Whether she is organizing a Disney vacation for hundreds of high school students or a gathering for 50 of her closest loved ones, Walt Disney World Moms Panelist Andrea Houston-Lingman says planning the perfect pixie-dusted vacation is her true passion.
New to the Walt Disney World Moms Panel this year, Andrea is a teacher and busy mom of two whose specialty is helping others learn about Disney vacations with Disney Vacation Club. She has a knack for planning trips with teen travelers in mind and with more than 25 trips to Walt Disney World Resort under her belt, Andrea can answer just about any question you can dream of!
Some of Andrea’s favorite Disney Vacation Club Resorts include Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. She loves Saratoga Springs Resort so much that she even remodeled her bathroom at home to resemble the villa’s bathroom!
Q: What do you recommend for families who are planning their first stay at a Disney Vacation Club Resort?
A: Plan ahead! You can get a sense of what each Disney Vacation Club property has to offer just by looking on the website before you go so you will spend less time planning and more time playing once you get there.
Q: What’s a tip for families vacationing with tweens in tow?
A: It depends on your comfort level, but if you have little ones who aren’t ready for the ‘big kid’ rides, splitting into groups for a few hours while you’re at the parks gives your teens or pre-teens a little independence in a safe environment. For example, my 13-year-old daughter brought one of her friends along on our last trip to Walt Disney World and they were allowed to play on their own for two hours before we all met for lunch. Just that little bit of flexibility in the plans made them feel like they had a special part of the vacation that was just for them.
Q: What is your advice for setting up a large group visit to Walt Disney World Resort?
A: This March will mark the sixth year in a row that I’m serving as a chaperone on my school’s senior class trip with more than 400 high school kids. One thing I’ve learned from big groups is that you can’t please everyone but you can still have a great experience. There is something for everyone at Walt Disney World and making sure you sit down with your group before your trip to create a list of everyone’s “must sees” will help you decide what to focus on.
Q: Can you share one of your favorite memories during a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort?
A: There are so many! One of them has to be when my daughter was three years old and we took her, along with my in-laws, to have breakfast with the princesses for the first time. I will never forget watching her meet each princess and then seeing the smiles on her grandparents’ faces. My mother in law cried her eyes out that day!
Want to ask Andrea a question about your next vacation? Visit DisneyWorldMoms.com.
