Today we’d like to introduce you to Laney Covington.
Hi Laney, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Texas and didn’t take the typical childhood trip to Disney or Universal. In fact, I didn’t visit Orlando for the first time until I was 33. But when I finally did—visiting Universal Orlando in 2017—I completely fell in love. I was instantly captivated by the immersion, the storytelling, and the sheer joy of it all. That first trip turned into dozens more, and over the years I found myself returning again and again, each time spending a little more time in Orlando.
I’m an attorney, researcher, and writer by trade, and for many years I worked in biglaw, routinely putting in 100+ hour weeks. But even then, a little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to find a way to write about Universal Orlando and my passion for it. I had ideas, outlines, even half-written drafts. But back then there simply wasn’t time to flesh it out.
In 2019, I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which made traveling more complicated but also more important. I had to learn how to navigate theme park dining with a medical need for strict gluten avoidance—and I realized how little guidance there was for people like me. Then, in March 2020, my world changed completely: I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. I took leave from my firm to focus on treatment, and over the next several years, I faced surgeries, recoveries, and the added isolation of being immunocompromised during a global pandemic.
Eventually I returned to work, but in 2023, I made the choice to walk away from biglaw entirely and start my own law firm. I wanted to reclaim my time, protect my health, and spend my life doing work I actually loved instead of being chained to a law office. That clarity only deepened in 2024, when I received a second cancer diagnosis—another reminder of how precious life really is. I now split my time between Texas and Orlando, and in 2024, I finally launched the Universal Orlando travel guide I had dreamed about for so long. The timing was perfect, with the opening of EPIC Universe right around the corner.
Today, I get to tell stories, share what I love, and help others plan what just might be the best trip of their lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road. Some of the biggest turning points in my life—my celiac diagnosis in 2019, my breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, and another cancer diagnosis in 2024—completely upended everything I thought I knew about how life was “supposed” to go. Navigating serious illness, especially during the pandemic, meant learning how to live in constant uncertainty. It meant slowing down, letting go of control, and being forced to redefine what productivity and purpose looked like.
At the same time, walking away from a high-powered biglaw career wasn’t easy either. It’s hard to leave behind something you’ve worked so hard to achieve, even when you know it’s no longer serving you. Starting over—launching my own firm, creating a blog from scratch, building a new identity outside of law—took a lot of courage and a lot of humility. Still does!
There were plenty of logistical challenges, too: teaching myself the tech side of blogging, figuring out SEO, designing a site from scratch—and now, trying to stay ahead of the curve in a world where AI is changing content creation by the day. It can be overwhelming to try to build something original and meaningful in such a fast-moving digital landscape.
But through all of it, I’ve gained something I never had before: clarity. I now know what really matters to me—my health, my family, and doing work that helps people. And that clarity has helped me push through every obstacle.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I run a deeply researched, highly detailed travel blog focused entirely on Universal Orlando Resort. I specialize in helping families and first-time visitors plan unforgettable vacations—especially those navigating food allergies, celiac disease, or other health needs. My work includes in-depth guides to every ride, restaurant, hotel, and park experience across all three Universal Orlando theme parks, including the brand-new EPIC Universe. I also plan to expand my site to eventually cover Universal Studios theme parks across the globe.
While there are many great resources out there about Universal Orlando, what makes my work unique is my personal experience combined with a commitment to detailed, trustworthy guidance—especially for travelers with specific health needs like celiac disease. I aim to add a layer of empathy and practicality that comes from having lived the challenges myself. My goal is to fill a niche that’s often overlooked, so that every traveler feels included and confident in their planning. I also try to be funny!
I don’t just skim the surface or rewrite press releases—I actually go, experience everything firsthand, take thousands of photos, and document the details. I focus on real-world accessibility, actual food safety (not just “gluten-friendly” marketing), and practical guidance that helps people feel confident before they even leave home.
I’m also a trained attorney, so research, clarity, and credibility are at the core of everything I create. I take pride in answering the questions people don’t even know to ask—like which rides have metal detectors, how to avoid motion sickness, or how to navigate the parks with dietary restrictions.
I’m most proud of the trust I’ve built with my readers and the special relationships I’ve developed with Universal Orlando enthusiasts and other content creators. I know what it feels like to have your health at stake when traveling, and I never take lightly the responsibility of guiding someone through what might be their once-in-a-lifetime trip. Whether it’s a celiac family looking for safe meals, a cancer survivor reclaiming their joy, or just an average traveler, I want them to feel seen, supported, and set up for a magical experience.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are several ways people can work with me or support what I do. For brands and companies in the travel, hospitality, or health spaces—especially those connected to Universal Orlando or gluten-free travel—I’m open to collaborations like sponsored content, product reviews, and brand partnerships that align with my mission of helping travelers have safe, joyful experiences.
I also love connecting with fellow travelers, bloggers, and influencers to share insights, swap tips, or collaborate on content that benefits the community. I’m always happy to participate in interviews, podcasts, panels, or guest posts that help spread knowledge and make travel more accessible for everyone.
For readers and fans, the best way to support my work is simply by following along, sharing my guides with friends and family, and engaging with my content through comments, email, or social media. Every share or recommendation helps my work reach more people who need it! I’m also excited to soon launch a newsletter to share exclusive tips and updates, and I look forward to welcoming subscribers when it’s ready.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://universalunlocked.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universalstudioslaney/
Image Credits
I own the rights to all submitted photos.
