Building Community

McCayla Butler's Mc and Mouse Club Adventures Await

If the thought of taking a toddler on a ten-hour flight or navigating a foreign subway system makes you break out in a cold sweat, McCayla Butler wants you to take a deep breath. A Washington-based mom, family advocate, and self-proclaimed “obsessive-compulsive planner,” McCayla has turned her talent for color-coded Excel spreadsheets into a lifeline for parents. Her Substack, Mc and Mouse Club, is dedicated to taking the overwhelm out of family travel. From the high-tech streets of Tokyo to the iconic churro carts of Disneyland, she has your back.

McCayla’s writing is an interesting blend of “VIP expertise” and “real-world messiness.” The kind only mom’s really possess. She doesn’t pretend that traveling with kids is a seamless montage of smiles; she openly discusses the “tiny hotel rooms,” order regret at Japanese restaurants, and the moments when one kid is ready to move to Japan forever while the other just wants a familiar comfort food. Her deep dive into Japan is a testament to her philosophy: from being intrigued but intimidated to letting her 9 and 10-year-olds walk to a 7-Eleven alone at night, marveling at a country so safe and efficient it felt like living in the future. (It’s still on my own bucket list).

On Mc and Mouse Club, you’ll find:

• Her Disney Eats Strategy: McCayla is a verified Disneyland foodie who knows that the real magic isn’t just in the rides, it’s in the Fried Chicken Platter at the Plaza Inn and the art of the “Mobile Order.” My own favorite spot is the Moroccan Restaurant at Epcot, although I’m not sure how kid friendly that one is.

• Her Future-Proof Itinerary: Whether it’s how to add a Suica card to your Apple Wallet or why you should skip the Imperial Palace, her guides are built on boots-on-the-ground experience. Lived experience trumps dime-a-dozen guides any day.

• Her Heart for Adventure: Beyond the logistics, McCayla’s writing is grounded in her role as a family advocate. She views these magical escapes as a necessary balm for a world that can be difficult, encouraging her readers to “just start” the dream they’ve been putting off. I like it. I’m sure this resonates with the rest of our travel tribe as well!

For McCayla, travel isn’t about achieving a perfect aesthetic as much as it is the wild and wonderful vacation chaos that becomes a lifelong memory. If you want the “bestie” version of travel advice (complete with printable checklists and tips on how to fly business class for $72) you’ve officially found your next “subscribe.” You can do that here: https://substack.com/@mcandmouseclub