I was privileged to meet and get to know many of the original Walt Disney World Moms Panel members and found them all to be incredibly nice, knowledgeable people. I am still friends with many of them years later. Disney’s genius idea that fans can help other fans plan their vacations is still going a decade later and now it covers parks and other Disney vacations around the world. The new 2017 Disney Parks Moms Panel was just announced.
Selected from thousands of applicants, the 12 will join 19 returning panelists to be part of the tenth annual Panel of dedicated and diverse Disney-loving parents who help guests plan and get the most out of their next Disney vacation. Today, these everyday moms and dads possess exemplary knowledge of not only the Walt Disney World Resort, but also other memorable Disney vacation escapes and offerings, including the Disneyland Resort, Disney Vacation Club, Disney Cruise Line, runDisney, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
This year’s Panel promises to deliver an impressive roster of trusted Disney advisors from all walks of life and experiences. With parents of twins and those with special needs children to single working moms, bilingual mavens and members of the LGBT community, the 2017 Panel is inclusive of every type of parent or guardian looking to plan a magical Disney getaway.
“The success of the Disney Parks Moms Panel is wholly measured by the satisfaction of our guests and their families, which is what makes the annual selection process so important for us,” said Leanne O’Regan, Director of Content Relations for Disney Parks. “We are so grateful to the thousands of inspiring Disney advocates who apply each year, including our dynamic new group for 2017. With their continued support, we can deliver on our promise to help visitors around the world tailor unforgettable Disney vacations for years to come.”
As a planning tool, the Disney Parks Moms Panel is available in four languages; English, Spanish, French and Portuguese; and compatible with laptop computers and handheld touch screen devices alike. The award-winning digital resource is teeming with information to satisfy any Disney trip-planning need, offering personalized answers to more than 300,000 guest questions over the years. Whether a family is looking to surprise their daughter with a one-of-a-kind birthday celebration, find the best restaurants to accommodate a peanut-allergy child, or learn how to make traveling with a preschooler hassle-free, a friendly and knowledgeable parent is there to offer sound, personalized recommendations rooted in real experience.
In September 2016, thousands of parents around the world vied for a spot on the Disney Parks Moms Panel and the chance to share their Disney travel experiences with others. Following the selection process, an impressive group of 12 dedicated and thoughtful moms and dads – composed of a litigation lawyer, high school English teacher, engineer, registered nurse, and more – were chosen to usher in the tenth year of the Disney Parks Moms Panel. The 2017 Disney Parks Moms Panelists joins 19 other Disney-savvy travelers ready to help families plan and create magical vacation memories.
The new 2017 Disney Parks Moms Panel members are as follows:
- Trish A.; Halifax, N.S., Canada (Disney Vacation Club)
- Jennifer C.; Ottawa, Ont., Canada (Walt Disney World Resort; Fluent in French)
- Emille C.; Orlando, Fla. (Walt Disney World Resort; Fluent in Spanish)
- Todd D.; Pickering, Ont., Canada (Walt Disney World Resort)
- Jan K.; Maplewood, N.J. (Walt Disney World Resort)
- Anabel M.; North Hills, Calif. (Disneyland Resort; Fluent in Spanish)
- Linda M.; Denver, Colo. (Disneyland Resort)
- Lindsey M.; Houston, TX (runDisney)
- Lindsey P.; Kennesaw, Ga. (Walt Disney World Resort)
- Donyell L. R.; Wilmington, N.C. (Walt Disney World Resort)
- Thiana S.; Novo Hamburgo, Brazil (Walt Disney World Resort; Fluent in Portuguese)
- Beth S.; Vernon Hills, Ill. (Disney Cruise Line)
I look forward to getting to know a many of the new panelists both through their work and hopefully in person. The only request I have for Disney is to make it more inclusive and change the name to Disney Parks Family Panel. No reason to be exclusive with the ‘moms’ title.
To learn more about the Disney Parks Moms Panel and meet the panelists, please visit DisneyParksMomsPanel.com. For those interested in applying for next year’s Panel, application details will be posted on the website in the fall of 2017.