121: Behind the Magic with Camille Dashana from Sparks of Magic
Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music
Camille is my dear friend, and she is such an incredible woman. She is an entrepreneur, a writer, a Southern California girl, and one of the most thoughtful people I know. She is also a mom of five, married to a wonderful man, Jeff, and they are genuinely the kind of couple you want to travel with because everything feels easy and fun around them. They are also our cruise buddies. We sailed on the Disney Wish together, and we have a Disney Destiny trip planned next year, which I already know is going to be a whole experience in the best way.
This episode of Behind the Magic is one of those conversations that feels like Disney in real life. Not just rides and castles, but the way Disney becomes part of your family story, your career story, and honestly your identity when it has been in your life forever. Camille’s home base is Disneyland, and she shares what it is like to grow up with the parks as your backdrop, then come back as a mom, then build a professional life where you are helping other people create meaningful experiences too.
Who this episode is for
If you are a Disneyland person, this one is for you. If you love Walt Disney World but you are curious about what makes Disneyland feel so different, this one is also for you. If you are a parent who has ever been told, “don’t take them when they’re little, they won’t remember,” and you have still wanted to go anyway, you are going to feel very seen in this episode.
It is also for content creators, planners, and Disney friends who want to turn their love of Disney into something more. We talk about planDisney, what it is, why it matters, and what being selected actually means. We also talk about Disney Dreamers Academy and what it is like to experience that program as a parent. And if you are someone who loves the emotional side of Disney, the nostalgia, the memories, the traditions, the photos that unlock feelings years later, Camille explains that in a way that is so simple and so real.
What you will learn in this episode
You will hear how Camille describes Disneyland in one word and why she sees it as nostalgia and adventure, not just a theme park. You will learn why she believes Disney magic is intentional and how that belief influences her work in brand stewardship through Sparks of Magic. You will hear the difference between pre and post COVID Disneyland from a local’s perspective, including what reservations and Lightning Lane have changed for spontaneous park days.
You will also learn what planDisney is, how the application process works, and what being a panelist taught Camille about how Disney operates behind the scenes. We talk about why planDisney can influence career decisions and how it helped Camille move forward with travel curation through her brand Magic and Wanderluxe. You will also learn what Disney Dreamers Academy is, how students are selected, and why Camille will always be a champion for that program, especially after seeing how Disney supports not only the students but also the parents and chaperones.
And because Camille is Camille, you are also going to walk away with Disneyland snack talk, parade talk, and a reminder that you do not have to ride every ride to have a perfect Disney day.
Meet our guest, Camille
Camille is the founder of Sparks of Magic, a multidisciplinary studio built on the belief that brand development is stewardship. In her words, it is not decoration. It is care, clarity, connection, and transformation. Her business work includes HR consulting, brand development, travel curation through Magic and Wanderluxe, and lifestyle storytelling. Disney has been a part of her heart for as long as she can remember, and she credits Disney with teaching her that magic is not just fantasy. It is intentionality. It is the details, the care, and how you make people feel.
I love that about Camille because it is who she is in real life too. She is not a surface level person. She is a connect the dots person. And that comes through in the way she talks about Disneyland, the way she raises her kids, and the way she builds her businesses.
Personal Instagram:
@camilledashana
https://www.instagram.com/camilledashana/
Sparks of Magic (Brand Strategy + Consulting):
Website: https://www.sparksofmagic.com/
Instagram: @sparksofmagicco
Magic & Wanderluxe (Travel Curation):
Website: https://www.magicandwanderluxe.com/
Instagram: @magicandwanderluxe
Community Work:
Black Disney Moms (Facebook community – search “Black Disney Moms” on Facebook)
For media inquiries, collaborations, brand consulting, or travel inquiries, the contact forms on both SparksofMagic.com and MagicandWanderluxe.com are the best direct routes to reach her professionally.
Disneyland is not just a place, it is a feeling
When I asked Camille what Disneyland means to her, she did not hesitate. She said adventure and nostalgia. Her first trip was before her first birthday, and Disneyland has been ingrained in her family life for decades. Her dad used to go back in the 60s, and for her, Disney became the default answer to “where do we vacation.” It was close enough to feel like part of life, but special enough to feel like a celebration.
Camille describes Disneyland as the space where her family can truly be together and experience things together, which is not a small statement when you are raising five kids. She made me laugh because she said the kids can be fighting at home like kids do, but then they walk through the gates and suddenly everyone becomes angels. If you have kids, you know exactly what she means. Disney does something to the atmosphere, and sometimes it really does shift the whole energy of your family.
The confetti memory and why photos matter
One of my favorite stories in this episode is Camille’s earliest memory of Disneyland. She talks about how photos unlock memories. So when people say not to take babies because they will not remember, Camille reframes it in a way that makes so much sense. Those memories are for you too. And later, when you look back at photos, it unlocks feelings and memories that you did not even realize you were storing.
Camille’s first clear personal memory was from a Girl Scout trip where she remembers confetti on Main Street during a parade. She collected it and kept it. If you have ever met Camille, that story makes perfect sense because she is the detail queen. And then the funniest part is that on the Disney Wish, during a celebration, she was collecting confetti again and I was like, okay, we are collecting confetti. Hearing that it started when she was a kid was such a full circle moment.
That story also connects to something bigger. Disneyland is not just about what you do. It is about what you keep. Sometimes it is confetti. Sometimes it is a photo. Sometimes it is a tradition. Sometimes it is just the feeling of being in the same place you have always gone to be happy.
Disneyland through different life stages
Camille has lived Disneyland in every stage. Childhood, teen years, young adulthood, motherhood, and now parenting adults. She shared something that I think every Southern California kid understands. There is often a middle school era where you decide you are too cool for Disneyland and you have a Magic Mountain phase. That was the only period she remembers not being fully obsessed. But even then, she still went sometimes with friends.
When she became a mom, everything shifted again. Camille had her oldest at 18, so she was still young herself when she started taking her babies to Disneyland. She has gone pregnant, gone with infants, and her second born was only about six weeks old on one of their trips. Disneyland became a place where her kids grew up, and then her relationship to the park became less about her experience and more about watching their wonder.
Now that her youngest is 19 and her oldest is 25, Disneyland has changed again. She explained that as young adults, her kids are now making decisions about what they want to spend money on, and Disney is expensive. They are not all Magic Key holders anymore. Some of them are Disney adults at heart, and some of them are more realistic about priorities unless it is on mom’s tab. She also said something that I appreciated because it was honest. She has no shame in saying she would do Disney for her kids all the time if she could because she loves it and she loves spending time with them that way.
This part of the episode is such a good reminder that Disney changes with your family. It is not supposed to look the same forever, and there is something sweet about learning how to enjoy each season for what it is.
Pre and post COVID Disneyland, the local perspective
Camille gave such a clear view of how Disneyland feels different post COVID, especially for locals. Reservations changed the spontaneity. Lightning Lane became another decision layered on top of already being a passholder. She described how she and Jeff now prioritize ambiance more than rides.
She said something that really stood out. Disneyland calms her brain. She can walk in, be surrounded by motion and noise, and still feel like her mind slows down. She loves being in it, even if she does not ride anything. She loves having her snacks, being with Jeff, and letting the kids do their own thing. That is the kind of Disney day a lot of people do not give themselves permission to have.
If you needed a reminder that Disney does not have to be a checklist, Camille gives it to you in this episode.
How Camille became the Disney person everyone asks
I asked Camille when she decided to become a Disney professional, and her answer was so relatable. She became the go to person naturally. People at work, at church, and in her life knew she was always at Disney and always had the details, so they asked her about trips. She loved talking about it, so it grew from there.
That is the real origin story for a lot of Disney creators and planners. You do not start as a professional. You start as the person people trust.
Her Experience on PlanDisney and why it matters
Camille and I actually connected through planDisney, so we talk about it in detail. planDisney is a website where panelists answer guest trip questions. There is an application process with multiple rounds, and every year looks a little different. Some people apply for years.
Camille described how being a panelist gave her a peek into the operational side of Disney. She already has an operational mindset, so seeing the “magical machine” behind the scenes was inspiring. It deepened her understanding of how Disney brands itself, how it connects its messaging, and how intentional it is in the way it supports guests.
I also want to say this clearly because Camille was being humble about it. Being selected is a big deal. Thousands apply. Her class was the Sweet 16 in 2024. It is not casual.
We also talk about how planDisney influenced her decision to move forward with travel curation. At the time, there were restrictions about being in travel and entertainment while being a panelist. Once her contract ended, it made it easier for her to step into travel professionally, especially as her family’s life shifted too.
Disney Dreamers Academy, and the parent side nobody talks about
This is the part of the episode that gets people emotional, and I understand why. Camille’s daughter KeiLana was selected as a Disney Dreamer in 2018. Disney Dreamers Academy is a mentorship and leadership program for high school students ages 13 to 19. Disney selects 100 students each year and brings them to Walt Disney World for professional development, career exposure, mentorship, and community.
Camille explained that the theme that year was Be 100, which focused on learning about yourself, setting goals, and becoming a change agent in your community. And then she shared what it was like as a parent.
She and KeiLana had never been to Florida before. They had never been to Walt Disney World. And they had never traveled in a way where they would be separated. KeiLana was excited and ready to meet friends, and Camille was having a full mom moment because she was like, who are these friends and do I know their parents. That is such a real parenting moment and I appreciated her honesty.
What surprised Camille most was how intentional Disney was with the parents. Disney did not just create an incredible experience for the students. They created a track for the parents and chaperones too. They supported parents in learning how to support high achieving kids, how to dream themselves, and how to lead by example. Camille shared that it shifted her personally and made her reflect on her own goals and what she wanted to model for her children.
She described emotional moments like seeing photos of her daughter dancing and letting go, and the Dreamers graduation, and the hug at breakfast after missing her. She also shared that their family had experienced loss before that season, so seeing her daughter experience true joy hit differently.
If you have ever wanted a reminder that Disney can be bigger than entertainment, this part of the episode is it.
Writing for WDW Magazine
Camille also recently wrote about Disney Dreamers Academy for WDW Magazine, and we talk about that experience. She shared that the team was amazing to work with, and writing the piece brought all the emotions back. When the print issue arrived, she opened it and cried because it was her first print publication contribution. She said she loved being able to write in her authentic voice, in a more reflective narrative style, and she hopes to continue sharing stories like that.
As her friend, I am proud of her. As a creator, I also love seeing someone step into print storytelling when so much of our world is digital now.
Black Disney Moms, and how Disney builds community
We also touched on something that matters a lot. Camille is one of the community leaders and admins for Black Disney Moms, a Facebook community for Black moms, aunties, and grandmas who love Disney. The group was founded by Amiyrah Martin, and it has grown into a real community, not just a page. Camille talked about how they vet members, how it is a safe space, and how it creates opportunities for meetups and group travel.
This is actually another part of the Disney ecosystem that shaped our friendship, because we met in person on the Disney Wish during the Black Disney Moms group cruise. That trip was such a meaningful experience, and it is also part of why it makes sense that we are now planning the Disney Destiny together.
Quick Disneyland favorites and first timer advice
Toward the end of the episode, we get into Disneyland favorites, and this section is so fun because it is very Camille and very real. Her go to snacks include Plaza Inn fried chicken, churros forever, and she and Jeff have their routine at Disney California Adventure too, including Award Wieners and grabbing the seltzer of the day.
Her ride she could do a hundred times is It’s a Small World, and she was genuinely traumatized when she went to Disneyland Paris and it was closed on her one day there. At DCA, her favorite is Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout. She also shared favorite “I’m home” spots like Buena Vista Street, Carthay Lounge people watching, Main Street, and sitting near It’s a Small World.
When I asked what first timers overlook, she said pace and she is right. Disneyland planning is different, especially if you are used to Walt Disney World. She encouraged people to slow down, watch the characters, let the kids lead when possible, be realistic about time, and talk to kids before you go about what they actually want to do.
And then she said the thing that sums up the episode. Disney magic is intentional. It is intentional storytelling experiences, and you can feel that in every detail and every layer, even the ones guests do not see.
Where to find Camille
You can find Camille on Instagram at Camille Deshauna. You can follow Sparks of Magic Co for her consulting work, and Magic and Wanderluxe for travel. All of her links are in the show notes, so you can click straight through.
Episode chapters
00:00 Introduction to Disney Magic and Personal Connection
02:50 The Nostalgia of Disneyland and Family Memories
05:59 Evolving Relationship with Disneyland as a Parent
09:05 Transitioning from Disney Kid to Disney Professional
11:56 The Impact of planDisney on Personal Growth
15:08 Experiencing Disney Dreamers Academy as a Parent
17:55 Writing for WDW Magazine and Sharing Stories
21:08 Future Aspirations and Community Building
33:38 The Magic of Disney Adventures
35:00 Connecting Through Family and Friends
36:02 Social Media and Business Ventures
38:58 Disneyland vs Walt Disney World Experiences
44:59 Traditions and Tips for First Time Visitors
50:02 The Essence of Disney Magic
56:57 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans
What to take from this episode
This episode is a reminder that Disneyland is not just something you visit. For some people, it becomes part of your life story. It becomes the place where nostalgia lives, where your family reconnects, where your brain slows down, and where you learn what it looks like when storytelling is done with care.
Camille’s perspective is also a reminder that Disney adults are not just obsessed with Disney because it is cute. Some of us love Disney because it taught us something. It taught us about details. It taught us about creating moments. It taught us about intentionality. And when you carry that into parenting, business, and community, it becomes more than a hobby. It becomes a way of living.
For more tips on minimizing parental stress at the Disney parks, follow @wellhellomagic.
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As a therapist by trade and a mom of four, I use my expertise in understanding personalities to help you discover your "Disney Enneagram"—a fun way to tailor your Disney vacation planning to suit your family's needs or large group dynamics, ensuring everyone enjoys the magic in their own unique way. With my firsthand experience navigating Disney with babies and toddlers, I'll share all my best tips to make your trip smooth and fun for everyone. Plus, check out some of our family's favorite rides at Magic Kingdom—there's something for everyone to enjoy!
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