Chelsea Howell

Chelsea Howell – Concierge Travel Advisor | Walt Disney World & Disney Dining

Chelsea Howell is a Concierge Travel Advisor with Favorite Grampy Travels, specializing in Walt Disney World, Disney dining, and Universal Orlando, based in Dover, Tennessee.

A Strategic Snack Plan for Every Park Day

I plan Disney vacations the way some people plan dinner parties. Every ride, every meal, every snack has a place in the day, and the route between them matters more than most people realize.

At EPCOT, I eat my way around the World Showcase and consider it research. The Raspberry Macaron at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in the France Pavilion is the perfect sweet and sour combination, and the Tropical Serenade Dole Whip Float at Magic Kingdom is a refreshing must-try that most first-timers walk right past. I build snack stops into every park plan I create because the food at Disney is part of the experience, not just fuel between rides.

But here’s what sets my planning apart: I also build a strategic game plan for riding everything you want, even on a crowded day. That means mapping a route through the park that makes sense geographically, timing your Lightning Lane selections around wait patterns, and knowing when to push through a busy stretch versus when to step away and grab a snack while the crowds thin out. When a client tells me they want to hit every major attraction and eat well on the same day, I don’t see a problem. I see a puzzle I love solving.

Tennessee Roots, Orlando Obsession

I’ve loved Disney for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are trips to Disney and Universal with my parents and grandparents. The thrill of walking into the parks and feeling like you’d stepped into a completely different world stuck with me long after we got home. Those childhood trips are the reason I became a travel agent. The best memories I have aren’t things. They’re moments with people I love in places that felt special.

I live in Tennessee with my husband, our two kids (ages 8 and 11), and two fur-babies, a lab and a mini goldendoodle. We travel as much as we can between school and sports seasons, and every trip teaches me something new that I bring back to my clients. Our first cruise opened our eyes to how much of the world you can see from one ship, and it created a passion to keep exploring. We’ve since sailed with Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and Carnival, and we’ve traveled to Maui, Alaska, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico.

I’m also a dental hygienist, and the overlap between that work and travel planning is more real than you’d think. In both jobs, I’m turning something that feels stressful into a positive experience. I pay close attention to details most people overlook, and I genuinely care about making sure the person across from me feels comfortable and taken care of. Those habits carry over into every itinerary I build.

One thing I always tell families: enjoy your first day at the resort. Don’t rush to the parks. Unpack, hit the pool, let the kids get excited. Then start your park days the next morning when everyone is rested. And plan a pool day in the middle of the week too. If you have little ones who get tired and cranky by early afternoon, go back to the resort for a nap or swim break, then head back to the parks later when it’s cooler and the crowds have thinned. That one adjustment saves the whole trip.

Beyond the Parks

I know Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort inside and out. I can tell you which buildings are closest to the Skyliner station, where the quietest pool is, and which room requests make the biggest difference for families with young kids. If you’re looking for a resort with quick, stress-free access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner, Caribbean Beach is one of the best moderate options, and it’s one I recommend often.

I also plan Universal Orlando vacations and have personal experience in the parks. Between Disney World and Universal, Orlando has more to offer families than ever, especially now that Epic Universe has added five new worlds, including SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic.

For families looking beyond the parks, I plan trips to Maui and have firsthand experience navigating the island, from the Road to Hana to the best beaches for families with kids. I also help families plan cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean based on my own sailing experience.

Based in Dover, Tennessee, I work with families across the country. Most of my clients are parents who want a great vacation but don’t have the time or energy to research every detail themselves. One client told me I saved them “so much time and money,” and that’s exactly what I’m going for. You tell me what your family wants, and I handle the rest.

Disney Planning Questions

Q: What does Chelsea Howell specialize in at Disney World?

I focus on Disney dining and strategic park-day planning. I build itineraries that fit snack stops, sit-down meals, Lightning Lane timing, and attraction routing into one smooth day, even during the busiest weeks of the year. If your family wants to ride everything and eat well on the same trip, that’s exactly what I do.

Q: What’s the best way to handle a crowded day at Disney World?

Start at rope drop, prioritize your top two or three rides first, and use Lightning Lane for anything with consistently long waits. Plan a midday break at the resort, then come back in the evening when crowds thin and the parks feel completely different. The route you take through the park matters just as much as what you ride.

Q: Do I really need help planning a Disney vacation?

Disney changes constantly. Lightning Lane pricing shifts daily, dining reservations open 60 days out and fill up fast, and resort choice affects your transportation and park access. I stay current on all of it so you don’t have to. Most clients tell me they had no idea how much goes into getting it right until they tried on their own.

Q: Which Disney World resort is best for families using the Skyliner?

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is my top pick for families who want Skyliner access at a moderate price. The gondola takes you directly to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios with no bus wait. I can recommend specific room buildings based on where you want to be closest to the station, the pool, or the food court.