Universal Expert
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Erika Richman
Oakmont, PA Travel Agent· 12 Years of Experience
Society 1955, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(40)
100% Recommended
Erika has been my only agent for about the last 4 yrs and I will never use anyone else as long as she is doing this... Read More >
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Universal OrlandoInterests:
Theme Parks, Universal Parks & Resort Vacations, Adventure, Family Vacations, Adult OnlySuppliers:
Universal Parks & Resorts VacationsAbout Me
Your Universal Expert!
Why Use a Travel Agent to Plan Your Universal Studios Vacation
Especially now, planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort is more exciting than ever—with three amazing theme parks, plus a brand-new fourth park EPIC Universe, and fan-favorite experiences like riding the Hogwarts Express between parks. But with so many options and upgrades available, working with a knowledgeable travel agent can make all the difference.
Here’s where I can help!
1. Understanding Park-to-Park Tickets
Universal Orlando offers both single-park and Park-to-Park tickets—but what many first-time visitors don’t realize is that you need Park-to-Park access to ride the Hogwarts Express, the iconic train that connects Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
When you book with me, I:
- 1. Explain the difference in ticket types so you don’t miss out.
- 2. Help you determine how many days you’ll need for the best experience.
- 3. Ensure your tickets match your plans—especially if you want to visit both parks in a single day or park hop multiple days.
2. Riding the Hogwarts Express
For Harry Potter fans, riding the Hogwarts Express is a must-do! It’s more than transportation—it’s a fully immersive experience that changes depending on which direction you're going (King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade or vice versa).
When you book with me, I:
- 1. Help you build an itinerary that includes both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
- 2. Guide you on the best times to ride to avoid long waits.
- 3. Make sure you're aware of Express Pass options that can reduce time in line.
3. Planning Ahead for Epic Universe
Universal’s Epic Universe is a game-changer—introducing entirely new lands, attractions, and immersive experiences.
When you book with me, I:
- 1. Keep you informed on Epic Universe’s timeline, ticket types, and hotel packages.
- 2. Help you prepare early to secure the best rates and availability.
- 3. Advise you on how to fit Epic Universe into your existing Universal Orlando plans (or help you design a trip focused solely on the new park).
4. Other Perks of Booking Through Me
- 1. Access to vacation packages, on-site hotel benefits, and early park admission.
- 2. Support with dining reservations, special events (like Halloween Horror Nights), and VIP tours.
- 3. A personal resource before, during, and even after your vacation—especially helpful for families, large groups, or guests with special needs.
Bottom line: A Universal vacation has become more complex—but also more magical. Let me handle the logistics, so you can focus on casting spells, dodging dinosaurs, and exploring galaxies far, far away.
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Universal OrlandoInterests:
Theme Parks, Universal Parks & Resort Vacations, Adventure, Family Vacations, Adult OnlySuppliers:
Universal Parks & Resorts VacationsREVIEWS
Rating: 5.0
40 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 40 reviews
Absolutely the BEST!!!
Reviewed By Zachary R Grunberg - Irwin pa | Traveled to Walt Disney World | Florida | USA
Erika has been my only agent for about the last 4 yrs and I will never use anyone else as long as she is doing this job! I have referred her to all my family and friends who were all blown away with her dedication to making their Disney magic a reality. Not only does she have wonderful customer service but takes everything into account to personalize each trip and assist with all dining, hotels, park tickets, single pass/multipass bookings, plane reservations with the highest level of expertise for up to date tips as we all know Disney loves to change their processes right after you think you have all the tricks down pat! She is, in our opinion the best and I've used a lot of other agents. Much love sent to Erika Richman! I will be in touch soon to begin our next planning.
Sincerely,
Zachary R Grunberg
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Our go-to Disney planner
Reviewed By Alyssa F. - Pittsburgh, PA | Traveled to Orlando | Florida | USA
We have worked with Erika for several years, and now will not even consider a trip to Disney (or Universal) without booking through her. Erika’s knowledge is extensive, and she goes above and beyond to make sure each trip is maxxed out in terms of enjoyment and savings.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Always book with Erika
Reviewed By Maria G - Atlanta | Traveled to Walt Disney World | Florida | USA
I probably can not come up with enough positive things to say about this woman but I will try. I'm a newbie who is officially scheduled now to come home because of Erika!!! I was so lost and had been doing research for months. After finally deciding that, ok it's time to get serious about planning, I quickly became overwhelmed. I had pages and pages of information and was not linking it together very easily. I saw a post on one of the many Disney pages my friends and family urged me to join and it was Erika saying how it was free to use her and she would do all the legwork. It definitely grabbed my attention. Never even though about using a TA. So I messaged her and it would soon become 1,000 messages. I joked she must be sick of me texting or say Ughhh not her again, when she saw my name pop up lol. But she was absolutely amazing. Not only was she knowledgeable and explained every single step of literally everything, but she sent links and advice and took my ideas and then just expan
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Disney Family Vacation
Reviewed By Natalie - Pittsburgh PA | Traveled to Walt Disney World | Florida | USA
Erika was so AMAZING to work with! I cannot recommend her enough. We had very little knowledge about Disney, the parks, resorts, anything! She was patient and kind (and not overwhelming) in helping me understand what the important aspects would be as we considered our trip. She was able to find us a deal at the resort we were most interested in and confirmed that it would meet our needs and interests in terms of downtime (awesome pool) and proximity to the parks we were most interested in. She was seemingly always available for any big or small question we had as we prepared. Her recommendations for restaurants, experiences and rides were spot on! As I told a friend, Erika took care of all of the hard stuff about planning a trip to Disney! She made it so easy for us!!! We thought this was a one and done trip for our family - but we can't wait to visit again!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Disney and Universal Family Trip
Reviewed By Family Trip - PA | Traveled to Walt Disney World | Florida | USA
Just settling back in after a week long trip to Universal Studios and Disney World and I have to give great thanks to Erika for all her help! She planned the trip for 13 of us, transportation, resort stays, reservations. She answered my text while on vacation instantly when I couldn't remember what she told me ahead of time! She has fabulous PDFs with instructions for things! I would absolutely recommend!!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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My Places
When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.
Client Testimonials
Exceptional Service for an Corporate Retreat
Planning a corporate trip is no small feat but Erika handled it with absolute professionalism, precision, and care. From the initial planning stages to the final return flights, every single detail was thoughtfully managed, allowing our entire team to relax and truly enjoy the experience.
She coordinated flights, transfers, accommodations, meeting spaces, group activities, and even special dietary needs, seamlessly. Communication was clear and timely, and any changes or last-minute requests were handled with grace and efficiency. The all-inclusive resort Erika selected was perfect for both relaxation and team-building, and the feedback from our staff has been overwhelmingly positive.
Thanks to Erika, what could have been a stressful logistical nightmare turned into one of the most successful and memorable corporate getaways we’ve ever had. We’ll absolutely be working with her for all our future company travel!
Tim, Brand Manager
Stress-Free Planning & Pure Paradise!
I cannot say enough amazing things about our experience with Erika! From the very beginning, she made the entire process of booking our all-inclusive vacation completely effortless. We told her what we were looking for—great beach, great food, and fun activities—and she delivered exactly that and more!
Every detail was taken care of, from airport transfers to resort reservations, and even tips on what to pack and what excursions not to miss. Erika found us the perfect resort that matched our taste and budget, and it ended up being one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.
We felt like VIPs the entire time, and it was all thanks to her knowledge, professionalism, and personal touch. It’s so rare to find someone who genuinely cares about your vacation as much as Erika does. We’ll never plan another trip without Erika, she is truly the best!
The Miller Family
The Most Magical Experience – All Thanks Erika
We just returned from the most unforgettable Disney Cruise, and we owe it all to our amazing travel agent, Erika! From the very first conversation, she took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for—making sure every detail was perfect for our family.
She guided us through cabin options, helped us navigate all the pre-cruise planning, and even gave us insider tips that made a huge difference, like the best time to check in online and how to snag those hard-to-get excurisions. Every step of the way, she was responsive, kind, and beyond knowledgeable about Disney Cruise Line.
The best part? We didn’t have to stress about a single thing. We were able to fully relax and enjoy the magic all because everything was flawlessly arranged ahead of time by Erika.
If you're thinking about booking a Disney Cruise (or any vacation!), do yourself a favor and work with Erika. She turned a vacation into a lifelong memory for our family. Truly magical!
The Ganner Family
Erika is the Universal Specialist!
We had the best experience planning our Universal trip with Erika! From the start, she made everything super easy and actually fun to plan which is saying a lot, because I hate trip planning. Erika really listened to what we wanted and helped us put together an itinerary that fit our vibe perfectly.
She took care of all the details, tickets, hotel, transportation, and gave us so many great tips, like the best times to hit certain rides, where to grab good food in the park, and little hidden gems we would've totally missed. Thanks to her advice, we skipped a ton of lines and didn’t waste time figuring things out on the go. She sent us a fun emails leading up to our trip full of maps, suggestions, and tips and tricks.
I don’t know how we would’ve pulled this trip off without Erika. If you're heading to Universal and want a stress-free, super fun experience, definitely reach out to her. Total game changer!
Dan, Newport RI
Go to Travel Agent
I recently had the pleasure of working with Erika at Society 1955, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the level of service and dedication she provided. From the moment I reached out, Erika was attentive, taking the time to understand my travel preferences and budget.
What really stood out was how she went above and beyond to make sure my trip was seamless. Not only did she offer personalized recommendations, but she also kept an eye on my flights and hotel bookings, she even found last-minute deals that saved me money. During my trip, I encountered an issue and Erika handled everything.
I highly recommend Erika for anyone looking for a travel agent who truly goes the extra mile. Her passion for creating memorable travel experiences is evident, and I will absolutely be reaching out for future trips!
Sara V, Wisconsin
We love Erika!
I can't recommend Erika enough for anyone planning a Disney vacation! From the very first consultation, it was clear that she is a true Disney expert. She listened to my family's needs and tailored the entire trip to ensure we had the best experience possible. She helped us select the perfect resort based on our preferences, secured dining reservations at all the top spots and guided us through the complexities of Genie+ and Lightning Lane.
What really stood out was the personalized attention, she even provided us with detailed emails, including recommendations for the best times to visit specific attractions, how to avoid the crowds, and tips on making the most of each day.
Thanks to Erika our Disney trip was stress-free, and filled with unforgettable memories. We will absolutely be reaching out for our next adventure and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for expert guidance on their Disney vacation!
Heather H, Pittsburgh, PA