Today we’d like to introduce you to Maddie Bixler.
Hi Maddie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hi there! I’m Maddie! I create Orlando, Fl-based content focusing on theme parks, hotels, attractions, travel, and tasty dining options!
I pride myself on being totally authentic, family-friendly, and as positive as I can be.
I started visiting the Orlando area with my parents when I was very young. Florida quickly became our vacation spot and where many of my happiest memories are held. In 2017, I created a “Disney” Instagram account to connect with other Disney creators while I was unable to be in FL as much as I had liked. I started nursing school (GO IU!) in 2018, and it was almost impossible to get to Orlando, so I lived through the other creators on YouTube/IG. I especially loved watching the live streams/vlogs of families having magical moments together. This inspired me to create our YouTube channel, “Mdi and Din do Disney,” where my best friend and I created Disney/Universal content together. We loved vlogging our trips to Disney/Universal for family and friends to watch when we arrived home. On the first trip that we had the account, I met with a boy at animal kingdom whom I had added on our Instagram a few days prior. Long story short, a follower turned into my fiancé! As soon as I finished nursing school the next summer, I moved to Orlando to pursue my content creation, find a nursing career, and continue my relationship with that animal kingdom boy! After that move. I became “Magical Maddie B” to incorporate all the magic of being a local in Orlando! Since that point, I’ve gained 9,000 followers, partnered with many different brands and businesses here in Florida, filmed so many vital points in my life, gotten engaged, and made so many friends!
It’s absolutely astonishing to me how much a split-second decision to create an Instagram account changed my life completely. I take every opportunity to make connections and travel as much as possible because you do not know which road will lead you where you are meant to be. I am so thankful to all who connect with me, partner with me, and grow with me as a creator.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the hardest part about this journey was leaving my family at home in Ohio. I have always leaned on my family for advice and wanted them to be my +1 at all the fun events. I think I needed to be here in Orlando to do what I wanted to do with content creating, and that meant that I needed to grow as a person and find that independence.
As I’ve talked about before on my page, I have generalized panic disorder and deal with a lot of anxiety daily. I am not very good at letting the world have control and just going with the flow. It took a lot of internal growth, therapy, etc. to get to a point where the parks, the media events, the “putting myself out there” didn’t scare me anymore. This is why I focus SO much on normalizing mental health, spreading positivity, and inclusivity, and being a listening ear for others in the online community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in creating content based on very honest and real experiences inside of the Orlando, FL area! I’m known for creating content that involves theme parks, attractions, special events, hotels, and more- but with my own personality behind them.
The compliment that I receive the most is that people enjoy how authentic and humorous I am when I create. I like to put me whole personality into my videos/posts and share all the quirks, drama, emotions, and funny outtakes. I’m on the scene to create something that I ENJOY. If a creator truly has a good time creating their work, IT SHOWS! I don’t want to make serious/set up content- it’s always shot in the moment and do something that will make me laugh during the editing process.
I just love to do the wacky and enjoyable stuff that creates memories for us in the long run.
I think I most enjoy reviewing hotels and attractions in my area. It’s an amazing opportunity to work with local businesses to create content and make connections in the big city we’re in. I’ve collabed with all from local farms with fresh fruit festivals to the number one selling travel company for WDW. Take all opportunities that come your way, and you will never wonder what could have been. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE my day Job as a Registered Nurse. I’m not sure that if I had the opportunity to go full-time with content creation that I would leave my job. I’ve worked in healthcare since I was fifteen, and every day it opens my heart to be more compassionate, understanding, and curious. When I go create content, I try to include something that will benefit every variety of person that visits. My job inspires me to create vacation/travel tips for every single member of the family and includes accommodations & information for those who have allergies, disabilities, advanced age, chronic conditions, etc. I want everyone to have the most amazing travel experiences and be prepared for it all.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I worked as a Covid Nurse for 15 months during the pandemic. I learned and saw more than one human should have during this time frame. I continued to use social media as my escape- but tried to educate others using a light and positive approach. I didn’t want my page to turn into a negative and scary space, but I continued to post my daily thoughts and struggles while I worked and talked to others who wanted to share their thoughts and experiences too. It was a time to create content that didn’t involve the parks & made me get creative and out of my shell. As Orlando started to open up, I shared a lot of the opening phases of the theme parks and brought videos to those who weren’t yet able to travel. It was an opportunity to bring a lot of magic back to a world who had lost a lot in those months. It also brought me a lot of joy as I was in a darker place when I was working on those units.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicalmaddieb/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicalMaddieB
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MagicalMaddieB
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@magicalmaddieb
