Hillary Van Way - Affiliated with Academy Travel/Mickey Vacations

13/01/2023

Hello from Elastigirl (aka Charlotte)!

I just wanted to post on here to let everyone know that yes, I AM still planning Disney vacations! Lots of them!! What started out as a hobby has turned into a job that keeps me insanely busy—for this, I am so thankful! I just simply don’t have the time to be a wife, a mom, a Disney Travel Planner, AND an active Instagram poster. I apologize for this, and I’m going to try to be better once I have a little more time to dedicate to Social Media!

If you or anyone you know is looking to book a Disney trip, please reach out to me! I can be reached via Messages, Phone, and E-Mail! There are so many exciting things happening this year in the parks and SO MANY DEALS going on right now.

Everything that I do is 100% FREE to you, including: Quotes, Park Reservations, Dining Reservations, a personalized letter from Mickey, and lots lots more. ✨

Is there anything you’re thankful for that you want to tell me about? Post it below!👇🏼

27/11/2021

New on my YouTube Channel: A Daily Vlog (link in bio)! Check it out, and let me know if you like seeing more than just Disney Vlogs ☺️

17/10/2021

Disneyland during Halloween is even more magical! They had this adorable Halloween Cavalcade, which included all of the classic Disney characters in their Halloween costumes + some extra characters like Cruella de Vil!
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My first Disneyland Vlog is up on my YouTube Channel, and it’s all about doing Disneyland Park while pregnant and during the Halloween season! Check it out if you haven’t already 🎃

10/10/2021

I’ve had many clients ask for information and details on Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes, the new “FastPass” system coming to Walt Disney World on October 19th, so I’m breaking it down below:

Genie+ Information:
🧞‍♂️Cost: $15/person per day
🧞‍♂️Purchase by the day, so you don’t have to purchase for your entire stay if you don’t want to
🧞‍♂️You can purchase Genie+ in advance, but you can’t make “FastPass” selections until 7am on the day of the visit (no more advanced reservations)
🧞‍♂️Make one attraction selection at a time
🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️IF your next attraction selection return time is more than 120 minutes away, they will allow you to book a second attraction
🧞‍♂️Allows you to use Lightning Lanes (formerly known as FastPass Lanes) to get on attractions quicker
🧞‍♂️You can’t re-ride attractions using Genie+
🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️If you want to ride an attraction twice, you will have to wait in the standby queue the second time
🧞‍♂️Once you select your attraction, they will give you a return time
🧞‍♂️You have 1 hour from the start of your return time slot to get into the Lightning Lane for that attraction
🧞‍♂️There will still be standby queues for these attractions, if you don’t want to pay for Genie+

Individual Lightning Lane Information:
⚡️Cost: $7-$15/person per attraction (varies based on attraction and day)
⚡️Separate from Genie+ cost
⚡️Can purchase these without paying for Genie+
⚡️Choose up to TWO of the most popular attractions in a park, one at a time
⚡️These attractions are not included in the Genie+ price, so if you want Lightning Lane access to these attractions, you have to pay the Individual Lightning Lane price
⚡️On-property guests can make their first selection beginning at 7am the day-of
⚡️All other guests can make their first selection once the park opens for the day
⚡️Once you make your Individual Lightning Lane selections and pay for them, they CANNOT be modified (no switching or canceling attractions)
⚡️The only reason you will get refunded is if an attraction goes down due to weather or technical difficulties
⚡️There will still be standby or virtual queues for these attractions, if you don’t want to pay for Individual Lightning Lanes

10/10/2021

29/09/2021

Alright guys…I’m only 6 months late, but Vlog 1 is up on my YouTube Channel RIGHT NOW! Check it out if you want to see what we got up to in Magic Kingdom in March 🤩

07/09/2021

Are you a regular Haunted Mansion fan or Haunted Mansion Holiday fan? 👻 🎄

Although I can appreciate all of the hard work that is put into Haunted Mansion Holiday, I hate The Nightmare Before Christmas 😬 so I would have to choose regular HM! However, it is a must-do attraction (at least once)!

Haunted Mansion Holiday runs from September 3-January 9 in Disneyland Park, so don’t miss it if you’re heading there soon!

02/09/2021

Hiya pals! ✨
I am back from a very (much needed) extensive break from social media. Social media can be great, but it can also be very exhausting trying to keep up with others, especially those in the same Disney bubble. After a two month hiatus, I’m back and excited to be more active here. I’m here to share more authentic and fun Disney content and not make it so much about getting “x” amount of followers, so stay tuned for Disney news, fun Disney recipes, Vlogs, and more!
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Since I’ve probably lost lots of followers but maybe gained a few, I’m going to reintroduce myself and throw out 5 random facts about me (both Disney and non-Disney):
1 - My name is Hillary, I’m a (free) Disney Travel Planner, and I live in California!
2 - I am married to Logan, and we have been together for 10 years!
3 - My least favorite Disney World park is Animal Kingdom (although I love DINOSAUR)!
4 - I actually graduated with a degree in Petroleum Engineering, but being a Disney Travel Planner is my passion and job! Also, I’m one of 6 kids!
5 - My favorite ride in Disneyland is Casey, Jr. Circus Train!
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So technically that was way more than 5 facts, but now you know some random trivia about me.
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Tell me something fun and random about you 👇🏼

12/06/2021

Have you heard the news?!

Starting June 15, Disney World will require vaccinated guests to wear masks ONLY ON TRANSPORTATION (bus, monorail, and Skyliner)! Who else is excited?! 🤩

13/05/2021

Do you prefer meeting Fur Characters or Face Characters in the parks?
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I’d much rather have some ridiculous conversation with a Fur Character who isn’t actually speaking, because I immediately forget how to have a normal conversation with Face Characters 😂 Anyone else? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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The new “meet & greets” make it so much easier to just snap a pic of Face Characters without having that awkward conversation, and I love it!

09/05/2021

When your friend’s husband asks for help throwing a Surprise Vintage Disneyland Birthday Party, just say yes. This was SUCH a beautiful and magical and fun party to plan, and I’m so happy that Emily has officially joined the Mickey Mouse Club with her first pair of Mouseketeer Ears ✨

07/05/2021

Happy Friday! My last Vlog of my Fall 2020 Disney World Vacation is up on my YouTube channel (7 months later) 😂

It’s all about our day in Magic Kingdom, including trying Pepperoni Spring Rolls and riding Space Mountain a billion times!

03/05/2021

Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me?!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

24/04/2021

The countdown is on: 8 days until Disneyland!

✨ What’s your countdown?

✨Who’s heading to Peter Pan’s Flight first thing? What’s the first ride YOU’RE getting on at the reopening?!

Let me know 👇🏼

19/03/2021

Have you heard the most magical news of 2021?! DISNEYLAND OPENS ON APRIL 30 (in 43 days, but who’s counting ?)!
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IMPORTANT INFO BELOW:
🌟Both Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure will open April 30, 2021!
🌟The parks will (initially) be open to CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY
🌟Capacity will be at 15% max.
🌟Park Tickets AND Reservations will have to be made in advance to visit the parks (just like at WDW)
🌟Disneyland Resort hotels will also reopen, but not all on April 30
🌟Attractions that have been confirmed to be available at the re-opening: Incredicoaster, Peter Pan’s Flight, Rise of the Resistance, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, and Mayer’s Junkyard Jamboree!
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WHO ELSE IS PUMPED?
What attraction will be the first on your to-do list when the gates open on April 30th?!

Drop any questions that you have below 👇🏼

06/03/2021

Disney World Fall 2020 Vlog 3 is now up on my YouTube Channel! Link is in my bio, for anyone interested in tagging along with me as I try out Topolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast and Epcot!

08/02/2021

Happy 20th Birthday, DCA!

Have you been to this park before? What’s your favorite thing to do in Disney’s California Adventure?

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the youngest of the U.S. Disney Parks! See ya real soon 🥰

05/02/2021

Y’all, I miss Disneyland.

Have you ever gotten your silhouette done in Disneyland? This Cast Member was cutting people’s silhouettes in under 5 minutes, and I’ll be honest, I sat there and just watched in amazement. Cast Members are the best, and I really can’t wait until I can sit and watch Bonnie cut away in The Silhouette Studio again soon. 😪

03/02/2021

Disney at Home | January: Festival of the Arts

Every month this year, I’m planning a Disney-themed night with themed foods, games, and more—and filming it all for my YouTube Channel! January’s theme was Festival of the Arts, and the video capturing all that we did to bring the festival to our house is now on my YouTube Channel! Click the link in my bio to see how our first themed night unfolded!✨

28/01/2021

1 YEAR AGO:
♥️Checked into Pop Century for a girls trip with my cousin
♥️Tried Chicken Guy out for the first time in Disney Springs
♥️Found this adorable Orange Bird wall in Springs

LOOKING BACK:
✨Can’t wait to go on another cousin trip to Disney!
✨Chicken Guy is very overrated (don’t come at me).

FEEDBACK:
✔️Tag someone you want to go on a Disney vacation with right this second!
✔️What’s your go-to restaurant in Disney Springs? If you’ve never been, what is the best chicken place you’ve ever been to?!

19/01/2021

How did I miss National Winnie the Pooh Day?! Check out my stories for some fun Winnie the Pooh trivia to celebrate one day late ✨

16/01/2021

What is something that you’ve been talking about doing, but still haven’t taken the first step to do it? OR what is something that you waited forever to do, but now that you’ve done it, you’re living the dream? Let me know below! ✨

This is your reminder to just GO and DO the thing you’ve been talking about doing! I wouldn’t be where I am today, planning Magical Disney vacations for families and creating YouTube content, if I had sat around and talked but never did.

14/01/2021

What I Got for Christmas: Disney Edition is now up on my YouTube Channel, for anyone who likes a good Disney Haul! I got some pretty sweet stuff this year, and everything is linked to purchase! ✨
Link is in my bio!

11/01/2021

Have you ever been to Epcot’s Festival of the Arts? What is your favorite thing to do at the festival?!

If you’ve never been to Festival of the Arts, now is the time to go! From now until February 22, you can enjoy this unique festival that features special foods, entertainment, and artwork!! This is such a fun festival that both kids AND adults will enjoy, and the best thing is that there is no separate admission required to attend.

If you are interested in booking a trip during this festival, there is an awesome deal going on currently where if you book a 4 night/3 day Disney vacation, you get 2 days of tickets FREE! Message me for quotes, if you’re interested!

08/01/2021

Here’s just a snippet from our day at one of my absolute favorite Disney Parks, Disney’s Hollywood Studios ✨ To watch the full video, click the link in my bio!

07/01/2021

Park Hopping is BACK, guys! We are getting closer and closer to Disney World pre-pandemic, and it makes me so happy! Park hopping is ideal for those who enjoy splitting their Disney days up between two (or three or four) parks! Who else is excited about this? ✨

Swipe through to see all of the details of how Park Hopping is set up currently, and let me know if you have any questions!

06/01/2021

A real-time photo capturing my first bite of Caramel Popcorn from Germany in Epcot ✨

What’s your absolute favorite snack from World Showcase (in Epcot)?

Obviously, the Caramel Popcorn was a favorite of mine in October 2020!

01/01/2021

Thank you so much to each and every Instagram supporter, YouTube supporter, client, and friend who has helped me to grow as an individual and a business this year! It was a tough year for everyone, but I’m so grateful for the highs and lows that 2020 brought!

Here’s to a M A G I C A L 2021 ✨

18/12/2020

Disney Cast Members are M A G I C ✨ Although Animal Kingdom is my least favorite park to visit, I really enjoyed spending an entire day there (due to no park hopping) on my most recent trip to Walt Disney World! Are you ready for Park Hoppers to come back to WDW in 2021?!

Check out my full Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Vlogs on my YouTube channel, if you’re interested in seeing what we did the first two days of our trip!

15/12/2020

One of the many perks of letting me book and plan your Disney vacation (FOR FREE) ✨ A personalized letter from Mickey and some Disney goodies to get you and your family excited for your trip!