Samantha Britton - Mouse Counselor

28/03/2024

On a cruise with my mom this week- trying out Virgin and it’s lovely.

There’s a hammock chair on the balcony.

The food is really great. The drinks are great. I’m a sucker for the board game cabinet. We almost won at something-kind-of-like-trivia. We’ve missed a ton but haven’t felt like we’re missing out.

The ocean is so freaking beautiful.

Matt Britton is a saint home with the kids. I hope next time I get on a ship it’s with him 😢

I’m so used to selling Disney but an adults-only vacation is so much nicer than I had expected, really and truly.

27/02/2024

Booking for WDW vacations in 2025 opens tomorrow!

One cool benefit that is new in 2025 is that resort guests will get a free admission to a Disney water park on their check in date!

I love the water parks and I’m really excited to offer this to y’all! Such an easy and fun way to spend a few hours while you wait for your room to be ready.

If you’re interested in pricing out a trip through October 2025, let me know!! Send an email to [email protected]!

07/02/2024

Eliza and I are back at it again this week- heading on Eliza’s first cruise!!

We will be sailing on the Disney Magic out of New Orleans!! She has decided to be brave and try the kids’ clubs at least twice, “because if the first day is a bad day I want to make sure to give it a good chance.”

So excited to relax, learn, and spend quality time with the kiddo!

03/01/2024

Get dessert!!

Try the pickle milkshake and fight with your family over whether it’s good or awful!!

Circle back to your go-to favorite!! (And if that isn’t Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom then I don’t know what to say, I’m sure you’ve got your reasons.)

Free dining is back for 2024- Disney+ Subscribers can enjoy a free dining plan with their package- valid for arrivals most nights 7/1-9/30/24, for stays of 4+ nights with 4 day Park Hoppers.

If this doesn’t fit what you’ve got in mind, there are more promotion options and I can help you find the best one for your family!

E-mail me at [email protected] and we can get started today!!

28/10/2023

We have gotten some updates on After Hours in 2024!

I absolutely love these events- they require separately purchased tickets and grant three hours of access to a *very* low crowd park after it closes for the day. Most rides are (more or less) walk-on, snacks like Mickey bars, popcorn, and sodas are complimentary, and you can enter the park early at 7 PM so you can grab dinner and catch a nighttime show before getting the rides started.

One new addition in Magic Kingdom for 2024 is that guests will be able to see the fireworks show Enchantment during After Hours. (This is the 50th anniversary show that just ended when Happily Ever After returned.)

While I love Happily Ever After, there’s no denying that watching the fireworks is almost always an overwhelming experience because of the crowds. I’ve gotten to watch a fireworks show in a very low-crowd park before (with DVC Moonlight Magic) and it is one of the most magical things I’ve ever gotten to do at WDW. Being able to *sit in the hub* and see the fireworks going off above your head with a perfect view is *chefs kiss*.

Dates have been released for After Hours in Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT. (My clients have had great experiences at all three, but my personal favorite is Hollywood Studios because I love riding Toy Story Mania over and over again.)

Magic Kingdom (10pm-1am): Jan 11, Jan 15, Jan 22, Feb 1, Feb 5, Feb 12, Feb 29, Mar 4, Mar 18, Apr 8

Hollywood Studios (9:30pm-12:30am): Jan 10, Jan 24, Feb 21, Feb 26, Mar 13, Mar 20, Mar 27, Apr 3, Apr 10

EPCOT (10pm-1am): Feb 2, Feb 8, Feb 15, Mar 7, Mar 28, Apr 4

The night owl’s dream trip could be in early April- hit all three parks and have a low crowd, low stress Disney trip right in the middle of peak spring break season. *love it*.

If you want to plan a trip to take advantage of these, reach out at [email protected]. I would love to help plan your trip and my assistance is complimentary when you book your accommodations with me!

28/09/2023

26/09/2023

Disney released new promotional availability this morning for stays through March 24th!

• You can save up to 30% depending on the dates and resort you choose.

• Availability varies pretty dramatically from week to week and resort to resort, but one new detail to consider is that the savings WILL be higher if you book your stay prior to December 15th!! After that, the promotional rates will increase in cost.

So, if you're considering a trip for February break, etc., book now to lock in the promotional rate! A package can be secured with a $200 deposit that is fully refundable up until 30 days prior to check in.

Email me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your options!!

06/09/2023

Disney has released a new dining card promotion this morning, eligible for guests checking in many dates starting in late October through March!

Guests who book packages for 4+ night stays with 4+ days at the theme parks can qualify for dining cards worth $200 per night at deluxe resorts, $120 per night at moderate resorts, and $60 per night at value resorts.

As always, if you're interested in booking a trip reach out to me at [email protected] and I can help compare available promotions and get the best value for your family!

17/08/2023

We got a new opening date from Disney yesterday!

You can meet Mirabel from Encanto at the Magic Kingdom starting on September 15th, kicking off Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month!

The Madrigal Family’s magical Casita has taken over the space between Cinderella Castle and Cheshire Cafe, where Merida used to meet.

Bruno is also joining the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade for the month, starting on 9/15 as well.

So excited for this Meet and Greet!

26/07/2023

Do you have plans for the end of summer, or September break?

It’s not too late to plan a trip to Walt Disney World or Universal! In fact, it’s a *really* great time to be spontaneous.

For starters, the tickets are *really* well-priced. Disney has issued promotional 4-Day 4-Park Magic tickets and they’re an excellent value- four days of park tickets, one day at each park, for $396 per person plus tax. It’s the best deal I’ve seen on park tickets in a very long time, sincerely. (These are valid through 29 Sept, blockout dates 9/1-9/4.)

Second of all, there is still great promotion availability at WDW resorts- and many rooms have been fully refurbished as recently as this spring! Or, if you’re looking at Universal, some of the lowest priced onsite resorts are offering a 30% discount for stays of 4 nights or more. (The tickets are discounted there, too.)

Fall is such a great time to visit- the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is in full swing and kids can go trick or treating in the Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party. Crowds are typically lighter, and it’s still warm enough to really enjoy the pool or water park.

I can help you get last minute dining reservations, too- setting alerts and looking for cancellations if necessary.

Send me an email, I would love to help you make a last minute trip a reality for your family!!

[email protected]

12/07/2023

With the dining plan returning next year, I’m focusing on all the awesome snack credit options you have around the parks and resorts!!

Here is one! The School Bread from Kringla Bakeri og Kafe in the Norway pavilion!

It is essentially a cardamom bread roll filled with vanilla custard and topped with coconut.

I honestly get kind of overwhelmed with all the sweet treats in Disney, but although this *looks* like a doughnut it really *isn’t*- it isn’t at all sticky sweet or greasy. And the cardamom is such an unusual and delightful flavor!

15/06/2023

We got some surprising Christmas party news this morning!!

In addition to getting dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom, Disney announced a brand new party at Hollywood Studios for the holiday season!

Disney Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed event running from 8:30 PM - 12:30 AM on ten select nights November 11 - December 20. This event will be packed with special entertainment (including fireworks and projections nighttime spectacular Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!) and character meet and greets. The Disney Parks blog even hinted at a Nightmare Before Christmas singalong but were a little coy about it 😉 “what’s this?” You’ll find a ton of details in their blog post.

If you’re looking for dates, here are the nitty gritty details:

❄️ Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party:
November 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30
December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22

❄️ Disney Jollywood Nights:
November: 11, 18, 20, 27, 29
December: 4, 6, 16, 18, 20

Tickets for these parties go on sale June 29th for resort guests, and July 6th for the general public.

And, if you want to plan a trip to experience all of the new and returning holiday magic this year, Disney announced two new promotions this morning for resort rooms- including an up to 35% discount for select dates for Disney+ subscribers!

I have visited WDW during the holidays with my family for many years, including over Christmas itself for the past 2 years in a row. It is a lovely way to simplify the holidays, treating your family to an experience full of memories versus all the stuff. (For us, we knew we needed a change of pace with an infant/toddler in the house.)

Reach out if you’d like help planning your trip, and pass my name on to your friends, family and colleagues!!

[email protected]

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is returning to Walt Disney World! We're sharing the dates and details about a new holiday party coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios!

14/06/2023

Wish you had booked a big family vacation for the summer? Can’t imagine shelling out for airfare right now?

There is *so* much promotion availability left at Walt Disney World resorts for this summer, plus the best price on tickets I’ve seen in a decade: a 4-Day 4-Park Magic ticket for $396 per person plus tax. (valid for one day at each park over the course of a week, anytime before 9/29- and no park pass reservations required)

Are your kids wild about thrill rides and Harry Potter? Universal is also very competitive this summer- they are offering buy 2 Days Get 3 Days Free tickets through the summer months, as well! (Yes, that is 5 days of tickets for the price of 2!) You can include Volcano Bay water park in this, too!

Email me, I will make sure you’re set up with the best theme park vacation for your family at a great value.

I don’t work for Disney or Universal- I work for you- and my planning services are complimentary. Support a small business when you book your vacation!

[email protected]

08/06/2023

The BoardWalk Inn renovations are beautiful!

Pricing and availability wise, these rooms- with the Save 25% on Rooms This Summer promotion- are plentiful and *such* a good value right now!

Between the $396 + tax 4-Day 4-Park Magic promotional tickets (valid through 29 September WITHOUT park pass reservations- can't believe how much money these tickets are saving my clients) - and the steep discounts on newly renovated rooms at Boardwalk Inn and Boulder Ridge Villas - the value of some of these summer deluxe vacations is truly surprising. I haven’t seen anything like it in years.

Reach out- we can get you set up with a last-minute vacation!!

[email protected]

22/05/2023

Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort on property, and it also happens to be one of the most affordable deluxe resorts, as well!

It was modeled after the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, and the storytelling and attention to detail in this resort are breathtaking.

The Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge have just been renovated, and the new rooms are warm, playful, and colorful. A colleague recently shared these pictures and I hope you can see what I mean!

The One-Bedroom and Two-Bedroom Villas feature:

✅ a full kitchen,
✅ washer and dryer in the unit,
✅ a king bed in the Master Bedroom,
✅ a walk-in shower and a soaker tub,
✅ a Murphy Bed in the living room (in most rooms- some have a pull-out couch),
✅ a balcony or patio, and
✅ whimsical Disney artwork throughout…

The One-Bedroom Villas are still available at a 25% discount (off of a lower-than-normal rack rate) for many dates this summer!

These rates will not last- once Disney updates the rack rate to reflect the value added by the renovations, the cost of these rooms will definitely go up substantially.

These rooms are spacious and feature so many amenities- relaxing boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom, Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe Resort guests… and they are easily coming in for less than the cost of a standard room at a monorail resort. They are a spectacular value.

Combine this with a 4-Park Magic ticket (less than $1700 for a family of four through September 29th) and this will be one of the most economical ways to have a deluxe resort Disney vacation you will find.

Reach out to me- we can make this happen for you this summer!

If you’ve been waiting for WDW prices to come down, THIS IS GO TIME!!

Email me: [email protected]

11/05/2023

There is *so* much Walt Disney World promotional availability left for this summer!! Summer has kind of turned into a slower time of year, and honestly it’s one my favorite times to go.

Lots of late nights, ice cream, roller coasters, water park and pool time… it’s the quintessential summer vacation.

To help manage the heat, my kiddos love the portable fans we buy for these WDW trips- we have gotten clip-on stroller fans, a couple handheld that spray water, and a couple handheld “lollipop” style with a lanyard to wear around their neck.

Anyone want to plan a last minute summer vacation? I have got you covered!

Email me: [email protected]

04/05/2023

I know today is May the 4th and there’s a lot of “May the 4th be with you” going around.

But to avoid some embarrassment and judgmental looks from your elders, you should know that the correct response since 2010 is now “and with your spirit”.

03/05/2023

WDW is an attractive destination for an extended family, multi-generational trip, but it can get tricky to coordinate a slow-moving group of 12 people!!

One strategy that works especially well for my family is to book park passes in the same park for each day, but let folks plan their own park time according to their own preferences and schedules.

We do plan for everyone to come together for a meal once a day, and that works great for us! Some restaurants work better than others for this- spots that allow you to talk without a ton of distractions often end up creating the most memorable family moments.

That means I actually steer away from character meals with big groups- Mickey and Minnie are great, but it’s nice to be able to focus on grandma and grandpa during our precious time together. During character meals I’m often so busy taking photos and going up and down from the buffet that I end up barely getting a chance to hear how everyone’s day is going.

A few of my favorite spots in the parks for a meal like this are Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano in Hollywood Studios, Skippers Canteen in Magic Kingdom, and Hacienda de San Angel and Spice Road Table in EPCOT. All of these offer relatively unhurried experiences, flexible a la carte ordering, and are easy to access in the parks.

Often the restaurants that have the least hype will make the best spots for a big family meal!

Are you thinking about a big family Walt Disney World trip? I can help coordinate everything, and my assistance is complimentary!

Email me: [email protected]