Adventures of the "Moms" Panel

[DISgeeksfromDC]

I have been lurking for a few days and I am so happy to see everyone chit chatting again, that I just had to post a quick note!!!

Agreed!

I'm also happy to hear that everyone's on the mend. (Spring is in sight! I can't wait! ... with no disrespect for Winter, of course! )

Don't forget about Daylight Saving Time this weekend. 'Time to spring forward...

 

[poohmomof5]

Agreed!

I'm also happy to hear that everyone's on the mend. (Spring is in sight! I can't wait! ... with no disrespect for Winter, of course! )

Don't forget about Daylight Saving Time this weekend. 'Time to spring forward...

Is that this weekend already. Oh my...we still have 2 feet of snow on the ground! Here's to warm weather...

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Is that this weekend already. Oh my...we still have 2 feet of snow on the ground! Here's to warm weather...

Yep! Daylight Saving begins this weekend. The first day of Spring is March 20!

 

[5/4Disney]

Since everyone is posting, just thought I'd check-in. We're busy here too except we've had nice weather in Houston (actually perfect for us since summer is so hot!) The girls are taking the Stanford Test this week in school so things are slower since there is no homework. Getting all the homework done, (and make-up work from the Disney trip) is killing me and we are only in 3rd and 1st grade.

Poohmom- I know the feeling of everyone being sick, and that weather you guys are having YUK!! We're have family come down from Wisc. within the next few weeks to enjoy a Texas style Spring You see we escape the heat in July and head up there!!!
Take care everyone!
Julie

 

[RatBoy]

Did someone say Spring? Oh, wouldn't THAT be nice!! Same weather a few miles south here, PoohMom, and it is getting old!

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. Lot's of other stuff going on. Glad to say though that my flu shot seems to have worked this yeah. Whew! Sorry to hear that you weren't so lucky, PoohMom, but glad things have improved. Besides you are headed to WDW soon, so we are all jealous of you!!

Karen: Congrats on the interview. Can't wait to see the news in print, so to speak. So far the Panelists are pretty much in-the-dark about the Mickey Moms Club stuff, so I Know we will all be interested to hear from those in that club, as you learn other news about it.

Regarding an earlier question about whether we are overwhelmed or frustrated with the volume of questions we are answering. I think the answer is "no" from all of us. It is has been made very clear to all of us that we only need to answer 8 questions a week. All of us are above that quota, and the only reason for that is personal interest in answering questions and helping other WDW planners. I think we are also all thrilled to be receiving so many questions - since that is a decent indication that the site is helpful (at least I hope so!?).

Lastly, regarding "What are the down sides?" I agree with all of the prior Panelist posts.

I love the opportunity, and so far it has been a tremendous experience. I wish I had more time to dedicate to it, but I fortunately also love my day job and my family life. Somehow it is balancing out reasonably well.

The only real "down side" that comes to mind it that sometimes I am not a big fan of the ratings on the site. However, I do understand, in theory, the value it adds to the site for some visitors. It would be nice to know sometimes more details about the lower scores, but I don't have a good suggestion of how to easily remedy this.

That's all for now. Glad to see so many people still hanging out once in a while here at the Moms Panel "water cooler". Thanks for keeping up your interest and for all the support!



-Bret

 

[PartyOf5]

The only real "down side" that comes to mind it tha sometimes I am not a big fan of the ratings on the site. However, I do understand, in theory, the value it adds to the site for some visitors. It would be nice to know sometimes more details about the lower scores, but I don't have a good suggestion of how to easily remedy this.

-Bret

Hey Bret! To be honest I haven't seen a lot of low scores ... however, do you think it would be better if instead of ratings a question is asked: "Was this response helpful?" (or something like that)...I've seen this on other sites and was wondering if would help with the ratings and maybe speed up the site.

And you guys have answered over 3000 questions already! Holy cow! I hope Disney gives you all a bonus.

It was so nice to hear from everyone today!

 

[RatBoy]

Hey Bret! To be honest I haven't seen a lot of low scores ... however, do you think it would be better if instead of ratings a question is asked: "Was this response helpful?" (or something like that)...I've seen this on other sites and was wondering if would help with the ratings and maybe speed up the site.

Agreed. I think over half of the questions are rated perfect "5"s. That is really nice to see.

In the few cases when the ratings are lower (mine included, of course), I just wish I could understand if the answer is factually incorrect, or if they just don't like my opinion. I guess I'm just too much of a perfectionist for my own good.

And you guys have answered over 3000 questions already! Holy cow! I hope Disney gives you all a bonus.

Much of that bonus is owed to Erin and Heather M. !!

 

[I believe]

In the few cases when the ratings are lower (mine included, of course), I just wish I could understand if the answer if factually incorrect, or if they just don't like my opinion. I guess I'm just too much of a perfectionist for my own good.

I don't understand some of the ratings I have seen either. I have looked at some answers most days since the site launched and I have wondered about some of them. too. Last night I saw an answer Kim posted about tipping that had a 1 for a score. I thought her answer was valid and tried to cancel out the 1 and I gave it a 5. When the two votes combined it came out to 2.5 which is sad because it wasn't a bad answer. I just stayed at the POP and I think 4 dollars per day is very fair for an 82 dollar/day room. That one probably still has a 2.5 as an score. An answer made up with even one 1 doesn't recover well.....
I think you guys are doing a great job with the site and would ignore the few oddities. You can't please everyone all of the time and must know you are really doing a good job, right?!!!!

 

[I believe]

Last night I saw an answer Kim posted about tipping that had a 1 for a score. I thought her answer was valid and tried to cancel out the 1 and I gave it a 5. When the two votes combined it came out to 2.5 which is sad because it wasn't a bad answer.

oops, when I was just out walking my dog I realized it didn't make sense that a 1 and 5 would average to a 2.5. I remembered I actually gave it a 4. (I give almost all 5's out though .) I just went in and searched for tip to refresh my memory as to why I gave 4 instead of a 5.... Since you wondered why not all get 5s and I am using this one as an example... I'll share what I was thinking. Since they were coming from the UK I thought a little higher tipping could have been suggested with the current exchange rate situation. When we were there recently we met a family from Southern UK that flew across the pond to WDW because it was cheaper for them to come to Florida than to go/even drive to EuroDisney and stay there. With this exchange rate their dollar per person might be like just a dollar total if they are just a couple. I was pulling for the mouskeeping staff. I thought they could still leave at least 4 dollars for a room/day. The score of 4 I gave Kim was still a great score. (Kim if you read this I don't mean to pick on your answer personally...it is just the "1" score I saw that someone else gave really stuck in my mind as an example of not realistic scoring )

I don't know if that helps at all because I am sure others have their own way of thinking about these. But this is where I am. I am surprised only half of the answers are at 5, as I think Ratboy mentioned. I think all of the ones I have seen have gotten a 5, or at least a 4! Keep up the good work!

I still wonder why the original 1. I can only hope, for mousekeeping's sake, they thought that 4 dollars for a family for a room/day was too low.

 

[WishesQueen]

Agreed. I think over half of the questions are rated perfect "5"s. That is really nice to see.

In the few cases when the ratings are lower (mine included, of course), I just wish I could understand if the answer is factually incorrect, or if they just don't like my opinion. I guess I'm just too much of a perfectionist for my own good.


Much of that bonus is owed to Erin and Heather M. !!

Well, I have read many of the Q&A's and all the information seems to be clear and correct. I would have to assume that people might not like the answers.

Actually I learned alot of stuff reading the Q&A's. Nothing that really pertains to me and my family, just stuff I never knew!! I think you guys are all GREAT BIG 5's!!!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Hi all!

I’ve found a few more articles about our Moms Panelists:

*Heather Roberts-Nault, The Courier-Journal, courier-journal.com (Louisville, KY)

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/FEATURES/802260309/1011/SCENE


*Darcie Maranich, The Arizona Daily Star, azstarnet.com (Tucson, AZ)

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/85730/225895


I also discovered a “blurb” on a site called The Disney Blog, which references a more academic look at the Moms Panel in a write-up about social marketing/social media. (The source of the write-up, VisInsights, is a blog that’s affiliated with a company that provides online brand management solutions. The article applauds Disney for its foray into social media and calls the Moms Panel “wildly successful” and “proof positive that change is underway in the land of Mickey.”)

*(I’ve provided links to both below: )

http://www.thedisneyblog.com/tdb/2008/02/disney-moms-bei.html

http://www.visinsights.com/index.php/?p=208

 

[PartyOf5]

Hi all!

I’ve found a few more articles about our Moms Panelists:

*Heather Roberts-Nault, The Courier-Journal, courier-journal.com (Louisville, KY)

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/FEATURES/802260309/1011/SCENE


*Darcie Maranich, The Arizona Daily Star, azstarnet.com (Tucson, AZ)

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/85730/225895

Thanks for the links - this Heather is our Heather. I loved both articles - and the family photos are very nice. However, I must say, the people in Louisville are very harsh with their comments. I think there are people out there that just like to stir the pot. Which brings me to another thought...maybe these are the type of people who would purposely record out low ratings on the Moms Panel answers. Bret, I wouldn't worry another minute about a low rating.

I give all the moms credit for allowing articles to be written about them...subjecting themselves to annonymous online comments.

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Thanks for the links - this Heather is our Heather. I loved both articles - and the family photos are very nice.

My pleasure! Yep, I keep hoping to find articles about Erin and Bret, too....

However, I must say, the people in Louisville are very harsh with their comments. I think there are people out there that just like to stir the pot.

Sheesh! (I hadn't even read those...) That WhatChaNeed person sounds like a lonely old lady who's on the warpath. At least there are a few decent, sensible types who try to set her straight. 'Probably a big waste of their time, though. WhatChaNeed sounds like a real character. I mean, just look at what she wrote for "Location:" -- "Indiana - neener neener."

[Edited to Add: Since when is a person's mere location supposed to sound controversial!? ]

Which brings me to another thought...maybe these are the type of people who would purposely record out low ratings on the Moms Panel answers. Bret, I wouldn't worry another minute about a low rating.

I give all the moms credit for allowing articles to be written about them...subjecting themselves to annonymous online comments.

Agreed! We're proud of you Heather (and everyone). Ignore the "bozos" out there! You're doing good work!

 

[EEFOSTER]

Hey guys. It is so amazing that you are still all out there cheering us on.

Sorry I've been absent for a bit here. I spent 12 days at WDW in Feb (boo hoo, I know). Then as soon as we got home had DD8 turn up with a perferated ear drum, and then right after that I got the flu. My house is still in complete disarray, but we seem to be on the mend now.

Karen, looking forward to seeing your writing.

PoohMom, glad you are doing better. Good to have you back.

Downsides ... hmmm ... I'd have to say that the one thing I hadn't expected is that I now walk around with a big cloud of guilt over me all the time. There are always unanswered questions in the queue. Always. I am the type of person that likes to work hard and finish projects. I always had my term papers in college finished early. I get things done and don't procrastinate. But with the Panel, you can never be "done." It's not a feeling I'm used to. I also really want to help everyone. I feel badly if someone needs info and doesn't have it. (I guess that's my librarian gene.) So that's all just weird personal stuff with me. The CMs have been great to us. I learned a great deal when Laura and I went down to WDW for the Press Junket. (Plus it was fun, and nice to hang out with Laura )

There should be more video of us up on the site in the next day or so. Keep a look out for that.

Glad to be back.

Erin

 

[poohmomof5]

Hey guys. It is so amazing that you are still all out there cheering us on.

Sorry I've been absent for a bit here. I spent 12 days at WDW in Feb (boo hoo, I know). Then as soon as we got home had DD8 turn up with a perferated ear drum, and then right after that I got the flu. My house is still in complete disarray, but we seem to be on the mend now.

Karen, looking forward to seeing your writing.

PoohMom, glad you are doing better. Good to have you back.

Downsides ... hmmm ... I'd have to say that the one thing I hadn't expected is that I now walk around with a big cloud of guilt over me all the time. There are always unanswered questions in the queue. Always. I am the type of person that likes to work hard and finish projects. I always had my term papers in college finished early. I get things done and don't procrastinate. But with the Panel, you can never be "done." It's not a feeling I'm used to. I also really want to help everyone. I feel badly if someone needs info and doesn't have it. (I guess that's my librarian gene.) So that's all just weird personal stuff with me. The CMs have been great to us. I learned a great deal when Laura and I went down to WDW for the Press Junket. (Plus it was fun, and nice to hang out with Laura )

There should be more video of us up on the site in the next day or so. Keep a look out for that.

Glad to be back.

Erin

Nice to hear from you. Sounds like you are having the time of your life! You guys are all doing really great. I am so glad to hear that it hasn't been too stressful. I think I am the type that would keep going and going to try to answer all the questions. I am that way with most everything I do too.

Take care y'all!

 

[I believe]

Then as soon as we got home had DD8 turn up with a perferated ear drum, and then right after that I got the flu.

I hope your daughters ear/hearing is OK. Glad you didn't get sick on your vacation. We also went in February, came home and within a week everyone had the flu (staggered of course) over the next two weeks. Thank goodness it was after our Mickey time!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Glad you didn't get sick on your vacation. We also went in February, came home and within a week everyone had the flu (staggered of course) over the next two weeks.

Ick! 'So sorry to hear that!

I don't fly much, but I'm convinced that -- each time I do -- I at least catch a cold. Maybe it has something to do with all of those germs recycling through the cabin...

Thank goodness it was after our Mickey time!

Agreed!

 

[5/4Disney]

I hope your daughters ear/hearing is OK. Glad you didn't get sick on your vacation. We also went in February, came home and within a week everyone had the flu (staggered of course) over the next two weeks. Thank goodness it was after our Mickey time!

It must be a vacation thing. No matter how much hand washing we do, someone always gets sick when we return home. We went one summer (early June), had a great time, but two weeks to the day after we returned home I had the worst headache of my life so I took a hot shower. Well, when I got out I was covered in these little red bumps. You guessed it, I had the chicken pox and I think that was the sickest I've ever been. Needless to say I am somewhat of a germ freak when we go now.

Glad to hear everyone is getting better. Guess What? It's COLD here in Houston today, we are having to wear long sleeves and no flip flops Just thougt I'd make a little joke of it, you guys can laugh at me this summer when it's so hot you can't walk to the mailbox.
Take care,
Julie

 

[WishesQueen]

Hey Erin, glad to hear from you!!

I love hearing about all your experiences (everyone on the mom's panel) and I have to agree that I am like Erin. I love the feeling of finishing a project!!! But not finishing on the mom's panel means that is NEEDED!!! If you ever finished and had no questions to answer it would mean that it wasn't a successful project.

Great job you guys!!!

 

[BellaBuggy]

Thank you all so much for the nice comments. I was a little annoyed about the online chatter but then I had my entire family's illness to distract me. We've had multiple rounds of strep, middle dd now has pneumonia - oy!

Can't complain about my negative comments though, Heather M. got much worse from the Atlanta area population.

On a completely unrelated note...are any of you traveling to Disney in August? I was thinking last night how nice it would be to meet some of you! I know I will be there 8/16-8/27, and Sept 26-28.