Academy Award Nominated Actress Angela Bassett Joins Walt Disney World Moms Panel with her Disney Vacation Tips

Actress Helps Debut 16 New Parents for the 2009 Walt Disney World Moms Panel

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Jan. 5, 2009) – Celebrating an exceptional opening year, Disney Parks has launched its second consecutive Walt Disney World Moms Panel, www.disneyworldmoms.com. Academy Award nominated actress Angela Bassett, star of television’s “ER” and the movie “What’s Love Got to Do With It” welcomes vacation planners to the two year old site and shares her own vacation planning tips. A mother of toddler-aged twins, Ms. Bassett joins 16 other travel savvy parents, The Walt Disney World Moms Panel, in giving free, tried and true advice for planning an unforgettable Walt Disney World Vacation.

This interactive online forum consists of 15 moms and one dad, who have proven their Disney knowledge and ability to field vacation-planning questions from all park-goers. Truly an eclectic group of parents – from the suburbs of New Hampshire and Louisiana to our neighbors abroad in Ottawa and England – these panelists are equipped and eager to share insights to make trips to Disney magical for every family.

Featuring a grandmother from Indiana who treasures celebrations at the parks to a New Jersey mom whose mastered Disney vacations with a special needs child, these Walt Disney World experts will ensure that no hidden Mickey is left undiscovered.

“We are extremely excited for our 2009 panelists to share their unique secrets, suggestions and personal traditions with other families looking to enhance their Disney vacation experience,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “Our 2008 panel answered close to 12,000 questions in its first 10 months, which further emphasizes how invaluable the Moms Panel has been for families planning a Walt Disney World vacation.”

Welcoming the Moms into their new roles is former inaugural panelist, Kim LaPaglia from Annville, Pa., who will continue to lend her Disney smarts – this time to families sailing aboard Disney Cruise Line.

Get to Know the 2009 Walt Disney World Moms Panel

The members of the Disney Parks 2009 online Walt Disney World Moms Panel are:

Kathryn “Kay” Belin Valparaiso, IN ; – A parent and grandparent of two boys who has celebrated reunions, birthdays and graduations to weddings, engagements and business reward trips – you name it, Kathryn’s celebrated it!

Diane Campagna; Bristol, R.I. – This mom has mastered planning successful trips that please both her sons of 10 and 7 years old as well as her 2-year-old daughter.

Margaret Fries; Oak Lawn, Ill. – Paralegal turned PTA president, Margaret and her three boys ages 12, 8 and 6 have spent close to every major holiday at the parks.

Jodi Grundig; Natick, Mass. – Successful mom and blogger who travels to Disney every year with her husband, 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

Doug Ingersoll; Carmel, IN – Father of two girls who grew up traveling the world, Doug calls Disney World his true home as the author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Walt Disney World, 2009 Edition.”

Diane Luba; Plymouth, Conn. – There’s no stopping this mother of two teenaged boys and a tween girl who has traveled to Disney by planes, trains and automobiles.

Joanne McCabe; Ottawa – Single mom to her daughter, 8, who has driven to Disney from Canada and marathoned throughout Disney with three generations of her family.

Tanya McNally; Basking Ridge, N.J. – Vice-president of HR turned vice-president of her household, this mom of two boys ages 6 and 4 – one child with special needs – has mastered traveling to Disney throughout her 32 visits in 34 years.

Whitney Pickering; Laurel, Miss. – Mother of four children, ages 3 to 13, who boasts about leading her family brigade of 19 to Disney as well as having dined at more than 50 park restaurants.

Karen Prince; Plymouth, N.H. – Disney Vacation Club member and mom of three young children has experienced Disney while pregnant, with newborns, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Cathy Schikowski; Richfield, Ohio – Mom to a 5-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter who has enjoyed nearly 40 trips to the parks celebrating anything and everything, with a specialty for birthdays.

Anna Skamarakas; Bellmawr, N.J. – Mom of three mouse-crazed daughters ranging in age from 17 to 3, she has planned more than 200 trips and has stayed in every Walt Disney World Resort.

Jackie Stevens; Luling, La. – Married to her high school sweetheart and mother to three rambunctious boys, this mom knows how to make the most of a Disney trip – even when the majority was spent in a hotel room with the flu.

Amber Vaughan; Washington, Pa – A stay-at-home-mom of 26 years old, she loves to re-visit her families’ Disney adventures with her two children.

Jennifer Wilkes; Acworth, Ga. – Mother to three princesses of her own ranging in age from 13 to 5, she can plan a Disney vacation to satisfy the tiniest of travelers – including having traveled when her youngest was 6-months-old.

Joanne “Jo” Young; West Malling, Kent England – A busy mom of two tween girls who is an expert in planning a Disney vacation from overseas.

For more information and to “meet” the new panel members, visit www.disneyworldmoms.com.

About the Walt Disney World Moms Panel

Entering its second year, the Walt Disney World Moms Panel is an online forum where guests can get insider tips and insights for vacationing at Walt Disney World from real moms and dads who have mastered the art of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Due to the overwhelming response since its launch in 2008, Disney increased its panel from 12 to 16 members for 2009, featuring 15 moms and one Disney dad.

Each panelist was selected to share their vast knowledge of the resort and personal secrets of success with other families who are considering a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Guests can pose questions and have them answered by the panelists, as well as gain access to other valuable park insights and vacation planning tools for booking a Walt Disney World vacation.