Our Team

Magic Managed is all about having as much fun as possible Disney World! And we believe the best way to do that is with a manageable, well-thought-out, and flexible plan.

Our passion is helping you plan a GREAT trip that meets your family’s needs.

Contact us for a free one-hour consultation and let’s get started!

Magic Managed has eleven agents to assist with your planning needs.

Our Agents

Lonna Hays, Owner and Agent

Lonna started Magic Managed in 2017. Her first big family trip was in September 2015 when her boys were 2 and 3–and it was a massive multi-generational trip with a huge learning curve and intensive planning. It quickly led to a passion for the strategy of Disney planning. She started Magic Managed in March 2017 to share what she had learned with others–and has planned over 800 trips since! Her favorite resort is the Contemporary, her favorite character is Tink, and her favorite ride is a tie between Slinky Dog and Expedition Everest. She is also a Magic Kingdom girl at heart. For her, the appeal of Disney is the mix of magic, whimsy, strategy, and practicality–which is a perfect fit for her personality and strengths. Contact Lonna to get started!

Adrienne Bailey, Agent

Adrienne lives in Charlotte, NC where she grew up. She has three boys, ages 7, 5 and 2. She met her husband, Max, in Raleigh where they both attended NC State University. Go Pack! She loves to travel, especially anywhere with a beach, and has been to Disney World many times and Disneyland. Her favorite resort at Disney World to date is Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort because of the walkability to Magic Kingdom. It’s hard for her to choose a favorite park because each one holds a favorite ride, experience, or restaurant. Some of her favorite things to do at Disney are the PeopleMover in Tomorrowland, tackling all the mountains in Magic Kingdom, eating her way through the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, enjoying a cocktail at Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge, Pandora everything in Animal Kingdom and hanging out with Donald, Daisy and friends at Tusker House before catching a glimpse of the Yeti at Expedition Everest. While she has her must do traditions, like eating a Dole Whip while exploring the Swiss Family Treehouse, she also enjoys trying the latest restaurants, rides, and shows each visit to better service her families.

And when she’s not at Disney, you can bet that she is reading blogs, listening to podcasts or talking about Disney with other Park enthusiasts. Her passion for organization, spreadsheets, and planning the perfect itinerary has made Magic Managed a great fit and she can’t wait to help you plan a magical vacation for your family. Contact Adrienne to get started!

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Melissa Thomson, Agent

Melissa Thomson: Melissa Thomson celebrated her 10th birthday with a visit to Caribbean Beach Resort, and she celebrated her [most recent birthday, um, a big one] at Pop Century and Yacht Club. From yesteryear’s Great Movie Ride to the magic bands and blue milk of today, her favorite part of Walt Disney World is all of it. In 2018, Melissa worked with Lonna to plan a multigenerational trip for family members ages 6 to 70, and that’s when she discovered that she loved the intricacies of Disney trip planning almost as much as the Most Magical Place itself. On a recent trip, Melissa and her now-7-year-old son camped at Fort Wilderness, rode the Skyliner, and engineered a successful mission on the Millennium Falcon. Melissa is thrilled to be part of the Magic Managed team and cannot wait to help you plan the just-right trip for your family (or yourself!). Contact Melissa to get started.

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Erin McClain, Agent

Erin fell in love with Disney at a young age. As a child, she was a die-hard Winnie the Pooh fan with dreams of being Cinderella. Erin was made to help families and friends catch the magic. Her favorite part of trip planning is making sure each and every Disney trip is filled with ease. It takes comprehensive knowledge of Disney to navigate all the information, the choices, the tips and tricks. The joy is in helping someone step outside of all the minutiae and step into the magic that is being present with loved ones in the most playful, whimsical, fun-for-everyone place on earth. Erin’s top two moments at Disney: A first date at the Magic Kingdom with Graham, her husband (go big or go home, gang!) and the day she scored 999,999 on Buzz Lightyear (again- go big or go home!) Contact Erin to get started.

Lisa Ko, Agent

Lisa has been a Walt Disney World fan since her first trip at the age of five.  On that first trip she received a Minnie Mouse dress that she wore daily for the next entire year, and has since passed the vintage dress along to her daughter.  Lisa is the mom of two young children and lives outside of Charlotte, NC with her husband. Lisa’s favorite ride in Walt Disney World is Splash Mountain and she cannot wait to see it re-imagined in a Princess Tiana theme! Her favorite overall attraction is the Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom. When she is not in the parks you can find her enjoying a Mickey ice cream bar and riding in circles on the monorail. The next stop on Lisa’s Disney bucket list is the Aulani Disney resort in Hawaii!  

Lisa’s background is in middle school math education and she puts a lot of those same skills to work planning Disney trips. Lisa enjoys the number crunching and logic puzzle that is finding clients their perfect Disney trip plan within his or her budget.   She approaches trip planning with the heart of a teacher who wants to fully prepare her clients for a truly magical Disney vacation; whether they are headed to Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California, on a Disney Cruise to a tropical destination or on an Adventure by Disney to explore a new land! Lisa is here to help make sure all the important details are in place, big and small. Contact Lisa to get started! 

Leah Barker, Agent and Support Services

Leah is a lifelong Disney fan. Her first trip to Disney World was with her family in 1983 where she instantly fell in love with the parks and resorts. Leah now lives with her husband and kids in Charlotte, NC and loves that she is within driving distance to Lake Buena Vista. She has two children, ages 8 and 6. They are also big Disney fans! Leah’s favorite ride is constantly changing but is currently obsessed with Tower of Terror and Soarin. She can’t wait to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in Epcot. Leah spent a day at Disneyland Paris in 2018 and was fortunate to ride it then and loved it. Leah has an equal love for both the parks and the resorts. The theming at each resort and the feeling you get when you walk through the lobby or around the property is one of Leah’s favorite things about Disney. Her favorite resort is the Polynesian Resort because of her memories of a special childhood trip, the theming which reminds her of her honeymoon to Bora Bora and the proximity to Magic Kingdom. 
Leah has always had a passion for planning trips big and small trips to Disney or really anywhere on the beloved spreadsheet. When she isn’t at Disney, Leah is researching and reading about travel tips to Europe and spending time with her family. She loves that she can now plan magical Disney vacations for other families! Contact Leah to get started! 

Laurie Hoffman, Agent

Laurie specializes in crafting unforgettable travel experiences, with expertise in Disney vacations and Sandals or Beaches all-inclusive resorts. Whether it’s a magical Disney getaway or a luxurious, stress-free escape, she customizes every trip to match her clients’ dreams.  

A lifelong Disney fan, Laurie’s love for the magic began at an early age and has only grown—she even announced both of her pregnancies at Disney World! Since 2011, she and her husband have called Charlotte home, raising their two energetic young boys. Family is at the heart of everything she does, and she understands the joy of creating lasting memories—whether through theme park adventures, cruises, or relaxing beach retreats. For those craving an adults-only getaway, Laurie and her husband first honeymooned at Sandals over 15 years ago and have since visited different Sandals properties a dozen times, making her an expert in curating the perfect romantic escape.  

Beyond her passion for travel, Laurie is an Optometrist specializing in working with those who are visually impaired. She finds deep fulfillment in helping individuals navigate the world independently and with confidence —a dedication she brings to crafting seamless, personalized travel experiences. Whether planning accessible vacations or ensuring every detail is perfect, Laurie is committed to making every journey stress-free, exciting, and filled with unforgettable moments. Contact Laurie to get started!

Megan Hollander, Agent

Megan lives in Raleigh, NC, and grew up loving the Disney Parks. She is a former teacher of little ones and mom of three young children. Her vacation planning approach is thoughtful and intentional so that everyone’s experience is as positive as possible. Megan is a Star Wars nerd and couldn’t be happier that it’s a part of the Disney Parks experience. Her favorite attraction is the Haunted Mansion, her *current* favorite character is Tiana, and her favorite resort is the Polynesian. You can find her posted up at Baseline Taphouse enjoying a beer and a pretzel, at Nomad Lounge waving at boat-riding characters, and taking in every detail in Galaxy’s Edge. 50% of the reason she goes to Disney Parks is to enjoy the food and beverages, so she’s always here with an opinion on restaurants (and well, most things). She’s taken her kids as young as 11 weeks old and has experience managing trips with babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged kids, as well as grandparents! Working for Magic Managed combines so many things Megan loves: Disney, efficiency, time management, building relationships, making others feel confident and comfortable, and sharing her advice. Contact Megan to get started!

Alex Tweedy, Agent

Alex has been a Walt Disney World fan since she went the first time when she was 3! Her favorite character has always been Cinderella, so much so that she wore out her VHS copy as a child! Alex lives just outside of Charlotte, NC with her husband, who she met at Appalachian State (Go Mountaineers!), her daughter (who loves Rapunzel), and her three crazy pets (Raya, Tuk Tuk and Sisu). Alex’s favorite ride is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom. She also really enjoys meeting and seeing the characters on all of her trips (especially Cinderella and all of the princesses)!   

Alex enjoys planning trips and all of the magical extras to make sure your trip is the best possible!  She uses her background in real estate contract coordination to make sure that all aspects of your trip are expertly coordinated.  Contact Alex to get started.

Libby Burton, Agent

Libby is a passionate Disney Travel Planner with a deep love for all things Disney.

Having previously worked as a cast member, Libby has an insider’s knowledge of the magic and enchantment that awaits at the most magical place on Earth. With her extensive experience and expertise, she is dedicated to creating unforgettable Disney vacations for her clients. Her enthusiasm and love for Disney shine through in every aspect of her work, as she will go above and beyond to ensure that each trip is curated to your family’s specific interests and needs. She hopes to reduce the overwhelm and stress for clients and set them up for a vacation filled with joy, and cherished memories. Whether it’s planning the perfect itinerary, securing dining reservations, or offering insider tips and tricks, her passion is making each client’s Disney experience just a bit more magical. Get ready to embark on a magical journey with your trusted Disney Travel Planner.

Elizabeth Boylan, Agent

Elizabeth is a self proclaimed “Disney Adult” that lives in Charlotte NC. Her love for Disney started at a young age with annual family trips to Walt Disney World which then turned into being apart of the Disney College Program! Once she became a mom herself she was excited to share her love of Disney with her two boys 11 and 2 and now takes them on trips regularly so they can experience the magic just as she did.

Having always worked and enjoyed being in a client service space, Elizabeth loves marrying her love of Disney and meeting new people to help you plan your next dream vacation while focusing on efficiency and education, all while making sure the planning process is a breeze!

Elizabeth specializes in Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney cruises experiences and is ready to help with family trips large and small, adult only trips, or anything in between! Her favorite resort at Walt Disney World is the Polynesian and her favorite thing to do while on a Disney property is search for hidden mickeys!

Joanna Schimizzi, Agent

Joanna loves to find the magic of Disney in the moments small and big! It was a trip as an adult with her bestie Tiffany that revealed the joy and adventure of Disney rides, meals, characters and fun that anyone can have. Many trips later, Joanna has loved finding all the moments of pixie dust and making core memories with family and friends. Whether it’s an amazing seat for a parade, the perfect fireworks dining spot, a special hug from a beloved character or inside knowledge about transport around the parks, Joanna loves asking questions, finding secrets and sharing all the fun!

With two boys and a Disney-ish 😉 husband, Joanna has gotten lots of experience planning (and un-planning) how to make Disney trips work so that everyone has fun (and rest). One of her sons has a food allergy and other medical conditions, so you can count on Joanna to know all the details to navigating Disney (and all vacations) to make sure different bodies and brains are happy and safe.

Joanna is a Professional Learning Specialist and Biology teacher, so she loves to dig into the details of trips to get everything “just so” and in ways that all brains can relate! And some trips have all the splurges (VIP tour! Treehouse stay!) and other trips are more low key with relaxed pool days. No matter the way you like to travel, Joanna can make each moment feel magical.

Joanna’s favorite Disney things include Fireworks Dining at Epcot, doing all 4 parks in one day and finding the best PhotoPasses!

Shelly Keller, Agent

Shelly has lived in the Charlotte/Fort Mill area for over 20 years and loves it here!  When she’s not enjoying a Disney adventure or sailing on a cruise, she is busy volunteering at her daughter and son’s school and taking them to their after school activities.  She is a huge Disney and Star wars fan and has fallen in love with the ease of cruising while exploring new destinations.

Every Disney Park holds a favorite meal and ride for her!  A couple of her favorite classic rides are Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom and Soarin’ at Epcot.  Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot, and Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios are a couple of her favorite new rides.  She and her family are big Star Wars fans and enjoy walking around Galaxy’s Edge, grabbing a drink at Oga’s or having a blast helping the kids build Droids at Droid Depot.  She and her daughter love meeting characters and so far, Captain Jack Sparrow was the most fun! 

She and her family love all of the magic on board a Disney Cruise and the thrill activities aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise line.  Her favorite area on a Royal Caribbean Cruise line is the Central Park Deck while a couple of her kids favorite activities/spaces  is the 10 story dry slide (Ultimate Abyss), rock climbing, laser tag, Aqua Theater shows, etc..  She can help you navigate which cruise line is the best fit for your family!

Shelly’s background in Accounting translates perfectly to Disney and cruise planning.  Her attention to detail ensures that each aspect of her client’s trips are handled thoroughly and in a timely manner, relieving some of the stress of planning from her clients.  She is also able to provide options while keeping a client’s budget in mind.  Shelly also loves keeping up to date with the latest Disney and cruise news by reading blogs, posts, and listening to podcasts on a daily basis.  She loves sharing this information with her clients and having them fully prepared so that once they’re there, they’ll be able to focus on making those magical memories!