Before the Parade Passes By – Disney Mom’s Panel Hopefuls are Waiting for Pixie Dust!

Today is a big day, folks!  This afternoon, right about when the three o’clock parade begins in the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Mom’s Panel hopefuls will begin to see pixie dust sprinkling into their in-boxes.  Applications for this year’s Mom’s Panel were due back in mid-September and Disney will be notifying applicants this afternoon as to whether or not they will be advancing to Round 2 of the application process.  Despite its name, the Mom’s Panel is open to all of those who feel they can help to bring Disney magic to those headed on vacation to any of Disney’s many incredible destinations. The Panel originated back in 2008 as a forum where people planning Disney vacations could ask questions about their upcoming trips.  Hosted by a group of folks who pride themselves on their Disney travel knowledge, the goals of the panel have remained the same even as it has grown from 12 panelists to 47, featuring “specialists” from a variety of Disney fields including ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, Disney Vacation Club, runDisney, Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland among others.

There are thousands of applicants each year for about 20 spots on the panel and the process is threefold.  Disney is known for it’s innovations and no one knows what goes on backstage in determining what will be asked of the applicants in each round of the process.  In past years, Round one has required the applicant to choose a specialty and answer a series of questions that are relevant to that field.  Upon moving on to Round two, applicants have been asked to submit a short video and answer some additional questions.  Applicants who have made it to the third round participated in a phone interview.

I had the opportunity to speak with a fantastic group of women who applied for this year’s Mom’s Panel and they were gracious enough to answer some questions.  So without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce Stacey Boulmetis, Tricia Kalita, Kristin Long and Tami Mittan.  Each of these women has a great deal to offer to the Disney Mom’s Panel and all of us in the Mouse House are pulling for them to move on to Round two!  Edited to note – all four of these fabulous women advanced to Round 2 of the 2014 Mom’s Panel search just as the 3:00 parade began to make it’s way down Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom!  You girls are amazing! xo, Gina

First off, when did you first apply to the Mom’s Panel and what made you decide  to apply in the first place?

Stacey:  I applied the second year that applications were accepted and have applied every year since! Funny fact I can always remember how old the Mom’s Panel is because my youngest daughter is the same age. I feel fortunate that I have had at least one Walt Disney World trip each year the past six years which qualifies me to apply for the Panel. I love the process, even though I stress over each answer but what I really enjoy is the discussion on various social media sites with other applicants. It becomes a community and over the years I feel like I have gotten a lot of participating in the ‘hopefuls’ –as we call ourselves- community.

Tricia:  I first learned about the Moms Panel in 2008 after noticing it on the WDW website. My daughter was two and I had just switched careers to one that would allow me more family time, which ultimately translated into increased Disney vacations of course! I loved the idea of having direct access to other Moms like me to help plan my vacations and I have been an avid fan of the program, and the Moms and Dads, ever since.

Kristin:  I cannot remember at this point if the first time that I applied for the Mom’s Panel was the first or second season. I do remember however, that I received a folder with a magnet and other Mom’s Panel goodies in it after I applied and I was ecstatic! (Still have the magnet! ).

Tami: This round in Fall of 2013 (for the 2014 Panel) is my third year applying.  The more I personally read the Disney Moms Panel answers, learned more about the program, watched friends join the ranks, and continued to grow in my own “helping plan Disney trips” reputation… it seemed like an exciting fit for me!

All of you have applied to the Panel in the past.  How far did you make it in the process before and what has made you continue to apply?

Tricia: Unfortunately, I have yet to make it past Round One of the application process but that won’t keep me from dreaming! As heart-wrenching as it is to receive the rejection email year after year, it has just empowered me to improve. I believe I’m a much better candidate now than I would have been in 2008.

Kristin:  I saw the the qualifications regarding the Mom’s Panel and thought, “Hey! I need to apply for this..I am THAT Mom that they are looking for! They totally need me!” Since then, I’ve applied 4 times. Every year, I get really excited at the possibilities of becoming a new member of the Disney Parks Mom’s Panel. I’ve made a bucket list and being on the Mom’s Panel is definitely on that list. My Motto is…”No one can cross off the items on MY bucket list of dreams but me!”. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Tami:  I have not yet made it past the first round.  But within hours, we will find out the results of my 3rd attempt!  I continue to see improvement in my application answers each year, so I definitely feel that pixie dust glow of hope alive.

Since it’s inception in 2008, the Mom’s Panel has gone through lots  of changes.  What kinds of changes have you seen since you began applying and what have these changes meant for you?

Kristin: I have noticed lots of changes to the Mom’s Panel over the years. Of course there is the obvious, the website, the color schemes, the amount of panelists. The biggest and most important change to me were the additions of the specialty panelists.

Beginning in 2012, panel applicants have been asked to choose a specialty.  What specialty did you choose this year and what do you love about the way Disney embodies that field?

Tricia:  This is the first year that I decided to place myself in a specialty category as a Disney Vacation Club specialist. I have actually wanted to be the “DVC Mom” since the position was announced but didn’t feel as though I could properly do the position justice until this year. I hope that I get to advance in this category because being the DVC Mom would allow me to talk about more than just the Walt Disney World Resort but also about all of the wonderful things that come along with vacationing as a DVC Member as well!

Kristin:  I fell in love with the runDisney program six years ago and after I ran my first runDisney event, I knew I would always runDisney. It only made sense to apply for that specialty. It’s very easy for me to help others have those same experiences that I love so much.

Tami:  My area of expertise is the Walt Disney World Resort, so I’ve selected that each year.  For me, it is the pinnacle of what Disney has to offer, in the way of a complete vacation destination, and has been such a memory-making, fun filled choice for my family these past few years.

I could head to Disney World every week, but my husband isn’t always as enthusiastic!  What advice would you give to someone who would travel to a Disney destination every year but whose family didn’t share that passion?

Stacey:  I think that Disney transcends all ages and stages so if it’s not something your immediate family is interested there are a lot of other people in your life that will be. They could be real life friends – a Mom’s getaway, a RunDisney adventure, or even a solo trip. If none of those options sound appealing than just send an email my way and I will meet you at Disney!

Tricia:  Well, I’m pretty much in the same boat as you. My husband joins us on most of our Disney vacations but much prefers a lounge chair and cocktail-flowing kind of vacation. Becoming Disney Vacation Club Members has been our most effective way of combating this “illness” of his by incorporating more resort (i.e. non-park) activities. The DVC resorts, in particular, are great for this type of vacationing and who wouldn’t want to spend a little extra time at the resorts when they are this spectacular? The Disney Vacation Club Villas have really allowed us to switch gears during our Disney vacations and settle into our home away from home. We have also found a little DVC secret called Disney’s Vero Beach Resort which is a perfect beach resort located just two hours from Walt Disney World that allows us to wind down and spend time together as a family without any other distractions.

Kristin:  What would I do if my family didn’t share my love for Disney??? Fortunately, my family DOES share my love for Disney! However, if they did not, I might encourage a trip to Aulani or to take a Disney Cruise! There are lots of options for the entire family with these two destinations that are not riding attractions or fighting large crowds in a theme park. Another option when it comes to running at Disney would be gather up your girlfriends and turn it into a girls trip! I’ve taken lots of those kinds of trips to Disney and I really do cherish that time spent with friends.

Tami:  Honestly what hooked us from the start, and I know is a key component both to our thorough enjoyment of our trips and convincing my husband to return repeatedly is booking the whole package at the Disney World Resort:  hotel, dining package, and obviously park tickets.  Staying on property has been so enjoyable, and makes the entire experience so relaxing and stress free (which is kindof the point of a vacation, right?).  We hop on that Magical Express bus at the airport, don’t even need a car, and ride Disney transportation all week.  Having the Disney Dining plan “forces” us to take a break and enjoy some themed dining, and is often the highlight for my husband and I.  I also try to do my leg work on the possibilities, and then I consult my husband (and sometimes the kids) on what they would like to include on our next visit.  That way we all each have a part of the trip that is particularly special to us!

If you were to embody one Disney character, who would it be and why?

Stacey:  I identify with many characters depending on the day, event or situation but today I am choosing Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Like Belle I am from a small provincial village – the State of Rhode Island which is the smallest state in the United States. Living in the Northeast I can throw a mean snowball. I love a good book and actually prefer reading favorites over and over again.  Unlike Belle I am not my town’s beauty, but my PhotoPass is filled with some pretty awesome photos. Finally I occasionally burst into song, but not too often!

Kristin:  Pass….waaaaay too many to pinpoint!

On Monday, several Mom’s Panel applicants found out they had advanced to Round 2 of the process.  It was announced that more panel hopefuls would hear that they’d advanced this coming Friday.  All of this waiting and wondering must make you crazy!  What do you do to manage your butterflies during this waiting game?

Stacey:  I am nervous but the call of real life and excitement like packing lunches, shuttling children to activities, coupled with my job outside the home makes the days fly by. I will admit to lots more social media checking than usual. My family also just got back from a Walt Disney World Resort vacation so I am able to distract myself by sharing photos and the fun stories from our vacation.

Tricia: I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit devastated on Monday when it seemed like so many people were logging into the site and seeing “Congratulations!” and all that I was seeing was “Sorry your email isn’t among those listed of approved candidates…” Once the tweet came out from Gary Buchanan that notifications wouldn’t be official until Friday as their selection process was not yet complete, I immediately felt a sense of relief. Luckily, this has been one of my busiest weeks, both personally and professionally, in quite a while so it has kept my mind off of the waiting game. Now that I’m answering this question, I’m nervous again. Thanks a lot Gina! 😉

Kristin:  Keep Calm and go for a run!

Tami:  I’m in the middle of a Fall Disney trip countdown as we speak, so it’s serving both as a fantastic distraction and consolation all-in-one!  And by the way, Disney did email me on Monday… to tell me my Magic Bands had shipped!  (I joked that this was my “sloppy 2nds” prize, and that I was pretty thrilled with it.)

As Mom’s Panel application veterans, what advice can you offer to future Mom’s Panel hopefuls?

Stacey:  Not to sound cliché but I really truly believe everyone has a chance! Each year they are forming a team to represent the 10,000 plus applicants and you may have what they are looking for that year. I also think just be yourself. Every panelist has said the same thing be who you are in the application process. Be real. You know enough about Disney to apply and let your passion shine through.. While mathematically (shhh I am a nerd) I know the odds of being selected look slim but no matter what when it comes to Disney there is pixie dust involved. Pixie dust beats mathematical odds any day. Go for it!!!

Tricia:  My best advice is to not take any of the selection process personally. Applicants need to understand how difficult it must be to select so few people from such a huge pot of qualified hopefuls every year. I have learned to use the process the make some incredible new friends and grow into an even better applicant for the following year. If looked at in a positive light, even rejection can open up some new doors that you never thought were possible. You just have to keep your head up and believe in your dreams!

Kristin:  My advice is to keep applying! I I’ve helped so many of my friends, family and even those whom I don’t know that well plan their trips to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland and runDisney and I’ve realized that if I keep sharing my experiences, then I will be able to live out my dreams through other people as well! It’s an exciting process and I couldn’t imagine not applying and being a part of the Mom’s Panel excitement! Good luck to everyone applying….Pixie Dust to all!

Tami:  Well, I’ll have some better advice for applicants once I advance some day – ha!    Some of the best advice I’ve heard is to be aware that at its most basic level – you are applying for a writing position, so keep that in mind.   I do feel you need to try and let them know you “get” it… you “get” just how magical this place truly is.  And to simply enjoy the process and camaraderie of being amongst such an amazing group of Disney loving, pixie dusted hopefuls like yourself.   It’s a remarkable experience to take this journey alongside such a fantastic group of people each year.

Wow.  All I can say is wow.

You can follow each of these wonderful women at their own blogs as well.

Stacey Boulmetis – Rhode Island Mom

Tricia Kalita – The Disney Gals

Kristin Long – Bama Girl Runs

Tami Mittan – Colorado Mountain Mom

Learn more about the Disney Mom’s Panel and meet the current panelists here!

Finally, if you’d like to follow along with the Mom’s Panel excitement as it unfolds, be sure to check in on Twitter using the #DisneyMP hastag.

And a very special thanks to Disney Social Media Managing Editor Gary Buchanan for doing everything within his power to help to assuage the nerves of the applicants this past week.  If there is anyone who truly understands both the intrinsic magic of Disney as well as the thought and care the Mom’s Panel candidates put into their applications, it’s Gary.  You’re the best, Mr. Buchanan, really.  An absolute mensch.

#DisneyMP pic.twitter.com/8l9eGZQFXU

— Gary Buchanan (@Gary_Jerry) October 17, 2013