Shantel H, Arizona
- 12/29/2021
About Me
Hello from sunny Arizona! I am a former elementary school teacher turned stay-at-home mom, to a thrill-seeking boy and a little princess. When I am not organizing the chaos at home or exploring the parks with my family, you can find me researching all things Disney! I love finding new ways to experience the magic during my family’s vacations to the Disney Parks, but my true passion is searching for new treats to try! While everything is better at Disney, it’s a fact that snacks and food taste SO much better when they are Mickey shaped! My friends and family have unofficially appointed me as their go-to Disney vacation planner because of my need to share all the “must-do” new offerings and “must-try” seasonal snacks, as they are planning for their trips! On the days I am not submerging myself in all things Disney, you can find me coaching cheer, working out, shopping or spending time with the family.
About My Family
I met my husband at our local church, and we have been married since 2012. Our life together began in Alaska and since then has brought us back to Arizona! My husband is active duty in the United States Army, and we are so grateful to be able to enjoy and experience all the promotions Disney offers for his military service. In 2014, just two years after marrying my Prince Charming, we welcomed our son, who is a Chiari warrior, followed by our own little princess just three years later, in 2017. Due to our son’s battle with Chiari, we’ve been in and out of the hospital many times and even feared that our son would never get to enjoy Disney the way we do. Thankfully, our son has proven to be a true fighter and Disney is always so accommodating to our family’s special needs, which helps us make every trip magical. Growing up, my parents always took my sisters and I to the parks, but it wasn’t until my husband traveled with our children that he found himself bit by the Disney bug! Now I catch him joining in on my researching sessions and watching vacation planning videos with the kids on Saturday mornings!
About My Disney Experience
My love for Disney began early on thanks to classic Disney movies growing up, and the Wonderful World of Reading, books my mom would bring home for me weekly. Then at just five years old, we took my first Disney Vacation and I was hooked! It became a tradition for my parents to take my sisters and I at least once a year, sometimes even more. I originally fell in love with the Disneyland Resort and after I had my own family, grew to know and love Walt Disney World Resort as well! Disney Parks set the scene for the magic to happen, but I now find that some of the best magic is traveling with those I love. It’s seeing my son conquer The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror with his grandpa, and watching my mom grip the rides extra tight because as it turns out, she was only being brave because I was so young. The best part, however, is watching Disney through the eyes of my children. My fondest memory yet, is seeing my kids hug and meet Mickey Mouse for the first time, and now hugging him hello each time we visit is one of my favorite parts of the vacation. I will admit, I cry every time! Getting to see my children’s faces light up each trip reminds me of when I was a little girl and now, I understand why my parents continued to bring us every year. Disney not only allows me to “never grow up” but it gives me a chance to experience a different kind of magic while I continue to make new memories with my family.
Questions I’ve Answered
- On Dec 20, 2021
Arlene from CA asked“Hi, Our family has a reservation/tickets for 6 people for two days-CA and DL. Grandma will not be going given the current Omicron situation, but the remaining 5 of us still plan to go. Can she use her ticket at a later date? What need we do?”Shantel AnsweredHakuna Matata, Arlene, it means no worries!Of course, grandma can hang onto her ticket to use at a later date. You’ll want to store it in a safe place until she’s ready to use it.... - On Dec 20, 2021
Benedicta from CA asked“What happens on rainy days, how can we make the best of our visit if it rains?”Shantel AnsweredHey there, Benedicta!Welcome to planDisney! You’ve come to the right place especially since I’ve recently returned from a rainy day trip myself.Let’s start with a few things... - On Dec 18, 2021
Diana from CA asked“I have tickets/reservation but I'd like to know if I can switch my hopper from Disneyland first to California Adventure first instead, hopping to the other at 1:00pm ”Shantel AnsweredHey there, Diana, and welcome to planDisney!I’m so happy to see that you’ll be visiting the Disneyland Resort very soon! Great news, you can switch your theme park reservations to a... - On Dec 18, 2021
Laura from CA asked“How can I purchase tickets if I do t have a date because it’s a gift ? If I purchase gift cards at any store can they be used to purchase tickets at later date?”Shantel AnsweredHey there, Hi there, Ho there, Laura!Welcome to planDisney, it’s so nice to see a fellow Mouseketeer gEARing up for the Disneyland Resort. I hope you are planning on visiting the parks as... - On Dec 18, 2021
Debbie from CA asked“I want to buy tickets for a Christmas gift but I want to reserve for October 2022 but this date is not available yet. Can I purchase and reserve later?”Shantel AnsweredGreetings Space Ranger!Welcome to planDisney, let’s get you geared up and ready to fly to Infinity & Beyond!Debbie, what an excellent gift to give! I completely understand your worry about...