Meredith Chudy

The Three Decisions That Make or Break a Disney Trip

There are a few key elements that can make the difference between a smooth, enjoyable Walt Disney World vacation and one that feels a bit overwhelming: choosing the right resort, planning your dining, and making the most of Lightning Lane. When those pieces come together, everything else tends to fall into place. When they don’t, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on what the experience could have been.

I’m Meredith, a Concierge Travel Advisor with Favorite Grampy Travels, and I specialize in helping families plan memorable trips to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. I am passionate about resort selection, dining strategy, and Lightning Lane planning—because those are the areas where thoughtful guidance can really elevate your trip.

Whether it’s finding the best resort fit for families with young children, choosing options that make park access easier, or understanding how the different resort categories truly compare, I’m here to help simplify the decisions. I can also guide you on when a table-service meal is worth the reservation and when it makes more sense to grab something quick between rides, as well as how to build a Lightning Lane plan that helps you save meaningful time in the parks.

My goal is to make the planning process feel easy, and your vacation feel just as magical as it should be.

How I Got Here

For over 10 years, I’ve been the person friends and family call when they’re planning a Disney or Universal trip. I’d build out their park days, recommend resorts based on their budget and group size, figure out dining, and walk them through the ride strategy. After a while, people stopped asking, “Can you help with our trip?” and started saying, “You should do this for a living.”

I wanted to, but I was teaching 6th grade full-time and raising young kids, and the timing never felt right. After seven years in the classroom and a few years as a stay-at-home mom, I finally took the leap and joined Favorite Grampy Travels. The moment I did, it clicked. This is exactly where my skills belong.

I’ve since earned my College of Disney Knowledge certification, become a Universal Orlando Resort Specialist and Universal Studios Hollywood Specialist, and completed my Orlando Certified Expert and California Specialist credentials. I’m actively pursuing more certifications because the parks change constantly, and I want to know every update before it affects your family’s trip.

The Grand Floridian Changed Everything

I’ve been going to Walt Disney World since I was little. Some of my earliest memories are from those family trips. But there’s one trip that changed how I think about Disney vacations entirely.

During high school, my family stayed at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort for the first time. We’d always done moderate or value resorts, and this was our first deluxe experience. The monorail access to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, watching Wishes fireworks from the Grand Floridian beach, and dining at restaurants we’d never tried before all made that trip extra magical! I came home already planning our next visit.

That experience is why I’m so particular about resort selection for my clients. The right resort doesn’t just give you a place to sleep. It changes how the whole trip feels. I help families figure out which resort matches their priorities, whether that’s pool time with toddlers, walking distance to a park, or a specific view they’ve always wanted. If your family needs multiple rooms or you’re traveling with several young children, that’s an area I know especially well.

What I Bring from the Classroom

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management and a Master’s in Education. Seven years of teaching 6th graders taught me how to organize complex logistics, communicate clearly with families, and stay calm when plans need to change. Those skills translate directly into how I plan vacations.

I build detailed itineraries with built-in flexibility. I always recommend that families take one or two full rest days during their trip to enjoy the resort pool and recharge before heading back into the parks, especially with young children. It makes a bigger difference than most people expect.

I live in Northern Virginia with my husband and our three kids. Disney has been part of our family’s story for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando trips as a kid, including getting slimed at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal. (Yes, really.) Years later, as an adult, I was picked out of the audience to be part of the Harbor Attack pre-show during the Backlot Tour at Hollywood Studios. I was one of the last guests to do that show before it closed to make way for Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. So I’ve been part of the parks in ways most people only watch from the sidelines.

When I’m not working on client trips, I’m researching what’s new, such as new attractions, new restaurants, new resorts, and changes to the parks. I follow daily updates, watch vloggers, and I plan our own family’s trips with the same detail I give to clients.