Samantha Pappalau

Samantha Pappalau – Concierge Travel Advisor | Walt Disney World & Spain Travel

Samantha Pappalau is a Concierge Travel Advisor with Favorite Grampy Travels, specializing in Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and European travel with a focus on Spain, based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tapas in Seville, Fireworks in Orlando

One week I’m mapping out a strategic park day at Hollywood Studios so a family can ride everything they want without wasting a single hour. The next week I’m building a two-week itinerary through the English countryside or planning a tapas crawl through Southern Spain for a couple celebrating an anniversary. These two things don’t sound like they go together, but they do. Both require the same obsession with detail, the same love of research, and the same instinct for knowing what will turn a good trip into an unforgettable one.

I fell in love with travel on a high school trip to Italy. Walking through streets older than anything I’d ever seen, eating food I couldn’t pronounce, and realizing the world was so much bigger than I thought. That trip rewired me. Since then, I’ve explored Spain, England, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Canada, and I always, always make time for my happiest place: Walt Disney World.

I became a travel advisor because travel is the most consistent thing in my life. No matter what else is going on, I’m planning a trip, researching a destination, or booking something for someone I love. I’d been doing this for friends and family for years before I made it official and joined Favorite Grampy Travels, a Universal U-Preferred Platinum agency and Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

Your Fairy Godplanner for Theme Parks and Beyond

I’ve been visiting Orlando since I was a little girl, and the magic has never worn off. I’m a strategic planner when it comes to Disney park days. I build itineraries that account for crowd levels, ride priorities, dining reservations, and rest breaks so families actually enjoy the day instead of scrambling from ride to ride wondering what they missed.

Hollywood Studios is my favorite park, and this summer it’s getting one of its biggest changes in years: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is becoming Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, with The Electric Mayhem taking over for a wild ride through Hollywood. If you’re planning a trip for later this year, this is the kind of update I stay on top of so you don’t have to.

I also love helping first-time cruisers find their fit. I work with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian most often and hold specialist certifications with both, along with Virgin Voyages. A lot of people are overwhelmed by cruise options. How do you pick a ship? What’s included? Which cabin actually matters? I walk clients through all of it so the only thing left to do is pack.

For families heading to EPCOT during festival season, I have strong opinions about the best snacks. A fruity festival slush on a warm afternoon while wandering through World Showcase? That is what EPCOT was made for. I help clients plan around the festivals so they don’t miss the limited-time food booths or the entertainment that makes each one special.

A Spanish Teacher Who Speaks Your Language

Before I became a travel agent, I spent several years as a Spanish teacher and also worked in the restaurant industry. Both of those shaped how I plan vacations today. Teaching made me detail-oriented and patient. I’m used to breaking complicated information into clear, manageable steps. The restaurant world taught me hospitality instincts: how to read what someone needs before they ask for it, how to make an experience feel personal.

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, you’re in the right hands. I’ve spent time in Southern Spain and I know the rhythm of the country. The late dinners, the afternoon siestas, the small plates that keep coming. Spain doesn’t operate on the same schedule as the rest of Europe, and a good travel advisor makes sure your itinerary reflects that so you’re not showing up at restaurants when they’re closed or missing the best hours to explore.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, I work with families, couples, and solo travelers across the country. When I’m not researching my next trip, I’m at home with my partner Chad and our two cats, Remy and Scarlett. We spend entirely too much time at sporting events and eating our way through Nashville’s restaurant scene. If that tells you anything about how I plan vacations, it should: I believe the best trips are built around great food, great experiences, and zero stress.

Disney Trip Planning Questions

Q: What does Samantha Pappalau specialize in?

I plan Walt Disney World vacations, Universal Orlando trips, and European getaways with a focus on Spain. I’m a former Spanish teacher with firsthand experience traveling through Southern Spain, and I bring that same level of detail and cultural knowledge to every Disney park day I build. I work with families, couples, and solo travelers.

Q: What’s the best strategy for a crowded day at Hollywood Studios?

Start with your must-do rides and work backward. I build park-day itineraries based on crowd calendars, showtimes, and Lightning Lane strategy so families don’t waste time standing in the wrong lines. A well-planned Hollywood Studios day means you hit the big rides, catch a show, and still have time for a sit-down lunch.

Q: Can a travel advisor help me plan a trip to Europe?

Absolutely. I specialize in European travel, especially Spain, England, and the Mediterranean. Planning a trip to Europe involves a lot of logistics that can feel overwhelming: flights, trains, hotel locations, meal timing, and cultural differences. I handle all of that and build an itinerary that actually matches the pace of the destination, not just a checklist of landmarks.

Q: What are the best snacks at EPCOT festivals?

That depends on the festival! I follow every booth lineup closely and always have a running list of must-try items. My approach is to map a route through World Showcase that hits the top food booths in order so you can eat, stroll, and ride without doubling back. I send every client my personal festival snack plan.