Disney Parks Moms Panel 2015

Hi Guys!!
I'd love to hear some of your Disney 'history' if you'd like to share!!

How about you? I'd love to know!

Marci,
What a good idea!

I am ticofan because I love Chip and Dale. (Tico is Portuguese for Chip), but I am Karol!

I grew up in Southern California and went to Disneyland probably at least four times a year for my entire minority. (We had to go whenever relatives visited!) I discovered Walt Disney World as a young adult traveling. Then I continued with my husband, kids, and hopefully in 5 or 10 more years with grandkids. My favorite age to take children in 2-4! I love watching the "Magic" through the eyes of those toddlers. We have been DVC members for more than 15 years and have stayed at every DVC except WL. We try to visit WDW five times every other year. We usually buy an annual pass to visit the first two weeks of December to see all the Christmas magic and then still be able to use it the next December. Then we go without until the next December. Recently with the DVC discount, we have had to buy annual passes for the last three years.


Favorite Disney Animated Movie:
Cinderella (love Gus Gus)

Favorite Fab 5 Disney Character:
Toss up for all five

Favorite Disney Live Action Movie:
Mary Poppins

Favorite Attraction in WDW: Soarin'
 
Hi all! My turn...

I took my first trip to Disney at age 9 when we packed into our car and drove from Mississippi. I remember thinking how much I loved it and wanted to go back so badly but we couldn't afford it. My next trip wasn't until I was 14, then I went for my senior trip and on my honeymoon. :). Since then I've been I think about 35 times and all my kids took their first trips before they were one. They are all huge Disney lovers now. My hubby loves it too but doesn't want to admit it!

My favorite character is Mickey or Minnie...I love the classic early cartoons
Favorite movie right now is Toy Story and Tangled, but it changes
Favorite rides are POTC, Soarin, and TSM
 
I can't remember if I introduced myself.
My name is Amberleigh and I've been to WDW about 40 times in my life.
I lived in Florida for two years, my mother took us there frequently. I was there in the opening day of AK and did the DCP in college. My best friend was Pocahontas.
I live in Virginia now and have taken my kids 4 times (our 5th trip is in June 2015).
My favorite character is a toss up between the little green aliens from Toy Story and Merida. My girls and I are huge Frozen fans and my son hopes they will be doing SWW when we go back.
We love staying on-site and my favorite resort so far is the Grand Floridian. In June we are staying at AoA. My favorite ride is Space Mountain and the the Kilimanjaro Safari. I'm an avid reader and crafter and enjoy preserving memories of our trips in scrapbooks. In my spare (haha) time, I am a GS/BS leader and working on a Master's degree.
I like to keep busy and am super excited for the chance to be on the panel!
 

Here I go...
His my name is Brooke. I live near Tampa, Fl...so Disney is practically my "backyard"....I've got some really great memories growing up and visiting the parks and now seeing it through new eyes, being a parent and taking my two to the parks. We just got back (today!) from our first Disney Cruise and LOVED it!

Favorite Animated Disney Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Fab Five: Donald!
Favorite Disney Live Action: Flight of the Navigator
Favorite WDW attraction: Spaceship Earth
 
Great replies!!! It's so much fun to get to know other Disney fans throughout the process. I can't wait to see who makes it to R2!
 
Disney history:
Danielle here. I grew up in Los Angeles, so some of my fondest memories include visits to Disneyland. I remember the days Big Thunder was being built, ticket books, "New" Fantasyland, and also had Grad Nite there. I did a trip to WDW in 1990. In the late 90s I moved out of CA to Boston for grad school. In the meantime, my parents retired to Florida. My hubby and I got hitched in '05 and moved down to South Florida that year. Since then, we've (incl our daughter when she came to be) spent many vacations/visits to WDW and Disney's Vero Beach Resort. We are going to sail on our first Disney Cruise (Dream) later next month. We are beyond excited!

Favorite Disney Animated Movie:
Old: Cinderella New: Frozen/Tangled

Favorite Fab 5 Disney Character:
Donald Duck

Favorite Disney Live Action Movie:
Mary Poppins. I cry when I hear "Feed the Birds"!

Favorite Attraction in WDW:
Splash Mountain (I like WDW version over DL)
 
My name is Jessica. I am from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada. Because of where we live and my family's financial situation when I was growing up, we never made it to Walt Disney World or Disneyland because of the travel costs. I had to settle for watching the Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday Night on CBC. Even then, I had an infatuation with all things Disney and everyone knew about it. My grandfather used to tell me that if he ever won the lottery, the first thing he was going to do was bring me to Walt Disney World. When he passed away when I was thirteen, my grandmother took up the torch and told me if she ever won that she was too old to take me, but she would sure as heck make sure I got there.

By the time I became a young adult, my dream of going to Walt Disney World had still not been realized. When I was married on May 9th, 1998, my husband Paul made sure that my dream came true and we headed to Florida the next day. It was the most amazing experience of my life (until my son Ethan was born). We did not have much money and had to stay offsite at a budget motel, but we had an incredible time and I would not change a thing.

Fast forward 16 years and while much has changed, my love of Disney has not. We continued to travel to Walt Disney World whenever we could. With our post-secorndary finished, we were able to secure higher paying jobs with great companies that we still have today. These jobs gave us the financial ability the vacation time to travel more frequently and with savings allowed us to purchase into the Disney Vacation Club in 2005. We originally purchase 200 points at Saratoga Springs directly from Disney Vacation Club. A few years ago, we decided we needed We have now been to Walt Disney World 12 times (the average visit is 12-14 days), Disneyland twice, and on one Disney Cruise.

I have two visits planned now. Paul and I are visiting Walt Disney World November 22-29th. We will be staying at the Villas at Grand Floridian in a Lakeview Studio. We are then headed on a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas November 29th-December 6th. Paul, Ethan and I are then going to Walt Disney World Feb 28th-March 10th 2015. The plan is to stay the first five nights at Beach Club Villas and the last five in a Lakeview studio at Bay Lake Towers. That being said, I am a serial resort flipper so that might change 10 times between now and February 28th. If we get a great deal, we might throw in a cruise in the middle of that vacation somewhere too.

There is something so magical to me about walking through the gate of Magic Kingdom. I still get chills everytime, and I hope that never goes away. I don't think it ever will...

Favorite Disney Animated Movie: Lion King or Beauty & the Beast

Favorite Fab 5 Disney Character: Mickey, but Tinkerbell is my favourite character (hence my tattoo that is shown on my profile picture

Favorite Disney Live Action Movie: This is a tough one for me - but if I have to pick, I would say Flight of the Navigator which, for whatever reason, has always has a special place in my heart.

Favorite Attraction in WDW: Tommowland Transit Authority Peoplemover or Twilight Zone Tower Terror (can you get more different?)
 
Hello! I'm Angie and I'm from the Portland, Oregon area. I grew up some in Southern Cal, so we did quite a few trips in Disneyland in my Jr. High years. Disney wasn't as important to me then as it has become since I became an adult.

My first trip to WDW was in 1992, and it was the best trip I had ever had. It was my second year of being married, so it was just my husband and I. Seems like that was forever ago!

Since then, we've made a trip to WDW about every other year, and this past year, we took a Disney Cruise in February! What a treat!

Disney World has meant so much to my family over the years, we all can't wait to plan our next trip, just about as soon as we hit the resort on our arrival day. :) My older daughters have many fond and special memories of our vacations there. We adopted three more children in 2010 and took a family vacation in 2011. Although, it was a bit overwhelming to them, they're ready to go back this year when we visit the World at Christmas-time. We can't wait!

I remember thinking, way back when, that I was the only Diseny-atic who cried when she walked into the Orlando International Airport, or at Wishes! and Illuminations! The only one who spent hours planning a Disney World trip, scouring every book out there. And then I stumbled onto the Dis. Found a whole new "family" of Disney-atics. :) Thanks for sharing all your best memories, stories, tips and trips. I really enjoy reading through them. <3

Good luck to R2!!!!!!!

Favorite Disney animated movie: Sleeping Beauty
Favorite Fab 5 character: Mickey Mouse
Favorite Disney live action movie: Pirates of the Caribbean, the Black Pearl
Favorite attraction at Disney World: Cinderella's Castle
 
Question that can be answered via PM or linked to another board: how do you add the tickers and trip references at bottom of posts?

Thanks for the help!
 
Disney History: My name is Kate, and I currently live in Indiana. I am originally a New Yorker, though, and grew up not that far from Marci! I don't remember my first trip to WDW, as I was only 18 months old. I do have some memories of of going in 1980 when I was four, with my parents and grandparents. We went several other times through my childhood, but Disney World really started feeling like "home" when I was a teen. Three times I was lucky enough to travel with my Fife and Drum Corps and march down Main Street USA. My parents allowed me to venture off with the other teens (and one chaperone who was the "cool mom"), and those trips were the highlight of my teen years. Of that group of about a dozen teens, two sets of them are now married! I took a Disney hiatus for a few years while newly married, but in 2008 I was able to take the hubby and three kids for our first family trip. The hubby was hooked on the magic and legendary customer service and I somehow (very easily as a matter of fact) convinced him to join DVC in 2009. We go once or twice a year and are AP holders, thanks to the awesome DVC discount. Our best friends are also Disney freaks and DVC members, as well as my parents, and so we often vacation together. Between the two families there are 9 kids, so needless to say I am good at planning trips for large groups! I have become a runDisney enthusiast in the last year and have trips planned for 2015 to run the Glass Slipper Challenge, as well as a mother-daughter trip for Mother's Day to do the Pixie Dust Challenge in Disneyland!

Favorite Disney Animated Movie: Frozen (A year ago I would have said "Beauty and the Beast")

Favorite Fab 5 Character: Minnie! Especially if she is clad in nurse garb since I am an RN

Favorite Live Action Disney Movie: Mary Poppins - great music, a great adventure and meaningful life lesson (and I WANT that magical carpet bag)

Favorite Attraction in WDW: Pirates of the Caribbean- it was already my favorite, and then they added Johnny Depp!
 
Disney History: My name is Michelle and I am currently from Trenton, Ontario, Canada (my husband and I are both in the Canadian military, so we move a lot!) I have been to WDW every year since I was born (1977). In 1987, we took a family trip to DL. In 1995, I was selected to participate in the International Program. I ended up staying until 1998. I made two trips to DL while on the IP and I have continued my annual visits (sometimes twice a year!) to WDW. In 2008, my husband proposed to me at the Magic Kingdom (WDW) and in 2009 we honeymooned at WDW. In 2012, we took our two boys on our first Disney cruise (Fantasy), and my husband and I renewed our vows onboard. In 2013 we bought into DVC (SSR)...LOVE the treehouses!!! I have ate, slept, and breathed Disney since the moment I was born, and I plan to continue doing do until I "move on"...hopefully as the thousandth haunt! Fav Disney Animated Movie: Beauty and the Beast Fav Fab Five: Goofy ( but Belle is my fav princess, and Tink is my all time fav character) Fav Disney Live Action Movie: Song of the South Fav Attraction: Haunted Mansion/Pirates/Tower of Terror/Rockin Roller Coaster (who can pick just one???)
 
Disney History: My name is Michelle and I am currently from Trenton, Ontario, Canada (my husband and I are both in the Canadian military, so we move a lot!) I have been to WDW every year since I was born (1977). In 1987, we took a family trip to DL. In 1995, I was selected to participate in the International Program. I ended up staying until 1998. I made two trips to DL while on the IP and I have continued my annual visits (sometimes twice a year!) to WDW. In 2008, my husband proposed to me at the Magic Kingdom (WDW) and in 2009 we honeymooned at WDW. In 2012, we took our two boys on our first Disney cruise (Fantasy), and my husband and I renewed our vows onboard. In 2013 we bought into DVC (SSR)...LOVE the treehouses!!! I have ate, slept, and breathed Disney since the moment I was born, and I plan to continue doing do until I "move on"...hopefully as the thousandth haunt! Fav Disney Animated Movie: Beauty and the Beast Fav Fab Five: Goofy ( but Belle is my fav princess, and Tink is my all time fav character) Fav Disney Live Action Movie: Song of the South Fav Attraction: Haunted Mansion/Pirates/Tower of Terror/Rockin Roller Coaster (who can pick just one???)


I'm a bit envious that Song of the South is one of your favorite movies. I have never seen it other than the Zip-a-dee-doo-dah clip that is part of Sing-a-long-Songs. I know there is an online place you can try to order an illicit copy, and I've debated it but never actually ordered it. I'm sure I can surmise why Disney will not re-release it, and I totally understand that, but as a Disney enthusiast its kind of a bummer not to be able to say that I have seen it! When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was a large 1970's book of collected Uncle Remus stories. The artwork on the cover is even by Mary Blair! I still have the book, and now my children enjoy hearing the stories at bedtime too.
 
Great idea! This is my first year applying, but I've enjoyed looking through the threads for past years here. Good luck to all!



Disney history:

I was born in Melbourne, FL, about an hour from Disney World; my first visit (of sorts) was on opening day, as you can see in my signature. :rotfl: I went once a year until we moved away from Florida when I was 13. I honeymooned at the Grand Floridian in 2003 and we've been frequent visitors since then, about 1-4 visits per year. I've been to Disneyland twice and am planning to return next year, but we are by and large WDW guests. In 2012 and 2014 I was able to visit Tokyo Disney Resort (when can I go back or, better yet, relocate permanently to a room in the Disneyland Hotel?) and in 2013 we visited Disneyland Paris. We've done one cruise on the Fantasy with extended family and, in February 2014, I did the Princess Half--my first race of any kind!

Favorite Disney Animated Movie: Beauty and the Beast (super hard choice!!)

Favorite Fab 5 Disney Character: Donald (but can I get Pluto in on a write-in?)

Favorite Disney Live Action Movie: Mary Poppins

Favorite Attraction in WDW: Splash Mountain
 
Fun Idea! Thanks mjacyln! Good Luck to everyone here in the waiting room! Disney History Only traveled to Disney World once as a child. DH and I had our honeymoon there in 1992, and together we were hooked! We went a few times before the kiddos and when they were small. First Family trip was 2006 and have been back to either DW/DCL or DL at least once a year since. Just purchased DVC through resale and are looking forward to our first stay as members! Truly our family's Happy Place! Fave Animated Disney Movie - Tangled Fave Live Action Disney Movie - Enchanted Fave Fab 5 Character - Minnie Fave Disney Parks Attraction - Toy Story Mania
 
It's been so fun reading everyone's Disney stories! After all, story is what Disney is all about!

So in reading all this great stuff, it occurred to me that my "Fab 5" character isn't technically one of the Fab 5 at all. I chose Daisy, who is of course one of the main friends featured in the current "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" show on Disney Jr., but not one of the classic five of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. I claim being the mom of a Disney Jr. fan as my excuse! :)
 
Hi Guys!!

How is everyone in the virtual waiting room? As nerve wracking as this process can be, my fall would definitely not be the same without it! I'm so excited!!

:cool1:

I'd love to hear some of your Disney 'history' if you'd like to share!!

Greetings from the buckeye state! I am Andrea, close friends call me Onnie [pronounced like Donnie or Connie] My first visit to the Magic Kingdom was in 1973. Since my daughter was born in 1989, I have been addicted to Disney. My family loves friendly competition as far as being the first to do something. So my daughter is the youngest to visit Walt Disney World. Her first visit was at the age of 5 months, smashing the previous family record. My mother was the first in the family to walk through the gates of then Disney MGM Studios in 1990. It was her birthday so, I let her. Birthday celebrations in Disney are a big deal. So far, my cousin and I have been the only family members to celebrate our birthdays, twice in Walt Disney World! My obsession for Disney was rekindled about 10 years ago when I got my first annual pass. Since then, I have been to Disney more times than I can count. I usually travel with my DD and my cousin, who so generously takes her nieces and nephews with her. I am the official family historian and videographer, so it is my job to capture all the magic on video and keep up with all the PhotoPass info. For the last 7 years I have had to juggle my love of Disney with my daughter's dream of becoming Miss America. She competed for the title of Miss Ohio for 6 years before finally capturing the crown in her last year of age eligibility. It was a truly magical experience to see her walk in a parade through the Magic Kingdom, with the other 52 contestants last summer. The only thing more thrilling than getting a Disney Dining reservation to Cinderella's Royal Table, was seeing my little one walk down the runway at Boardwall Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey last September. Every visit brings with it, one special memory that will stay with you forever and I do not think anything will ever top that.

Favorite Disney Animated Movie: The Lion King
Favorite Fab 5 Disney Character: Tie to the couple Mickey & Minnie Mouse
Favorite Disney Live Action Movie:
Tron Legacy
Favorite Attraction in WDW: Rock & Rollercoaster - ride, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - show, Fantasmic! - fireworks and Spectromagic - parade
 
If people make it to the panel, when will the training be?

December 8-14, 2014 ... I would love to know more about the training process. From the snippets I've heard it sounds like it's very busy with a packed schedule.
 
December 8-14, 2014 ... I would love to know more about the training process. From the snippets I've heard it sounds like it's very busy with a packed schedule.

Well, if we are to take Gary's tweets as a guide, the dates are sometime between Dec. 9 (Donny Osmond's birthday) and Dec. 16 (Anna Popplewell's - Queen Susan from the Narnia movies - birthday). And he also stressed that the training will fall sometime within those dates, not span the whole 7 days. :)
 












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