Ashley Chikes - Mouse Counselor

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Calistoga, CA
Ashley Chikes - Mouse Counselor

🏝Concierge Vacation Planner
🏰 Disney
🚢 Cruises
🌍 Universal and more! Reach out for a quote today!

09/01/2026

We just got back from Hyatt Lost Pines
and my favorite part had nothing to
do with the resort itself 🌿

While everyone else was still asleep,
we snuck out early to meet the
animals at their working ranch.
Just us, no crowds.

Booking through me got our whole
group upgraded rooms, daily breakfast
for two, and a $100 resort credit -
same price as booking direct.

Also not mad about this cabana.

But honestly? That quiet morning with
the animals was the real highlight.

Not every family trip has to be
Disney 💙

TravelAdvisor

08/25/2026

Piston Peak National Park just got unveiled at D23 - a new Cars-themed land replacing Rivers of America in Frontierland 👀

Naturally, I’m already 3 tabs deep into what this means for future trips

08/13/2026

Before you book a Disney resort,
ask yourself these questions 🏨

(Or just tell me your answers
and I'll figure it out for you 😉)

❓ Which parks are you hitting most?
Resort location should match your park plan

❓ Do you need a kitchen?
Could save you thousands - changes the math

❓ How important is the pool?
If your kids live at the pool, this drives everything

❓ What's your transportation tolerance?
Bus, monorail, Skyliner, boat, walking -
all very different experiences

❓ What's your REAL budget?
Not just nightly rate - total cost including
everything. I run the real numbers.

❓ How long are you staying?
3 nights vs 7 nights = completely different
resort recommendations

THE TRUTH:
There's no "best" Disney resort.
There's only the best one for YOUR family.

I figure that out so you don't have to.

DM me your travel dates and I'll tell
you exactly where to start 💙

08/12/2026

Is Universal Kids Resort in Frisco worth it?
Here's my honest breakdown 🎡

We went before it opened to the public
so you don't have to wonder.

THE GOOD:
✅ 7 themed lands for kids ages 3-8
✅ Characters your kids actually love
✅ Great option for Texas families
✅ Easy day trip from DFW

THE HONEST:
☀️ Shade is a real problem (Texas heat)
🎢 Ride loading painfully slow
👶 Limited options for toddlers under 3
❄️ AC and shade cost extra

MY VERDICT:

Texas families with kids 3-8
who love these characters? GO.
It's a great day trip.

Flying in from out of state?
Pair with other DFW activities first.

Full breakdown including every ride,
height requirements, food and logistics
on One Man's Dream 🎙️ Link in bio!

DM me "DISNEY" if you want help
planning your next family trip 💙

08/07/2026

Disney planning mistakes that are
costing you MONEY 💸

❌ WRONG RESORT
Saved $100/night, now spending 90 min/day
on buses = 7+ wasted hours per week

❌ DIDN'T BOOK DINING EARLY
Nothing available, eating mediocre quick
service for same prices as sit-down

❌ SKIPPED LIGHTNING LANE
Standing in 3+ hours of lines/day =
paying $24/hour to wait

❌ OVERPACKED YOUR DAYS
Kids melting down by 2 PM, leaving early,
paid full price for half a day

❌ WENT DURING PEAK TIMES
Same trip 2 weeks earlier = thousands less
+ half the crowds

❌ NO STRATEGY
Wandering aimlessly, 90-min waits,
exhausted, feeling like you missed everything

YOU'RE SPENDING THOUSANDS ON THIS TRIP.
These mistakes mean you're not getting
the value.

I make sure this doesn't happen.
It's literally my job.
And it's complimentary.

Want to avoid wasting money on mistakes?

08/04/2026

Multi-family Disney trips are my favorite to plan 🎯

Here’s why:

A client came to me with 12 family members
wanting Walt Disney World together.

Half wanted luxury. Half were budget conscious.
She had no idea how to make it work.

HERE’S WHAT I DID:

🏨 Split the group across two resorts
on the SAME Skyliner line

✨ Splurgers → Riviera Resort
Rooftop bar, incredible dining, full luxury

💰 Budget conscious → Caribbean Beach
Fraction of the cost, same Skyliner access,
great pool, Disney magic without the price tag

🚡 Both connected by Skyliner
Meet at EPCOT or Hollywood Studios in minutes
Breakfast together, dinner together, parks together

🍽️ Coordinated dining for 12 at 6 AM
‘Ohana, Topolino’s, Space 220 - all secured

HER TEXT AFTER THE TRIP:
“Everyone had exactly what they needed
and we actually enjoyed being together
instead of stressed about money”

Different budgets.
Same vacation.
Everyone happy.

That’s what this looks like when someone
who knows the system plans it.

Ready to plan your group trip?
Reach out today 💙

MultiFamilyTrip

07/30/2026

Questions I ask before planning your Disney trip 🤔

(Because details matter)

❓ Do your kids still nap?
Changes everything about resort choice and park schedule

❓ Transportation preference?
Buses, monorail, Skyliner, boats, walking distance - affects resort

❓ Character dining or park meet & greets?
Changes budget and daily schedule

❓ How do you feel about early mornings?
Hate rope drop? We build a different strategy

❓ Been to Disney before?
First-timers need different plans than repeat guests

❓ What stresses you out most?
Lines? Crowds? Budget? I build your plan around avoiding exactly that

WHY I ASK ALL THIS:
There's no one-size-fits-all Disney trip.

Your plan is based on YOUR answers.
Not a template.
What works for YOUR family.

Ready to answer a few questions?

07/28/2026

Most people think about Lightning Lane completely wrong 💡

YOUR MAGIC KINGDOM TICKET = $189/day
That’s $24 every single hour

Every hour in a standby line?
You’re paying $24 to just... stand there.

HERE’S WHAT I SAVED IN ONE DAY:

⚡ TRON: 98 minutes saved
⚡ Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: 75 minutes
⚡ Peter Pan’s Flight: 62 minutes
⚡ Haunted Mansion: 40 minutes
⚡ Winnie the Pooh: 75 minutes

TOTAL: Nearly 6 hours saved in ONE day
= $120+ worth of park time actually ENJOYED

I book Lightning Lane for my clients
every morning at 7 AM before their
trip even starts.

By 2 PM when everyone else was
melting down in the standby queue?

My clients were at Beak and Barrel
with a cocktail 🍹

That’s the difference between
winging it and working with someone
who does this every single day.

Ready to skip the lines?
Reach out today.

DisneyWorld

07/23/2026

Planning deadline for fall Disney trips ⏰

If you're thinking September-December... book NOW.

📅 DINING OPENS 60 DAYS OUT
October trip? Dining opens in August.
I need to book at 6 AM on that 60-day mark.
= We need your trip locked in NOW.

🏨 WHAT'S FILLING UP FAST:
Popular resorts (Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Polynesian)
Character dining (Topolino's, 'Ohana)
Holiday parties (Not-So-Scary, Very Merry Christmas)

🍂 SEPTEMBER = SWEET SPOT
Lower crowds, good weather, holiday parties start
= Books FAST

🎄 HOLIDAY TRAVEL EVEN TIGHTER
Thanksgiving & Christmas nearly booked already
We're looking at what's LEFT, not what's ideal

⏰ WHAT WAITING COSTS YOU:
First-choice resort
Restaurants your kids would love
Convenient dates + good flights
The trip you actually WANT

Booking last-minute = settling.

If you're thinking fall or holiday Disney,
reach out NOW. Two weeks could be too late.

07/22/2026

Is Disney worth it? The real answer 💭✨

IT DEPENDS ON ONE THING:
Whether it's done RIGHT.

❌ NOT WORTH IT:
Going in blind, winging it
2-hour standby lines
Terrible food (nothing available)
Kids melting down by noon
Leaving stressed thinking "never again"

✅ WORTH IT:
Right resort for YOUR family
Dining reservations secured
Lightning Lane strategy
Realistic daily plans with breaks
Relaxed, happy, making memories

THE REAL COST ISN'T JUST MONEY:
It's time with your kids.
The trip you'll all remember.
The magic window when they still believe.

That window closes FAST.

WHAT MAKES IT WORTH IT:
Your kids meeting their favorite characters.
Watching fireworks together.
Pool time laughing.
The moments that STICK.

MY HONEST ANSWER:
Yes - IF it's planned right.
Making memories, not just surviving.
That's when it's worth every penny.

You're spending thousands.
I make sure you get thousands worth of memories.

Ready to make it worth it?

Address

400 Silverado Trail
Calistoga, CA
94515

Website

https://linktr.ee/ashleycmc

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