Beyond the Castle: Exploring the World with a Disney Expert Who Does It All

By Pixie Cove Travel

At Pixie Cove Travel, we talk a lot about magic—because we believe in it. Not the kind you find in a fairytale (though we love that too), but the kind that sneaks up on you: the hush of snow falling in Alaska, the first taste of something new in a city that speaks another language, the way a moment becomes a memory without you even realizing it.

That’s the kind of magic Kris Lowther has been chasing for over three decades—and the kind she helps others find, one unforgettable trip at a time.

🏰 From Fantasyland to the Fjords

Kris’s first real taste of travel magic started with Disney. Her mom worked at The Disney Store in the ’90s, and Kris fell in love with the idea that joy could be something you plan for, something you step into. Fast forward a few decades, and she’s been to Walt Disney World more times than she can count and sailed on 5 Disney cruise ships across more than a dozen voyages.

But here’s the thing: what began as a passion for pixie dust turned into something deeper—a curiosity that stretched beyond the gates of Magic Kingdom.

🌍 The World She’s Seen, and the Ones She Helps Others Discover

Kris has been to all 50 U.S. states, traveled to over 20 countries, and cruised nearly 20 times on four different lines. But when she talks about her favorite places, she doesn’t list them off like passport stamps—she tells you what they felt like.

In Rome, the air was thick with history and espresso. She remembers how her footsteps echoed in the early morning, how every ruin felt like it was watching. In Barcelona, it wasn’t the tourist sites that stuck with her—it was the grilled octopus at a hole-in-the-wall bar where no one spoke English, and the waiter smiled anyway.

And then there was Reykjavík—the kind of place that humbles you. She still remembers standing outside in the cold, staring up at the northern lights for the first time, completely silent. “I forgot to breathe,” she says, laughing. “It felt like the sky opened just for me.”

That same trip took her across the Arctic Circle, where the daylight was brief and the beauty felt impossible. “It was so quiet,” she recalls. “Not empty. Just… still. Like the world paused.”

These aren’t just vacations—they’re chapters. And Kris brings that same reverence to every trip she plans.

The Truth Behind the Instagram Photos

Travel isn’t always perfect, and Kris would be the first to tell you that. Plans shift, weather changes, and sometimes, history rewrites the entire itinerary.

She once landed in London the very morning Princess Diana passed away. What was meant to be a lighthearted European vacation became something entirely different. The city fell into a quiet, collective grief. Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace. Strangers cried together in the streets. “We didn’t do half the things we planned,” Kris remembers, “but we lived through history. We were there for a moment that changed the world.” It wasn’t joyful—but the signing of the condolence book inside Westminster Abbey made for something unforgettable.

And then there was the “quaint local guesthouse” she once booked. Let’s just say the website photos had some creative angles. It turned out to be tucked into a sketchy neighborhood, the bathroom door didn’t close, and the smell… lingered. She laughs now, but it wasn’t exactly the dream lodging experience. “You couldn’t even pretend it had charm,” she says.

Because that’s the truth: the best travel stories aren’t always picture-perfect. Sometimes, they’re strange. Sometimes, they’re uncomfortable. But they’re always real. And they remind us that travel isn’t just about escaping life—it’s about stepping fully into it.

That’s why Kris plans trips the way she does—not to control every detail, but to create space for surprise, for connection, and for those moments that stay with you long after you’re home.

🧠 How a Travel Advisor Thinks

Here’s what sets Kris apart: she doesn’t just ask where you want to go—she asks what kind of experience you need.

Is this a rest-your-soul kind of trip? A show-your-kids-the-world trip? A let’s-feel-alive-again trip?

Then she works backwards. She’s learned that great travel planning starts with emotional clarity. Not Pinterest boards. Not bucket lists.

Kris is constantly weighing trade-offs, anticipating flight delays, thinking two steps ahead so her clients don’t have to. She calls it designing the trip before the details. It’s not about seeing everything—it’s about leaving room for something to move you.

💌 Want to Travel Like This?

If this blog found you while you were searching for your next adventure, we’re glad you’re here. We believe in travel that feels like a story—and we share those stories, along with insider tips, destination ideas, and honest advice, in our monthly newsletter.

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Because the world is big. And it’s beautiful.
And it’s absolutely worth seeing the way Kris has seen it—one spectacular, messy, unforgettable moment at a time.