Does it cost anything to use a travel agent for my Disney or Universal vacation?

No, my planning services are always completely free. I'm compensated directly by Disney, Universal, and the cruise lines, so you pay the exact same price (or less, thanks to promotions I apply) as booking it yourself.

Do you only serve Kingston, PA 18704, or a wider area?

I'm based in Kingston, PA 18704 and serve families throughout Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Forty Fort, Edwardsville, Swoyersville, Plains Township, Nanticoke, Pittston, Dallas, Mountain Top, and the entire Wyoming Valley and Northeastern PA region, plus families nationwide.

What destinations does Travel by Lauren plan?

My main focus is Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando Resort, and Universal Studios Hollywood. I'm also certified to plan Disney Cruise Line, other major cruise lines, and all-inclusive resort vacations.

How far in advance should I book my Disney or Universal trip?

I generally recommend starting the planning process 6-12 months out to get the best resort availability and dining reservations, but I can also help with shorter-notice trips. Just reach out and I'll let you know what's realistic.

Are you an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner?

Yes. I'm an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and Disney College of Knowledge graduate, plus a Universal Vacation Specialist, CLIA certified, and an ASTA member.

Planning Disney & Universal Trips for Dallas and Back Mountain Families

I'm about fifteen minutes from Dallas. When I say I'm a local travel agent, I mean I could meet you for coffee before your trip and again with your photos after.

A lot of the families I plan for live up the mountain: Dallas, Shavertown, Trucksville, Harveys Lake, Lehman. Same magic-castle dreams as everyone else, but a few things about planning from the Back Mountain are genuinely different, and knowing them saves you money and headaches.

Start with school. Dallas and Lake-Lehman run their own calendars, and the difference between traveling on a scheduled break and traveling four days off-peak can be hundreds of dollars in resort pricing plus noticeably shorter ride lines. I pull up your district's calendar and we plan around it, either building the trip inside a break or picking a quiet stretch and deciding together whether a couple of missed school days are worth the savings. For a lot of Back Mountain families, they are.

Then there's getting there. AVP (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International) is about a 20-minute drive from most of the Back Mountain, which makes it hard to beat for convenience. You're parked and through security before you'd even reach Philadelphia. Philadelphia International is roughly two hours south, but it sometimes has nonstop flights to Orlando and lower fares. There's no universal right answer. I lay out both, drive time and all, and let your family weigh the tradeoff for this specific trip.

What working with someone local actually gets you is simple: a person, not a call center. When your flight shifts or you have a question the night before you leave, you text me. I'm not a 1-800 number in another time zone. I already know the area, the airport, and the rhythm of a NEPA school year.

And it isn't only Disney. From the Back Mountain I plan Universal Orlando trips (Epic Universe is open now and worth the hype), Universal Hollywood tacked onto a California vacation, Disney and other cruises, and all-inclusive beach weeks when you just want someone to hand you a drink by the pool. All of it at no planning fee. The resorts and cruise lines pay me, not you.

If you're in Dallas or anywhere across the Back Mountain and a family trip is rattling around in your head, let's talk. First conversation is free, and there's no obligation to book a thing.