Dumbo the Flying Elephant & the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

Day 3 of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration (#DisneySMMC) had us up at dawn for a very special experience. Not being a morning person, you KNOW it had to be something sweet to get my booty out of bed! So in advance of the conference, we received an email asking if we would be interested in signing up for ride mount filming opportunities on one of the following attractions: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, or Dumbo the Flying Elephant. #nomenclature 😉 After considering the options, I selected Dumbo for our family.

The Ride Mount Filming:

Given that I have a teen and a tween, you would think they might think Dumbo to be a bit beyond them, right? But quite the contrary. Dumbo is a beloved attraction that we look forward to every vacation, especially with the New Fantasyland enhancements gave us not just one but TWO sets of rotating elephants.

We also could film an introduction that captures our Disney Social Media Moms experience and shares about our blogs. Clearly , these were unscripted and totally off the cuff–I walked up and filmed mine without waiting and you can tell! So here’s my video along with our Dumbo ride:

 

 

Choosing Dumbo was a no brainer

Dumbo holds a special place in my heart. It’s the attraction that really tugs at my heartstrings. Maybe it’s because I love the relationship between Dumbo and his mama, Mrs. Jumbo. And that song “Baby Mine” KILLS me! Dumbo makes me think of motherhood so much! I look back on all the Dumbo photos over the years and I can’t help but get all misty. It’s like a virtual measuring stick to watch your kids grow on your Disney vacations, especially when you see the progression in pictures:

for her

and him

“Believe and Soar”

Dumbo to me epitomizes the optimism and perserverence that is required for your goals and dreams. For years, I have been applying to become part of the Disney Parks Moms Panel. While my desired outcome has not happened, the whole Moms Panel process has given me lifelong friendships with a wonderful group of women and men who are as passionate about Disney as I am. And our gang keeps growing! During one of our many girls’ trips (actually the inaugural one where many of us met face to face for the first time), we adopted “Believe and Soar” as our offical motto (what’s a motto with you?!) This phrase sums it all up: keep hope, optimism, and faith alive. that Like Walt Disney said,

I see being invited to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration as the ultimate proof of “Believe and Soar.” I kept working on my blog, stayed active in social media, read and wrote lots, and just kept doing what felt natural to me. I had to BELIEVE in myself before I could SOAR. Hokey? Maybe. But that’s just me, so I ran with flew with it! For a Disney FAN-atic like myself (and many of my fellow attendees), going to Disney Social Media Moms Celebration was an ultimate high, one that I am still riding. I am grateful and appreciative for the opportunity, but I have to see myself as worthy of being in that atmosphere with my fellow bloggers. How does the song “When I see an Elephant Fly” go?

“But I’d be done see’n
About everything
When I see an elephant fly”

A few years ago, my attending Disney Social Media Moms Celebration would have been about as likely as an elephant flying. But eventually, Dumbo (and I) did. Don’t stop believin’, friends.

Hey, guess what? This was only one small part of the adventures from Day 3, so stay tuned!

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Disney provided my family and me with discounted conference admission, tickets, and lodging.  Disney and the conference sponsors also provided me with additional gifts during the event.  But you can count on my opinions being just that-MINE and I will be entirely honest-Scout’s honor!