Walt Disney World Introduces 2011 Disney Moms Panel

What do you get when you combine a hibachi chef, a pastor, one “mum,” two Canadians, two non-profit workers, four teachers, three stay-at-home moms and one special aunt with a passion for Disney and a touch of pixie dust? The 2011 Walt Disney World Moms Panel! Announced today, 15 new panelists hailing from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom were named official members of the 2011 Walt Disney World Moms Panel. As the popularity of the Moms Panel site grows, 30 alumni panelists will continue offering their park-savvy smarts to guests planning Disney vacations.

Also helping spread the magic, Oscar-winning actress and mom of three, Geena Davis, serves as an honorary guest to celebrate the new panelists. Davis shares her personal tips and treasured Disney memories in an exclusive Moms Panel video, available in the celebrity video library at www.disneyworldmoms.com.

The Walt Disney World Moms Panel is an online forum that serves as a resource for families planning a Disney vacation, offering a diverse pool of one-of-a-kind insights and personal advice from real Disney fans who are passionate about sharing their knowledge with others.

“This year’s Moms Panel search generated the most applications we have ever received,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “The Moms Panel has become an integral part of the Disney vacation planning process. We deeply appreciate all that the panelists have done to help guests create magical memories with Disney, and look forward to what the new members will offer to families in 2011.”

Following an extensive application process, each panelist was selected based on their personal Disney experience and brings their own unique perspective to the table. From traveling on a budget to creative ways to commemorate a Disney vacation, there is a Moms Panel member who can offer advice on almost any Walt Disney World topic. In fact, designated panelists are also available to answer questions related to Disney Vacation Club, Disney Cruise Lineand Adventures by Disney.

AFTER THE JUMP: Meet the 2011 Walt Disney World Moms Panel

Disney Parks Announces Search for New Panelists To Take A Spot on 2011 Walt Disney World Moms Panel

Your passion for making magical Disney vacation memories reaches “to infinity and beyond.” Providing Disney trip suggestions comes with ease. Friends and family know you as the Disney “go-to” for any and all related information. If this sounds like you, then Disney Parks encourages you to apply for a seat on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Announced today, the search for approximately 10 Walt Disney World Moms gurus begins online www.disneyworldmoms.com/2011.

Heading into its fourth year, this online question-and-answer resource provides first-hand advice from everyday people who share their personal vacation planning tips on anything and everything related to Disney vacations. Visitors can pose park-related questions to the site, view “How-To” videos from panelists and celebrities or even reference archived answers from years past for additional insight. The search for the new panelists kicks off today, September 13, www.disneyworldmoms.com/2011 and will close September 17.

“Our Moms Panel has significantly grown since its launch in 2008 and has successfully tripled in traffic and size,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “It’s recognized as a highly diverse, well-rounded resource for families. Parents searching for ways to customize and maximize their vacation while sticking to their budget often find the panelists to be a tremendous resource. They have assisted guests with everything from planning weddings and coordinating family reunions to providing suggestions on Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line vacations. We look forward to meeting these new Disney planners, and to the fresh insight and perspective they’ll bring, to help create even more magical memories for our guests.”

“Being a panelist offers a unique opportunity to spread Disney magic to guests while they plan their family’s vacation,” said Maria Marquez, panelist and mother of two boys from Doral, Fla. “Whether a guest is visiting for the first time or it’s their 50th trip, the Moms Panel can always offer a new perspective or lend a tip during the planning process. My experience has been a dream come

true and I am truly honored and humbled to sit alongside such wonderful panelists. I encourage others with a love of Disney to apply and look forward to seeing the Moms Panel family continue to grow.”

How to Apply:

The application period will begin on September 13 and will close on September 17, or when 20,000 applications are received, whichever comes first. Interested applicants should visit the Moms Panel site, www.disneyworldmoms.com/2011 to apply. The first steps of the application process begin with a series of written questions and submissions. The final round of applicants will participate in a brief phone interview. Once the search is complete, the top candidates will be named to the Walt Disney World Moms Panel in January 2011.

“We encourage moms, dads and even grandparents who have always had a knack for organizing or planning Disney vacations to apply,” said Crofton. “We’ve found that families greatly benefit from the knowledge of real people whose unique viewpoint serves as an invaluable planning resource. The Moms Panel continues to connect parents with a common goal of having a memorable Disney vacation and we look forward to 2011.”