Adventures of the "Moms" Panel

[DisneyBride'03]

thanks and love those photos!

Mean...that is when someone also steals ALL your Personalized door magnets and personalized fish extender from your door the last night you are on the Disney WOnder in February! I never would have imagined...and even joked that it would never happen cause we were on deck 8 next to the Roy Disney Suite! Joke was on me!
however, I was so hurt that someone could do that! Especially my kids

 

[5/4Disney]

Thanks for sharing Bret!!! Now I'm "thinking" Disney I've just been soooo... busy with the end of school approaching I haven't had time to stop and enjoy the EARS.

I will say that I myself never expect anything to get stolen at Disney but I guess anything is possible. I have heard horror stories....., luckily I have never experienced any.
Julie

 

[Dcanoli]

Unfortunately I was too focused on the TSM ride and my score to notice the HMs on the ride. But that's the joy of WDW -- you can always go back to enjoy more of the details!!!

-Bret

Do you guys want me to post the link to the Hidden Mickeys on the TSM ride? They are in the Hidden Mickeys thread....

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Well...here's the story!

It was there in the morning when I got to school (I teach), and then, when I left of course I didn't look to see if it was there (DUH). So..I went about my merry way to Sam's to buy groceries, and when I was loading the groceries and shut my tailgate (I have an Element), I saw two RINGS where the magnets were!

I was appalled, but I was so sure that one of the teachers I work with took them as a joke that to my (later) disappointment, I didn't look around me (i.e., on the ground, on other cars, etc.) at the time to see if some "jokester" (to put it nicely) removed them from my car and put them on someone else's car!

Sadly, no one has ever put the magnets back on my car, so I guess the other teachers were telling me the truth when they said they didn't take the magnets.

I just don't get it, and now, I look every time I go by the back of my car JUST IN CASE someone did put them back!

The other magnet they stole was my school's magnet, so why in the world would a thief want that? Are there actually people out there that steal magnets off other people's cars? I mean--what do they do with them? Make a collection? Cut them? I mean, the whole thing is just ridiculous if you ask me.

So, no--sadly--my Mickey Moms magnet has not reappeared....maybe one day it will, but for right now...my little Element is still naked.

Bummer! 'Not exactly the happy ending I was hoping for you!

...and, to boot...I thought that IF THEY WERE put on someone else's car for a joke, they would notice the name of the school and return the two magnets to my school, and all would end well....

I even called Sam's, and I'm sure they thought I was nuts...asking if anyone had turned in some lost car magnets!!!

Well... At least the person who took the call couldn't see what you looked like, so you can return to SAM's secure in your anonymity! I've made a public spectacle of myself a few times, and I'm sure the sales people point and laugh, but at least they're polite enough to wait until I'm out of hearing range...

(Most recently, I asked someone at the Disney Store to take a photo of me clutching a Flat-Stanley-type cut-out ("Skinny Minnie") for use in a game I introduced in one of the CMO threads. The CM was extremely gracious, and she seemed to understand as soon as I explained it was for the DISboards ... Nevertheless, I felt a little self conscious and was eager to leave the store immediately! )

Speaking of The Disney Store: I returned to that location a few weeks ago and learned that it will be closed. Apparently, Disney bought back The Disney Store from The Children's Place, and there will be some "casualties"! Bummer!!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

OK, I finally uploaded a few photos. I doubt I'll have time for a trip report, but hopefully these pictures paint a 1,000 words...

TSM media discussion with the Imagineers

Me with Kara's son...

Photo at the MP&PP. The gal on the left is from Univision (part of the press invited to the event), and happens to be a member of the Mickey Moms Club! Her whole family "gets" Disney! Definitely the biggest fan of the press group...

Not quite my high score (I am "Player 2"), but close (note the "prize" I "won")...

Breakfast at Pop Century (separate area set up for us next to the Hippy Dippy pool)...

Decorations on the table at the PC event (yes, we were allowed to keep them. Unfortunately I didn't grab fast enough!! )...

Just for fun (don't we all miss Stacy??!!)...

Lastly, I couldn't forget a new (for me) Hidden Mickey that I found in the Living Seas ;-)...

Unfortunately I was too focused on the TSM ride and my score to notice the HMs on the ride. But that's the joy of WDW -- you can always go back to enjoy more of the details!!!

-Bret

Yay! (Thanks, Bret, for all of the photos! I love your newly discovered "Hidden Mickey." Thanks, too, for the earlier detailed posts about TSM and your itinerary! )

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

thanks and love those photos!

Mean...that is when someone also steals ALL your Personalized door magnets and personalized fish extender from your door the last night you are on the Disney WOnder in February! I never would have imagined...and even joked that it would never happen cause we were on deck 8 next to the Roy Disney Suite! Joke was on me!
however, I was so hurt that someone could do that! Especially my kids

I don't get that at all!

I just "won" a gift basket during the silent auction at my DD's preschool program. Once I got home, I started to sift through the contents to learn that one of the items -- a Borders gift card -- had been "lost." (I'm hoping it simply fell out of the basket, but I'm guessing somebody probably swiped it before I got a chance to claim it... )

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

'Just thought I'd provide a link to a new thread started by Justin Muchoney, the first-ever Disney Parks Chief Magic Official (CMO).

"Chat with the Chief Magic Official"

Technically, this has nothing to do with the Disney Moms Panel or Mickey Moms Club, but -- since it's connected to another great, Disney-sponsored contest -- I figured you might be interested!

Check out Justin's new thread for details about the CMO competition and Justin's new role. He also welcomes questions!

 

[I believe]

Hi DISgeeksfromDC, Thanks for posting Justin's link. It seems like he is having so much fun with his role!! Disney certainly has themselves a great CMO!

Bret, thanks for posting the review on the new Toy Story ride. I can't wait until we get to try it. It sounds great!

Sad to hear the reports of missing magnets. I hope they reappear or you can make new ones as a PP mentioned.

BTW, DISgeeks, I liked reading the roadtrip thread. It was neat to see interesting sites across our country. That was a great idea!

T.T.F.N. - Kristenc

 

[PartyOf5]

Hello everyone - just checking in to say hi.

Bret - thanks for posting the pictures. I can't wait to give this a try. The only negative I can see is with the seating...you can only fit 2 in a car - not family friendly for a family of 5 (we are used to it though...I'm usually the one by myself on Buzz. At least with this ride there is a singles line...that can be interesting!)

And how cute is Kara's son?

Snoopie - thanks for posting the Justin link...he appears to be having the time of his life!

 

[DVCsince02]

Hi everyone! Still lurking as usual. After reading about Bret's trip, I thought I would share my trip report I've been posting on the DisUnplugged board.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1829938

Enjoy!

PS - My magnet is still on my fridge......

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Hi DISgeeksfromDC, Thanks for posting Justin's link. It seems like he is having so much fun with his role!! Disney certainly has themselves a great CMO!

Sure thing! (And, agreed! Justin seems like such a genuine and caring guy -- the perfect fit for CMO! )

BTW, DISgeeks, I liked reading the roadtrip thread. It was neat to see interesting sites across our country. That was a great idea!

Thanks, Kristen!

I noticed (while checking out SNAPSHOT's "Destination Disney" carnival) that you took the plunge, created your own blog, and now you're dispensing helpful Disney trip-planning advice! Very cool!

Kristenc's This And That

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Snoopie - thanks for posting the Justin link...he appears to be having the time of his life!

Sure thing!

(He definitely landed a cool "gig"! I think I'm 'kinda jealous! )

 

[I believe]

I noticed (while checking out SNAPSHOT's "Destination Disney" carnival) that you took the plunge, created your own blog, and now you're dispensing helpful Disney trip-planning advice! Very cool!

Kristenc's This And That

It's true, this is me. I knew you would notice, DISgeeks! I have to admit, I was thinking of the motto that I think Mr. DISgeeks made for Catotigger- Have crayons, will travel- while I was making the Mickey wallpaper for my Disney blog. It is amazing what one can design with the little dot paintbrush in Microsoft Paint and some of the Moms Panel website colors!

This is the last week for Jennifer at Snapshot's Destination Disney Carnival. Does anyone have any requests or memes for me? With the carnival ending, I will soon be needing some new material.

Have a nice night everyone.

 

[PartyOf5]

I haven't lurked over to the MOMs panel for a couple weeks (work kind of got in the way if you know what I mean!) but I just realized the MOMs have surpassed the 6,000 mark! Holy Cow! 6,050 to be exact. After doing some quick math, the MOMs are answering 1,210 questions a month! And from what we've heard previously, they aren't able to get to all the questions.

Incredible!

To me, it seems like the hype has died down a bit (since the MOMs package arrived anyway!)...but the incoming questions obviously haven't.

Good job, MOMs/Bret!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

I haven't lurked over to the MOMs panel for a couple weeks (work kind of got in the way if you know what I mean!) but I just realized the MOMs have surpassed the 6,000 mark! Holy Cow! 6,050 to be exact. After doing some quick math, the MOMs are answering 1,210 questions a month! And from what we've heard previously, they aren't able to get to all the questions.

Incredible!

To me, it seems like the hype has died down a bit (since the MOMs package arrived anyway!)...but the incoming questions obviously haven't.

Good job, MOMs/Bret!

Impressive! Way to go, Panelists!!

'Sounds like the folks at Disney were really on to something when they introduced the Moms Panel! (And, it appears they really knew their "stuff" when they said that the Panel's primary audience truly isn't the veteran Disney-trip-planning enthusiasts. They're going for "fresh blood" -- catering to new [potential Disney-loving] recruits, it seems!)

That said, it's really awesome that Disney thought of us and created a special something for Disney lovers who applied for the Panel. And, the Mickey Moms Club package was beyond cool! I only wish that the Club could evolve into something that engages us between newsletters... I'm not sure if it's on the agenda, but it would be incredibly cool! Since it is the Year of a Million Dreams, I just thought I'd share one of mine!

 

[pl'smama]

That said, it's really awesome that Disney thought of us and created a special something for Disney lovers who applied for the Panel. And, the Mickey Moms Club package was beyond cool! I only wish that the Club could evolve into something that engages us between newsletters... I'm not sure if it's on the agenda, but it would be incredibly cool! Since it is the Year of a Million Dreams, I just thought I'd share one of mine! [/QUOTE]

I agree with you DISgeeks, it would be great to have something tangible going on with the Moms Club. I have my mouse pad at work and my magnet on the fridge as my daily burst of excessible happiness, but it would be so great for a bit more. I will keep my fingers crossed with yours!!

Suz

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Hey folks: 'Just found a little blurb on "Mr. Moms Panelist" (Bret Caldwell, of course! ) in the May/June 2008 issue of the Stanford alumni magazine:

Click here for STANFORD Magazine announcement, "This Cheese Stands Alone."


This Cheese Stands Alone
Bret Caldwell, '88, has been chosen as one of 12 members of Mickey Mouse's newest club: the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. He and the 11 other parents on the panel answer questions of would-be Walt Disney World visitors in an online forum. Okay, Caldwell's a dad, but he's so knowledgeable about the ins and outs of Disney World that the company selected him to respond to queries such as: “Can you explain the Mickey Pirate and Princess Party?” “Is it worth it for us to take the dining plan?” and “How do I get to the Wide World of Sports from my hotel?” We figure it's only a matter of time before Disney stops mousing around and renames this forum the Parents Panel. Meanwhile, Caldwell works his magic at www.disneyworldmoms.com.

JOINING THE FAMILY:
Caldwell with M-I-C-K-E-Y.

Courtesy Coyne Public Relations

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Hey, Bret:

I forgot to add: I dig your new "tag" -- "Donald Duck Dad"! ('Just spotted it in your post on the "Chat with the Chief Magic Official" thread.)

 

[BellaBuggy]

I'm so sorry about the magnets getting swiped - that sucks. I haven't done anything with mine, and I don't think I will put it on my car because I'd be sad to lose it. It's amazing what people will steal. I once had a car magnet that said "Pray for our President" and it got stolen twice. Who steals that??? Doesn't matter if you like or dislike the person in office, sheesh. Guess it was stolen by someone anti-prayer.

 

[Dcanoli]

Thanks Bella. I can't believe someone would steal your particular magnet either.

What DO people do with those magnets???