Savvy mom helps others

Maranich, a 30-year-old mother of four and a freelance writer, was chosen from 10,000 applicants to be part of the new Walt Disney World Moms Panel, according to a media release. She is the only Arizona resident on the 12-member online panel.

The group, which was launched in early January, is made up of 11 mothers and one father. They come from across the United States, and there's one Canadian in the bunch.

Maranich's writing skills were among the factors that made her stand out in the application process, said Leanne Jakubowski, public-relations planning director for Walt Disney World.

Two of the three rounds in the application process were writing-based. The last round consisted of phone interviews.

Other factors included Maranich's experience with special-needs travelers and in helping others plan trips, Jakubowski said.

"We wanted people who want to help others," she said.

Maranich and the other selected panelists answer questions submitted to the online forum on a Web site, www.disneyworldmoms.com. People can ask questions after they've registered online for free.

"We're very excited by the response we're seeing by the public," Jakubowski said. People have asked about 3,000 questions so far.

As a panelist, Maranich is required to answer eight questions a week, but she usually answers more because she likes doing it so much, she said. She estimated that she spends six to eight hours a week working on the forum.

The panelists have been very enthusiastic, Jakubowski said.

Walt Disney World screens their responses for foul language, spelling and grammar, but not for misinformation, she said.

"We rely on the panelists to screen themselves," she said. "We don't do any policing of the site."

Maranich and the other panelists are committed to be on the panel for six months, Jakubowski said. In return, each panelist receives an all-expense paid, five-night, six-day trip for herself (or himself) and as many as three other people to Walt Disney World, which is near Orlando, Fla.

Maranich's family plans to go in September.

At the end of the six months, both Disney World and the panelists have the option of renewing the contract.

Here's what Maranich had to say about Disney World and her new gig in a recent interview.

Were you always a big Disney World fan, even as a kid?

"Not Disney World, when I was a kid. I grew up in Southern California, and so I spent a lot of time at Disneyland as a child. Then, when my husband was stationed in Georgia (in 2001), we had the opportunity to go to Disney World for the first time, and I was sort of hooked on it from there."

How often do you go to Disney World now?

"We went in 2001, and we didn't get to go back until 2005. Total, I've been six times. We hope to be able to go every year from here on out. We're going twice this year."

What would you say has been your biggest surprise doing the panel? Is there anything you've learned?

"My biggest surprise is that I thought I knew everything there was to know about Disney World. … Some of the questions that people have asked I've had to really research to try and find the answer."

What is the most popular question?

"We get a lot of birthday questions, like: 'We're celebrating a birthday here. What should we do?' We get a ton of those," Maranich said. She estimates that the panel gets those questions four or five times a day.

Trip planning for families with special-needs children:

Maranich said questions about special needs come up often.

She wrote about own her 8-year-old daughter with Down syndrome in her biography, which is posted on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel Web site. That prompted a mother who has a 6-year-old with Down syndrome to ask her for trip-planning tips through the forum.

Maranich said that when she brought her own daughter to Disney World, she brought a package of disposable earplugs because her daughter doesn't tolerate loud noises. She also requested a room close to the food court and pool, so her daughter wouldn't have to walk as far.

What has your experience as a mom taught you about Disney World? You went as a kid to Disneyland. Is there anything you see differently now as a mother?

"I think that the magic that my children experience is more important to me now than my own time over there."

Maranich has three daughters — ages 8, 10 and 13 — and an 18-month-old son. Her husband, Jeff Maranich, is a rocket scientist at Raytheon Missile Systems.

Go online to ask the expert a question

Vail resident Darcie Maranich is on the new Walt Disney World Moms Panel, an online group of 12 parents from across the United States and from Canada.

Do you have a question for Maranich or one of the other panelists?

Submit it online and read other advice at www.disneyworldmoms. com.

Here are some of Maranich's tips for Walt Disney World first-timers:

• Research the time of year you want to go. Disney World has special events, such as "Star Wars" Weekends in June.

• Get some advice from people who have visited Disney World.

• Don't try to see everything. Make sure you leave some downtime.

Here are some of Maranich's not-to-be-missed attractions for people who can go to Disney World for only one day:

• The Magic Kingdom theme park.

• The Fantasmic show.

• The Expedition Everest roller coaster.

• Dining at the themed restaurants, such as the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.

Maranich's tips for parents planning a family vacation anywhere:

• Definitely budget.

• When you're drawing up souvenir budgets for kids, give them that money ahead of time. That way, it teaches them money-management skills.

• Give kids disposable cameras. They'll have some nice souvenirs, and snapping pictures will keep them busy during the trip.