This Thanksgiving was truly a time for me to express my sincere gratitude to God...for faith, family, friends, good health, and so much more. I know I have been blessed far above what I could ever deserve, and yet, in the midst of all of these blessings, I have been so humbled and excited to have also had one of my fondest wishes become reality! I have been selected to serve on the 2011 Walt Disney World Moms Panel! For this lifelong Disney fan, this dream come true has been almost too surreal to take in.
What is the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, you ask? It is an online forum where "Moms" (and a few Dads!) answer your questions and offer advice about family vacations to the Walt Disney World® Resort. Disney knows that Moms trust other Moms for advice on the latest and greatest ideas and products for their families and loved ones. And Disney has capitalized on that knowledge by implementing the power of social media marketing to assist their guests who desire to plan the most wonderful, magical, memory-making trip they possibly can to Walt Disney World!
The official website of the panel is http://www.disneyworldmoms.com/, and it describes the Moms Panel this way:
"Disney realizes that the person who serves the "Mom" role differs from family to family. These "Moms" have been selected to be panelists because they have demonstrated an excellent knowledge of Walt Disney World® Resort. Being familiar with the Parks, Resort hotels, dining and entertainment, shopping, and recreational activities, they can offer the help and tips you need to make your vacation planning a snap.
The views expressed in the Walt Disney World® Moms Panel are those of the panelists, who are independent contractors, and may not be factually accurate. These views are not intended to reflect the opinions of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online, its affiliates, its management, its agents or its employees. Panelists have received/will receive a trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort for their participation on the Panel." (that last line is in the interest of "full disclosure")
Like I said, this is a dream come true for me! My first visit to WDW was when I was two years old, in November of 1971, the second month of the park's opening year. (Yes, that's me in the photo above, "hanging out" in the wooden pillory stocks on Liberty Square with my Grandmother on my first visit! My mom is actually standing behind me, holding me up. :) ) My parents were huge fans, and they passed their passion for Disney on to my sister, brother, and me. Walt Disney World, and now the resorts in Vero Beach, Florida and on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (since my husband and I joined the Disney Vacation Club ten years ago,) have become our family's "home away from home" as we look forward to taking time to make magical memories together as often as we can!
I have traveled to WDW more than 50 times (yeah, actually WAY more than that) in my life, and have experienced many different types of vacations there...trips as a child, a teen, a honeymooner, a business conference attendee, in large groups, alone, girlfriends' getaways, taking my own babies (as young as four months old!), and for many types of celebrations - such as birthday, anniversaries, graduations, baby's first trip, reunions, holidays, and more! I've stayed in the parks, out of the parks, at the beach and driving to the parks. I've eaten at most of the restaurants in the parks and resorts, shopped at nearly every shop, and stayed at almost all of the resorts within the property. I've ridden all the rides, seen almost all of the shows, and even danced on stage in front of Cinderella's Castle in one of them!
If it sounds like I've done all there is to do at Disney...well, that's just it - I haven't even come close! Disney has so much for everyone to enjoy, and I've only grazed the tip of the iceberg!
One of the things that I have learned along the way is that it is important to plan for your trip to WDW ahead of time. I've become pretty experienced in planning our family trips, and as a result many of our friends, and even folks I don't know, have asked for my help in planning their trips to Walt Disney World. I love to do this, and that is the reason that I chose to apply to the Moms Panel...so I can continue to help others plan their magical vacations to WDW, but in an even bigger and better way!
I do want to say, though, that as important as it is to plan your trip, you must also remember to be very flexible, and allow for the unexpected, such as rain showers, baby nap times, toddler meltdowns, and your need to just sit down and put your feet up. And please, please, please promise me that you will make sure that you are not so adamant about sticking to your "schedule" that you fail to take the time to notice the unique and magical beauty within Walt Disney World that truly makes it the "happiest place on Earth"!
In less than two weeks I will be traveling to Walt Disney World once again, only this time as a guest of Mickey Mouse, himself! I will be attending the Walt Disney World Moms Panel Training from December 10th - 14th. I have heard that it is "the experience of a lifetime"! Over the next year on this blog, I plan to share the excitement of this experience with you, as well as some of my favorite Disney moments, memories, and tips with you. I also look forward to reading comments about YOUR favorite things to experience at Walt Disney World! I hope you will join me on this journey! I know that we will have so much fun exploring and learning more, together, about my favorite "laughing place" - Walt Disney World!
See ya real soon!
Tron :)
