Nancy M, Utah
- 2/15/2017
About Me
I grew up in Northern California, lived in Atlanta for 15 years, and now call Utah my home. I am a published author, an obsessive reader, and can whip up Sunday dinner for 25 like nobody's business. I am known by those who know me best as an eternal optimist because I have learned that life is much too short to be anything but happy. I can go full speed through the day on 4 hours of sleep and my greatest joy lies in finding ways to make other's lives better. My greatest claim to fame is my 8 wonderful children and their beautiful families and my mind is always focused on creating experiences for us to share as a family. In other words, I am always in Disney planning mode. It is not unusual for me to walk in the door from a family trip to Walt Disney World and immediately book flights and hotels for our next trip back. I just can't get enough! As a family we have made thousands and thousands of precious memories through the years at Walt Disney World and I have planned trips from many different perspectives: everything from traveling with small children, teenagers, and adult children to experiencing Walt Disney World with a special needs child and grandparents. I have learned so many things through the years and I'm so excited to share my ideas and tips with you! I am thrilled to add joining the Disney Parks Mom's Panel to the list of amazing experiences I have been blessed with in my life. I can't wait to hear all about your plans for your magical Disney experiences and, most of all, for you to share special moments with your family at Walt Disney World like I have with mine.
About My Family
My family is my world. My husband and I have been blessed with 8 incredible children (7 sons and 1 daughter), 5 beautiful daughters-in-law and 9 grandchildren (and counting!) Life in the world of a large family is filled with excitement, loads of fun, and lots and lots of love. Our children were born and raised on Disney magic--sprinkled with pixie dust almost the moment they entered the world. They rode it's a small world before they could walk, danced and sang to Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid before they could talk, and loved Mickey waffles before they were even old enough for food. As a family we have spent more time, walked more miles, and consumed more calories within the borders of Walt Disney World than any other vacation spot on earth--and we have loved every single minute of it! Disney is in our blood. And not only in our blood--it's in our DNA. To us, Walt Disney world isn't just a place to have fun (although it is that!) It is a place where we go to get away from the distractions of everyday life and build memories that are deep enough to last a lifetime and strong enough to reach generations yet to come. It warms our hearts to watch our children as they are now building warm and wonderful memories with their own children in this magical place. For this big, crazy family of ours, Walt Disney World has become a multi-generational experience where we can find something that every single family member loves--from my husband and I to our adult children to our special needs son and our youngest grandchildren. Our shared Disney experiences are woven into the fabric of our family and our lives.
About My Disney Experience
My first trip to a Disney park was in 1965. I can still remember the complete awe I felt when I saw the twirling dolls of it's a small world. I could not believe my eyes! I had never heard the word animatronics and certainly, as an 8 year old girls in the 60's, wouldn't have known what that word meant even if I had. So in my mind there was only one explanation for how dolls could sing and dance: MAGIC! That was the beginning of my love affair with everything Disney. It was that magic that hooked me and kept me coming back for more. And more. And more. My children were all born in Atlanta so Walt Disney World became our Disney Park of choice. We have visited at least once a year--sometimes twice or three times--every year for the past 30+ years and are as familiar with it as we are an old friend. As a matter of fact, it feels like part of the family! We love everything about it--every park, every attraction, every parade and fireworks show. When an attraction is changed, we mourn the old one and celebrate the new one. We are thrilled when new additions are made and watch with great anticipation for exciting things yet to come. Through the years I have planned more Walt Disney World vacations than I can count--resorts, meals, FastPass+ schedules, attractions, entertainment, and much more. No matter how many visits we make, no matter how many times we are there, we are always counting the days until we can go again. I have come to Walt Disney World through all of the different phases of my life: as a child, a college student, a young mother, and now as the parent of adult children and a grandparent. And through it all, I have come to realize what it is that keeps us coming back. It is the feeling we have when we are there--the feeling of being in a place we love with the people we love...THAT is the real magic of Walt Disney World!