Adventures of the "Moms" Panel

[I believe]

This is a link to a great Magically Speaking article that includes helpful information about Podcasting for Beginners. I immediately wanted to try this but, didn't end up following through on getting a portable podcatcher. I would like to listen to them in the car as well. How do you listen to them in the car? Do you use an ipod?

 

[RatBoy]

This is a link to a great Magically Speaking article that includes helpful information about Podcasting for Beginners.

I'll tell my sister you said so!

I immediately wanted to try this but, didn't end up following through on getting a portable podcatcher. I would like to listen to them in the car as well. How do you listen to them in the car? Do you use an ipod?

The easiest way to start is just to download iTunes to your computer, and listen to them there. That is what I use for plane flights.

I do use an iPod for the car -- I use the "radio tuner device thingy" in one car, and in the other car the stereo has a input jack that connects with the iPod.

-Bret

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Yep, BIG birthday wishes to Kim, since it was BIG Birthday (21, I'm guessing! ).

-Bret/ratboy/sharkbait/3DB

Funny, Bret! (I was sure it was 25 -- a full quarter century!)

Regardless, I hope it was a good one, Kim!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

For someone who doesn't listen to podcasts, you sure figured most of it out very quickly.

Thanks, Bret! (I got lucky when I sort of stumbled upon it...)

Obviously I DO listen to podcasts. They are great in the car, or for long plane rides. My favorites these days are...

- WDW Today (Matt Hochberg, Len Testa, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa, and [sometimes] the "Fabulous Annette Owens")
- WDW Radio Show (Lou Mongello)
- DIS Unplugged (Pete Werner, Corey Martin, Julie Martin, Kevin Klose and John Magi)
- Inside the Magic (Ricky Brigante)

All of them are good in their own ways, but personally, I'd recommend starting with WDW Today, because they have shorter shows (although their tag line is "give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the World", their shows tend to run 15-20 minutes), and they are very knowledgeable and entertaining folks. It's also helpful to read their wikipedia page, to get up to speed on their inside jokes. They LOVE to make fun of Lou Mongello on their show, but in reality they are good friends with Lou.

This is a link to a great Magically Speaking article that includes helpful information about Podcasting for Beginners. I immediately wanted to try this but, didn't end up following through on getting a portable podcatcher. I would like to listen to them in the car as well. How do you listen to them in the car? Do you use an ipod?

Thanks for the details and suggestions! They're a great jumping-off point to get me started.

I haven't listened to a lot of podcasts, but I've really enjoyed the ones I've heard!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Here's an interesting tidbit from the Walt Disney World web site.

(It's a Q&A with Moms Panelist Laura Spencer about her Moms Panel experience.)

The article caps off with a particularly interesting plug:

"You could be on the next Disney Mom's Panel!

The search for the 2009 Mom's Panel launches in late summer. Log on here to keep up with the 2009 search details."

(It appears the "log on" link leads to the Moms Panel web site.)

******​

A Guest's Best Friend is a Mom

Meet Laura of the Walt Disney World Mom's Panel

Experienced moms depend on their personal "mommy network" for trusted advice on their family's health, the best bargains and sometimes just an understanding ear. Now, thanks to the Walt Disney World® Mom's Panel, you have an instant circle of expert moms (and one dad) to answer your vacation questions, from great things to see based on the makeup of your family and ways to save money, to candid opinions on dining and little-known hints they've learned by experience. We asked one of the moms, Laura S. of Massachusetts, all about it.

How did you become part of the Mom's Panel?

Well, my family and I had a hair salon business. Over the years our clients knew we went to Walt Disney World because they had to schedule their hair appointments around that one or two weeks out of the year. They knew that we were huge Disney fans and slowly started asking me to help plan their trips. It kind of got so big, that I ended up having to print newsletters! So I would be emailing people and helping them make their reservations. I didn't charge for it or anything—it was just something that I love to do.

As soon as I found out about the panel, I just sent off the application really quickly. I thought that, with so many people also applying, I was never going to make it—but the rest is history.

How does the Mom's Panel site work?

You go on the website and look for information from people who have already asked questions or ask a question yourself. If they're traveling with their grandparents, they might see on my profile that I always travel with multiple generations. One of the other moms has five children, so people with large families might look for her answers.

It's very nice of all of you to do this. It's a wonderful service to provide for people.

We all love Walt Disney World vacations so much. In a way, this website allows us to "travel" with all the Guests as they plan their vacations. Many of us work every day, we put the kids in for bath time, to sleep and all that stuff and there's this hour when we really get to have fun: we get to talk to people from all over the world about what we love!

So as you're helping people you are also picturing in your mind the place you're kind of walking through it and reliving it. That's kind of neat.

Yeah, we are having a blast!

And people can read it knowing that you and the others are all very sincere and forthright with your personal viewpoints.

I think the thing that makes this website unique is that we are just regular people and we are just thinking of regular ways to have the most fun and save money and things like that. We love the product and we're giving our honest opinions.

If somebody asks something very difficult, how do you find out?

All of us have our own libraries for research. Our gut reaction is to answer questions for which we had personal experience. Obviously, though, we're not going to have personal experience for everything so just to be sure we'll do research on the official Walt Disney World website, use the information Disney provided for us and sometimes just get on the phone to find out.

You're the first mom to appear on the "top ten tips" video on the Mom's Panel website. How has newfound fame been for you?

You know, all these years I've been bragging to my family and friends that I'm a Walt Disney World expert and I think they think I'm kind of like, you know, a little "off." But now they can see my video and at least it gives that some validity, so for me it was like winning the Miss America contest. I can say, "Yes, I'm a Disney expert!"

Do you get phone calls and letters from old friends who saw you on the video?

I do. Some old work colleagues call and there's been some local press. Last year, I actually got a letter from one of our Massachusetts senators! This is very helpful to families in keeping them together and making sure they have a wonderful, magical time and that's kind of what the letter said. To get that letter was really cool.

Do all of you on the panel keep in contact?

We talk by phone or computer every day. I think the reason is because spending time with family is so important to us. Even though we are completely different in some ways, we're really pretty similar. It's like having 10 sisters and one brother now!

You could be on the next Disney Mom's Panel!

The search for the 2009 Mom's Panel launches in late summer. Log on here to keep up with the 2009 search details.

 

[PartyOf5]

Scoopie - this is your best find yet! Thanks for sharing - looks like there may be hope for some of us groupies (maybe we'll get extra points)! It would be an absolute honor to serve with all of you!

As we know from all the great stories our MOMs have shared with us, being on the panel would be the biggest dream to come true. I'm almost afraid to dream about it again...

Interesting that it's being promoted as the 2009 panel. That leads me to believe that our current MOMs have been extended through year end. I think Disney will have a hard time letting them go....they've done an awesome job and it will be difficult to follow in their shoes.

P.S. I wonder what "late summer" means...I will be in Florida the last two weeks of August...I hope I don't miss out on anything!

 

[5/4Disney]

Hey guys, I know I haven't been on much lately but SCHOOL IS OUT!!!! I'm exhausted and don't know if this is a good thing yet. My oldest DH is attending DECATS (Debusk Enrichment Center for the Academically Talented Scholar) and although it is a great opportunity it requires a 45min drive twice a day for three weeks. In Houston traffic this is NOT a good thing.

Thanks for the info on the Podcast while I'm running (preparing for that 5K through AK I can listen to this )
How exciting... The 2009 Moms Panel, doesn't that have a nice ring to it? You can bet I'll be applying for that. I just wish I knew what made me stick out last time so that I could do it again Scoopy, maybe you could dig up some dirt on this for me
I'll have to catch up with you guys later the sheets are calling.
Oh, you Moms Panel runners, It's a race, you against me Just kidding.... I'm just looking forward to reaching the finish line. The heat is going to kill me.
Julie

 

[5/4Disney]

Funny, Bret! (I was sure it was 25 -- a full quarter century!)

Regardless, I hope it was a good one, Kim!

Oh, I almost forgot.

Happy Birthday Kim

You've got to love this pic. Sad thing is in our photo like this we had no children. Hmmm... can anyone remember what that was like. What did we do with our time? Oh, I remember STUDY...

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Interesting that it's being promoted as the 2009 panel. That leads me to believe that our current MOMs have been extended through year end. I think Disney will have a hard time letting them go....they've done an awesome job and it will be difficult to follow in their shoes.

My sentiments exactly! (What a tough act for the new team to follow... )

I just wish I knew what made me stick out last time so that I could do it again Scoopy, maybe you could dig up some dirt on this for me

I totally hear 'ya!

Of course, I'm thinking that if I was privy to that kind of info, I surely would have made it past the semi-finals!

 

[I believe]

Here's an interesting tidbit from the Walt Disney World web site.

(It's a Q&A with Moms Panelist Laura Spencer about her Moms Panel experience.)

The article caps off with a particularly interesting plug:

"You could be on the next Disney Mom's Panel!

The search for the 2009 Mom's Panel launches in late summer. Log on here to keep up with the 2009 search details."

(It appears the "log on" link leads to the Moms Panel web site.)

******​

A Guest's Best Friend is a Mom

Meet Laura of the Walt Disney World Mom's Panel

Experienced moms depend on their personal "mommy network" for trusted advice on their family's health, the best bargains and sometimes just an understanding ear. Now, thanks to the Walt Disney World® Mom's Panel, you have an instant circle of expert moms (and one dad) to answer your vacation questions, from great things to see based on the makeup of your family and ways to save money, to candid opinions on dining and little-known hints they've learned by experience. We asked one of the moms, Laura S. of Massachusetts, all about it.

How did you become part of the Mom's Panel?

Well, my family and I had a hair salon business. Over the years our clients knew we went to Walt Disney World because they had to schedule their hair appointments around that one or two weeks out of the year. They knew that we were huge Disney fans and slowly started asking me to help plan their trips. It kind of got so big, that I ended up having to print newsletters! So I would be emailing people and helping them make their reservations. I didn't charge for it or anything—it was just something that I love to do.

As soon as I found out about the panel, I just sent off the application really quickly. I thought that, with so many people also applying, I was never going to make it—but the rest is history.

How does the Mom's Panel site work?

You go on the website and look for information from people who have already asked questions or ask a question yourself. If they're traveling with their grandparents, they might see on my profile that I always travel with multiple generations. One of the other moms has five children, so people with large families might look for her answers.

It's very nice of all of you to do this. It's a wonderful service to provide for people.

We all love Walt Disney World vacations so much. In a way, this website allows us to "travel" with all the Guests as they plan their vacations. Many of us work every day, we put the kids in for bath time, to sleep and all that stuff and there's this hour when we really get to have fun: we get to talk to people from all over the world about what we love!

So as you're helping people you are also picturing in your mind the place you're kind of walking through it and reliving it. That's kind of neat.

Yeah, we are having a blast!

And people can read it knowing that you and the others are all very sincere and forthright with your personal viewpoints.

I think the thing that makes this website unique is that we are just regular people and we are just thinking of regular ways to have the most fun and save money and things like that. We love the product and we're giving our honest opinions.

If somebody asks something very difficult, how do you find out?

All of us have our own libraries for research. Our gut reaction is to answer questions for which we had personal experience. Obviously, though, we're not going to have personal experience for everything so just to be sure we'll do research on the official Walt Disney World website, use the information Disney provided for us and sometimes just get on the phone to find out.

You're the first mom to appear on the "top ten tips" video on the Mom's Panel website. How has newfound fame been for you?

You know, all these years I've been bragging to my family and friends that I'm a Walt Disney World expert and I think they think I'm kind of like, you know, a little "off." But now they can see my video and at least it gives that some validity, so for me it was like winning the Miss America contest. I can say, "Yes, I'm a Disney expert!"

Do you get phone calls and letters from old friends who saw you on the video?

I do. Some old work colleagues call and there's been some local press. Last year, I actually got a letter from one of our Massachusetts senators! This is very helpful to families in keeping them together and making sure they have a wonderful, magical time and that's kind of what the letter said. To get that letter was really cool.

Do all of you on the panel keep in contact?

We talk by phone or computer every day. I think the reason is because spending time with family is so important to us. Even though we are completely different in some ways, we're really pretty similar. It's like having 10 sisters and one brother now!

You could be on the next Disney Mom's Panel!

The search for the 2009 Mom's Panel launches in late summer. Log on here to keep up with the 2009 search details.

DISgeeks, thanks so much for posting this! I couldn't find it on the WDW website, and I was looking for it! You are amazing! Would you please post a link to it? I would like to be able to log on there to keep up with the 2009 search details.


BTW, Jennifer from Snapshot has extended her Destination Disney Carnival in case anyone else would like to join in the fun.

 

[I believe]

Here's an interesting tidbit from the Walt Disney World web site.

(It's a Q&A with Moms Panelist Laura Spencer about her Moms Panel experience.).............


It's very nice of all of you to do this. It's a wonderful service to provide for people.

We all love Walt Disney World vacations so much. In a way, this website allows us to "travel" with all the Guests as they plan their vacations. Many of us work every day, we put the kids in for bath time, to sleep and all that stuff and there's this hour when we really get to have fun: we get to talk to people from all over the world about what we love!

I like this part the best. Very nice press, Laura!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

DISgeeks, thanks so much for posting this! I couldn't find it on the WDW website, and I was looking for it! You are amazing! Would you please post a link to it? I would like to be able to log on there to keep up with the 2009 search details.

Thanks! (And, sure thing!)

It's actually featured in this month's newsletter from Disney Destinations (Walt Disney World "Hello!"). To access it, you have to be registered and able to log onto the the Disney web site.

Link to "A Guest's Best Friend is a Mom" article.

 

[PartyOf5]

Thanks! (And, sure thing!)

It's actually featured in this month's newsletter from Disney Destinations (Walt Disney World "Hello!"). To access it, you have to be registered and able to log onto the the Disney web site.

Link to "A Guest's Best Friend is a Mom" article.

Ahh...that explains it. My Disney Destination email was not working yesterday. After clicking the link, I was brought to the log on page, logged on and - nothing. I tried several times. I will try again this morning. Very anxious to see a preview for American Idol!

Have a great day everyone...stay cool.

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Here's an interesting tidbit from the Walt Disney World web site.

(It's a Q&A with Moms Panelist Laura Spencer about her Moms Panel experience.).............


It's very nice of all of you to do this. It's a wonderful service to provide for people.

We all love Walt Disney World vacations so much. In a way, this website allows us to "travel" with all the Guests as they plan their vacations. Many of us work every day, we put the kids in for bath time, to sleep and all that stuff and there's this hour when we really get to have fun: we get to talk to people from all over the world about what we love!

I like this part the best. Very nice press, Laura!

Totally!

I also got a kick out of Laura's response to the following question:
(Side Note: Considering there are plenty of folks who don't entirely understand my passion for Disney, I can totally relate... And, who couldn't use a little validation -- especially from the Disney execs?!?)

You're the first mom to appear on the "top ten tips" video on the Mom's Panel website. How has newfound fame been for you?

You know, all these years I've been bragging to my family and friends that I'm a Walt Disney World expert and I think they think I'm kind of like, you know, a little "off." But now they can see my video and at least it gives that some validity, so for me it was like winning the Miss America contest. I can say, "Yes, I'm a Disney expert!"

 

[I believe]

Totally!

I also got a kick out of Laura's response to the following question:
(Side Note: Considering there are plenty of folks who don't entirely understand my passion for Disney, I can totally relate... And, who couldn't use a little validation -- especially from the Disney execs?!?)

Hey DISgeeks,
Here is a little DIS validation for you. You are a Disney expert! You can find anything! Knowing where to find the answers is key as no one knows everything. Hopefully this will tide you over until the Disney execs come.

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Hey DISgeeks,
Here is a little DIS validation for you. You are a Disney expert! You can find anything! Knowing where to find the answers is key as no one knows everything. Hopefully this will tide you over until the Disney execs come.

Hee! Hee! (Thanks, Kristen! )

And, plenty of DIS validation right back 'atcha! (Thanks for the cheery attitude and the Disney insights you bring! )

 

[NicsMom1500]

Sorry I've been MIA. Once I'm back to reality after my WDW vacation, that is, I'll be better about popping in here. Gotta get my DIS fix!

Bret told me that there were some birthday wishes here for me.

Thanks so much for the wonderful wishes and especially for posting that lovely pink birthday cake castle. Oh, I remember walking in to the MK and seeing that cake. Yikes!

Yes it was a large milestone birthday. It's been such a magical year that I'm just gonna instead of

I just wanna say !!

So I'm getting ready for our trip to WDW. Since I haven't popped by in a while, let me share our plans:
It'll be me, my dh, my ds and my Mom (she's staying at a different hotel though).
June 11: Drive to philly, fly to Orlando. Arrive Orlando 1:50p. Check in to GF. Dinner at Chef Mickey's.
June 12: Animal Kingdom morning with Donald/Tusker House breakfast. Pick up rental car at WDW Dolphin. Evening at Magic Kingdom.
June 13: Morning at Hollywood Studios for Star Wars. Afternoon tea at GF with fellow panelist Kara!!!! Evening at AK, then back to GF for EWP and Wishes and swimming.
June 14: ds goes on Pirate cruise, lunch at Whispering Canyon after he returns, evening at Typhoon Lagoon for EMH (meeting up with Len Testa, Unofficial Guide to WDW!!)
June 15: MK morning, HS evening with 50s Prime Time dinner for Father's Day
June 16: Check out of GF, check into Saratoga Springs. Morning Epcot. Dinner HDD. Evening Epcot
June 17: Blizzard Beach, DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney
June 18: MK, lunch CRT, MK in the evening
June 19: HS, back to MK to ride Pirates hopefully! Return rental car
June 20: morning - swim, DD, DQ. Late Afternoon Magical Express to airport

So, that's what I remember anyhow!! Please send me cooling vibes. I'm so scared of the heat!!

If anyone is going to be in WDW while we are there, please let me know! I'd love to say HI to my DIS friends!!

Okay...I must pack!

Kim

 

[PartyOf5]

Please send me cooling vibes. I'm so scared of the heat!!

Sending you all the cool vibes possible! Florida (west coast anyway) is actually cooler than the northeast right now!

Your itinerary sounds great! I noticed you are going to Whispering Canyon for lunch. Just a little warning...if you are going for the antics, you might be disappointed. We've been a few times for dinner and have had a blast! Imagine my disappointment when I brought my mom and her husband for lunch one day - nothing - not one antic...you wouldn't know it was the same place!

I hope you enjoy the Grand...make sure you swim in the themed pool so you can watch the monorails wiz by - it doesn't get better than that!

Enjoy - and happy birthday again!

 

[Dcanoli]

Just a little warning...if you are going for the antics, you might be disappointed. We've been a few times for dinner and have had a blast! Imagine my disappointment when I brought my mom and her husband for lunch one day - nothing - not one antic...you wouldn't know it was the same place!

While I haven't eaten dinner there before, we did eat breakfast there one day, and it was quite the show.

So--HOPEFULLY, you'll have a good time at lunch too!

If I were you, I'd read up on the antics via these boards and "use" them while you are there (i.e., asking for ketchup, asking for straws, etc. etc. etc.). If you have a "dead" waitress, try and perk her or him up!

Good luck!

 

[NicsMom1500]

Thanks for the cooling vibes. It sure is hot right now in PA!

This will be our 5th stay (I think) at the Grand Floridian but our first time at Saratoga Springs. I think I'll be spending lots of time by the pool!!

We've only had breakfast at the Whispering Canyon so lunch will be different for us. Try asking for a diet coke at breakfast. Now that was a super antic! My husband always asks for ketchup with his eggs and that's a riot too!

I appreciate everyone's well wishes and tips!!!

Kim