Tip 1: The best camera is the one you have on you.

While I am sure that you will probably utilize the Disney PhotoPass Photographers for the iconic family shots (and you really should- they are awesome!), do not think that you cannot capture incredible moments just because you don’t have a fancy camera. The really meaningful, sentimental moments are likely not going to happen for the PhotoPass Photographers that snap your posed picture in front of the castle on Main Street. These little, tinier moments are going to happen all over the park- watching a cavalcade, seeing a beloved character, seeing the most amazing fireworks, or eating that iconic Disney treat! Don’t let these moments pass you by. If all you have is your phone, use it. 

Tip 2: Let the moments happen.

One of my biggest pieces of advice is this- don’t make your family/friends stop what they are doing and smile at the camera. Let them enjoy the moment. Let them live in that moment and experience every second of it. Take the shots through the moment ( as in, shoot a little before the moment- you’re going to be anticipating them- and don’t stop until after it’s over) with as  little interference as possible and I promise they will be better than any posed picture. These capture a feeling and will evoke that feeling years from down the road- and that’s Disney magic, my friends. 

Tip 3: Don’t forget the details.

Details are my favorite things to photograph. When I am at a session with a family, I’m always paying attention to little details throughout their home or in their children that help shape the story I’m trying to tell. When I photograph our vacations, I’m doing the same thing. I’m looking for those little details that shape our experience. This past time we went, one of the things that we enjoyed the most was the Holiday Cookie Stroll at Epcot. I made sure to take a picture of each cookie we tasted (they were all delicious!). To make them more personal, I included my children’s hands holding the cookie or even bite marks in the cookie! I also enjoy taking pictures of Hidden Mickey’s I find and details within the attraction que. My favorite details to capture though are ones that involve my family. I’m looking at the pins on their lanyards, the new ears they pick out, even the clothes they are wearing. All of these will be so, so nostalgic in 20 years and will bring back so many memories. For more information on how you can use details to help tell the story through imagery, click here to read a more in depth blog post.

Tip 4: Shoot the landscapes and thematic elements.

 In my opinion, there is no comparison when it comes to the incredible attention to theming and landscaping at Walt Disney World. I’ve never seen a more immersive and beautiful theme park. My personal favorite for experiencing this is Animal Kingdom. Everywhere you look, there is something spectacular to see- whether it’s in the savanna of Kilimanjaro Safari, handmade cultural holiday decorations (if you go near Christmas!), walking through the base camp of Expedition Everest, or exploring the lush, other worldly beauty of Pandora. You’ll be so glad you stopped for a minute or two to capture and appreciate the beauty that the Imagineers developed. 

Tip 5: Don’t stop shooting once you leave the parks.

This is huge for me- if you take away anything from this blog- take away this tip. I know when you exit the parks and the day is coming to a close, it’s easy to pack it up and call it a day. But, hear me out.  When I am working with my clients, my camera is out and ready the moment I step out of the car, usually before my clients even know I am there. My camera doesn’t get put away until I have pulled away from their house. Why? Because you never know when moments are going to happen. Some of my very favorite and most memorable pictures from our vacations are after we have left the parks and I may be the only one awake. One of my son’s favorite things about Disney is the Monorail and Disney buses! After a long, fun, magical day at the parks, I snapped a picture of him with his tired little head resting on the railing of the Monorail que, expectantly waiting to see it pull into the station. It’s a really meaningful image for me as a mother because I know it will take me back to a certain time and place in his life- one where he was obsessed with transportation and trains… all the childhood innocence that comes with that. Another favorite is my daughter checking out her reflection in the bathroom  mirror at the resort after getting a princess makeover. Another favorite is when we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and we could see the fireworks from our room window/balcony. My husband and two children were laying on the bed watching the fireworks over the savanna and fell asleep. I remember getting so emotional and grabbing my camera to freeze this moment in time for us forever. For me, it was such a tender and beautiful moment. All of these happened outside of the parks, and I’m willing to bet you’ve had or will have some of these moments yourself. Keep that camera handy, friends. 

I hope that you will find these tips helpful and easy to implement into your memory making. Also, buy a power bank before you go! Ours is always such a lifesaver for me. Keep that phone charged and stash an extra memory card (and battery too!) for your camera. Be ready to capture those memories! I’d love to hear about your experiences and see your pictures- tag me on Instagram @jess.nicole.photography!

It is important to note here that the height requirements are there as a safety measure. As the Imagineers design the rides, they are made based off certain height measures of the riders. They do measure children that are close to the cut off and the rule is they cannot be able to slide a piece of paper between the height marker and your child’s head. Nothing you stuff in a child’s shoe is going to change the physics of a ride. Just don’t do it.

For parents with children that are under the height requirement or just don’t feel like riding, don’t forget about the Rider Swap option! This gives your older children to ride certain rides, while parents swap and the little ones are free to eat a snack or explore a little bit elsewhere.

Don’t forget to check out our podcast where Sarah and I chat about our top 10 favorite rides at Walt Disney World!

Don’t forget if you are planning a trip to any Disney Destination, make sure you contact one of The Charming Travel Co. Travel Professionals to help with planning every detail of your trip — no matter what height!

I have an upcoming trip with some girl friends and the planning is a lot more collaborative than when it’s just with my family. Everyone has great taste and input and we are tossing ideas around…. with my family, it’s usually just reminders of staying within the budget and “I’m not wearing that.”

You’re thinking — “WHY are you putting that much work into Disney trip outfits?”

You know how people spend time and money to get cute family photos every year? You know those super cute fall or Christmas family photos? I don’t do those…. we do Disney pictures with our Memory Maker! So those pictures in front of the castle, tree, theater, and geodesic sphere? Those are the pictures that get sent out on our Christmas cards and shared all over social media. We gotta look good.

So, to help make this easier for you, I’ve created some style inspiration boards for you and your family or friends for your next Christmas Disney trip!

We gotta start with the classic Christmas colors and looks! This collage features some of the amazing new Christmas merchandise available at Disney this season! I’m a big fan of clothing items that can be mixed and matched with my regular wardrobe. So I’m a huge fan of this striped crop top. I’m super petite and between my high waisted jeans and skirts, I find crop tops to be the most flattering for my shape…. even thought I never actually show my belly! I also am a big fan of a solid colored swing skirt. Perfect for wearing everyday and mixing up for different Disneybound outfits. Lastly, the accessories are the key details that tie everything together. Go for the big loud Christmas earrings!

Inspiration comes from many places. In this case, the inspirations for these outfits came from my friend Brittany of Chronicles of a Pixie. She makes the most adorable and comfortable bowbands to bring a little bit of Disney magic to your everyday outfits! This amazing Pink Gingerbread Print Bowband inspired this entire design board. There is something so delicious about a pink Christmas! It reminds me of fluffy icing and candy. I think these colors would just look amazing in front of Cinderella’s newly painted castle!

I love bright unexpected colors and I love candy cane and peppermints. I took inspiration from another Chronicles of a Pixie bowband for this one. What I like about this look is that these are all colors we have in our closets right now! It’s just a matter of pulling them out and pairing them together. The blue jeans fit in perfectly with this palette too. So a perfect casual option. My new favorite striped shirt makes an appearance again in this board. Plus, can we all just appreciate the perfection that is the candy cane mini backpack?!

One of my favorite parts of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is the parade and the toy soldiers are always a spectacle! This is a perfect ensemble piece. Since we are going to have to wear masks at Disney for the foreseeable future, why not have some fun with it? I put together a quick mock up of a mask you could design in the top left hand corner! Pair that with a “toy solider” shirt found with a quick Google search, black leggings for everyone in your party, and some red hats. If you wanted to get real authentic, I saw some how tos to DIY your own solider hat with some cardboard! So depending on how much effort you want to put into this…. Your have lots of options! You could also do red headbands or red sparkle Minnie ears with a yellow bow. Your only limit is your imagination!

I hope this has given you some inspiration to for your own Christmas outfits for your next trip to Disney World!

I’m off to purchase that amazing striped shirt now, but if you are ready to travel and considering a trip to a Disney Destination — contact one of our amazing TCTCo. Travel Professionals to help you!

Why isn’t there someone I can just ask about this?

– You. (Lamenting.)

This is where we queue the Fairy Godmother and she waves her magic wand and then you are on your pumpkin wrapped motor bus headed to Walt Disney World.

While we might not exactly be magical Fairy Godmothers, what we are lacking in magic wands, we make up for in knowledge and experience of Disney Destinations and other vacation favorites.

The travel industry has changed a lot over the last year, but if there is one thing that everyone is sure of — it’s the importance of having a travel agent on your side.

When travel destinations were closing back in March, we were immediately on the phone moving trips, cancelling trips, getting refunds for our clients, starting the process of travel insurance reimbursements.

Wait times on both the consumer and travel agents lines were hours long. We were able to prevent those long waits for many of our clients by making those phone calls for them.

Whether it’s suggesting the right resort for your family, recommending and booking dining reservations, or planning out every detail of your itinerary we are here for you.

When you are ready to travel again, we are ready to create some magical memories for you!

Find a TCTCo. Travel Agent for your family.

Who else has an obsession with Minnie Ears?

Sarah and I sure do! And one of our favorite things to do is to put our Minnie ears on and…. TRAVEL!

So we invite you to put on your travel ears and join us as we discuss the latest in travel news and share with you all some of our best tips and tricks, our favorites at our favorite travel destinations, and some of our crazy travel stories!

Check out our first podcast!

In our first episode, we share our inspiration for starting this agency, and we share some of our favorites and introduce ourselves.

In 2015, two complete strangers bonded over a mutual love of Disney and that mutual love of Disney sparked a friendship.

These friends have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and actually connected as “battle buddies” in past business ventures. During a business convention at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, a dream was born — we wanted to start our own travel agency in 5 years.

After a combined 7 years in the travel industry, the year 2020 hit… and it hit hard. Destinations closed and we found ourselves with no trips to plan. Even though it could have been seen as a bad situation, we finally had time to think and dream again. We started thinking about the possibilities and the opportunities for growth.

So almost exactly 5 years on the dot from that fateful conversation, Sarah and I started The Charming Travel Co.

As faithful people, we felt every step of our journey was guided by divine intervention. Things clicked where they needed and stalled when we needed to take a little more time to think about things.

Sometimes it still feels like a dream being able to wake up everyday and do exactly what we dreamed about doing!

We thank you for the opportunity to be part of creating your family’s story.