Meet the Team

The Disney Gal family is made up of moms, dads, gals and guys who believe that life is an adventure waiting to be lived and experienced first hand. With a passion for family, children, travel, food, DYI, health and fitness and of course all things Disney, they have come together to help share their stories with the hope of inspiring you to create stories and adventures of your own. 

Meet The Team:

Gayle Turner Gayle is a lifelong educator by day and avid freelance writer by night Mom to 5, Grammy to 4 she is blessed to share her life with amazing family and friends who encourage her to chase her dreams no matter where they may lead.  When not in the classroom, she can be found following her son as he dances his way through life, or working with young performers in free nationally recognized after school children’s theater program that she founded 13 years ago. To learn more about Gayle, click here.

Dawn Gosdin 

Dawn is a self-professed Disney Dork. Full of Southern Charm, Dawn is married to her best friend Ryan and is mom of two 

teenagers who keep her on her toes. An avid writer of both fiction and non-fiction, Dawn is the happiest when she is enjoying anything outdoors with the family or traveling, especially when her destination happens to be Disney.  Until recently, Dawn helped families make their Disney vacation dreams come true as a Travel Agent with Destinations In Florida.  To learn more about Dawn, click here

Lottie Ferguson  Is our resident  “crunchy mom”. Married to husband Kyle, who as luck would have it, is just as much of a Disney fan as she is, this busy mom is back in school completing her degree while at the same time raising two little princesses with another little Mouseketeer on the way. She has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to traveling with babies and little ones as well as how to handle restricted diets while on the road,  Lottie shares a passion of giving back to the community serving on several boards including the Boys and Girls Club in her community. To learn more about Lottie click here.  

Cheryl Giardi   Meet our East Coast educator, pirate fanatic and stretching the dollar expert.  Cheryl's first trip to Walt Disney World came in 1976 and she was "hooked" at first site.  Located in Cape Cod, MA, Cheryl's crew includes her co captain and two buccaneers.  To learn more about navigating your way through Walt Disney World, or to find out more about Cheryl, click here

Robert “Bob” Eckman Meet Robert “Hit It Bob” Eckman, accomplished musician, currently retired from the 8-5 every day world so that he can pursue his musical dreams. After 20 years as a professional college book store manager, Bob, also known as the “keyboard player’s keyboardist” has a gift of music that he openingly shares both playing professionally with many a band as well as serving as the musical director for many local theater productions.  A self-proclaimed comic book fan and science fiction geek, Bob didn’t catch the Disney bug until 10 years ago. It just shows you’re never too late to develop a love of Disney. To read more about Bob click here.

Tamela Hansen  Enjoying the small town life on the Gulf Shore of Alabama, Tamela  has been married to her Prince Charming for over sixteen years.  Mom of two children, Tamela is happiest when planning or taking her next Disney adventure.  Living life with an immune disorder has not dampened her spirit and she is happiest when helping others plan their next magical vacation.  To learn more about Tamela click here.

Bob Aycock Bob is that friend that everyone wishes they had in their lives. Married to his best friend Jennifer, father to 3 with a 4^th almost here, Bob is living his dream working in the field of education of a website coordinator and serving as a dad on of this year’s Disney Parks Mom’s Panel, showing everyone never to give up on your dreams. To read more about Bob, click here 

Ellen M. Cusack -  Ellen M. Cusack is from Point Pleasant N.J. a small beach community. She's   been married 21 years to her High School sweetheart and best friend.

She is the mother to  two very active teenage boys that take surfing to the next great wave break, keep things exciting on the soccer field and swim on the Varsity Swim Team at school.

Ellen is a true believer in Faith first, Trust and lots of Pixie Dust and loves everything Disney 365! Disney runs through her veins and she can’t wait to plan her next adventure whether it be to Walt Disney World or sailing the Caribbean Sea on the Disney Dream! To learn more about Ellen click here

Jill Whitley - Jill Whitley is a sugar-free, cupcake-burning, minivan-driving, Disney-loving grant writer from Atlanta, Georgia. When she’s not planning her next vacation, Jill volunteers as a CASA for her local family court system, and is working on her MPA at Jacksonville State University. With help from her husband Pablo, a Broadcast Coordinator for a 24-hour news network, she tries, and often fails, to wrangle Henry, her seven year-old son, and Amelia, her one year-old daughter.