#DisneySportsFestival TEAM MOMS Make Travel a Dream Come True!

 ESPN Wide World of Sports Summer Festival!! 

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a 255-acre complex, which hosts more than 350 events and 350,000 athletes from more than 70 countries each year, is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the nation, accommodating 70 different sports. WOW!! I had no idea the Complex was that huge!!! 

  I was really excited to see on our itinerary during 2013 ESPN Wide World of Sports Summer  Festival tour that a few minutes were blocked off for a TEAM MOM Breakfast Reception.

TEAM MOM Info Session Check-In

 

 TEAM MOM Info Session in Progress!

    Being a HUGE fan of the Disney Parks Moms Panel, I knew this would be a great experience for me! I am a mom myself to three very busy kids, Lindy 13, Alyssa, 12 and Justin 10, who all play sports (Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Track Team, Flag Football and Basketball), are very competitive and love all things Disney. My three little apples didn't fall far from the tree. :)

     I was anxious to hear how the TEAM MOMS played a role in the planning process for the youth sports competitions held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.  I know alot about planning our family vacation to Disney Parks and my running vacations but what I realized during my visit to the Mom Info Session is that I don't know a whole lot when it comes to organizing and planning for an entire sports team to go to Walt Disney World!!  There are a ton of fun, tiny details that if planned ahead of time properly, can make each sports travel vacation just as magical as my own family vacation! So here we go...this Sports Mom is ready to learn!!

 I'm a Disney Parks Moms Panel Fan!

     During the runDisney Inaugural Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler Weekend last year, I was lucky enough to be chosen to attend the Disney Parks Mom Panelist luncheon at the The California Grill Restaurant where I was able to meet many of the moms (and Dads) on the Disney Parks Moms Panel, ask them questions in person about their experiences on being a member on the panel, vacation planning tips and talked about all sorts of great "Disney Mom Talk". I got a photo with one of my favorite moms, Lori, the runDisney Mom!! I've met Lori at several of the races and its always great "running in to her".
     This was such a cool experience for me because I got my first glimpse of hearing some of the Moms' personal stories to go along with the answers to my many questions about planning that magical vacation!

 Lori is just as sweet in person as she is in all of her videos and online answers. :)

So what exactly IS a TEAM MOM at ESPN Wide Word of Sports Complex???

     The TEAM MOM is the Ultimate Travel Planner, Key Influencer and Decision Maker in the sports travel experience here at ESPN Wide World of Sports and Walt Disney World. I think most families are like mine...I'm the planner, Dad is the Coach.

     The Disney Parks Moms Panel currently has two moms Audra A.  and Angie G.  specializing in answering questions for TEAM MOMS and Coaches to make their youth sports travel easier. The Moms Panel is an excellent resource to receive answers and planning tips regarding all aspects of your Disney Parks Vacation.   Head over to www.DisneyParksMomsPanel.com to ask these ladies (and gentlemen) tips on pre-planning your next trip to Walt Disney World and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex!

     Audra was on hand inside the TEAM MOM Info Session Tent to answer all of the questions for the Team Mom, Parents and Coaches.  We got to sit in for a few minutes and see her in action!

Audra from the Disney Parks Mom Panel giving advice and tips on planning
your next Team trip to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Time for a photo with the ESPN Mom!!

Now hands on the hips! Striking a pose!!

     I have to say that even though my kids play sports and I've always been the "Team Mom" for my kids' ball teams at home, there are SO many things that I learned through this info session about planning a youth sporting event at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The amenities at the ESPNWWOS are fabulous!!

 The Welcome Center located between Jostens Center and HP Field House offers TEAM MOMS a place to ask questions
and gather useful information to aid in a successful team experience at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Guests can purchase tickets, make dining reservations and more!

Fundraising assistance

• Dream Team Donation Program-Disney is giving teams the opportunity to raffle off a Disney Vacation as well as keeping 75% of proceeds from raffle ticket sales.
• Teams have the opportunity to sell ESPN magazine subscriptions and keep 75% o all profits.
• Disney facilitated a program with Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Alamo Rent a Car which allows a team to earn fundraising dollars by gaining 5% of every rental car purchase through the team's fundraiser site.

Itinerary

• Disney offers a sport concierge service where Disney will schedule every team's entire trip down to the last detail. (Including competing against visiting teams, team bonding exercises, food delivery and community outreach)

Food

• Disney offers high quality boxed lunches, bulk pizza, group snacks and stocked coolers to be delivered to coaches, athletes and parents at the team's competition venue.  In addition, Disney facilitates group dining reservations based on the team's schedule through the ESPN Wide World of Sports Welcome Center on-site at the Complex. 
• Concessions are available throughout the Complex for fans, families and athletes.

Concession Stands

 Concession Menu Options.

Photo

• Disney has a team of photographers who will take pictures of athletes during games for parents and coaches to take back home with them.  Also, they can watch game day highlights from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Channel 25 from the comfort of their Walt Disney World Resort hotel room and some games are broadcast live on ESPN3.com. (A Key advantage to staying on property).

• 

  Broadcasting live at ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex.
• Gameday Photo Experience-View your Gameday photos and create custom photo keepsakes including posters and covers of ESPN The Magazine.

View your Gameday Photos here!

 Complimentary Transportation

• Disney offers free transportation from the airport to all Disney hotels as well as chartered bus service from selected Disney hotels saving parents and coaches the time and hassle of renting cars and traffic.

 Disney's newest value Resort, Art of Animation, offers amenities and family suites based on a family-friendly budget that
can accommodate large groups specifically like those that would be competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

On-Site Athletic Trainers

• Disney certified athletic trainers on site to attend to all athletes needs saving parents the time and effort of going to see an athletic trainer away from the competition.

Equipment Drop-off

• Coaches can drop off their team's equipment at the front of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and it will be delivered to team's field of play.

 Bag Drop off at the front entrance at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Office Max Business Center

• For busy parents and coaches who need to keep up with their careers while away watching their kid's compete at the complex.
• Charging stations available for the busy mom.
• Cheer card supplies available to make cheer cards for the youth athletes.
• Moms are able to plan, organize, recharge in the Office Max Business Center.

Office Max offer Charging Station lockers in the Office Max Business Center.
How Cool is that???

 Charging outlets, Cheer Card Supplies.

Little Champion Program

• Disney provides activities for younger siblings, freeing parents and coaches up so they can stay focused on the competition. 

Plenty of activities for siblings and families to enjoy in between game times.

 

Activities for the entire family.

 Tina and Carissa from runDisney and Disney Sports giving us all kinds of information about the roles
that the TEAM MOMS play in planning the activities for the teams here at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

     There were lots of fun activities going on inside of the TEAM MOM Info Session Tent! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Audra from the Disney Parks Moms Panel, speaking with Tina and Carissa from runDisney, seeing the Office Max Charging Station, meeting the Cabot Cheese Fit Team and of course getting lots of pictures!!

 #DisneySportsFestival Photo time!!

 Two of the coolest Moms I know!
Amanda and Carrie

 Cabot Creamery Cooperative is an official sponsor of the Team Mom Info Session and the
ESPN Wide World of Sports Summer Festival.
Free Food, giveaways and prizes at this reception planned especially for the team parent at the Festival Center.

 The Cabot Cheese Fit Team ladies...I made a deal with them that I WILL
run a race with the Cabot Cheese Cow one day! :)

 Time for another photo shoot with blogger extraordinaire, Amanda and former Disney Parks Moms Panelist, Carrie!

**For more information on the amenities offered at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex visit www.espnwwos.com.
**Submit your questions regarding Walt Disney World vacation pre-planning experience to AudraA, AngieG. and Lori.  www.disneyparksmomspanel.com.

**Be sure to follow along with all of the latest information on #DisneySportsFestival
Twitter @DisneySports  @CabotCoop @runDisney

**More pics from my day around Magic Kingdom in my Moms Panel Fan t-shirt.  :)

     I hope you enjoyed learning about the Disney Moms Panel and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as much as I did! I'm hoping for an opportunity now for one of my children to be able to compete at the Complex so I will be able to be the TEAM MOM and make our Team Travel a Dream Come True!!