Mr. Disney mom has park wired

Mr. Disney mom has park wired
DISNEYWORLDMOMS.COM | Evanston dad helps people plan their trips
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December 17, 2008

BY LORI RACKL
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World isn't child's play. Florida's famous attraction contains a dizzying array of 20 resort hotels, four theme parks and two water parks -- all sprawled over a space twice the size of Manhattan.

To help people plan their visits, Disney earlier this year debuted the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (disneyworldmoms.com), an online forum led by park-savvy parents. These Disney devotees share their insight on everything from when to visit and where to stay to tips on avoiding the lines at Space Mountain, the best spot to snag Goofy's autograph and where to find "hidden Mickeys" scattered discreetly across the park.

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The Caldwell family pose with Snow White and the seven dwarfs at Walt Disney World Resort, pictured from left to right: Patty, Peter, Lauren, Alexandra and Bret.
(Courtesy of Bret Caldwell)


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Mr. Disney mom

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The panel is made up of 11 moms and one lone dad: Bret Caldwell of Evanston.

Caldwell, 43, was the only male to survive Disney's three-round application process, which drew a whopping 10,000 applicants.

The father of three decided to try out for the panel "on a lark," figuring it would be a good way to share the copious research he did for a family vacation to Disney in 2006.

"I built a pretty crazy Excel spreadsheet for that trip," Caldwell said, a little sheepishly. "It can be amazingly complicated going to Disney World. That's why they have panels like this."

When the panel debuted in January, it was an instant hit. Caldwell and the moms fielded more than 11,000 questions in the first 10 months. Questions like, "Is Cinderella's Royal Table suitable for boys?" (Caldwell's answer: Absolutely. It's one of his son's favorites for three reasons: He gets a sword, they serve fantastic bacon, and it's not so bad being surrounded by a bunch of little princesses.)

Another query: "When is the 3 o'clock parade?" (Caldwell's answer: It's not as silly a question as it sounds. It depends on where you are in the park.)

Disney's Moms Panel members' tour of duty lasts one year. The new panel will be announced next month. The 2009 group will expand to 16 people, including a parent specializing in questions about Disney Cruise Line vacations.

Caldwell's tenure on the Moms Panel may be coming to an end, but not so for his love of Disney. That started at age 8 when his dad first took him to the park.

"I went back as an adult. I went again as a married couple. Then with one kid, two kids, three kids," he said. "I've had a lot of different Disney experiences."

Caldwell taps into those experiences when answering roughly 14 questions a week; the minimum requirement for panelists is eight.

He estimates that most weeks he'll spend up to 15 hours responding to queries and keeping up to date about all things Disney by listening to podcasts and going over guidebooks.

Disney treated panelists to an orientation at the resort shortly after they were chosen. Panel members also get an all-expenses paid, five-night trip to Disney World -- a reward Caldwell cashed in last month with his wife, Patty, and children Alexandra, 8; Peter, 7, and Lauren, 4.

Aside from these perks, being a panelist doesn't come with a paycheck. Caldwell's real job is partner at the sales and marketing consulting firm ZS Associates.

"Panelists aren't cast members. We're not employees of Disney," he said, "so we're unbiased and completely uncensored."

They're also semifamous pseudo-cult figures among ardent fans of the Web site. Caldwell and other panelists have been recognized on the street. Well, the streets at Disney.

"You go to the parks," he said, "and sometimes, to the right people, you're a microcelebrity."