Disney resorts: Which one’s right for you?

Disney resorts: Which one’s right for you?

Making it to the Disney Parks Moms Panel...

There have been various blogs and trip reports, since its inception, of the training trips and hoopla surrounding being selected for the Disney Parks Moms Panel.  I thought I would offer a different perspective and share my journey from applicant to panelist.  This is my story:

Last November I found out I had been selected to be one of the new panelists on the 2013 Disney Parks Moms Panel.  For those of you who don't know, the panel is not just Moms, but Dads too - a group of everyday people from every walk of life who love Disney, and love sharing that passion with friends, family and pretty much anyone who will listen.  Our role on the panel is to offer our advice, tips and tricks to anyone who visits the official Disney Parks Moms Panel website and posts a question - advice from everyday people who can answer honestly.  The majority of panelists answer questions about Walt Disney World, but others, like myself, are designated as "specialists"; answering questions regarding not just Walt Disney World, but many other types of Disney Parks vacations - Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Disneyland, runDisney, ESPN sports, and in my case, Adventures by Disney and Aulani-A Disney Resort & Spa.  Along with our question-answering duties, the panelists, who are all independent contractors, may be invited to participate in any number of other activities that promote Disney Parks - media events, newspaper or magazine articles, social media events or blogging for other online vacation providers to name a few.  That's part of the fun of being a panelist - you never know when the opportunity to share our Disney experiences with the world may arise!

What you may not know is that the competition to be chosen for one of those coveted panelist spots is fierce.  This past year there was a cap of 14,000 applicants, less than previous years - I knew the likelihood of actually making it to the panel was very slim.  But, as Walt Disney said "If you can dream it, you can do it!"  And with that quote swirling in my mind, I completed the first round of the application - a series of short essays and a question or 2 to test my knowledge - and pushed send.  To be perfectly honest, I completely forgot I had applied and went about my life.

About a month later, having just gotten off of an international flight after having traveled for 24hrs straight, I had arrived in Prague and turned on my phone.  After checking my emails, I then moved to my spam box and something caught my eye - sure enough, it was a congratulations email informing me I had made it to the second round! No one's really sure exactly how many are chosen for Round 2, but it is rumoured to be just a few hundred. I was elated, but immediately felt disappointment when I saw that I had just 2 days to get my Round 2 application completed - and it needed to have a 60 second video along with it.  Yikes!  I had no time to prepare and no time to waste as we were about to board a river cruise the next day.  Well, with nothing but my iPhone, I sat on the couch in my hotel room in Prague and turned the camera on.  I didn't write anything down, I looked travel-weary, and the lighting was horrible -but I spoke from my heart.  The next day we had to board our ship and I still hadn't sent off my application with video attached- with a sketchy internet service that kept cutting out, it took me 2 1/2 hours to finally get it sent in - I contemplated "giving up" and thought it just wasn't meant to be at several points during those frustrating attempts.  But alas, I am not a quitter, and I wasn't going out without a fight - boy was I relieved when it finally went through just a few hours ahead of the deadline.  Once again, I went about my life and didn't really give it too much thought.

Up until this time, I had kept the fact that I had applied for the panel a secret - from my family (except my husband who I only told when I made it to Round 2), my friends and everyone.  I guess I just didn't want anyone else to know in case I didn't make it - to save myself the explanations or embarassment.  Around the end of October I noticed increased activity on Twitter as other hopefuls were tweeting about impending "pixie dust."  I was still a "lurker" at this point, but I kept an eye out and allowed my heart to be only slightly hopeful as I awaited the official word. As it turned out, I didn't have to wait long.  I can not explain to you the feeling I got and the emotions I felt when just a couple of hours later, I suddenly had in my inbox a magical message informing me that I was one of the few who would be moving on to Round 3.  To say I was overwhelmed and speechless is an understatement.  I must have read that email 10 times before finally accepting that yes, they really did say that I was moving on.  Validation.  If I had to pick one word to describe how it felt it would be that.  I knew I had something to offer the Moms Panel, and I knew that I could do a good job at it, but to have others recognize that was extremely validating for me.  As a stay-at-home mom for 23 years, I was used to being dismissed in social situations because I "don't work" (yeah right!)  Anyhow, to have a prestigious brand like Disney, acknowledge that Kristen has something to offer them, was just, well, validating.  Plain and simple.

At that point, and throughout the rest of the process, I can honestly say that whatever the outcome was going to be for me, it didn't matter.  For some strange reason, advancing to Round 3 was the pinnacle for me in this journey.  I knew that at this point the number had been whittled down scarily low.  I also surmised that those who were in charge of putting together the 2013 Disney Parks Moms Panel had a specific demographic that they needed to fill.  Each position on the panel is a piece of a large puzzle.  Each panelist they choose has to fit into one of those pieces and there can't be any 'missing pieces' when all is said and done.  I knew what I could offer to the panel, but I was also realistic enough to know that if for whatever reason what I had to offer wasn't exactly what they needed for this years puzzle, I was ok with that.  And with that attitude, I turned my attention to Round 3 - the phone interview (yikes!)

I decided that it was time to "come out of the castle", so to speak - I outed myself on Twitter and on Facebook in a closed group of fans of Disney and the Moms Panel.  I felt that at this point I could use the support and camaraderie of others feeling the same emotions and experiencing the same process as me.  In just a short period of time, I got to know some incredible people - some who were also in Round 3 and others who hadn't made it that far but were cheering us on from the sidelines, and  I was very glad that I had decided to 'come out'.

My Round 3 telephone interview was scheduled - I would go on the first of the 3 days offered, and I believe I may have been the second on the list.  My intention in choosing that spot was to 'get it over with' and then await the outcome. Although I was nervous before my call, once it started I felt ok.  It was not as nerve-wracking as I had convinced myself it would be - after all, I knew and loved the subject matter!  When it was done, once again I was completely at peace.  I knew I had answered all of my questions honestly, and from my heart, and I didn't hang up with the feeling of "oh, I wish I had/hadn't said that!"  I had done my best - that's what I always preach to my kids - there should be no feelings of shame if you know in your heart you have done your best.  Well, I guess you all know the conclusion of this story, right?  Three days later I received a very surprising phone call - one week ahead of the anticipated date - in which I was invited to be the Adventures by Disney and Aulani Specialist on the 2013 Disney Parks Moms Panel.  I breathlessly gave my Yes! and from that moment on, my life has been completely changed in ways that I never could have guessed. ( Who would have ever thought that I would be training for a runDisney event??)


I have been asked many times by panelist hopefuls what the "secret" is to being chosen.  I can honestly say I haven't got a clue!  Do I think luck played a part in being selected? - yes, somewhat.  Do I think my lifetime of Disney experiences played a part? - yes, absolutely.  I can tell you that in all aspects of the application process my goal was to let 'the real Kristen' show through.  My video was probably the most amateur and unprofessional of any they received, so obviously that isn't important - I think the message of what was on that video was what was important.  I know that I was honest in every aspect of this process - believe me, if you 'pad your resume' so to speak, it will be apparent very quickly.  And I believe I let my love and passion for Disney shine above all else - but without coming across like an obsessive lunatic, lol.  I like to believe that it was a combination of all those things that earned me my spot on the panel.

I know there are so many of you reading this who have been through at least part of this process.  Many of you did not have the outcome that you hoped for.  I encourage you to keep applying.  If you don't make it this year, or next, or the even the next, if it's something that your heart desires, and you believe in yourself, don't give up. Maybe you will never actually make it to the official Moms Panel - it doesn't matter - if you love Disney you will continue to share it - we just can't help it!  Take each experience for what it is, don't let it jade you and you never know, there may be something even more amazing for you right around the corner - that's a reminder that we all need to tell ourselves, including me!

I have no idea what this year will bring, but I am thankful to have been given this opportunity that so few will ever get.  I've gotten into the routine of answering guest questions and I'm having fun doing it.  And yes, I am still surprised that this simple, obscure, housewife, mom and lover of all things Disney, who never in a million years thought that she would actually be chosen, can say the words "I am a member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel."  Wow...Yes I am!  Validation.


For news and information about upcoming Disney Parks Moms Panel events, 'like' me on Facebook -Disney Moms Panel Kristen

When I am much older I will....Part 3

The final days...

Our cruise was now nearing the end stages and we were on our way to Vienna, Austria.  One of the highlights of this journey was a cruise through the incredible Wachau Valley.  It was hard to tear our eyes away from the windows as the scenery was just so incredible.

Castles, villages & vineyards were all part of the
amazing sights we saw on our journey through the
   Wachau Valley.  It was a very memorable afternoon!




















Austria...beauty, opulence, and a whole lot of fun!



We arrived in Austria in the early evening and the talk of the ship was an excursion to a symphony concert listening to the works of Mozart.  Well, I said "Mozart-Schmozart" - I was going to a place I knew I wanted to visit from the moment I saw it on The Amazing Race a few years ago...The Prater!  The Prater is an historic amusement park that has a giant ferris wheel which offers incredible views of Vienna, and it's also home to many nostalgic carnival type rides. This was how I wanted to spend my evening!  My husband, of course, was on board, as were two of our friends.  The four of us set off on what was to be one of the most fun nights we'd had in a long, long time.  We all felt as if we were teenagers again - we rode the bumper cars until we were literally bruised, I got scared half to death in a haunted house, and we all laughed until we cried on the bone-breaking roller coasters.  It was truly the perfect evening, and if you are ever lucky enough to find yourself in Vienna, skip the Mozart concert and head straight for The Prater!

The next day was all about the shopping!  Oh boy, the shopping in Vienna is amazing!  Of course, we did manage to fit in a lovely horse-drawn carriage tour so that we could see the opulent palace and buildings that make up the city of Vienna, and it was a spectacular ride.  So different from any other European city that we have visited, and truly impressive.  But tucked in amongst all of these magnificent buildings are every major designer brand
that a girl could hope for.  We had a great day - wandering in and out of the shops, making a few awesome purchases, and having lunch at McDonald's!...yep, after all of those sausages, schnitzels, pretzels and the like, we just wanted a good old Big Mac.  There's nothing like finding a McDonald's in a foreign country and just knowing that it will be exactly what you are craving - a little taste of home.  We sat in the square, surrounded by Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Gucci and the like, and that burger and fries couldn't have tasted better!


Our time in Vienna was very enjoyable, and we left thinking it would be a great place to return. We were off to our final destination, Budapest, and we sailed through the night.


                                   

 Budapest...A pleasant finale!

Parliament Buildings "Pest" side

Pulling in to Budapest during dinner we were in awe of the beautiful Parliament buildings facing the riverfront. They were all lit up and looked as if they were the home of royalty.

Castle District "Buda" side

There are actually found on the "Pest" side, the more modern part of the city, and the actual castles are found on the "Buda" side, which is the older, historic part.  Budapest has an amazing offering of dining options and just about every international cuisine is represented here.  This was a pleasant surprise - we actually had one of the best meals of the entire trip at a restaurant along the waterfront called Taverna Dionysos.  If you are ever in Budapest, I highly recommend enjoying a meal at this casual, yet incredibly delicious mediterranean restaurant.

The fishies at Dr. Fish doing their thing - super creepy!

Another highlight of Budapest, and something which took me a little while to warm up to, was my "fish pedicure".  We noticed these Fish Spas were all over Budapest, and after some convincing from my friend, we decided a visit to Dr. Fish was going to be on our agenda.  I can say that it was a very surreal and odd experience, and I'm not 100% sure I'd do it again, but at the time it seemed like a good idea and boy did we laugh as those little fishies went to town on our feet.  Of course, it's only after all is said and done that you
kind of look back on it and wonder exactly how hygienic it may or may not have been.  I chalk it up to one of those things you do on vacation that you probably wouldn't consider doing in "real life", lol.

                                   

Famous Dobos cake from Cafe Gerbeaud
(We ate here twice it was so yummy!)

Since we'd gotten our "shop on" in Vienna, and our return to normal life (and healthy eating) was imminent, Budapest was all about the food.  We had some great, indulgent meals, and enjoyed some very yummy treats that we encountered during our wanderings.

Budapest Chimney Cake -  named as such due to the steam that comes up from the middle when it's taken off the spit

The Budapest Chimney Cake was piping hot and crunchy sweet...this was such a delicious treat!  This seemed to be a very popular snack as we saw many shops that sold only these!  It was fascinating watching them be prepared.

I know I had many preconceived notions about Budapest and I am happy to say that they were all shattered by the things we saw, the food we ate, and the really pleasant time we spent there.




A Happy Ending....

I have admitted to being less than enthusiastic about this entire trip from the moment it was booked, right up until I left.  Wow, was this trip a learning opportunity for me.  All my life, I have had this "bucket-list" of travel destinations I want to visit.  None of the places on this itinerary were ever near the top of that list, if they were even on it.  I learned some valuable lessons from all of this:  Be flexible. Open your mind to things and places you maybe hadn't thought of.  Embrace every travel experience for what it is - a chance to explore a part of the world that you aren't familiar with, and try new foods, and see things you never would have otherwise.  Don't be afraid to travel outside of your comfort zone - you just may end up having a trip of a lifetime, and I know you'll make some amazing memories while you're at it.  Thank you Viking River Cruises for taking me to places I never dreamed I'd go, in a way I never dreamed I'd like.

  Romantic Danube Cruise - Nuremberg to Budapest

When I'm much older I will....Part 2

Part 2...


Regensburg, Germany

The view of Regensburg from the Old Stone Bridge - the entrance into town

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We arrived in Regensburg and were met at the dock by a local tour guide.  One of the nice things about a Viking River Cruise is that at each stop, you have an included excursion - generally a walking tour of the city pointing out the highlights.  This is always in the morning, leaving the rest of the day up to you - you may take an optional excursion or just explore on your own.  Regensburg is much larger than Nuremberg, but still had the European charm that I was drawn to.

The apartment of Oskar Schindler which he lived in for several years after the war.







Despite the continued frosty temps, we really enjoyed our morning tour.  We then we had an afternoon excursion booked to the Weltenburg Abbey, famous for it's dark ale that has been brewed there by the monks since 1050!  This excursion was not quite all it was cracked up to be- it took a long while to get there and to be honest there wasn't much to see.  But we did have lunch - including apple strudel, which made it all worth it! - and after a quick peek in the shop it was time to head back in to town.  We had one thing on our minds- in the morning we had passed a Bratwurst shop which our local guide had said was the best and orginal shop, Wurstkuchl, and had been in business for 500 years!- we knew that we HAD to try the Regensburg style of Brats...the mustard used here was  their own recipe -a grainy, sweet mustard, different that the yellow mustard in Nuremberg. ( however,I preferred both the brats and mustard of Nuremberg)

Wurstkuchle outdoor seating area

Grilling the brats

                                     

Best Bratwurst in Regensburg!

Passau, Germany

Arriving in Passau, we noticed that this was a very popular stop for many River Cruises - there were countless other ships parked along the riverside, and it was very interesting to compare them to our sleek, new vessel.  After a quick perusal we definitely decided we had made the right choice with Viking - one which was reiterated later in the day by a couple of older ladies who told us they would love to be on our ship, because theirs wasn't that great, lol.

Our included morning tour took us to a very special  pipe organ concert in St. Stephan's Cathedral.  This pipe organ is the third largest church organ in the world.  It was really very beautiful and impressive to listen to, but boy those wooden pews were uncomfortable - yet somehow, several of the men in our group managed to be lulled to sleep by the hymns  being played... my husband included!  (He claims he was closing his eyes to really "experience" the music - yeah, right)

 Our afternoon in Passau was spent decorating gingerbread and making marzipan sculptures at Cafe Simon.

No bad eh?

Of course, with all of that "hard work" making gingerbread and all, we really needed to find a little something to eat...hmmm....perhaps some Bratwurst?  Yes, please!  We made our way to Braueri E.F.Peschl where we not only sampled their Bratwurst, but they served us a basket of fresh out-of-the-oven pretzels!  Now, these pretzels were not your dry, doughy, preservative filled, movie-theater style - there were the real deal!  Yum, yum - we made quick work of that meal.   We were all in heaven as we headed back to the ship, which was conveniently parked right across the street.  We went up to the top deck to enjoy the views, and the slightly warmer temps. and sat there and reminisced about those pretzels and how great they were - the restaurant was just across the street.  And then I got a brilliant idea!  I shared it with the group and everyone agreed- my husband was going to run across the street and procure a supply of fresh pretzels, to-go!  Never mind that it was a half hour before the ship was scheduled to leave - we had to have just one more pretzel!!

Braueri E.F. Peschl - best pretzels ever!!

Watching the clock somewhat nervously, we waited with baited breath as 6p.m. drew nearer.  The captain was getting himself positioned in the wheel house and the men in the group decided to go down to the gang plank and prevent them from bringing it in.  I have to wonder if they were more concerned about Andrew or their promised pretzel? Suddenly, in a flurry of activity, Andrew emerged triumphant with not just a few pretzels, but an entire basket held high like a trophy- in true "Andrew Style" he bought their entire supply and had to wait for them to be baked.  We were all cheering from up top and even a the traffic stopped to let him cross the road, seemingly knowing not only the urgency but also the value of his precious cargo!

Andrew was met with a hero's welcome and we had enough pretzels for not just our group of friends, but all of the other travellers on the top deck.  We even offered one to the Captain, who had been watching the whole spectacle quite amused, but he declined.  It was an epic moment, and one that we'll all remember fondly!

    

Auf Wiedersehen!  Our time in Germany had come to an end (a very fun and delicious end, mind you!) and we were all looking forward to heading to Austria the next day.

Austria, here we come!

Part 3 coming soon....

When I'm much older I will....

The typical couple featured in Viking River Cruises
ads...yikes!  Perhaps they should rethink this!

To be honest, taking a river cruise had never really been something I'd considered seriously.  I thought it might be something interesting to do when I was older...much older.  However, the opportunity arose to travel with a group of friends on a Viking River Cruise on the Danube River in Europe.  It would begin with a 3 night stay in Prague, and then the cruise would start in Nuremburg, Germany for a one week sailing.   While I was hesitant, my husband was a very quick "Yes!( he is 3 yrs. older than me, haha!) ", so that was it - we were booked.  But I can't say I was "excited" exactly...I definitely had some trepidation.   From the time we found out about it in January, 'til we cruised in the fall I did a bit of research....everything I read or saw still indicated that this was a vacation for the "blue-haired" set, old-fogey's, silver-foxes, retirees...not a group of 40-something's who like to have fun.  Even the commercials on TV showed older people dressed in their slacks and sweaters, staring off into the scenery.  Not an under 60 in the crowd!

Our journey would begin in Prague, then we would travel to Nuremberg by bus (approx. 4 hours) to board the ship.  From Nuremberg we had stops in Regensburg, Passau, Melk, Vienna and ended up in Budapest.






             

Vitava River with Prague Castle in the background.

After a very pleasant flight (yay for upgrades, and lie-flat seats!) I arrived in Prague for the pre-stay.  Our hotel, Hotel Pachtuv Palace, was perfectly located in Old Town, central to everything, and with an amazing history attached to it - it was Mozart's former home.  And as luck would have it, I had been assigned a deluxe room in part of the original house - could I be sleeping in Mozart's bedroom?  Prague, despite being quite chilly and me contracting a mild case of food poisoning, turned out to be a delightful start to our vacation - we walked endlessly, viewed the amazing sights, ate delicious food, and soaked in the wonderful European ambiance.

Grumpy Guard!

Former Palace grounds, now a lovely park open to all

   The cathedral at the Prague Palace was stunning.  This hand painted- stained glass window was a highlight!



On to Nuremberg...

Viking Embla 

The ship itself was lovely...it had only been in service since June, so everything was still sparkly-new.  Our stateroom, while definitely not spacious, had everything you could need and was very comfortable.  Due to the small size, the ship was super-easy to navigate...literally 30 seconds from our stateroom to the dining room or lounge.  We found the food to be very tasty, with a good selection and the freshest ingredients - in fact, the chef makes daily trips to the local markets of each city and menus are created based on what he has purchased! Breakfast was a real feast, and indeed the culinary highlight for me. But, the best part of the whole cruise was definitely having a front-row seat to all of the wonderful scenery along the Danube River.  At times we were mere feet from the shore as our long-ship, the Viking Embla, floated smoothly and silently along.  This style of cruising felt so intimate - a vast contrast from the mega-ships floating in the middle of the Ocean which we had become used to.

 Nuremberg, Regensburg and Passau, GERMANY

My first taste of Germany was in Nuremberg.  We first visited the main market square in Old Town - it was market day and I loved seeing all of the fresh vegetables, fruits and tasting the homemade gingerbread - which is more cake-like than our gingerbread cookies...it was divine!  It was also here that we enjoyed the first of many bratwurst we would work our way through on this trip.  Dripping with mustard, it was sooo yummy, and so unlike any I'd had before.  I found myself feeling as if I had stepped into a fairytale - the architecture was so beautiful and quaint and charming.  Could I, who had never had a desire to visit Germany, actually be falling in love with this country so quickly?

Picture perfect Nuremberg!










The tower is at the former home of the hangman.











Idyllic!










Not so fast.....

Nazi parade grounds

We were faced with the sobering reality of Nuremberg the next day on our tour of the former Nazi parade grounds, and the Palace of Justice, where the Nuremberg trials took place.  It was fitting that the skies were grey and the cold was absolutely bone-chilling.  My heart felt sad at all that had taken place in this very spot.  We noticed that the German people had a very humble attitude when speaking of the atrocities - they are not proud of this part of their history and it was obvious in the way they told the stories.  Still, it can't be ignored, and it is important for us all to remember and to ensure that this part of history is never repeated.

The pedestal where Hitler gave his speeches

Main river on the way to the Danube

Next stop was Regensburg, but first we had to set off on the Main River on our way to the Danube.  This would be our first experience going through the many locks (18) that we would use to traverse these waterways.  It was a very exciting experience and we found the whole process fascinating.  We could literally reach off our balcony and touch the walls which were mere inches from our boat.  Such a brilliant engineering marvel!

Entering our first lock

inches from the edge!

We could touch the walls - super-slimy!

looking waaayy up!

At the top!...whole process takes about 20 minutes

To be continued....Part 2 still to come!