Disney's magic well runs deep

When it comes to working with moms, Disney gets it. I mean they really really get it.

As a blogger who works with different advertisers and brands, I can say a little bit about this. I don’t have much marketing experience in my background (Political Science for the win!) so I hesitate to talk about the topic of marketing. But as a professional in this space, I can speak to what works for me as a writer.

Attending the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration was like meeting that perfect match and suddenly realizing THIS is how it should be done.

Buzz

Because we are talking about Disney World, everyone who has heard of this conference wanted to be on the list. There is an air of mystery to it. And it’s a win win for the brand. I mean they have the magic built right into the product, so it’s almost too easy. But Walt Disney can only carry you so far. The team knew that they had to work to keep the magic alive and boy did they work!

Buzz for this year’s conference started when last year’s invitations went out. While this trip is a conference, it’s also a family vacation. IN DISNEY WORLD. There are really no negatives to this situation.

Mutual Respect

We were treated with thoughtfulness and respect all weekend. From power-strip centerpieces from Rayovac to a kid-friendly buffet at each family meal, no detail was left undone. The conference speakers appealed to many different aspects of blogging from image to balance to professionalism and yes, motherhood. I related more to some speakers than others, but I learned from each and every one of them.

I was WOWED by Ramon Deleon, challenged by Peter Shankman, and inspired by Lisa Druxman to name a few. I felt respected by Disney’s passion for social media and their commitment to this group was made completely evident when Meg Crofton, President of Disney Parks and Resorts, walked onto the stage.

This event was personalized to its attendees. Not once did I feel like I was there by accident. Each event made me feel as though I was personally considered. That was amazing. And I don’t think I was the only one who felt that way. Even though the word “Moms” is in the conference title, there were a few Dad bloggers in attendance as well. I asked Digital Stir Founder, Bob Aycock to share his thoughts on being one of a few Dads at Disney among the sea of Moms. He said,

I love Disney. Everything they do. The people, the culture, the Parks, the Resorts. They know what they are doing and they do it right….I felt very included in all of the events and did not think twice about being a Dad among so many Moms. In fact, it helped me meet more of you because I was in the minority.

Disney respected each of us as individuals as well as a community. With our collective reach exceeding 15 million impressions each week, there was no question that this conference was full of influence. That said, we did pay to be in attendance, which meant we were there to learn. My fingers were flying across my keyboard for the entirety of our conference day. There was so much quality packed into our sessions that I couldn’t consume it fast enough.

Memories

Yes, Disney is in the memory-making business and they excel at it. My 3 year old played until 9pm on the Yacht Club beach during the Pirate Party on the first night, which ended with us watching the Epcot fireworks show from a nearby bridge. Celebrating family, social media and friends was indeed a magical experience that I will never forget.

We were treated to dinner and a tour of the the new Art of Animation Value Resort and my family will definitely be returning there in the future. Even down to the staff making balloon animals, we were treated like royalty. And if I do say so myself, Oscar walked away with the biggest, baddest balloon octopus I have ever seen.

Brands have been following Disney’s lead for decades and after attending this conference, I can see why. As a brand, they have found that sweet spot between advertising and sincerity that is so difficult for so many. As a blogger, I walked away feeling like I matter, like my family matters and that my readers matter. It is a great feeling that makes me want to pay it forward. And that is the definition of a great conference.

For more Disney Social Media Moms recaps, check out these posts!

I paid a conference fee to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at a deeply discounted rate. As a part of this conference, we were provided with complimentary items, special discounts and other benefits such as food and entertainment so that we could experience the magic of Walt Disney World. I was not asked to blog about my experience. All thoughts in this post are my own.