I just heard about this recently, and I would like to apply for the 2018 panel. I was reading the requirements, and one of the requirements stated that you have to have been to WDW at least once in the past 12 months. My last visit to WDW was in March of 2016, and I will be going to WDW at the end of October this year, and the training for the panel would start at the end of November-is it 12 months before training, 12 months before the start of 2018, or 12 months before the application date? I would like to apply, but if I am disqualified immediately due to the 12 month visit requirement, I'm wondering if I should bother.