Heyyyy! I’m Danielle (Dani), a single mom to a super awesome 12-year-old boy, a lifelong planner, and a self-proclaimed Theme Park Girl!
I’ve been planning vacations since the days of road atlases and MapQuest printouts. Long before smartphones, GPS, and ChatGPT, I was the girl with notebooks full of lists, directions, and vacation plans. Some things never change!
My love for Universal Orlando started with Halloween Horror Nights trips with friends. Eventually, I became an annual passholder and started taking solo trips whenever I could. Then came Disney World, and by my son’s third birthday in 2017, we were celebrating with a weeklong Disney AND Universal vacation!
Since then, I’ve visited Disney World more than 10 times and Universal Orlando more than 20. And now? I’m raising a theme park kid, too!
A Different Perspective on the Parks
My son is on the autism spectrum, and experiencing the parks through his eyes has completely changed how I enjoy them.
He’s not a thrill seeker, so I’ve learned to slow down, explore the little details, and appreciate the incredible creativity that goes into bringing these places to life. Watching him develop his own passion for theming and storytelling has been one of my favorite parts of our adventures.
It’s also taught me something important: there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all theme park vacation.
Every family has different interests, needs, challenges, and budgets. My goal is to help you plan a vacation that works for YOUR family, not somebody else’s idea of the perfect trip.
So, Why Happy Place Vacation Planner?
Because I genuinely LOVE planning vacations!
I’m already that friend everyone comes to with Disney and Universal questions. I’ve helped friends with itineraries, resorts, dining reservations, and all those little details that can make or break a vacation.
And as a single mom, I know what it’s like to be the person responsible for planning EVERYTHING. Sometimes you just want someone else to help figure it all out!
I also believe there’s nothing worse than coming home from a vacation and saying, “Wait… we could have done THAT?! Nobody told us!”
And don’t even get me started on theme park misinformation. No, you cannot ride Harry Potter attractions at Disney World. 😂
I want you to know your options, feel confident about your plans, and come home already dreaming about your next trip.
What Can You Expect From Me?
Real experiences, honest opinions, practical planning advice, and probably a lot of fun facts about the rides or the parks you’re going to experience! I know tons of useless theme park facts. But that just makes things even more exciting and fun!🤩
I’m not here to tell you every resort, restaurant, or attraction is AMAZING just because somebody else says so. I’ll tell you what I love, what I don’t, and WHY.
Through this blog, I’ll share my own adventures, planning tips, resort experiences, favorite finds, and plenty of opinions about Disney, Universal, and Halloween Horror Nights.
You’ll also find ways to work with me on planning your own vacation, along with some fun Happy Place extras as the business grows!
Most importantly, I want this to be a place where you feel comfortable asking questions, getting ideas, and discovering that an incredible vacation doesn’t have to look exactly like everyone else’s.
Welcome to Happy Place!
Whether you’re planning your family’s first Orlando vacation, returning for your 20th trip, or just love talking theme parks as much as I do, I’m glad you’re here!
Follow along, say hello, share your experiences, and PLEASE ask questions. I love talking about this stuff!
And if you’re ready to start planning your next adventure, send me a message!
Let’s find YOUR Happy Place! 💖
