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Welcome to Pixie Packing Travel Co! I am so glad you are here! On this page I share Disney Trip tips, including Disney Trip Planning advice, and tips on Disney Packing, Run Disney, Disney Budget plans and more! Feel free to zoom around the site and leave me any comments or questions.  I’m a Disney travel planner and frequent Disney trip taker so I would love to help.

You don’t need to worry.  Walt Disney World has you covered!  It is the easiest resort to eat gluten free, nut free, dairy free, egg free, etc.  It’s all laid out for you ahead of time.  Disney World trains its people for handling special dietary needs.

Hi! I’m Sam and I created Pixie Packing Travel Co to help you plan your next Disney or RunDisney trip! I am a Disney travel planner (Universal too!) and a Mom of 3, frequent Disney park go-er, and also a physician and nutritionist, so I can help from many different angles.

I started this blog out of my desire to help families and individuals in their Disney trip planning, from setting a Disney Budget, to Disney Packing, RunDisney, and everything in between!

I also have expertise in helping those with special medical and/or dietary needs, and those who may be planning a RunDisney vacation (another one of my passions). My family all has unique nutrition and dietary needs (some with restrictions like needing to be gluten-free and other food allergies), as well as unique social-emotional needs like anxiety and panic attacks, and heightened sensitivity. In addition, we have traveled to the parks during a very difficult time in our lives, when our daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and had to go through almost 3 years of chemotherapy, so we know what it’s like to travel with a family member with special medical needs.

RunDisney is one of my passions so I truly enjoy all things related to RunDisney- planning, packing, costumes/outfits and sharing the joy that comes with meeting your goals.

A Doctor’s guide to walking: Shoe edition

Shoes can make or break a long day at the parks.  Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right shoe:

1- What time of the year are you traveling? Winter is not really winter in Florida (take it from me, I spent the first 23 years of my life in Florida and did not own any coats, the boots were just for fashion).  But it does occasionally drop below 60, but sneakers and a good pair of socks should do the trick in winter.

2- What type of arch do you have?  If you have a high arch then Crocs might not be your friend on a high mileage day, but if you have flat feet they might be just the shoe for you.  High arched people may prefer sneakers from companies like New Balance, sandals from Chacos or Teva, or slip on sandals/flip flops from Birkenstock or Reef.  You can even add arch support to a comfy and packable shoe like Toms or Sketchers various styles.

3- Are you packing light or bringing a big suitcase? My family travels lean- all of us just pack a backpack so we can be on and off the plane in less time and do a split stay without any big hassles.  If you are packing light then you need to be very selective to save space.  I recommend wearing your bulkiest shoe on the plane- like a practical yet fun sneaker, and packing a sandal or flip flop and a canvas type shoe and that should be plenty.  If you are a more luxurious traveler then you have more options, so consider your planned outfits and match accordingly per the recommendations above!

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I break down what to pack in your carry-on, park bag and cover all different parks and destinations including Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani Resort and Spa!