Who We Are
Hey there — we’re Mike and Tara.
We’re lifelong travel lovers with a special place in our hearts for Disney, Universal, and cruising. And while we both love Disney… let’s just say Mike might be slightly more obsessed.
Mike’s first trip to Walt Disney World was in July 1972, and that’s where it all began. Growing up, his family made annual summer road trips from New Jersey to Florida, and those experiences turned into a lifelong love for the parks. He was even there during some major milestones — including the opening of EPCOT in 1982.
In 1985, as a culinary arts student, Mike completed an internship at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, getting a rare “behind-the-scenes” look at the magic.
Tara’s first trip to Walt Disney World came in 1991 — and it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the parks too. From that moment on, Disney became something we shared together.
Our family grew in 1995, and by 1997 we were introducing our son to Disney. Does he remember that first trip? Probably not. Did he watch the home videos over and over? Absolutely.
That same year, we moved to Irmo, South Carolina — and realized Disney was now within driving distance. That discovery kicked off nearly three decades of frequent trips (and counting). Between us, we’ve spent over 500 days at Walt Disney World, visiting during major openings and anniversaries, including Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and multiple milestone celebrations.
Our Universal Adventures
Our love for theme parks didn’t stop at Disney.
Mike first visited Universal Orlando in 2001 to experience Islands of Adventure, but things really took off when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened. That’s when we became regular visitors — and eventually annual passholders.
We’ve experienced everything from Mardi Gras celebrations to Halloween Horror Nights, and even opening day at Epic Universe.
We’ve also had the chance to stay at several Universal resorts, including Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, and Endless Summer — thanks in part to our son, who worked for Universal (and yes, we happily took advantage of those discounts!).
🚢 Our Newest Obsession: Cruising
In April 2023, we took our first cruise — a 7-night sailing on the Disney Magic.
And just like that… we were hooked.
We loved everything about it:
- The dining
- The entertainment
- The activities
- And especially the chance to just relax and enjoy the ocean
Since then, we’ve taken five more cruises to destinations including the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Alaska.
We’ve sailed with Disney, Celebrity, and Princess — and while we think Princess might be our current favorite, we’re always looking forward to trying new cruise lines.
What we love most about cruising is the flexibility — you can be as busy or as relaxed as you want, and so much is included.
❤️ A Little More About Us
We’ve been together for over 30 years and have shared a lifetime of travel experiences with our two sons, Erick and Christopher.
- Erick shares our love for Disney and Universal
- Christopher shares our love for cruising
- And yes… we may have taken him to Disney just a few too many times 😄
🎯 Why We Started This Blog
After years of traveling, planning, and learning (sometimes the hard way), friends and family are always asking us for advice.
We genuinely love helping people plan amazing trips — whether it’s Disney, Universal, or a cruise.
So we created The Many Adventures of Tara and Mike to share:
- Tips
- Experiences
- Lessons learned
- And a little bit of fun along the way
If you’re planning a trip and need help, feel free to reach out — we’d love to help you make your next adventure unforgettable.