Adventures of the "Moms" Panel

[DISgeeksfromDC]

I think these smilies could use a nice WDW vacation.

Indeed!

 

[EEFOSTER]

I think these smilies could use a nice WDW vacation.

The smilies need a vacation? What about us? Can we go with them?

Sorry I was cranky yesterday. Bret is really being incredibly kind to keep me posted.

I've just been having a stressful week in general and that spilled out here. Today is FINALLY the last day of school in my district. Two of my girls have not the easiest time with transitions. They're happy to be done with the year, go to camp, etc. But since they did have a good year, they're sad to leave their old teachers, etc. This results in lots of up/down, high/low drama around the house.

We're going to be out and about most of the day today, which is a good thing. I'll check in with y'all tonight.

Erin

 

[RatBoy]

Hmmmm... Erin is out of the house today? Maybe I should ask Disney to put the "new feature" up live again... just while she's out.


But more seriously... Erin sorry to hear about the stress, but congrats on making it to summer!!

Anyone else think that Erin's household now looks like this?...

[Erin and the three dancing daughters]


-Bret

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

The smilies need a vacation? What about us? Can we go with them?

Sorry I was cranky yesterday. Bret is really being incredibly kind to keep me posted.

I've just been having a stressful week in general and that spilled out here. Today is FINALLY the last day of school in my district. Two of my girls have not the easiest time with transitions. They're happy to be done with the year, go to camp, etc. But since they did have a good year, they're sad to leave their old teachers, etc. This results in lots of up/down, high/low drama around the house.

We're going to be out and about most of the day today, which is a good thing. I'll check in with y'all tonight.

Erin

No worries! (I actually thought your post was 'kinda funny!) 'Hope the transition isn't too painful, though...

As for your school sked: Wow!! That's nuts! Were you simply making up massive amounts of "snow days," or is that truly the calendar year? If school ends the last week of June, then when does it reconvene?

 

[poohmomof5]

The smilies need a vacation? What about us? Can we go with them?

Sorry I was cranky yesterday. Bret is really being incredibly kind to keep me posted.

I've just been having a stressful week in general and that spilled out here. Today is FINALLY the last day of school in my district. Two of my girls have not the easiest time with transitions. They're happy to be done with the year, go to camp, etc. But since they did have a good year, they're sad to leave their old teachers, etc. This results in lots of up/down, high/low drama around the house.

We're going to be out and about most of the day today, which is a good thing. I'll check in with y'all tonight.

Erin

 

[Mcmillanmom]

This "secret" is so elusive. I have seen up pop up, then it goes away. . . All I can say is that from what I have seen, this is a fun new feature!

Sorry Erin about the end of school drama. Your husband and mine should go on vacation together. They are literally swamped in estrogen! They both have to deal with lots of Princesses!

Laura

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Anyone else think that Erin's household now looks like this?...

[Erin and the three dancing daughters]


-Bret

Yep! Exactly!

That is until all of the drama -- I believe Erin called it "lots of up/down, high/low drama around the house" -- results in this:

[Erin collapses near three "drama queen" daughters]

Editorial Note (for Clarification) : Actually, it's probably just split-second drama. ('Cuz we all have our moments!) I'm fairly certain her girls are little angels -- "practically perfect in every way!"

Yep! We moms love our kids, but they sure know how to press our buttons...

 

[I believe]

The secret is there, and it is a selection of videos! They are up now. Hopefully they will be up tonight, when I will be near a PC with sound!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Ooooh! Ooooh! Oooh! It's up! It's up! (... for how long, I don't know!)

'Just paused to announce it before it disappears again... There are approx. six videos accompanied by this text:

"These fun and informative videos offer friendly tips from friendly faces. Check them out for ideas and advice on planning your next Disney adventure."

Very cool!



Now, I'm off to watch them -- while I still can!

 

[I believe]

In the case they disappear again, these are the video titles- with their stars:
- A Great Place for Grown-ups by Laura
- Trip Planning is for Everyone by Heather
- Character Do's and Don'ts by Erin
- Reduce Your Wait in Line with Fastpass by Brett
- Everyone has Fun with the Rider Switch by Michelle
- Magical Moments by Erin

Some of the videos show the video's "star" with their family. Their children must have loved making these videos! Wait until the kids see themselves on the WDW Moms Panel website. How cool will that be? The videos look like they will be very helpful to people! I can't wait until I can hear them tonight, if they are still there.

I love the tiara, Laura! And Erin, I am loving your Mickey ears!

 

[PartyOf5]

These videos are awesome! Well worth the wait!!

Look out Samantha Brown!!

 

[mistydoodles]

As for your school sked: Wow!! That's nuts! Were you simply making up massive amounts of "snow days," or is that truly the calendar year? If school ends the last week of June, then when does it reconvene?

I am from NY ( central NY ) and school just ended today for us as well. We didn't have any snow days to make up so this is just the regular school year. School will start up again, the same as it does every year, two days after Labor Day. It does seem like a long year but we do end up with two full months off for summer break so it isn't that bad.

 

[exwdwcm]

In the case they disappear again, these are the video titles- with their stars:
- A Great Place for Grown-ups by Laura
- Trip Planning is for Everyone by Heather
- Character Do's and Don'ts by Erin
- Reduce Your Wait in Line with Fastpass by Brett
- Everyone has Fun with the Rider Switch by Michelle
- Magical Moments by Erin

Some of the videos show video "star" with their family. Your children must have loved making these videos! Wait until they see themselves on the WDW Moms Panel website. How cool is that? The vidoes look like they will be very helpful to people! I can't wait until I can hear them tonight, if they are still there.

I love the tiara, Laura!

awesome, i can't wait to view them. i just discovered the moms site and what a great idea. the moms and Brett do a great job.

i can't believe i didn't know about it before. but then again, i am a new mom (8 month old). i'd love to apply the next time, since i write for a living (marcom) and am a former WDWCP cm (96), so i know lots of insider tips........talk about the shoe fitting (as it probably does for thousands of others on this site that apply too! LOL).....i'll have to check back for updates on when new applications are being taken. good job guys.

 

[bless7ings]

Mom' Panel you did a great job on your videos!

I especially appreciated the fast pass and the rider switcher. I have been given a fast pass, but have never gotten one myself. Brett just seeing you do it takes all the mystery and wondering if its a big deal to do. Obviously not!!!! Thanks for the video to show us exactly what we have to do. The switch was good too. One question though? Can all the kids that are big enough go with say their father first and then dad takes the baby and then mom takes all the kids again? I think I did it once and they let us, but I am just checking to see if it is standard fair?

Thanks for the videos. Those are awesome for first timers and those that haven't used the options yet. I guess I haven't had to because we go in Sept and its not busy. Oh and my mom was there last time and doesn't do rides.

Tammy from Maine

 

[EEFOSTER]

In the case they disappear again, these are the video titles- with their stars:
- A Great Place for Grown-ups by Laura
- Trip Planning is for Everyone by Heather
- Character Do's and Don'ts by Erin
- Reduce Your Wait in Line with Fastpass by Brett
- Everyone has Fun with the Rider Switch by Michelle
- Magical Moments by Erin

Some of the videos show the video's "star" with their family. Their children must have loved making these videos! Wait until the kids see themselves on the WDW Moms Panel website. How cool will that be? The videos look like they will be very helpful to people! I can't wait until I can hear them tonight, if they are still there.

I love the tiara, Laura! And Erin, I am loving your Mickey ears!

Thanks for the kind words all!

You can tell why my kids were so excited to see the videos. The little ones think that now that they're just a few clicks away from Hannah Montana, that means they're FAMOUS. (So we're having good/happy drama in the house now).

We were all given these great Flip video cameras (which we had to return) to film whatever tips we wanted. We did about 6 or 8 different topics and then just stuck them in mail back to Disney. We weren't given any script, we could basically choose whatever topic we wanted and just wing it. We haven't been told the exact timeline, but I believe the plans are to rotate the videos periodically so that everyone gets featured.

I have to say that this project was one of the most satifying parts of the Moms Panel because it involved my family. One of the main reasons we got so hooked on WDW was that it made the kids so happy -- so they certainly deserve some of the attention too.

The kids are home now. We had no snow days this year -- this is just the regular schedule in NY. How did I get old enough to have a 4th graders and a 7th grader? It was only just yesterday that I was flying on Dumbo.

Erin

 

[WishesQueen]

Once again you guys did an AWESOME job!!!

Its great seeing everyone (and your family and friends) and to hear what your voices sound like, because I feel like I know you!!

Thanks for the heads up and once again GREAT JOB!!!

 

[magic2go]

Great Videos Guys! Really helpful info, and fun to watch too! Great to see you all "in person"

And I must say, all of your kids look like pros too! I loved the cheerio necklace!

 

[RatBoy]

Mom' Panel you did a great job on your videos!

I especially appreciated the fast pass and the rider switcher. I have been given a fast pass, but have never gotten one myself. Brett just seeing you do it takes all the mystery and wondering if its a big deal to do. Obviously not!!!! Thanks for the video to show us exactly what we have to do.

Tammy from Maine

Thanks Tammy, that's really great to hear!

I wouldn't be surprised if some CMs are reading the initial feedback over here, and I'm sure this kind of info is very helpful.

Good to know that these videos might be helpful.

-Bret

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Good stuff! You folks are great!

Thank you, Disney (and Panelists), for some fun -- and informative -- new content! I'm happy to hear that there's more to come!

You can tell why my kids were so excited to see the videos. The little ones think that now that they're just a few clicks away from Hannah Montana, that means they're FAMOUS. (So we're having good/happy drama in the house now).

How fun! Now they're mini Internet celebrities!

(And I'm sure they had a blast with the Ariel meet-and-greet role-playing. What a trip! )

We were all given these great Flip video cameras (which we had to return) to film whatever tips we wanted. We did about 6 or 8 different topics and then just stuck them in mail back to Disney. We weren't given any script, we could basically choose whatever topic we wanted and just wing it. We haven't been told the exact timeline, but I believe the plans are to rotate the videos periodically so that everyone gets featured.

Thanks for the details. I was wondering how that worked... It was clear that you and Heather filmed off-site (from home?). Meanwhile, for Laura, Bret and Michelle (who filmed at Walt Disney World Resort): Did someone from Disney follow them around with a video camera, or were they also responsible for filming their own segments?

Were you responsible for editing each segment, or did you simply send the raw footage -- along with the video cameras -- back to Disney?

Okay, enough questions [for now ]... Thanks for indulging me!

How did I get old enough to have a 4th graders and a 7th grader? It was only just yesterday that I was flying on Dumbo.

I hear ya! My oldest (DD5) starts kindergarten in the Fall, and I'm reeling...

 

[Mcmillanmom]

I hope you guys enjoy them! We get soooooooo nervous! Hopefully you can't see my sweat stains!

Laura