service locations only. Meaning, you walk up(or mobile order 😉), order your food, and take it to your seat.

Don’t get me wrong, we LOVE table service meals. BUT, life is expensive right now and we want to show YOU that you can have incredible food without the price tag. So, get ready! We will be documenting where we eat and how much it cost.

Also, we will be allowing Nora to pick our modes of transportation- skyliner, bus, boat, or monorail. Totally up to her! So, stay tuned! It’s going to be fun 😉

A new year is always a good time to book your Disney trip! Reach out and we can make that magic happen.

06/10/2022

Where are all of my Disneyland lovers!

Starting in January 2023, Disneyland will celebrate anniversary! Plus a new ride will be opening- Mickey and Minnie’s runaway railway! Let me know how I can help you with your vacation.

JUST ANNOUNCED! 📣 At Disneyland, the anniversary celebration will kick off on Jan. 27, 2023! Check out the exciting news, including details for the opening of the new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, here: http://spr.ly/6183MepQJ

17/09/2022

This picture describes my excitement so well!

So many exciting things were announced at Disney’s D23 last week in California! I’m so excited for everything coming to Disney world and the Disney parks all over the world.

A few highlights:

- Tiana’s bayou adventure is finally opening in 2024 at disneys MAGIC KINGDOM. This has been long awaited and will replace splash mountain.

- a Moana- inspired water journey is coming to EPCOT in 2023! This was announced in 2019 and will finally be finished next year 🙌🏻

- Figment will be getting his own meet and greet at EPCOT! Yay! This is huge news for some people.

- The Tron light cycle ride will open in MAGIC KINGDOMS Tomorrowland 2023!!! I’m so excited about this one!

- And my most favorite announcement…. Happily Ever After firework show will be RETURNING to Magic Kingdom next year!!! This made my whole year.

Please contact me for any questions! I’ll be happy to plan your vacation for you and answer any questions you may have regarding Disney. Look forward to speaking with you all!

26/06/2022

Okay, y’all! We are here at universal! Watch my stories to follow along. 😊

04/05/2022

Apparently it’s national travel advisor appreciation day! 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Having a travel agent is NICE! Want to know why?!

1. It’s FREE- seriously though. It’s free.
2. I do it ALL. Need a room connected? I’ll call. Need a crib? I’ll make it happen. Need to switch your days and/or resort? I’ll do it! I do all of it. All of the frustrating things that you DONT want to deal with, I do!
3. I know ALOT about Disney. I can help you pick restaurants, resorts, parks, etc. If you have a question about anything, I most likely know the answer.

Let me know how I can help you! Look forward to it 😉

27/04/2022

Welcome back, Connell family!! So glad you enjoyed your trip to universal 😃

Did you know I also book universal studios vacations?! If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you need to go! Contact me today for more info. Again, my services are always free.

25/04/2022

Welcome back, Grabski family! So glad I got to plan your magical vacation to Disney.

If you or your family are looking to book a Disney vacay, contact me! My services are free.

19/04/2022

So many exciting things happening at Disney World! Contact me today and I’ll help you plan your magical vacation!

-🏰🏰Character meet and greets are back to NORMAL! You know what this means?! You can finally hug your fave characters and get their autograph! No more social distancing- so exciting!

- Character dining is returning to MANY restaurants! I’ll post a list of those soon.

- 🍦🍦🍨there’s a new ice cream shop opening in Disney springs! It’s called Salt and Straw, and they create unique flavors using local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. An example of some of the flavors sold are: The salt donut guava and cheese, cinnamon snickerdoodle, honey lavender, and double fold vanilla. Sounds delicious!

- ✨✨there’s a new ride in Epcot!! Guardians of the galaxy is open to annual pass holders and dvc members! It’s going to be amazing!

There are many advantages to using me as your travel agent! First off, my services are FREE, I do ALL of the work for you, can book dining reservations, request rooms and buildings, handle any problems, and have fun while doing it. Please reach out if you want more info or want to book a trip!

24/02/2022

Exciting news!!! THREE new attractions have been added to genie+!!!! This is huge because the new rides are…frozen ever after, Mickey and Minnies runaway railway, and space mountain! That means you pay the $15 per day price and those are now included. 😀

BREAKING: Genie+ CHANGES Announced for a Limited Number of Disney World Rides 🎡

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2022/02/24/breaking-genie-changes-announced-for-a-limited-number-of-disney-world-rides/

06/01/2022

We are back from our trip!! We had a wonderful time and ate lots of yummy food. This is only a tiny portion of the yummy stuff we tried! I threw in a few pictures of the kiddos having a blast as well 😊 contact me today for more info! My services are FREE and there are a few deals going on right now. ❤️

16/12/2021

We are heading to Disney World in TEN DAYS! I would love for all of you to follow along in my stories. We will be trying new foods, riding new rides, and making new memories with our sweet kiddos.

If you are looking to book a Disney vacation, please let me know. My services are always FREE. Let me plan your 2022 trip 😉

19/10/2021

It’s Disney genie+ launch day!

Lots of questions as to what this is…

So, Disney genie is a new service that is built into your mydisney experience app. This service is complimentary and helps you organize your perfect day at Disney. It not only helps you plan, but it also maps out your visit with the itinerary creator. It can also remind you when you’re eligible to make dining and activity reservations. It gives you a map with updated ride times and food times as well.

There is also a new service called Disney genie+. This service cost money and is used to make lightning lane reservations(or previously known as fast pass), 1 at a time throughout the day, at over 40 attractions for $15 per day per ticket.

Now, the most popular rides such as, seven dwarves mine train, frozen ever after, flight of passage, etc. are not included in the $15 per day, and will cost you EXTRA. They are a PER RIDE cost and those vary. I will give an example below!

Phew! Lots of new information! Please message me if you have any questions! Look forward to planning your Disney vacays!

01/10/2021

It's an EXCITING DAY!!! Happy anniversary Disney world! Disney world has been preparing for this day for a looonngg time! Disney world is my home away from home and I cannot wait to celebrate in December! If you are interested in visiting but are a little lost, please reach out! I’m more than happy to plan your trip for you- my services are free! The 50th celebration will be going on for 18 months, so you have many opportunities to celebrate. Let me know how I can help!