Hello there and to all who come to this happy place, welcome! It shouldn’t be this way.
As a travel agent, I help families create memories that will last a lifetime by planning and booking the Disney vacation of their dreams. At Friend Like Me Travel Co., we know that planning your family’s Disney vacation can be overwhelming and intimidating. Choosing the best hotel for your family, arranging park itineraries, booking dining and Fastpass reservations, and ensuring you don’t miss out
on anything can easily go awry as you become overwhelmed with all of the things that need to be done to plan your vacation. This can cause your family’s perfect trip to become one where everyone feels stressed out and overstimulated. When I plan vacations for my guests, they feel excited and at ease as I help them navigate the planning process. I provide a wide range of services including itinerary planning, promotion monitoring, up-to-date information regarding changes in the parks, and support before, during, and after your trip. This allows you to sit back and relax while I put together a vacation package and itinerary that is completely customized to your family’s wants and needs, ensuring you can experience all of the magic that our featured destinations have to offer.
We’re looking for new Genies to join our family of Travel Advisors at Friend Like Me Travel Co.! We’ll only be accepting apps through July 21 AND this is the last time we’ll be opening them until 2025! If you’ve been thinking about this opportunity, now’s the time.
Shoot me a DM if you’ve got questions ☺️ We can’t wait to “meet” you!
A lot of Magic going on at the moment 🥰 The are boarding the Disney Magic today for our first AEP at Sea! AEPs are an annual conference that we do as a team to build our knowledge and experience for our clients. Every year these events grow because once you come to one, you never want to miss another one! We have 51 agents here this year and I can’t wait to spend time with so many of my favorite people!
Today I got to be one of the first to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom! Opening June 28, this attraction takes you into life with Princess Tiana AFTER Princess and the Frog! It was so much fun, but just be warned that you WILL get wet! (Which was honestly much appreciated considering the real feel today was 108° 😵💫)
So excited to be here for the This is Magic media event! Tonight kicks off a few days of experiencing all of the new and exciting things around Walt Disney World and I’m so excited and thankful to be a part of it! Make sure you’re following along in stories for a play by play 🫶🏻
The best day 🤍
Our VIP tour was a huge success with 15 attractions, a viewing area for Happily Ever After, and so many memories made!! Definitely my favorite way to take your Disney parks vacation to the next level ✨
I’m not far away from my next Disney Cruise Line sailing and it got me thinking about all of the ways you can save money on your sailing! Disney is a luxury cruise brand, but that doesn’t mean there’s not savings to be had! I just posted a YouTube video all about it - comment CRUISE and I’ll send ya the link!
One of my favorite things about traveling to Disney destinations during the holiday season is that you'll often find your favorite characters dressed for the occasion! The fab five also typically have a new outfit every year (and I'm sure you saw my picture with Mickey and Minnie last week!)
This particular photo is from my graduation trip in December 2019 and I have been obsessed with Chip 'n' Dale's Christmas dinosaur costumes ever since 🙈 Whose holiday outfit is your favorite from what you've seen? (whether that be online or on your own trips!)
If there's one thing that the holidays and traveling have in common, it's that for those of us with dietary restrictions, they can be a huge source of stress! I have many different allergies, but my main restriction is that as someone with Celiac Disease, I cannot consume even a crumb of gluten. No really...one crumb can take me out for weeks 🥴
Over these last five years of gluten-free living, these are some of the things I do to make sure I always eat safely so that I don't get sick!
✨ I have safe people and safe places that I trust. I'll only eat food prepared by myself or a few of my relatives that know and understand the intricacies of making sure surfaces are clean, nothing was placed on a counter with crumbs, they used dedicated pots, pans, and utensils, etc.
✨ If I'm going to be eating out with people, I call the restaurants we're considering and ask about their protocols and their gluten-free menu. I also ask lots of questions when I'm ordering! If they seem at all unsure, I don't eat there.
✨ Once someone or a restaurant is considered "safe" I relax and trust that they won't get me sick. Sometimes worrying about the gluten will cause you to think you've been glutened, right down to the symptoms!
✨ In the parks/resorts/Disney Springs/Downtown Disney, I only eat at Disney-owned-and-operated places. I *have* been glutened when I've let my guard down on this! I've learned my lesson though!
✨ I carry snacks wherever I go. The reality is that SAFE gluten free food actually isn't always easy to get. If I'm uncomfortable or can't find something that I can have, I'm always prepared with something to nibble on until I can find something safe!
If you're traveling (or even just spending time with) someone with dietary restrictions, please be patient and remember that no one *wants* to have dietary restrictions. While it may be inconvenient for you in the moment, it's inconvenient and downright uncomfortable for the other person every single day! Just don't make a fuss when people like me show up to holiday parties with a lunchbox 😂
🎶 And isn't it just so pretty to think all along there was some invisible string tying you to me? 🎶
My Disney story starts long, long ago! I visited Magic Kingdom for the first time at 2 years old and according to my mom, when I saw the castle for the first time, I got a dreamy look in my eye and said, "look, Mom, it's my castle!" And the rest is history 😉
We weren't a family that went frequently - I went a total of four times growing up. Nothing to do with Disney ever came up in the "what do you want to be when you grow up" discussion. A Travel Agent? What the heck is that? Never in a million years did I think I would play a part in making Disney vacations a reality for thousands of families (literally 😳) If you've never heard my story of how I actually got to this career path, I quite literally fell into it and it all just worked itself out and evolved into something so magical.
I could never have dreamed that I'd be able to spend my days surrounded by something that I love so much and that I'd be able to share my love of Disney destinations with all of you 🤍
Muppets’ Not So Scary Halloween Party 🎃
Today marks 4 years since Friend Like Me Travel Co. opened its doors. Running this business has been the most challenging, heart-wrenching, and rewarding experience of my life. Never in my life did I think this would be the career path that I’d have chosen, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
These people (and those who couldn’t be with us for our annual conference this summer) are the kindest, most hard-working, and passionate people I have ever met. They love each other fiercely, support each other day in and day out, and would truly do anything for their clients. I couldn’t ask for a better team and am so lucky to have found them all. Genies, I love you - thank you for making all my dreams come true and for being part of our family 💙
Thinking about planning a trip? We do ALL kinds of travel - not just Disney! Message me and I’ll get you matched with the best Genie for you!
Sailing away with my favorite Captain for the weekend aboard the Disney Wish! After such a crazy September, this is such a needed break with lots of rest and relaxation ☀️ I’m going to be posting vlog reels when I get home but will post a little bit on stories too 😊
Let's be real for a minute - the cost of traveling has increased substantially no matter where you're trying to go over the last few years. It can be really frustrating to see when you don't know the reasons behind price increases and how to mitigate them as much as possible, so I thought today I'd break it down for you!
▶️ Fuel costs have increased, which means every transportation company has had to increase their prices. This flows out to places like resorts because they have to account for their rising operating expenses.
▶️ Supply and Demand is really at play here - people are traveling far more after staying home for so long during COVID-19. When resorts are booking solid, they increase prices to try to balance the supply versus the demand.
▶️ Resort staffing took a big hit during the pandemic and the competition for new employees is high, especially in tourism-heavy areas. Businesses are having to offer higher pay to prospective employees, which is a cost they have to pass on to guests.
So how do we mitigate some of the increases?
▶️ Booking early is so important! We can secure your plans at the lowest possible price and apply any promotions that come out later if they will save you money (just know that oftentimes, they won't save you anything!)
▶️ Be flexible with your dates and requests - as your travel agent, one of my specialties is finding the dates and recommending the accommodations that will maximize both your budget and your experience. Trusting me to take care of you is a huge part of the process!
▶️ Work with a travel agent (like me!) So many people that are disappointed with the vacation that they took had unrealistic expectations for what they'd be getting during their trip. Travel Professionals can help make sure you understand what you'll get for your vacation budget and make sure that you're splurging on the categories that matter most to you and saving money on things that are less important!
Ready to start planning your vacation? Click here to get started: www.friendlikemetravel.com/plan
Come on Barbie, let’s go to DISNEY 💖🤩
In the comments, leave YOUR Barbie tag line! “This Barbie…”
I had no idea that I was going to be able to make the magic that I do when I first got started 👀
On Thursday, I was sitting at my desk on Zoom with my agents when I received a frantic call from a new client. A few weeks ago, we had been talking about planning a trip for this single mom and her two sons early next year, but she called to ask if we could make the trip happen NEXT WEEK.
Now, if you know anything about Disney, you might know the chaos that ensued pretty quickly. I got to work quickly and was actually able to secure a reservation at their dream hotel, Disney's Contemporary Resort, that she was sure would be out of her budget! I then built the rest of her package out with tickets and Memory Maker before surprising her with the best news of all - the price was $1,500 UNDER her budget 😳
Over the years as both my business and my personal travel experience has grown, I've been able to help my guests see the value of staying at a deluxe resort and have also gotten really good at helping them find ways to make it happen with their budgets. Of course, sometimes a deluxe resort is truly out of your budget, but for many a deluxe resort is more doable than you'd think!
I am so excited to hear about the K family's first trip to Walt Disney World this week! Their dream resort was Disney's Contemporary Resort - what's yours?
EEEEK! Just one week from tomorrow, I'm taking 47 of my agents () to Walt Disney World for 5 days of learning, exploring, and bonding as a Genie family! We'll be joined by and 9 of her agents, too! (One thing I love about my job is how closely I get to work with all of my favorite people 🥰)
We're gearing up for a TON of fun with lots of surprises in store. I'm really proud to say that ALL of our agents that came with us on our Disneyland Agent Education Program in 2022 are joining us again this year, plus so many that haven't had a chance to travel with the team yet! We'll have two days of classroom time, resort tours, new dining experiences, and 3 surprise activities throughout our time together and I can't wait to share it all with you as we go 💖
To my Genies - see ya real soon!!! 🤩
I'm so sad that is coming to a close today! As we move into the rest of the year, I hope that everyone takes the enthusiasm from this month and carries it through the rest of the year. There are a lot of scary policies being discussed all over the country that would really hurt a lot of people in the LGBTQ+ community and if you consider yourself to be an ally, then it's important to stay engaged and educated on what's really happening and use your voice (and your vote!) to initiate change!
I wanted to give back to all of YOU and make a contribution to change for LGBTQ+ people to celebrate this year 🏳️🌈
At Friend Like Me Travel Co., we set out to raise money for this month to make sure LGBTQ+ youth get the support that they need - I am so excited to tell you all that we raised $2,000 and I submitted our donation last night! (They were tripling donations made yesterday and I wasn't sure how long it would last, so I wanted to make sure our impact would be as great as possible!)
Now for all of you...head to my stories to see what I brought home from Pride Night for you at Disneyland!
Last night was my very first pride ever. I started coming out in 2018, but didn’t “publicly” do so (as in most of my family along with all of you) until June 2020. The first couple of years it didn’t feel safe because of COVID to go to such a huge event and now it feels unsafe because of the violence and hatred that is so prevalent right now.
Even though I had to wait a long time to go to my first pride, I couldn’t imagine a better experience than last night at - I was surrounded by so many of my favorite people and the environment throughout throughout the park was filled with love and excitement like I’ve never seen before. It was an amazing feeling to be in a place where so many people were like me and felt safe to be who they are without the fear of who’s watching. To top it all off, Disney REALLY pulled out all of the stops and made it a night to remember.
I can’t wait to share the vlog footage that I took last night (coming soon as a reel!)
🌈
Pack your bags for a magical holiday season! Walt Disney World released some holiday offers this morning and you definitely don’t want to miss out!
Request a quote for the offers listed below here ➡️ www.friendlikemetravel.com/plan
✨ You can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort Hotels for stays between October 2 and December 25, 2023
✨ Disney+ Subscribers can save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resort Hotels for stays between October 22 and November 2 as well as November 26 and December 25, 2023
✨ Ask about special offers for Florida Residents and Annual Passholders!
Can’t wait until October to travel? Great news - there’s still time to plan your vacation for this summer!
✨ You can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort Hotels from July 11 to September 28, 2023
✨ Disney Visa Rewards Cardholders can save up to 35% during select dates through September 7th!
✨ You can also visit the Disney Parks for just $99 per day with a 4-Day, 4-Park Magic ticket! (Specific terms and usage applied 😊)
BONUS tip: Southwest has select flights on sale for up to 40% off, but today is the last day!
This is 17-year-old Abby. This spring, I've thought a lot about that girl. I've been out now officially for three years and I think that during my first three seasons of pride, I was just so excited to be myself that I didn't really process how being part of the LGBTQ+ community had really affected my life BEFORE coming out.
A few months ago, I saw a TikTok that made a lot of feelings come flooding in. I'm sure you're shocked, but I'm deep in Taylor Swift TikTok 😂 Well, a video came across my feed of two girls who used the song "Mirrorball" to do a transition video from sweats to them all dressed up & ready to go to prom together. (I'll share it to my story!)
I watched that video so many times and after taking some time to reflect on how I felt watching that video, I realized I was, for lack of a better word, grieving.
I am so happy for the kids who get to go to school dances with whoever their hearts are telling them to go with, but makes me sad I never got to experience going to one with a date. It sounds dramatic to say that I'm grieving something as silly as prom, especially when those who came before me had so many more challenges than I do, but I think it's just hitting me how many things won't happen for me as an LGBTQ+ person.
I'll never get to go back and relive my high school years or my Disney College Program while embracing my sexuality for what I now know it to be. I'll never get that feeling of dancing to the last song at prom with a girl that gives me butterflies.
There will always be an element of fear when it comes to meeting new people and knowing if it's safe to introduce my partner for who she is. The rights that I have as a human being will always be used as a political pawn. Many of the things that will be easy for people not part of the LGBTQ+ community will have an added layer of difficulty, expense, or anxiety for me.
I know that there are so many beautiful things about being part of this community, but that's for another post. I really hope that one day, people like me will be free to love who they love freely and fearlessly and that everyone feels safe to dance with whoever they want to dance with. 🤍🏳️🌈
Happy Earth Day ☀️🌎
One of the reasons that I love working so closely with the Walt Disney Company is everything they do to help take care of our planet. From the parks to Disney Cruise Line, they do a great job of taking measures to be more earth-friendly!
LET’S BOO THIS 🎃
We are officially halfway to Halloween and Walt Disney World has announced information about this year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!
Dates:
Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party’s date’s announced!! Tickets on sale for resort guest April 27, May 2 for everyone else! 🎃 Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party’s date’s announced!!
Party dates: August 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
September 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29
October 1, 3,5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31
November 1
Tickets go on sale for resort guests on April 27, then on May 2 for everyone else! 🎃👻
In the coming days, I’ll share more information about what’s included in this special ticketed event! If you’re ready to plan your trip for spooky season, here’s the link to get started: www.friendlikemetravel.com/plan
See the line where the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me 💙
It may be cheesy, but it’s true that I just feel at home onboard these ships. They’re peaceful while still offering so much fun and all of your favorite characters! What’s your favorite thing to do onboard?
Don’t forget - I would love to help you plan your next Disney Cruise Line vacation! Head to the link in my bio to request a vacation quote 💖
Having the absolute best time on the Disney Wonder! I can’t wait to share all of the amazing content that and and I have been collecting for you this last 24 hours - we have so many fun things planned to share over the coming weeks 🤩 Some highlights today have been having a delicious brunch at Palo and winning ~several~ games of trivia 😅 Tonight we’re off to Tiana’s Place for dinner catching Frozen in the Walt Disney theater before ending our night with Match Your Mate - my FAVORITE activity on Disney Cruise Line! Oh, and we need your help deciding who drew the best Daisy at the Animation Class this afternoon - head to my stories to vote for us!
Walt Disney World is bringing back Annual Passes over a year without them! One of the biggest questions I hear is “how many times do I need to visit before it makes sense to get an annual pass?” So, I decided to do the math for you! Take a look at the info for a cost and benefit analysis! Note that this doesn’t even factor in the amount you will save on food and merchandise since everyone’s mileage may vary there!
➡️ SWIPE to see how I really feel about tonight 😅 I’ve been in my spot for over an hour now and still have 2.5 to go 🥴 This show holds a really special place in my heart because it came out during my Disney College Program in May 2017! I’m so excited to see it again, but also slightly terrified that they may have cut the Merida section out since they’re getting rid of her everywhere else it feels like 🫠
Jambo from Disney’s Animal Kingdom! invited me down as part of their Social Media Summit to experience all of the different kinds of thrills that await the guests of Walt Disney World. From the thrill of new attractions (like TRON Lightcycle/Run) to the thrill of meeting a favorite character or seeing a nighttime spectacular, there’s no shortage of wows around these parks ✨ I feel so fortunate that I get to be a part of making these experiences magical for the guests who plan with Friend Like Me Travel Co. and can’t wait to see how the parks continue to thrill us all for years to come 💚 I’ll have so much more to share over the coming days/weeks, but for now, I’m off to celebrate the end of this incredible weekend ✨ Big thanks to Disney for hosting me this weekend - can’t wait to do it again REAL soon! (Hint hint wink wink nudge nudge it’s soon 😂)
Disney Cruise Line is finally releasing the summer 2024 itineraries this week! Here’s a quick reference guide for how to book a Disney Cruise along with information on the itineraries available next summer. Which sailings do you have your eye on?!
Having the most magical trip with a few of the Genies this weekend 💖 I challenged the team to complete a full Bingo card with a bunch of different tasks and activities related to their positions as travel agents and then rewarded the winners with something on all of our bucket lists - a stay in a Treehouse Villa (video footage to come!) with 4 days in the parks! We’re having a blast so far and can’t wait for 2 more days of fun 🤩 Tonight we will be doing the Enchantment dessert party to say goodbye to that before Happily Ever After comes back in a few weeks!
I’m breaking down the ways a travel agent can help you make your next vacation the best one ever!
Our travel planners at Friend Like Me Travel Co. are truly some of the best people out there - not just as agents, but as humans too! I am in awe of them and the work that they do for our guests every single day 🥰
Working with us to plan your next vacation means you’re supporting a small business AND getting the help that you need with your vacation plans - it’s a win-win situation!
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Happy New Year! 🎆
I've been having some great phone consultations with new clients in the last week! The "G" family and I had an awesome conversation about their first trip to Disney! This couple is in their late 50's and originally came to me with a preference of Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge- two very different options! After chatting with them about their preferences and style, we nixed Grand Floridian, but I suggested they look into Polynesian! Now, these two are torn- they love the "vibe" of the Wilderness Lodge...but you can't really beat the convenience of the Polynesian! What would you choose? Ready to book your own phone consultation to chat about your trip? Slots for this week are filling up quickly! Click here to get started: https://calendly.com/happilyeverabby/new-client-consultation
Check out Imagineer Kevin's update regarding the new story coming to Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom! I'm SO excited to see this new version!
Welcome, 2021! I'm going to be honest...the bar is set pretty low 😅
Take a ride on Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway with me! Have you had a chance to ride this brand new attraction in Disney's Hollywood Studios? I am LOVING the new trackless ride systems that Disney is creating. It's been used for both this attraction and Rise of the Resistance of in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, coming soon to Epcot, is also going to use this technology! It creates such a smooth ride while also allowing the cars to move without the limits created by a track!
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