Booking a trip to a Disney theme park can be a daunting experience even for seasoned Disney vacationers.
The options for passes, restaurants, rides and hotels are seemingly infinite, and what’s on offer continually changes. And then there’s the terminology to get to grips with, from “Lightning Lanes” to “rope drop”.
Recognizing that it’s all too easy for the Happiest Place on Earth to become one of the most confusing and frustrating, a cottage industry of planning and support agencies has emerged to offer Disney-goers a helping hand with the planning and booking — and understanding what’s worth doing and what isn’t.
“Mouse Counselors” is one such company, formed in 2008 by the husband-and-wife team of Phil and Bonnie Marino, who explain that their counselors are “graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge” (an online training program for Disney travel agents).
There are caveats to bear in mind, as we explain, but Sebastian Garrido, from Mexico City, tellsThe Independent that this firm “was the very reason a recent trip to Walt Disney World did not end up being totally overwhelming”.
So, how does the Mouse Counselors service work?
First, the customer is sent a form to fill out that details the ride and restaurant options, with a weekly email explaining parts of the experience in more detail.
Nearer the departure time, you’ll have a Zoom review with your “Mouse Counselor”, which is a chance to run through any outstanding questions.
When you arrive at the park, you won’t be armed with an itinerary as such, but if your “counselor” has done their job, you’ll know which rides you should aim for at rope drop — early entrance for those staying at a Disney resort — and which you should add to Lightning Lane multi and single passes.
Mouse Counselors are also trained to reveal the rides for which a pass would be redundant, because they don’t get booked up or have a very high capacity.
The result should be a trip unscarred by soul-destroying queues.
To add to the VIP vibe, Mouse Counselors aim to secure reservations at difficult-to-book restaurants.
Sebastian, the digital marketing manager and copywriter at Vibe Adventures, said: “Mouse Counselors got us into…
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