A Disney Retreat to Discover Your Joyful Inner Child
September 6-9, 2025
You're so tired, your tired is tired. But you also know you were made for more than this. Let's go to Disney World together to frolic and scamper and giggle and twirl for three days, as we love ourselves and our inner children into joy.
I’m not afraid to say it: Disney is my favorite.
Yes, I love to see my kids smile, frolic, and play. But there’s another little one who is living their best life at Disney: my inner child.
Much of my childhood was spent taking care of adults and worrying about problems too complex for me to solve.
In my 40's, I have gotten serious about play and massively honed my skills at being ridiculous. Skipping and twirling and singing in public are my jam. I love therapy and journaling, but sometimes you need to move your body into new situations and take a big risk to see the growth and break-through of joyfulness that you’re longing for.
I want to invite you and your inner child to come play with me, so we can have a massive adventure together.
What the heck is this trip about?
Just show up and enjoy:
You want a restful weekend with friends, but realistically, the job of planning it is impossible. Plus, those "friends" don't really understand your daily life anyway, and the work it takes to explain yourself (when you rapidly go from laughing to sobbing over breakfast) is too much.
In your dreamiest moments, you wonder, "What if I could just pack a suitcase and magically fly away to a place where my needs are taken care of, where friends are, and where I can actually have fun?"
Ah my love, let me be your fairy godmother because your wish is granted.
At this unlike-anything-else weekend retreat, "Awaken to Wonder," we’ll combine relaxing leisure times with deep connection in guided sessions -- blending introspection with the magic of Disney to ignite your sense of joy and adventure.
Expect to laugh, dance, and let go as we:
- Explore the Disney parks with a new sense of wonder, seeing through the eyes of our younger selves.
- Participate in 4 gentle guided reflections sessions in preparation for our trip, led by me, that will help you reconnect with your spontaneous, playful nature (and let out some of that pain you've been holding so tight).
- Create lasting memories with humans who genuinely understand, friends you'll want to keep on texting long after we've gone back home.
A few promises before you read anything else:
This is not the Disney you're scared of. The overwhelm, the pressure, the sensory onslaught, the exhaustion. Nope. No way. This is not that.
I have spent hundreds of hours learning how to do Disney right-- with my highly sensitive, ND self, and my three very sensitive (in three very different ways!) kids.
Let me gift you with my wisdom and my planning expertise. Let yourself trust that this is going to be amazing and powerful, and even if you get overwhelmed and need a good cry in line to meet princess Cinderella, I will be right there with tissues, a cool drink, and noise cancelling ear buds.
This retreat will be doses of Disney, just enough to get our giggles going and our endorphins flying, and then back to the pool or to nap or to talk about our experiences over a plate of snacks and drinks.
Read on if this sounds like magic to you:
- Unleashing the therapeutic power of laughter and joy in healing childhood wounds.
- Discovering the freedom to be wild, whimsical, and wonderfully youthful.
- Connecting in a small group of 4-8 people who are ready to dive into powerful friendship.
- Being brave enough to feel it all: joy, connection, sorrow, grief, excitement, overwhelm, and wonder.
Ok--You have no idea if you can pull this off, but let's dream a little, shall we?
Where we'll stay:
We're headed to my favorite on-site Disney resort: Coronado Springs Resort, where every corner is touched with adventure and magic, making it the perfect setting for our journey.
It's in the Disney bubble, but it feels like a total escape to South America. How do they do it? I dunno. That's the Disney magic.
What's Included:
Honestly, pretty much everything is included! All you need to do is decide whether you want your own room, or want to share, based on your preference and budget:
- Solo Room in the Deluxe Tower: Elevated comfort with stunning views in the Tower section, comes with your own King bed. (Close to restaurants, elevators for accessibility, gorgeous rooms).
- Shared Room in the Tower: All the beautiful amenities and luxury, but in a shared room with two Queen beds. Maybe you and an online friend want to share, maybe you want to be there regardless of who you share a room with.
Fun Extras:
Regardless of your room choice, no one's children will be waking you up in the middle of the night. Everyone also gets:
- 4 live, intimate group meetings over Zoom as we prepare for and process our experience
- A three-night on-site Disney hotel stay
- 2-day Disney park tickets
- All meals & snacks (including a delicious sit-down meal every day!)
- Group t-shirts
- A Disney gift card for special delights
- All plans & details done for you! Just show up and enjoy.
Retreat Schedule:
Sat. Sept 6 - Arrival day! Lunch and snacks by the pool for early arrivers; first group event is dinner at 6:00pm. After dinner, we will get into PJs and have sleep-over vibes as we settle in and get ready for an amazing few days together.
Sun. Sept 7 - Magic Kingdom! We will twirl on Main Street, meet characters, enjoy shows, and even ride Dumbo if your inner 5-year-old wants to. Opt in or out. No running, rushing, or forcing. Relaxed mid-day break for naps or a swim. Evening meal under twinkle lights.
Mon. Sept 8 - Hollywood Studios! This day, we have a leisurely delicious character breakfast, before heading to Hollywood Studios. Sing along to Frozen, fight like a Jedi, and giggle with Mickie and Minnie. An inner-child's playground. We will end with a relaxed dinner to process and share how this experience has re-energized and restored you.
Tues. Sept 9 - Fly home! Wake up at the butt crack to hurry home to your people or take a leisurely flight home; it's up to you!
Travel Details:
Most people will fly into MCO - Orlando International Airport. Mears Connect runs shuttles from MCO to our resort for $16/way or you can take an Uber or Lyft. We will have a group chat to coordinate ride share to save $$, if it works for your schedules.
Parking fee on-site is $36/night.
What retreat participants have experienced...
Sylva W.
Amanda is a gifted leader who holds such sacred space for connection and compassion. This retreat was exactly what my soul needed.
Mya I.
Amanda creates an extraordinary safe space where every participant feels seen, heard, and held. For anyone navigating the complexities of parenting and seeking hope in challenging moments, this is exactly where you need to be. It's a beacon of light for those of us walking through difficult parenting journeys.
Jillian M.
Amanda provides a unique and vital opportunity to practice a new way of being as a parent of a neurodivergent child. I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this retreat. Instead of feeling hopeless, as I did entering the retreat, I am now journeying toward hope.
Dollar dollar bills, y'all (let's talk cost).
Shared Room
$2,190
Save $, share a room
- 3 nights of a shared, 2 Queen hotel room on-site Disney "Moderate" resort - Coronado Springs, in the luxurious Tower
- 2 day park tickets at Walt Disney World (we will go to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios)
- Disney Dining plan, includes one Quick Service meal daily, one Table Service meal daily, one snack daily, and a refillable resort mug for drinks
- All in-town transportation costs (you are responsible for getting yourself to the resort, I'll take it from there.)
- Plus matching t-shirts, a Disney gift card to buy fun extras for your inner child, retreat workbook, and group photos
- AND four live group meetings (3 ahead of time, 1 post-trip) to connect with everyone, meet your inner child, and prepare yourself to respond to this powerful, transformative invitation.
Note: Because of the logistics of a small group, we can only guarantee this shared-room option if you bring your own roommate. We are happy to match up people wanting to share a room, but in the case of a cancellation, odd numbers, or lack of interest, you may be responsible for the full cost. We will communicate with you lots about this!
Solo Room
$2,670
$500 more, no sharing
- 3 night stay in your private hotel room with King bed at Disney's Coronado Springs, "Gran Destino Tower," more like a typical Deluxe resort.
- Experience the ease of an elevator, lovely views, easy access to all food and transportation, and truly luxurious feel.
- Absolutely everything included in the Value plan (3 night hotel, 2 day tickets, all food, all facilitation, all the gifties)
The only difference is the solo, King bed hotel room. Everything else is exactly the same.
Payments
This is an all-inclusive trip -- because the goal is for you to show up like a child. I will take care of all the logistics and options, allowing you to be in the moment and do what feels good to you!
You don't have to think about how much your lunch will cost or where you're headed in the morning. It will all be taken care of for you.
(Feel your adult-self sigh with relief and your child-self wriggle with excitement about getting to play.)
Depending on the style of accommodations you choose, this will slightly shift your final price. All packages include all administrative fees, Disney fees, and facilitation costs.
Bottom line: All you need to add on is your airplane trip or cost to drive down. You will also need to arrange transport from the airport to the resort, or pay Disney's nightly parking fee.
The Financial Details
- You will be charged 4 monthly payments (one when you register, and 3 following) to reserve your spot.
- The exact amount depends on your package choice ($547.50 for shared room, $667.50 for solo room).
- Please review the cancellation policy below. Most of the financial stipulations are based on Disney's unique cancellation policies, and cannot be changed or modified on our end.
Cancellation Policy
I understand life can be unpredictable. Here’s how we can accommodate changes:
- Any cancellations completed 31 days or more before arrival at the retreat will be refunded in full, minus a $100 administrative fee.
- For reservations cancelled between 5 and 30 days before arrival, the majority of the package can be refunded. However, the Disney park tickets are nonrefundable and non-transferrable within 30 days. Thus, a full refund minus $400 and minus park tickets will be available.
- Within 5 days, no refunds can be offered, unless you can find someone to take your place on the trip.
