Happy Holidays across the globe...

Sure, global and cultural awareness may be at its highest peak in history - BUT an appreciation of the uniqueness and similarities of the World has always existed.

Take, for instance, an article written nearly 60 years ago - a time long before modern communications linked the world and created a global community – which celebrates Holidays around the globe.

Reading through customs and ceremonies from Panama, Brazil, or France, it is easy to see the parallels in our lives and celebrations. Perhaps, even, a special recipe from Bermuda may make you smile with thoughts of a special tradition unique to your family or heritage...

(Dallas Morning News, 12 December 1951)

At this time of holidays around the globe, its easy to see that no matter your location, your heritage, your religion - or even the festivals you embrace - that our global community is joyously celebrated.

Would you believe, its still Day 1?

I know, its already been a long day.. but there is so much more to come!

The rain seemed to be sticking around, so there were a few last minute scheduling changes.. our cocktail party would be moved inside, Osbourne lights looked to be a no-go, and Fantasmic, well, that didn't look too promising either...

But, no worries! We were all so excited to meet each other (in person) that the locations just didn't matter! I quickly dressed and headed down to meet all the new Moms & Dads - as well as Laura, Tina, and a few of the 09 moms that would be with us this weekend!

Dannee & Amanda A.

 

 This is the group... minus Portia - Not sure where she ran off to!

Once we were done with cocktails, we headed off to Hollywood Studios for a quick spin on Toy Story Mania (146,000 for a score...still can't break 150,000 and I've ridden probably more than 35+ times!!!)!

Time to snap more photos of course - in our goofy glasses!

Dorothy & Diane L.

 

AND another group photo - yes we held up traffic. Yes we probably shouldn't have.. .but hey, we needed a picture in the Mickey ponchos!!

Once our group ride, and photo op, was over.. we headed backstage to the Prop Shop for a yummy dinner! The food was excellent (a theme that would continue all during the trip) -- BUT none of us wanted to eat, we wanted to chat and take in the surroundings... I mean, after all, we may never get to see this room EVER again!!

When we entered the Prop Shop, our first sight was Jack - and since he's a favorite, I had to get a picture ... or twelve...

Diane L, Me, Kaylene, and Karen

(Side note, this is a very special picture to me - all of us here are/were "rejects" - All of us had previously interviewed in Round 3 of the Moms Panel selection - but didn't make it in previous years... Here we are together FINALLY... a Dream Come True!!)

So, once we were reminded there was food, and yes, we had stop looking around and just EAT, we acutally settled down at tables. And, looking over the food selections - I was amazed. As a vegetarian (no meat or fish) I'm used to having less choices, not so good selections, and occasionally even being yelled at for ordering a Taco Salad with no meat (not at Disney of course!)... BUT there were so many selections for me... YUMMM! It turns out Laura is also a vegetarian, although with fish, and Special Event planning had kept us in mind with the menu! Of course, the excellent desserts were much appreciated too... the Truffles were my favorite!

One last picture from the Prop Shop -

By now, it was getting pretty late, and we realized that Fantasmic! was a no-go due to rain. So, we headed back to the Contemporary. Some of us stopped by the Wave to wish Disney Mom Cathy a Happy Birthday!! (Shout out to her here!!)

Even though it was a long day, Kaylene, Maria and I decided we weren't quite ready for bed. And since the Grand Floridian was just a short monorail ride away -- we would go check out the ginormous Gingerbread house!

A quick stop up to the room.... WHAT!! WAIT!!! STOP THE TRAIN!!!  As I went rushing into my room I noticed a gift had been left for me!

Laura, Leanne, & Tina had sent us a beautiful present --- The Mickey shaped basket contained a jacket (you'll see it soon), a pen, baseball hat, watch, polo shirt, a messenger bag (LOVE IT), mouse pad and notepads -- all with the Mom's panel logo! There was also a shopping bag & rose! Wow, even more magic on this incredible day! WOW!

After a quick peek (I didn't unwrap it yet, since I wanted to document it with a ton of photos!!)... it was off to the Grand Flordian... The gingerbread house was as beautiful as always! I had to spend a few minutes spotting the Hidden Mickeys... but I was starting to fade fast... and since we had to be up early, we called it an early night...

So, good night y'all! To be continued....

I am not a Disney employee.  The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent Disney’s positions or opinions.

Day 1 - Tiredness, Nervousness... and Happiness

So, where'd I leave off? Oh yea - Friday was the DAY, D (as in departure) Day... Most of us had very early morning flights. I had a 6:30 am flight, which meant I was up by 4am. No complaints though, since Kaylene (5fromabove) had to be out of the house by 3 or 4 am and up by 2am!

After one last check of the carry-on luggage (just the essentials: flat iron, makeup, paperwork and the dreaded, stressed-over cocktail party outfit, in case the real luggage went MIA en route to MCO), and we were off by 5am. The kids opted to get up early and come with us so they could have the chance to say goodbye at the airport ... I thought for sure I'd get some grumpiness from my 9yr old... but maybe he was just too sleepy for the realization that I was really heading to Disney World WITHOUT him! Keep those words in mind though: airport, tiredness, grumpiness... we'll be seeing those again later!

Luckily, after a quick deicing and a small delay, I was off to Orlando. I couldn't wait to land, to finally get off the plane - you see, I was meeting Kaylene right there at the gate. Kaylene and I had a bond forged in tears ... you see both of had been Rejects. Yup, rejects from the Moms Panel... Both of us had interviewed for the panel in previous years (and, I for one, totally blew the interview, talk about nerves... doh!!) and had gotten a dreaded "We're sorry" call....  This year was different though, after all the weeks of stress, of hopes, and of dreams - we both heard the magic words from Laura and Tina:
"We'd like to welcome you to the Disney World Moms Panel"! YESSSS! We made it! Together!!

So, as I got off the plane, I looked around quickly and recognized her! And Jodi from 2009 sporting her bright pink Moms Panel jacket (OK, I was jealous! I want one!!) ! Of course, we had a quick hug and started chatting right off... and for what would NOT be a trend - I didn't even shed a tear !!!

Time for luggage, and the Magical Express.... as we chatted and walked, chatted and walked, chatted and walked - I spotted another bright spot of pink ahead of us... we had managed to find Moms Panelist Jennifer! YEAY! So, off the 4 of us went.. baggage claim... yuck. Lets leave it at that - luggage showed up, so no real complaints :)

While we were waiting, Allison and Amy appeared! Now of course, we are having our own little party, right there in the baggage claim of MCO! Then, off to ME and Whitney and Jackie AND Karen are all there! What a great way to pass the time waiting for our bus to ... the Contemporary!

As we waited, we started hearing reports that Joel had arrived at MCO and that Amanda A, Suzannah, and Amanda W were all at the contemporary already! I couldn't wait to get going so I could meet them all!

Once we got to the Contemporary, I couldn't wait to check in -- because, the coveted Agenda... which had been kept a secret from us so far... would be revealed in my packet! OF course I had to rip it right open... I was speechless at my official id badge for the weekend

My thoughts ran something like this: "Seriously, this isn't a dream?? I'm really here? Can I stop pinching myself yet??" Of course, that ended up being a theme for the next few days :)

As I was standing there devouring the agenda, and star-gazing at the badge, I spied Joel! Yes, another panelist! Unfortunately, the ME had taken a while to get there, so some of the other Moms were heading off to lunch at Kona... and I'd have to wait until later tonight to meet them... I was pretty bummed, since Amanda A was among them and I was dying to meet her! We had connected early on, after interviews... so I was anxious to finally get to say "Hi" in person!

BUT, my room was ready so up I went to quickly unpack and check things out. The gray rain that had moved into Orlando was sticking around.. and would .. for the next couple of days...

Having been up since 4am, with only a snack of the airline's biscotti and coffee to sustain me, I decided to check out the quick-service restaurant... And, of course, who else would I run into ?? All the 2009 Mom panelists from the airport! So, I had some nice chats with them before they headed off to the Studios, Sci-fi, and the Osbourne lights! They were so nice and welcoming to a new face, it was great to have some company!

Of course, right after I finished eating, I somehow managed to bump into another group of Moms... So, I ended back up in the restaurant - this time with Marc, Terry, Brenna, Amy, Amanda W, Joel, Allison & Jonas! At the next door table were Diane G and Amanda P! Wow, what a great group they all are!  I can't believe how quickly we all started chatting - like long lost friends separated for years!

All too soon, however, lunch was over... and it was time to go get ready for our Welcome Cocktail Party! So, I'll leave you here... since this is so long already... and pick up with our new plans... New plans, since the rain was going to drown us out that night....


I am not a Disney employee.  The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent Disney’s positions or opinions.

Yes, I still love my blog....

I know, I know... I need to write something! I can't believe its been two weeks since my last... blog post. But what an incredible two weeks!

I hope I can be a little better about it now - although you know how the holidays go! So, while my intentions may be good, reality may not cooperate so much...

My incredible, magical, once in a lifetime Moms Panel training trip is over now. I can't believe how quickly the weeks passed between getting that call from Disney and flying off to jump right into being a panelist. Its seemed like days were dragging, that time couldn't pass quickly enough until the calls would be made...  Then, BAM! A whirlwind hit.

Before I jump into that - let me just describe a little bit of those few weeks that lead up to getting on the plane. The time passed so fast - and so incredibly slow - all at the same time. I don't know how to explain that one, but if you've ever waited so long for something (2 long years in my case !!) that is so important to you, you'll know what I mean - excitement to get started, reluctance to get started - after all, I knew that once it started, the time would fly by and I'd be saying goodbye to my new friends...

While the 10er panelists waited to hear about travel, logistics and what to wear (cocktail attire at Disney ?!?!?), we also chatted it up pretty regularly. We seem to be a pretty well connected group with email, Facebook, twitter, and txting... in fact, I think if you take a peek at any of the pictures from the weekend... you'll see folks tweeting all the time! Maybe, if you look closely, you might even see one of us teaching Mickey and Minnie to tweet! (yes, a teaser.... I have to get you to read this somehow!)

Since we were so well connected to each other, some of us planned to meet right in the MCO terminal... so that's where I'll start off.... next time...