A first-time Disney cruiser wondered about needing a bed rail for her 3-year-old son. Should the mother carry a portable railing from home or would one be available after she arrived on the ship?

Wanting to be prepared, the mother sent her question to a Walt Disney “moms panel.”

And quickly had her answer.

“There are bed rails available on the ship and requesting one for your child’s bed is the easiest thing to do,” Marcy Galloway wrote back on the online forum. “No having to travel with your own and you can be sure that the provided rails fit the bed perfectly. Your stateroom host or hostess will come and set that up for you, even if you decide a few days into the cruise that you need one.”

As a Disney Cruise Line Specialist on the Disney panel, Marcy shares cruising tips and answers questions from would-be cruisers in an online forum. Sort of like asking a well-traveled friend some of the questions you have about a cruise. And receiving honest helpful answers.

So how did the Cincinnati mother end up with such a fun and fascinating job? I sat down with Marcy to hear her interesting story.

Now in its sixth year, the panel consists of moms (and a few dads, too) who draw on their real-world experiences with Disney to answer questions. Panelists also can be grandparents, guardians, aunts and uncles. Each year, Disney accepts 14,000 applicants.

“You fill out a form online,” Marcy says. “Then you submit a video and answer five essay questions… The third level of the process is a phone interview.”

Of the 14,000 applicants, only 19 were picked for 2013. The new panelists were then sent to World Disney World Resort for a training session. Panelists are not Disney employees and are not paid for their stint but do receive Disney trips for them and their families.

“Disney takes very good care of us,” Marcy says.  “This is my first year on the panel and I have a one-year contract. Typically, you do it for two years. Then you have to take a hiatus. You can’t do it for three years in a row.”

After a hiatus, however, a former panelist can apply to come back as an alumni. Since 2008, the panel has grown from just 12 members to 47 panelists. This year, the panel also got a new name – Disney Parks Moms Panel – to more accurately reflect all the Disney ground it covers.

“It’s a great opportunity and I love it,” Marcy says. “In my opinion, a good trip is all about the planning … On the panel, we answer questions from people to help them plan a better trip.”

Growing up in Ohio, Marcy says she never cruised until she was in her 30s. “My first experience with Disney Cruise Line was seeing the Disney Wonder sail past as I was onboard another cruise line,” she says. ‘My daughter – who was 2 at the time (she is now 6) – turned to me and said, ‘Mommy, I want to cruise with Mickey Mouse.’”

After seeing how magical a Disney cruise can be, Marcy says, “DCL has been the only cruise line for us.”

A stay-at-home mom, Marcy says she knows how to economize in order to find money in the family budget to travel And she is happy to share those tips in the panel forum. “I’ve learned the best ways to make the most of our Disney dollars.”

Check out the panel at http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com

By Jackie Sheckler Finch