Theme Park, Leisure, and Family Travel Specialist

First trip to Epic Universe with my boy!

Hi! I'm Heather, and I live in Petal, Mississippi. I'm originally from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. After almost twenty years in the dental industry, and with my son off to college, I also returned to school. After checking that goal off the list, it was time to pursue my true passion--travel planning!

My dad demonstrated the value of three things growing up: always take the trip, have a detailed travel folder, and take tons of pictures! I traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest, including 11 ski resorts and 6 national parks, with my family when I was younger and have continued the tradition with my family. If there is a park, beach, mountain, or lighthouse in the vicinity we want to see it! I was raised to place adventure above the collection of things. When we gift, we gift experiences! So how did we celebrate our graduations? We went to Orlando, of course!

This latest was my 12th trip to Disney World, 8th to Universal, and 4th to SeaWorld. So, why would I want to go again? The truth is, I have a new experience each time, especially regarding the shows. The Nighttime Lights over Hogwarts and the fireworks displays at Disney are indescribable. Calling them incredible hardly does these spectaculars any justice. They are magical! Our nephew joined us again, and this was the third trip with him included in the mix, and when we go, we go all out! It begins with early hours, includes nonstop food, pin trading, show, and rides, and ends with closing the parks! It was a jam-packed trip that was only possible with a plan. Making dining reservations, utilizing early hours, having Universal Express passes, and using Disney's Genie+ saved countless hours of waiting in line!

As an adult, the planning bug bit me many moons ago when I planned a destination wedding in New Orleans while living in Washington. It's only grown from there! I'm a coastal girl and have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the West, East, and Florida coasts--from mountains to beaches and everything in between. I am willing and eager to travel, even last minute, which has taken me to incredible places, including Alaska, Moab, Cape San Blas, and Saint Croix. I miss the PNW daily, but living within driving distance of Biloxi, New Orleans, Memphis, Seaside, Destin, and Orlando and everything they offer has only increased my travel portfolio. As the planner of the bunch, my friends and family often call me first because they know that I am resourceful, and I find joy in the details! Remember that travel folder that my dad suggested? I still have it, only now it's become a detailed notebook, and I'm always planning our next adventure!

We visit Orlando often because we live within an eight-hour drive, and the military pricing is fantastic! I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of all the discounts for members. Are you ready to hear about a few of my favorite things? First and likely most importantly, we enjoy attending the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. We have participated in this festival six times, with plans to attend again this year. We have also attended Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. These are fantastic events for kids and adults, as they go all out with the decorations, and Disney World during the holidays is a must-see! Animal Kingdom and Epcot are my favorite parks because my son is a zookeeper (he even took his graduation photos there), and we enjoy trying new foods. We love to eat and drink around the world, and Animal Kingdom has the best rides, especially if you like Avatar. I don't do most of the big rides, but my boy finally convinced me to try all of them in Pandora this last time, and I couldn't believe I had waited. Wow! I was speechless. The Lightning Lane purchase for this ride was so worth it! You must see it to understand. If we have someone with us that has never been, we always take them to Magic Kingdom because I love to see the look on their face when they view the castle for the first time! They usually cry happy tears because it is just so magnificent. If I'm not in the mood for rides, I prefer to start at Epcot, hop over to Hollywood Studios on the Skyliner to watch all the Disney short films, and then jump back to Epcot for the fireworks. It's truly an ideal day for me!

What do I enjoy outside of traveling and planning? I love to cook and listen to music, usually simultaneously. As a former dental instructor, I pride myself on being a lifetime learner. I want to learn all I can, striving to learn something new daily. I also enjoy the outdoors, whether gardening, walking, hiking, attending concerts and festivals, or snow skiing, but I'm not a fan of the South's bugs, weather events, or lack of snow!

What's up next for me? Upcoming trips include Antigua, Ireland, and Orlando (of course)! What's on your list? Let's chat soon. I'm happy to help...because I believe you should ALWAYS take the trip!