Disney Parks Moms Panel
Today’s the day! It’s rope drop for the 2016 Disney Parks Moms Panel search. For my non-Disney peeps, rope drop is what is lovingly referred to by Disney nerds as park opening. How is today rope drop when I’m hundreds of miles away from the nearest Disney park, you ask? Today and for the next few days, applications are being accepted for the 2016 Disney Parks Moms Panel, thus rope drop.
Last year, I didn’t talk about the search on here until the process was over. I think I had a fear of “jinxing” myself. I’m not sure just how much I’ll have to say about the search this year, but as there are updates, I’ll share them.
What is the Disney Parks Moms Panel? It’s a group of people who share a love of Disney and a desire to help people plan their trips. Each year, a new group of Panelists is selected to represent the Disney Parks brand in their declared specialties and answer trip planning questions submitted by other Guests. Basically, the Panel is an official place to go to get your Disney questions answered.
What is involved in the process? We won’t really know for sure until the process begins and each stage is reached. However, most years round 1 has included a few essay questions, round 2 has involved a video submission and more essay questions, round 3 has been a phone interview and last year, we were surprised with a super secret round 4 immediately after the conclusion of the phone interview, which consisted of one final question. It’s a process, folks!
Why am I doing this again? Easy! I want the gig! The search is like a roller coaster ride, and because it’s 2 and a half months long, it can take up quite a bit of one’s attention, if you let it. I’m determined to once again submit work I’m proud of, but this year, I intend to not let the search be as big of a personal distraction as it was last year.
Why do I want the gig? Truthfully, I’m not sure that I have a good answer to that question. I love to plan. I love all things Disney. I love having an excuse to keep up with all the new things happening at the parks. I love writing. I love helping my coworkers and friends plan their trips. Everything about the job is appealing to me.
As a finalist from last year, I am thrilled to have a FastPass to round 2 this year. So, even though I still get to submit an application this week, I’ll have approximately 5-6 weeks of peace knowing I’m advancing to the next round.
It’s such an exciting process, and I’ve met so many lovely ladies along the way. I can hardly wait to see this year’s process unfold and get to know the new Panelists. Hopefully, I’ll be among them. If not, I’ll try again next year, because as always, “There’s a great big, beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.”
Square Life Round World 
Good luck Melanie!