I sat down with Colleen Parisi of A Walk in the Park with Colleen to talk to her about her business of helping people create magical memories at Disney. Colleen, who has been to Disney World Orlando over 2 dozen times, has been planning stress free Disney vacations since 2016.
Q: Why would someone need a planner to go to Disney?
“Disney has so much to do and see, so you have to be cautious to do them in a timely manner. A week’s vacation at Disney will not let you do everything, so you need to decide what is most important to you.” One example Colleen pointed out was dining reservations. Certain restaurants are made 180 days in advance, so if you have a little girl that needs to see princesses in the castle, you need to plan ahead.
Q: How do you help someone plan a Disney vacation?
The biggest way Colleen helps her clients is by saving them time. “I don’t like my clients to stand in line, so I share all my tips and tricks to keep them from standing in line.” Then the next thing she helps plan is dining.
“There are food trucks Disney Springs and every park has counter service, but I find that the table or sit-down is more relaxing. You have a seat in the AC, and it’s a chance to rehydrate. You have to keep hydrated in the Florida heat. There are also great character dining options rather than waiting in the park to meet your favorite characters.”
Q: When is the best time of year to go to Disney?
“The lower crowds tend to be late Jan- Feb. Then again in early April. Summer is busy since school is out, but it quiets down again at the end of August/beginning of September since school starts again. Beginning of December is great: Christmas decorations in the parks and all the resorts. At the Grand Floridian there is a Gingerbread house store, and every few minutes it pumps out the smell of fresh gingerbread. Also, do not underestimate 3 day weekends.”
Q: What’s the difference between using your service or planning a Disney vacation myself?
There’s so much research you can do on the parks, rides, dining options, shows and attractions. Having someone with the Disney knowledge can make that process much quicker and less stressful.
For example, here’s a park tip Colleen shares: “Most people walk in the park and go to the right. So, start to the left. This way you are avoiding all that traffic and will get into the other rides and attractions faster.”
Disney’s Fast Pass program will give you 3 passes to get to the front of the line. Colleen recommends using these passes on the more popular busier rides. Getting to the park when it opens at 9am can also help you to beat the crowds and have more magical experiences. If you are a Disney Resort guest, Extra Magic hours are available either before the park opens or after the regular closing time for even more fun and lighter crowds.
Q: What is one question that they should ask to help plan the trip?
What do you want to accomplish? How many roller coasters, how many shows, how many characters and autographs. Once Colleen has a good idea of the goals for your trip, she can then help you plan accordingly.
Q: How did you get into Disney planning?
Colleen and her husband could not have children, so they decided to take their nieces and nephews to Disney. “It became my mission to plan the best Disney vacation possible.” she says. A lot of her information she simply learned from visiting Disney time and time again. Colleen subscribes to newsletters, follows Facebook groups, keeps in touch with Disney travel agents, and even gets the inside scoop from Disney employees. She’s turned that passion into planning for others and by doing so she lives vicariously through people going to Disney.
“People get overwhelmed with the amount of planning, I can literally see the stress come off my clients faces. This is a once in a lifetime trip, people need help to make it the best. The tools are out there to help you plan the trip, I’m just one of them.Seeing and creating magical moments makes all the effort planning worth while.”
Q: How long does it take to plan a trip?
I suggest my clients reach out 8-10 months in advance to break up the planning. I go to your home and we plan one thing at a time, starting with what you want to accomplish, then dining, then rides. The planning is spread out and takes the pressure off clients. I make all the reservations for dining, I schedule all the Fast Passes in a particular order and create an order for how I recommend you walk through the park based on all the things the client wants to see and do.
Colleen has been to Disney World in Orlando over 30 times. She usually goes to Disney twice per year, and says it never gets old! She’s been to DisneyLand in California once, and hopes for another visit within the year. She has also visited Disney Paris and hopes to someday visit the 3 Disney Parks in Asia.
Q: What is the biggest misconception about planning a Disney trip?
Some people think they can plan it themselves and there’s so much involved if you don’t really know what you’re getting into you will spend a lot of time researching and you may not accomplish all that you wanted to.
What Colleen offers is like a concierge service- she does everything for her clients but drive them to the airport, and even then she could work that in!
Q: Who is your favorite Disney character and why?
Cruella. I don’t know why, I’m not a fur person, and I love dogs… maybe it’s because she does what she wants to do. She’s just got a way about her.
As for her favorite part of Disney? When she’s not making friends with complete strangers, Colleen says she loves watching people.
To start planning your Disney vacation and start your own Walk in the Park With Colleen:
