By Sherri Coner
To navigate through 43 miles of the Disney World experience, including four parks, 173 rides, Cinderella’s castle and special characters kids are crazy for, inside information makes the trip a success.
That is why Krista Day of Center Grove is the hero for every Disney World novice.
She knows a lot of what Disney lovers don’t know, such as the importance of detailed planning.
For example, if your kids want to dine with specific characters, reservations should be made 60 days in advance.
That’s right … 60 days ahead means that going to Disney without a plan can be the perfect recipe for disaster.
“You can get up at 6 a.m. and try to make a restaurant reservation,” Day said. “But a lot of places are already full.”
Another hot spot is Cinderella’s castle.
Book that reservation immediately, too, Day said.
As a Disney Planner, Day is actually employed by a travel company.
So when families need a hero, her wisdom and time-saving tips have no cost.
“Families only benefit from the information and sometimes we can also help them save some money,” Day said.
The point that can’t possibly be stressed enough is all about the need to know ahead of your trip who wants to do what and how to best make those wishes happen.
“It is quite the planning adventure these days,” Day said of stress-free Disney World visits. “It also always helps to stay on the property. Transportation on buses, the monorail or the skyliner is accessible and easy.”
When Day and 10 members of her family, including her husband, Dave and their daughters, Madelynn, 8, and Emily, 6, prepared for their first trip to the globally known destination, she too worked with a Disney planner.
Because the planner helped make their trip special and convenient, Day was inspired to follow her planner’s lead.
As hardcore Disney lovers, the Day family has racked up six trips to Disney World.
“Both of my girls got their first haircuts at Disney,” she said. “We have a lock of their hair and a certificate for each of them.”
Last summer, Day and her husband assumed that because their daughters were older, they would likely want to ride more rides.
“All they wanted to do was meet characters,” she said. “And they were also into pin trading.”
This hobby for kids includes trading Disney decorated lapel pins.
“You just go around to different places where different kinds of pins are displayed and trade yours for a different one or some people wear the pins on lanyards and trade with other guests. Pin trading is just another layer of Disney magic,” Day said.
One priceless tip in Day’s collection of doing Disney is to explain the special app for a family’s phones. Using the app allows kids to wait for rides in what’s called the Lightning Lane.
That app is what prevents families from being hot and sweaty in the Florida sun, often waiting three or more hours to ride a more popular or new ride.
Of course that means the Lightning Lane can prevent kid meltdowns in stereo, and who doesn’t want to duck that parental party?
Day is also the hero for anyone who wants to learn more about and book trips on a Disney Cruise Line.
Whatever the interest might be, Day is dedicated to helping each family to uniquely plan and make their trip as happy as possible.
“I help families all the way through, from making hotel reservations to booking meals with characters to telling them all about special things happening in certain areas, like the food and wine at Epcot, where they serve snacks from around the world,” Day said. “There are so many different ways to do Disney and it’s different for every family. Everything there is timed and on a schedule. It’s not a good idea to just wing it. Go with a plan.”
To contact Day:
Find her on Facebook: Facebook.com/kristadaytravels
Send an email: kristradaytravels@gmail.com
Or give her a call: (Day is also a teacher, so call after 4 p.m.: 317-319-8973
