Walt Disney World & Disney Cruise Line Vacation Planning in Rockford, IL

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation should be exciting, not another overwhelming project on your family’s to-do list.

Between choosing the right Disney resort, understanding Lightning Lane options, making dining reservations, and coordinating everyone’s schedules, there are a lot of decisions to make before you ever pack a suitcase.

That’s where having an experienced Disney travel advisor makes all the difference.

Meet Alexa Taglia and Caroline Borsini, two Embrace The Magic Travel advisors based in Rockford, Illinois. Together, they help families throughout Northern Illinois, the Chicago suburbs, and beyond plan thoughtful, well-organized Disney vacations that fit the way their families actually travel.

Whether you’re dreaming of your children’s first visit to Walt Disney World, a Disney Cruise Line Concierge vacation, a stay at a Deluxe Disney resort, or a multigenerational getaway with grandparents and grandchildren, Alexa and Caroline bring personal experience, destination knowledge, and a family-first approach to the planning process.

Because the best family vacations aren’t about doing everything. They’re about making time for what matters most.

Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World, planned with Embrace The Magic Travel advisors in Rockford, Illinois

Why Rockford & Northern Illinois Families Choose Our Disney Travel Advisors

Families have plenty of vacation information at their fingertips. But having access to endless Disney advice isn’t the same as knowing which recommendations are right for your family. Alexa and Caroline help bridge that gap.

Meet Alexa Taglia | Disney Vacation Planning for Busy Families

Alexa Taglia is a Rockford-based travel advisor and mom of three boys who understands how quickly family schedules fill up and how valuable vacation time can be.

She specializes in Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and Universal Orlando, with a particular focus on Deluxe Disney Resorts, Disney Cruise Line Concierge staterooms, and multigenerational family vacations. Alexa especially enjoys helping busy moms with young children move from feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities to feeling excited and confident about their trip.

She’s completed the College of Disney Knowledge and is a Universal Orlando Resort Specialist. Whether she’s helping your family choose between Disney resorts, think through theme park days with little ones, or find accommodations that give everyone room to relax, Alexa’s goal is to create a vacation that feels calm, joyful, and manageable.

Meet Caroline Borsini | Elevated Disney Vacations for Families

Born and raised in the Midwest, Caroline Borsini is a Rockford-based travel advisor serving families throughout the Chicago area and beyond. A graduate of DePaul University, Caroline has been part of Embrace The Magic Travel since March 2021 and is a member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Her specialties include Disney Cruise Line Concierge, Walt Disney World Club Level accommodations and Deluxe Resorts, luxury Disney travel with young children, and multigenerational vacations. Caroline also plans Disney vacations beyond Florida, including Disneyland Resort in California and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaiʻi.

For families looking to enjoy an elevated Disney experience without sacrificing the fun and flexibility that children need, Caroline helps match the right accommodations, activities, and pace to their priorities.

Personalized Planning That Fits Your Family

Although Alexa and Caroline share a love of Disney travel and a commitment to thoughtful service, each advisor brings her own perspective and planning approach. When you work with an Embrace The Magic Travel advisor, the conversation begins with understanding your family. That might mean:

  • Finding the right resort for your children’s ages, your budget, and your preferred vacation pace.
  • Comparing Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line for your next family adventure.
  • Exploring Deluxe Resorts, Club Level accommodations, or Concierge staterooms.
  • Planning around school calendars, work schedules, and family celebrations.
  • Understanding dining reservations, Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, and other important planning decisions.
  • Making room for downtime, pool afternoons, and experiences everyone can enjoy.

The goal isn’t to pack more into your vacation. It’s to help you do less, enjoy more, and come home with memories worth keeping.

Each advisor offers her own planning approach, and she’ll walk you through your options when you connect.

Experienced, Award-Winning Disney Vacation Planning

Alexa and Caroline are part of Embrace The Magic Travel, a family-focused travel agency founded in 2012 by Penny Cooper. Since its founding, the agency has helped hundreds of families plan thousands of trips, with an emphasis on knowledgeable guidance, personalized attention, and making complex vacation decisions feel easier.

Agency Recognition & Industry Credentials

✨ Established in 2012 – More than a decade of family-focused Disney and cruise vacation planning
✨ Local Recognition – Recipient of the 2024 Hamilton Travel Agency Best of Award
✨ National Award Recognition – Multiple Magellan Awards for Innovation and Business Strategy, earned with Magic Made Simple for Embrace The Magic Travel’s award-winning client emails
✨ Professional Memberships – Embrace The Magic Travel is a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
✨ A Nationwide Team – Travel advisors based in New Jersey, South Carolina, and Illinois, serving families throughout the United States

Access to Additional Luxury Travel Benefits

Through our sister company, C Pinnacle Travel, and its affiliation with Gifted Travel Network, a Virtuoso member agency, qualifying clients may have access to Virtuoso amenities at participating hotels and travel partners. These agency relationships complement the personalized Disney vacation planning offered by Alexa and Caroline.

Proudly Serving Rockford, Northern Illinois & Chicago Suburban Families

Having a travel advisor who understands where your family is starting from can make vacation planning that much easier. Alexa and Caroline are both based in Rockford, Illinois, and work with families throughout the surrounding communities.

Rockford & Northern Illinois

Their local service area includes Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, and Belvidere, along with communities throughout Winnebago and Boone Counties. Whether you’re coordinating a first Disney vacation with preschoolers or planning a special family celebration with several generations, your travel advisor can help you think through the details long before departure day.

Chicago’s Western & Northwest Suburbs

Caroline and Alexa also serve families throughout Chicagoland, including Elgin, Schaumburg, Naperville, Aurora, and the western and northwest suburbs. You don’t need to live right around the corner to enjoy personalized travel planning. Consultations and planning can take place remotely, making it convenient for busy families to connect from wherever they live.

And if you’re outside Illinois? Embrace The Magic Travel serves families nationwide.

Getting to Disney from Illinois: Flying, Driving & Cruise Departures

For Illinois families, deciding how to get to Disney is an important part of the planning process. The best choice depends on your home location, family size, travel dates, budget, and whether you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation or a Disney cruise.

Flying from Rockford or Chicagoland to Orlando

Illinois families have several airports worth comparing when planning a Disney vacation:

  • Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD): A convenient local airport to look into for Rockford-area travelers, depending on current schedules and destinations.
  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): A major airport with a broad selection of airline and flight options.
  • Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW): Another option for Chicagoland families comparing schedules and fares.
  • Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE): Worth considering for Northern Illinois families, especially when flight schedules or overall travel costs make it attractive.

Alexa and Caroline can help you think through how your arrival and departure plans fit with resort check-in, transportation arrangements, and your family’s energy level.

Driving from Illinois to Walt Disney World

For some families, a road trip to Florida is part of the adventure. Driving offers flexibility with luggage, snacks, car seats, and having your own vehicle available during vacation. But a long drive with children also requires a realistic plan.

Will you drive straight through or stop overnight? How will you handle meals and breaks? Would an additional resort night help your family start the vacation feeling refreshed? Our Illinois road trip guide explores these considerations so you can decide whether driving makes sense for your family.

Planning a Disney Cruise from Illinois

Disney Cruise Line offers another way to enjoy a Disney vacation, whether your family prefers a shorter sailing, a longer itinerary, or an elevated Concierge experience. For Illinois families, the planning process may involve flights, a pre-cruise hotel, ground transportation, and choosing the right embarkation port.

Alexa and Caroline can help you compare ships, itineraries, stateroom categories, and family-friendly onboard experiences. If you’re considering a few days at Walt Disney World before or after your cruise, they can help you explore that combination, too.

Resources for Illinois Families

Planning a Disney vacation from Illinois comes with questions about airports, road trips, school breaks, seasonal weather, and choosing the right experiences for your family. These guides are written specifically for Rockford, Northern Illinois, and Chicagoland travelers.

Helpful Articles for Illinois Disney Travelers

This collection is always growing, so check back often for fresh insights tailored to Illinois families.

Ready to Plan Your Family’s Disney Vacation?

Whether you live in Rockford, Loves Park, Belvidere, Schaumburg, Naperville, or anywhere across Northern Illinois and the Chicago suburbs, you don’t have to figure out every Disney detail on your own.

Alexa Taglia and Caroline Borsini are ready to help you explore your options, narrow down your choices, and build a vacation around the people who matter most. From Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts and Disney Cruise Line Concierge to first-time theme park visits and multigenerational family getaways, their focus is helping you spend less time worrying about the logistics and more time enjoying the experience.

Ready to get started? Request a personalized vacation proposal from an Embrace The Magic Travel advisor.

Not quite ready to connect? Try our free Disney World Vacation Cost Estimator to explore sample resort, ticket, and dining costs as a starting point for your family, or keep track of every booking window with the Disney Planning Countdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do Illinois Disney travel advisors charge planning fees?
Alexa and Caroline each offer their own planning approach, and the advisor you connect with will walk you through her options. The best place to begin is by sharing what you’re hoping to experience on your vacation so you can talk through the planning support that fits your family.

Q2: Can Alexa and Caroline help us plan our first Walt Disney World vacation?
Absolutely. First-time Disney families often have questions about resorts, park tickets, transportation, dining, and how many park days they actually need. Alexa and Caroline help families understand their options, choose appropriate accommodations, and make decisions based on their children’s ages, interests, and vacation priorities.

Q3: How far in advance should Illinois families start planning a Disney vacation?
Starting approximately 9–12 months ahead can provide more time to explore accommodations, compare travel dates, and make thoughtful decisions. Families traveling during school breaks, holidays, or other popular vacation periods may benefit from planning even earlier. Shorter-notice vacations are also possible, depending on availability.

Q4: Which Illinois airport is best for flying to Walt Disney World?
Rockford-area and Chicagoland families may want to compare Chicago Rockford International (RFD), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Chicago Midway (MDW), and Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE). The best choice depends on available flights, schedules, total travel costs, and the convenience of reaching the airport from home.

Q5: Can you help us plan a Disney Cruise Line Concierge vacation?
Yes. Both Alexa and Caroline plan Disney Cruise Line Concierge vacations. They can help families compare ships, itineraries, stateroom categories, and the additional services and amenities associated with Concierge accommodations. For families traveling with young children or multiple generations, choosing the right ship and stateroom configuration can be especially important.

Q6: Do you help families traveling with babies, toddlers, and young children?
Yes. Both advisors understand the importance of building vacation days around young children’s needs. Alexa brings the perspective of a mom raising three boys, while Caroline specializes in elevated Disney travel with young children. Their planning approach emphasizes choosing appropriate accommodations, allowing time for breaks, and finding experiences that work for the whole family.

Q7: Can you help us plan a multigenerational Disney vacation?
Yes. Multigenerational travel is a specialty for both Alexa and Caroline. They can help you compare accommodations, think through varying ages and interests, and plan shared experiences while allowing flexibility for different family members. Whether you’re bringing grandparents to Walt Disney World or gathering everyone aboard a Disney cruise ship, thoughtful planning can make a big difference.

Q8: Do you only plan Walt Disney World vacations?
No. Alexa also plans Disney Cruise Line and Universal Orlando vacations. Caroline also plans Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Resort, and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Embrace The Magic Travel also has advisors in New Jersey and South Carolina and serves families nationwide.

Q9: What makes Embrace The Magic Travel different from other Disney travel agencies?
Embrace The Magic Travel combines personalized planning with the experience of an established agency founded in 2012. The agency has served hundreds of families across thousands of trips and earned both local and national recognition for its work. Alexa and Caroline bring their own specialties, destination knowledge, and planning approaches to that foundation. Rather than overwhelming families with every available option, they focus on understanding what’s important to you and helping you make confident decisions about your vacation.

Ready to explore what’s possible? Request your personalized vacation proposal and connect with an Embrace The Magic Travel advisor.

Not in Illinois? Embrace The Magic Travel also serves families in New Jersey, South Carolina, and nationwide.