Welcome to ParkTalk: Why I Built a Disney Companion App
If you’re anything like me, planning a Disney vacation feels like preparing for a military operation. I need a plan, a backup plan, and a spreadsheet for the backup plan. So, when it is time to plan my family’s Disney vacations, I want them to be perfect. Living in Southern California, we’ve also had the joy of hosting friends and family, and I have become obsessed with making their Disney dreams as magical and efficient as possible, with or without me by their side.
A First Trip Filled with… Character
Let’s rewind to my very first Disneyland trip. The year was 2018. Things were so different then! Picture this: I walked into the park clutching a physical map (yes, paper!) like it was a treasure map, blissfully unaware that I was about to commit nearly every first-timer mistake possible.
Growing up, I always dreamed of Disneyland but never got the chance to go. Then, as fate would have it, I moved to SoCal for work. When my dad came to visit, we decided to finally go, just the two of us. We arrived after 9 a.m. 11 am (Unbelievably, I found the picture of our very first park ticket, and oh how memories fade. To my horror, we actually ended up at the park past 11 am, not 9 as I had originally imagined! And paid peak price. Not going to lie, that physically pained me a little); bought tickets at the booth (which I now know was much more expensive than if we’d just bought them online the night before), and proudly marched through the gates with absolutely no plan.
And then it happened. Our very first ride, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – broke down mid-ride. Yep. Stuck. In the middle of the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness. We had to be escorted off the track. It was chaotic, a little scary, and honestly, a core memory now.
A Cast Member handed us a special pass that allowed us to use the FastPass line for most rides. I didn’t even ask what it was called back then but suddenly, our day went from “uh-oh” to “oh wow.” To someone who had absolutely zero idea of how to navigate the park, this was THE golden ticket we needed to make our trip magical. This pass allowed us to access the fast pass line in most rides without needing to get the fast pass, very little planning needed.
We still made our share of rookie mistakes. We waited 45 minutes for Peter Pan which still wasn’t covered with our pass (still worth it for that first time experience, by the way), spent way too much time at Tom Sawyer Island (note to self: skip that next time unless you have kids), and visited Toon Town just because it looked adorable, which it was. We had no idea how immersive the character actors could be and ended up eating cheese pizza at Alien Pizza Planet without knowing there were churros and other must-try foods hiding all around us.
We didn’t see the parade. We didn’t see the fireworks. We actually left by 7 p.m. because my dad had to catch an international flight that night from LAX. Yes, you read that right.
Looking back, that day was chaotic, unplanned, imperfect, and absolutely magical. Even without knowing anything about wait times, best rides, fast passes, or optimal itineraries, we made memories I’ll cherish forever. It healed a little part of my inner child. Yes we spent a small fortune that day, but we made the greatest memories.
Yet, I couldn’t shake the thought: We could have gotten so much more magic for our money if we’d just had a friend who knew the parks walking alongside us.
The Mission to “Win” Disney
That first trip ignited a passion. I went on a mission to conquer the theme parks. I became obsessed. I scoured every YouTube channel, read every blog, and spent countless hours on forums. I talked to seasoned pass holders, first-timers, and everyone in between. I absorbed information from every source I could find.
But I quickly realized a problem: this was too much work for a regular person. This was “studying” for something that was supposed to be spontaneous and fun.
As a data scientist and software enthusiast who is also notoriously forgetful, I wanted a way to have my cake and eat it too. I wanted to be spontaneous and perfectly prepared. (Is there such a thing as a Type AB personality?)
So, I built a solution for myself.
Introducing ParkTalk: Your Trusted Park Friend
The first version of ParkTalk was a passion project, a digital companion for my own park visits. The idea was simple: an app that lets you ask quick questions and get tailored, actionable advice.
“What’s the best ride for a toddler who’s scared of the dark?”
“So where exactly do I get a Mickey-shaped beignet?” or even “What are some must try vegan desserts at Disneyland?”
“It’s starting to rain, what indoor shows are nearby?”
“What’s the best spot to watch the parade?”
“Is noon a good time to ride Pirates?”
ParkTalk looks up accurate information from a database I’ve manually curated, pulling from all my research and real-world experience. It’s designed to be that seasoned parkgoer friend, walking right alongside you, so you can spend less time staring at your phone and more time making memories.
And as for this blog? I’ve truly questioned the world’s need for “yet another Disney blog.” I believe information should be freely available, shared openly, and written by people who genuinely care. The content you’ll find here comes from countless hours of observation, chats with frequent parkgoers, conversations with first-timers, and yes, a fair bit of nerdy research. I’ve read every blog, watched every YouTube channel, and scrolled through more forums than I care to admit.
So, welcome. I’m so glad you’re here. Now, let’s go make some magic.
P.S. My dad still talks about that first trip. Now, I’m just waiting for him to come back to the USA (8 years and counting!) so we can do a proper, ParkTalk-assisted second take.
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