Adult vacationers with children in tow seem to steam towards the
realms of Disney as their preferred travel destinations. It’s been
that way for decades.
Children who were brought to one of the Magic Kingdoms or another by their parents have, by now, become parents themselves, and they are touring their tots to Disney-designed lands of pleasing and safe adventures and discovery.
Other theme parks develop great rides and present appealing attractions, attracting a wide range of visitors. But, ask most American kids where they’d like mom and dad, or grandma and pa to take them for their next big birthday celebration, and their answer will most likely be a place with the Disney in its name.
Children who were brought to one of the Magic Kingdoms or another by their parents have, by now, become parents themselves, and they are touring their tots to Disney-designed lands of pleasing and safe adventures and discovery.
Other theme parks develop great rides and present appealing attractions, attracting a wide range of visitors. But, ask most American kids where they’d like mom and dad, or grandma and pa to take them for their next big birthday celebration, and their answer will most likely be a place with the Disney in its name.
This kind of customer loyalty and ultra-successful branding doesn’t
happen by chance. The Disney organization toils for its reputation and
repeat clientele, constantly inventing new product and polishing up
its favorite standards -- not only to outdistance rival theme parks
and other packaged family travel products, but to keep up with its own
pattern of innovative and personalized customer care.
Making all those millions of dedicated multi-generational Disney patrons feel personally cared for is quite a task -- especially since, over years of development and innovation, the realms of Disney have expanded so much that it’s hard for even repeat visitors to know how to schedule their time to take full advantage of the attractions that will most satisfy them.
So, quite cleverly, Disney has invited its most loyal, experienced and knowledgeable devotees to participate in caring for others who might have special needs, curiosities or just plain every day practical questions about how to make the most of their next planned Disney sojourn.
The program is called Walt Disney World Moms Panel.
Yes, you’re right. This is a group of Moms, civilians all, who haven’t worked for Disney, but have had extensive experience as travelers to Walt Disney World, who love every inch of the expansive park(s) and the myriad attractions, and feel passionately about sharing their knowledge with other people who seek guidance about almost any facet of travel to the realms of Disney.
Making all those millions of dedicated multi-generational Disney patrons feel personally cared for is quite a task -- especially since, over years of development and innovation, the realms of Disney have expanded so much that it’s hard for even repeat visitors to know how to schedule their time to take full advantage of the attractions that will most satisfy them.
So, quite cleverly, Disney has invited its most loyal, experienced and knowledgeable devotees to participate in caring for others who might have special needs, curiosities or just plain every day practical questions about how to make the most of their next planned Disney sojourn.
The program is called Walt Disney World Moms Panel.
Yes, you’re right. This is a group of Moms, civilians all, who haven’t worked for Disney, but have had extensive experience as travelers to Walt Disney World, who love every inch of the expansive park(s) and the myriad attractions, and feel passionately about sharing their knowledge with other people who seek guidance about almost any facet of travel to the realms of Disney.
The ‘Moms’ -- who can be and actually are also dads, grandparents,
aunties or uncles or people who organize Disney trips for their
coterie of friends, with or without kids in tow -- are carefully
selected from thousands of eager applicants who volunteer each year to
fill the limited number of spots on the panel.
Disney came up with the idea for the Moms Panel and implemented it back in 2008. It is, essentially, an online trip planning forum with a unique resource -- the Moms -- of information.
Initially there were just a dozen ‘Moms’ selected for the panel, but the group now has more than 40 members, all experts from personal experience and passions in the many ways of touring Disney.
Since the program was initiated, millions of traveler questions have been answered by the Moms, whose responses have been cataloged and made accessible on a self-browsing basis to others who visit the panel site to ask for advice.
Visitors can also submit new questions, which will be answered by the Moms currently on call.
The site also features videos in which the Moms (and, some celebrities, too) confide their personal preferences and best bet tips about the travel realms of Disney: Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani/Adventures by Disney, Disney Vacation Club and run Disney vacations.
Visiting with the enthusiastic Moms -- and dads, grandparents and other panelists -- in the virtual reality of the Internet isn’t anything nearly as good or entertaining to what happens when you actually step into the realms of Disney, but their expertise and passion for the Disney products can surely excite your anticipation and dispense with any nagging little concerns or questions of logistics that can snag the fabric of your otherwise seamlessly satisfying adventure.
Disney came up with the idea for the Moms Panel and implemented it back in 2008. It is, essentially, an online trip planning forum with a unique resource -- the Moms -- of information.
Initially there were just a dozen ‘Moms’ selected for the panel, but the group now has more than 40 members, all experts from personal experience and passions in the many ways of touring Disney.
Since the program was initiated, millions of traveler questions have been answered by the Moms, whose responses have been cataloged and made accessible on a self-browsing basis to others who visit the panel site to ask for advice.
Visitors can also submit new questions, which will be answered by the Moms currently on call.
The site also features videos in which the Moms (and, some celebrities, too) confide their personal preferences and best bet tips about the travel realms of Disney: Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani/Adventures by Disney, Disney Vacation Club and run Disney vacations.
Visiting with the enthusiastic Moms -- and dads, grandparents and other panelists -- in the virtual reality of the Internet isn’t anything nearly as good or entertaining to what happens when you actually step into the realms of Disney, but their expertise and passion for the Disney products can surely excite your anticipation and dispense with any nagging little concerns or questions of logistics that can snag the fabric of your otherwise seamlessly satisfying adventure.
The Moms have special areas of expertise, ranging from wrangling a
family from an off-site hotel into the heart of the Magic Kingdom to
how to order a special toy to be sent to a kid-occupied cabin aboard a
Disney cruise.
New this year, the Walt Disney World Moms Panel has added experts in sports travel and vacation who can assist with questions about ESPN’s Wide World of Sport Complex, and other sportive endeavors in the Disney realms. This makes organizing group trips for kids’ sports teams so much easier.
It’s also good that you can be assured that the Moms are who they say they are. The site has their photos and bios attached to their every response. Their bios give you a glimpse into their personal lives, too.
Actually, the Moms hail from across the United States and represent a cross section of the American population. Some one in that diverse group of experts will surely have answers to your specific questions.
The Moms receive no compensation, but in exchange for their time and expertise, but they are treated to a Disney trip as a reward and they may, during their panel tenure, be invited to Walt Disney World for special events. They also attend park-based training sessions before they make their live debut on the Moms Panel site.
If you love Disney and know well the Disney realms, you might be wondering how you can win a seat on the Moms Panel.
To be frank, it’s not that easy. Applications are accepted and reviewed just once a year. Those who qualify and are being seriously considered for a place on the panel are very, very carefully screened. They are asked questions about their own Disney experiences and their personal reasons for wanting to be on the panel. Their communication skills are tested, and they are thoroughly quizzed about all of Disney’s destinations and tours. It’s an arduous audition, to be sure, and relatively few make it all the way to live appearances on the Moms Panel site.
But, it’s that very insistence on top patron-focused quality that evates destination Disney into a league of its own -- it’s Disney keeping up with Disney and out performing the others.
New this year, the Walt Disney World Moms Panel has added experts in sports travel and vacation who can assist with questions about ESPN’s Wide World of Sport Complex, and other sportive endeavors in the Disney realms. This makes organizing group trips for kids’ sports teams so much easier.
It’s also good that you can be assured that the Moms are who they say they are. The site has their photos and bios attached to their every response. Their bios give you a glimpse into their personal lives, too.
Actually, the Moms hail from across the United States and represent a cross section of the American population. Some one in that diverse group of experts will surely have answers to your specific questions.
The Moms receive no compensation, but in exchange for their time and expertise, but they are treated to a Disney trip as a reward and they may, during their panel tenure, be invited to Walt Disney World for special events. They also attend park-based training sessions before they make their live debut on the Moms Panel site.
If you love Disney and know well the Disney realms, you might be wondering how you can win a seat on the Moms Panel.
To be frank, it’s not that easy. Applications are accepted and reviewed just once a year. Those who qualify and are being seriously considered for a place on the panel are very, very carefully screened. They are asked questions about their own Disney experiences and their personal reasons for wanting to be on the panel. Their communication skills are tested, and they are thoroughly quizzed about all of Disney’s destinations and tours. It’s an arduous audition, to be sure, and relatively few make it all the way to live appearances on the Moms Panel site.
But, it’s that very insistence on top patron-focused quality that evates destination Disney into a league of its own -- it’s Disney keeping up with Disney and out performing the others.
Copyright 2013 Jennifer Merin
