Melanie O, Maryland

Specialty: Walt Disney World
Last Answer Posted: 11/2/2023

About Me

Hello, dreamers of all ages! I'm Melanie- a Disney snack-lover and an outdoorsy marine biologist living in Maryland with my totally rad Crush (aka my husband). My husband and I are the proud dog parents of a Bluey-lookalike Blue Heeler puppy named Mr. Pickles. When I'm not listening to Disney music and podcasts 24/7, you can find this doctor communicating marine science and conservation work to the public and Congress. Like Moana, I've developed a fierce determination to protect the ocean. My favorite Walt Disney World Resort is Disney's Beach Club Resort because it brings me back to my childhood going to the Jersey Shore. My Disney journey began with singing along with the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and has escalated into constructing Star Wars cosplay for our voyage aboard the Halcyon Starcruiser. I also adore Disneybounding for runDisney races. I'm a plant-based food and craft beer sommelier thanks to my Jedi Brewmaster husband and pescatarian family.

About My Family

You could say that my husband and I are Wilderness Explorers because we met while volunteering at an Earth Day event in 2013. We celebrated our engagement at the Walt Disney World Resort, and I was so relieved when my Disney-newbie fiancé was willing to visit all of the parks from rope drop until closing, AND he couldn't wait to return! Witnessing my husband shed a tear the first time he saw the Millenium Falcon at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge only strengthened our Disney love. "Someday [our children] will come," but for now, this Walt Disney World Resort-loving couple becomes a beacon of magic when it's time to plan an adults-only vacation.

In 2020, my family topped off my sister's wedding celebration in a practically perfect way with a multi-family and multi-generational Walt Disney World Resort vacation. It had been years since our last multi-generational trip, so it was incredibly special to look over during the fireworks dessert party at Magic Kingdom Park and see our party of 20 turn into pixie dust. More recently, my Padawan sister, Jedi Knight brother-in-law, Jedi Brewmaster husband, and I embarked on a Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser journey to a galaxy far, far away in May 2022. Despite some "galactic unrest," the Chandrilla Star Line's fantastic crew, phenomenal food, and nonstop entertainment offered the trip of a lifetime and brought us closer together than ever before.

About My Disney Experience

A long time ago, in 1990, in a galaxy far, far away.....my parents took me on my first Walt Disney World Resort vacation before I was even born. Growing up a Disney kid, Winnie the Pooh taught me how to dance, and Disney's Sing-a-long song VHS tapes taught me how to belt out a tune. Every year as a child, my grandpa would have my family stop their work at our family-owned garden center for a multigenerational Walt Disney World Resort vacation. I learned all of my planning tips at the dinner table during my mom's daily Disney vacation planning presentations. These annual trips melted all of our worries away. Now, I spend the year discussing my Walt Disney World Resort vacation plans with my mom daily.

My husband, the Han Solo to my Leia, was a Disney newbie when we first met. Now, he's wielding the Disney force with Jedi-strength and helping me plan magical vacations! Even though my heart resides in Fantasyland, my favorite Disney memory was learning that my family's midi-chlorian count was above average during our recent journey on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. My family has celebrated engagements, weddings, birthdays, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parties, and other special life events at the Walt Disney World Resort. We always add Enchanting Extras to our stays to get the most magic out of our vacations. The Walt Disney World Resort takes us on immersive adventures that bring us closer than ever to the stories and characters we love.