Day 24: I am thankful for Gary, the committee and the process.

"Some diamonds need a little more time to shine. But that does not mean they don't sparkle."

-Aleisha M. 

Today, my thank you may be a bit strange. Because less than 48 hours ago I received the 'this is not your year.' email from the very same people I am about to thank.

Last year I received the same sort of no letter while I was in the middle of a bus. This year I got it while my husband and I were on our way out the door to meet a friend for her birthday dinner. I think I did a lot better holding the tears back this year. Though fully admit, there were tears shed. Thankfully, it was dark enough that I did not have to hide my tears behind my sunglasses and I was not in the middle of a crowded bus. The same rules apply this year as they did last year in the sense that you can try and prepare yourself for the rejection (which is not so much of a rejection as a not your year. And believe me it is the best not your year letter you will ever receive, trust me on this one). But no matter how prepared you are, the truth of the matter is this, one can truly never be.

And just as much as I am sad, I still find myself happy for those that were selected. They will do amazing things in the year to come, and I am thrilled to have gotten to know a lot of them. They are going to rock the panel. I still consider many of them friends, and look forward to cheering them on as they start their journey.

But of course this is a thank you post. So I wanted to say this. I am thankful for Gary and his incredible team. I have learned so much about myself in the process of the past two years. I have grown so much as a person in the past two years than I have in awhile. And I continue to. They may not realize it, but they have helped a lot in so many ways.  So because of that, thank you Gary and the judging committee.

If you do not know anything about the Disney Parks Moms Panel, know this. The community is amazing. The support and friendships made are like nothing else. Where else can you come back year after year and still walk away thinking positive and hopeful for the future. 

Once again I was asked if I would do it again, and once again I will say yes. I will. You can bet I will be back. I will continue to grow, to improve to work on things and will be stronger next year. I look forward to perfecting my answers, learning from my mistakes, and correcting them. I do not look at this as a failure, but rather more time to perfect and grow from it. I will not give up, nor will I stop spreading the joy of assisting others. Because maybe this year was not my time. Not my year.

But maybe next year, well maybe next year? It just may be. 

#DisneyMP: Regarding the waiting room. Breathe, just breathe.

Image is not my own.

So it’s been just about 72 hours since the close of Round 2. Are your nerves getting you yet? I am sure by this point you have gone over every single one of your answers, found numerous amounts of mistakes and already taken yourself out of the competition.  You have over analyzed your video. Did you do enough? Did you say enough? Was it too much? Or maybe it was too little? Just let me get through to Round 3 and I will do better right?

Sound familiar?

Well let me tell you. We are all right there with you. Relax, take a deep breath and let it out. Go ahead, I can wait.

Now that I have you back, let me be the first to say this: Give yourself a break. It will all be okay. While I too find I am anxious and nervous about Round 3. After years of going through the process I have found that while I am waiting for news, I have picked up some tips here and there.

Last year my husband bought  an Alex and Ani bracelet for me while I was waiting for word on whether I would make it to Round 3 or not. Across the trinket, the words “What’s meant for you will not pass you.”  It seemed like an odd sort of statement when I first read it, but I have come to realize just how true it actually is. Maybe I didn’t make it on to the panel last year and whether or not I will make it through to Round 3 is still to be determined. But I try not to focus on that. I try and enjoy the process day by day. I try and focus on how good it feels just making it through to Round 2 when I know several would love to get to that step. And I am beginning to believe that things have a way of working out for you when the time is right.

Perhaps I am an eternal optimist, but it helps to think this way.

Another method, which helps me, is to stay away from social media.  Don’t get me wrong I love Facebook and Twitter. And I love the people and the friends I have made along the way, including you! Please do not take offense to any of this, but sometimes during the process I need to step back and walk away from the groups and the feeds. I need to decompress from analyzing people who shared their answers and videos. Perhaps they didn't share every detail but analyzing whether 'Ohana or Coral Reef would have been a better answer can drive anyone insane.

Remember this! Everyone has a different voice, a different answer, a different way of writing than the others. It’s not to say any given individual is better than the other or that the judging committee is looking for certain styles over the other.  Nor does this mean you are automatically out because of it.  It took me a couple of years to realize this.  Stepping away also helps to really remember why I want to be a part of the magic that is the Disney Parks Moms Panel, assisting others create the same magical experiences that we so often enjoy ourselves.

I know this is not for everyone. But just stepping away, avoiding reading other people’s answers (even if tempting) has helped me not over think things and stress about whether my answers were good enough or not.

Along the same lines I will say this: Be proud of your answers; be proud of your voice. After all, that is ultimately what they want to hear. So maybe you didn’t answer the same way everyone else did. If it was how you would answer it, and if it was important enough for you to mention than you did beautifully. Don’t second-guess them. Be proud of them. Embrace them and let yourself enjoy the moments of the next few weeks.

On the eve of notifications. A #DisneyMP letter.

Image is not her own.

It is feeling a lot like Christmas Eve around the Disney Parks Mom Panel community this morning.  After weeks of waiting and decoding encrypted messages from Gary, it has come down to this. The final 24 hours (more or less) before those pixie-dusted magical emails arrive.

Or not so.

Having been on both sides of those emails, I can assure you I know what everyone is going through at this moment.  I know the emotional roller coaster it plays on you. Right now you are feeling excited, nervous. Perhaps a little scared even. That is perfectly okay. Believe me, I get it. The process is amazing. There are so many great people and so many of us have made some great connections through it. Yes, you want to go through, but you want them to go through to Round 2 just as much.

Are your nerves getting to you yet? Hang in there.

One would think given the fact I have a Moms Panel Fastpass+ I would be a lot calmer. After all I know what is coming; I know I made it on to Round 2. But here is the thing. I am just as excited and anxious to see who will be joining those of us who have the MPFP+ as you are.  I will not lie when I say; it has been a long month and a half wait.

But the wait will all be over tomorrow. For some, the news will be thrilling. For others the news won’t be.  For those joining me through to Round 2, enjoy it. Take it one step at a time. It is a thrilling ride that only gets more exciting with each step. Cherish and relish the fact you have made it this far. Celebrate it.  When I found out last year I was moving on, I sat there in the car shaking for minutes. I had to reread the email to make sure it was correct. I asked my husband to pinch me. It’s a thrilling moment to know you are one step closer. I cannot describe it really any other way except pure excitement.

For those who do not make it, the only thing I can say is to hold on. I know it sounds ridiculously hard to do, but don’t give up. Use this year as a tool for next year’s application. Yes, it may be a whole year away (or really 11 months at this point) but believe me the year will fly. Don’t be disappointed in yourself. I will tell you what I told myself last year (and even blogged about it) you did an amazing thing. You did this for YOU! You began to chase your dream and are working towards going after them. Maybe that didn’t happen right away, or when you thought. But it doesn’t mean they aren’t working. Dreams are funny things, they don’t happen overnight. Be proud of this. Repeat.

So tonight, put on your Disney jammies (because I know you own at least one pair). While you are at, throw them inside out just for extra pixie dust. Grab some hot chocolate in that Cinderella mug. Fill it with extra sprinkles. Dance to “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Dream and wish. Tomorrow will come.

But for tonight, we are all still hopefuls.

Faith, trust and pixie dust to one and all!

Ode to the #DisneyMP hopefuls. It won't be too long now.

Well my friends, it is the last day of September which means one thing. The news that many have been holding their breath and waiting on, is just around the corner. Yes, that is right it won't be too long now before those round 2 notifications go out.  Breathe my fellow hopefuls breathe.

I know we all have our own ways of staying busy, avoiding (the best we can anyway) not to think about the odds, the process. We try not to overanalyze, over-think.  We do this by going on with our lives as though nothing big is going on, as though this is no big deal. But who are we kidding, this is most definitely a big deal, and not thinking about it? Well it seems like an impossible thing to do. Especially as we get closer to those magical pixie dusted notifications.

So yes we stay busy. For some we find our creative outlets. We scrapbook, we sew. We make those adorable Halloween costumes that our neighbors are envious of for years to come. We volunteer. And we spend endless amounts of time (and money) at the Disney Store. Any way to feel that much more connected. I am the same. But my craft does not pour out in pictures, or costumes. But rather words.

And because of that, and because I felt the urge to do so. I crafted a little poem for all of us hopefuls.

Ode to the #DisneyMP hopefuls

Here's to you 

The entire pixie dusted planners

Those Neverland believers.

The first timers or the 7th year triers.

Here’s to practically perfect days.

And magical filled nights.

Here’s to you

Disney Moms and Dads

The never giving up ones.

Or this is the last time promisers.

Here’s to waiting rooms once more.

And nervous hopes.

Here’s to you

The grammar checker

The picture takers.

The owner of an extra set of ears.

Here’s  to checking things twice

And the second guessers.

Here’s to you

The tweeters and posters

The up all night over thinkers.

The just one more dayers

Here’s to cryptic messages

And those figure outers.

Here’s to you

Now Moms Panel hopefuls.

Forever the Disney Dreamers.

New lifelong friends

Here’s to a three month journey.

For a lifetime destination.

Exciting times, new seasons.

The last full week of September means two things.

The first being this. We are getting closer to round 2 of the search for the next Disney Parks Mom Panelists. Considering I bypassed round 1 (thanks to a Fastpass+ from last year) I have to admit, I am pretty pumped at the knowledge that round 2 will be starting within the next couple of weeks. Just as much as I am pumped and excited to see who will be joining me in to the next round. I mean this when I say I share the nervousness for all those anxiously waiting for word on their own fate. Even if we do not know when the next round is officially going to start, or when those magical congratulation emails are going to be sent out, well the thought that it is getting closer is beyond exciting indeed.

Yes. This gal is a happy camper as I am looking forward to the thrill ride once again.

The second but no less important, at least in my household, is the fact that hockey is back again. Well preseason anyway. But hey, I will gladly take it at this point as watching football just isn't the same. I can’t sit there in front of my TV and yell out as many big girl words as am allowed. Believe me, I have tried. But it doesn't quite have the same effect as it does when yelling them out around the house in the middle of a hockey fight on the ice does. No it does not.

Trust me on this one.

Even if it does take a lot of time away from family and all, I am happy to see my husband back into his happy zone. To him, this is what it is all about:  The start of the madness, the endless possibilities that a new season brings. All of his hard work and preparation really begins to start showing.

I must admit I happen to love, love this time of year. So much to look forward to and so much hope revolves around it. A new beginning to a season, new pixie-dusted hopes and wishes. Both of which I am fully willing to ride and enjoy as long as I can.

With fingers crossed, it will be a great end of the year for this hockey and Disney World loving blogger.

Happy fall my friends, happy fall.

My #DisneyMP Playlist.

Well we have made it my fellow Disney Moms Panel hopefuls. Next week we see the last full week of September. Which means round 2 is right around the corner. Yes that is right, we have reached the home stretch of waiting for round 1 to be done. I know it for many it has been the longest month of waiting.

As many may know I happen to love music, it is what drives me. I started a #DisneyMP theme song of the day last year as we waited. A tradition I continued in to this year. And since we have time, and you need a good distraction I thought I would share and provide you all with a couple of suggestions to pass the time.

My #DisneyMP waiting room playlist: 

If you believe-Mariah Carey/Whitney Houston

Hey Mickey-Toni Basil

Dream Big-South65

When You Wish upon a Star-any version but my favorite version is by Bryan White.

Fireflies-Faith Hill.

Don’t Stop Believin’-Journey

I Hope I Get It-A Chorus Line

Wishin and Hoping.-Dust Springfield 

Hanging On By a Moment-Lifehouse

You’ve got a Friend in Me.-Toy Story.

One Day More-Les Miz

Hold On-Wilson Philips

Have a little Faith in Me.

I can go the Distance-Hercules.

I Won’t Give Up-Jason Mraz.

Defying Gravity-Wicked

So Much Better-Legally Blonde

Seize the Day-Newsies

American Authors-Believer

Try Again-Aaliyah

Of course there are several other songs that come to mind, the possibilities are endless, and the list grows daily.  What matters is to find songs that speak to you, to give you faith and hope to carry you through while you wait.