Guest of Honor Badge vs. Safety?

[momemouse]

I am considering a Guest of Honor Badge for my 3 year old DD (she will delight in the extra attention) but am concerned about having her name on her clothing for any stranger to read. Am I being over-protective? What has been your experience?

[ceecee]

I too, am concerned about this. You would like to believe everything is safe at Disney, but there are bad people everywhere I suppose. We got notes from school saying not to personlize backpack, coats etc. if kids are walking to school. We live in what I would consider a safe upper middle class area, I guess no where is immune. We've just about decided not to do the GOH badges with my 5 year old. She knows what strangers are, but fears no one. Maybe in a few years we'll try.

[imgoingtodisney]

I had the same thought for my 9yr old. However, I bought 4 of them this year - MIL, husband, 9yr son and myself. I figure he's old enough now. I dont think I would have done them at age 4 when we were last there in 1996.

[MGMarco]

What locations have the GOH badges , are they made to order or is there a rack of
names?

[i12go2wdw]

I think the GOH badges would be safe as I am sure you will never let your child out of your sight. I think the "no labeled clothes" are more for when your child is away from you ie. walking to school, waiting at a bus stop, etc. where a stranger could come up and say "Sue, I am a friend of your Moms and she asked me to pick you up" If someone in your neighbourhood knows your child's name they figure they are friends. Tell your child you know no one in Florida and keep our eye on them. Have fun and if you ever feel nervous take the badges off.

[ABCMom]

I had GOH badges made for my kids (ordered them from Jane at Gifts of a Lifetime) last Christmas. They are ages 2,4 and 6. But they were never out of my (or other family members) sight, so I wasn't worried about security. I DO understand the concearn, however, and would have felt differently had they been able to go off on their own.

[pooh2001]

I would not want to use my DS & DD names on the GOH badges.
What about Tigger & Eyore ?
That's about my kids personalities - even though my DS would rather be Alladin or Buzz
than Eyore.

I went to a shop (where they make them ???) - could we get a non-standard name
engraved ?

Thanks ! :)

[robinb]

Mommemouse:

I understand how some parents are hesitant to put their kids' names on things, but I do think it's overprotective. My 2 year old has a badge along with my DH and myself. The CMs really like to use your name when speaking to you ... it's fun all around. I think that there is a small safety issue since there are perverts everywhere there are kids :(, but I assume that your 3 year old will not be out of your sight.

[ABCMom]

They are pretty big sticklers on what they will let you put on the tags. Not positive, but I do not believe that you can have character names put on the tags. I have heard people say that there were even some actual names that they wouldn't engrave on them (Gay is the one that comes to mind.)

[mktiggerman]

Only proper names and derivatives can be carved.. although I have a tigger GOH badge w/ tigger on it.. but that's cuz It wasn't engraved @ WDW(i bought the blank badge and had my friend engrave it for me). Looks the same though.

[sogger1]

You could compromise and just wear them to a character meal or to an activity like the Tea Party.

[imgoingtodisney]

Im not concerned about my 9yr having his name on his Guest of Honor badge. I am extremely worried about flying on the plane with him in 3 weeks.

[robinb]

I am extremely worried about flying on the plane with him in 3 weeks.


So you've said, multiple times on multiple boards. It sounds like you are truly frightened to fly. IIRC, you were frightened before yesterday's attack. There is no reason for you to let this this eat you up anymore than it already has. I believe that airlines are allowing passengers to cancel flights at no penalty. I would suggest that you cancel your flight and possibly your whole vacation. Other modes of transportation will take longer, but you could also drive, take the bus or even the train.

Take a deep breath. You'll be OK. {{hug}}

[lindaso]

I'm glad to see this post here as I've been thinking the same exact thing. My kids will be 4 and almost 2 and while we are going to watch them like hawks, you just never know. Park days are long and they won't be willing to sit in a stroller all day long...I've read enough stories here about losing kids. I think wearing it at a character meal is a good compromise but I could see my DD giving me grief over taking it off so I think I'll wait till they're older. Just glad to see I'm not the only one!!

[GlennandAnn]

Can someone tell me where and how to get a GOH badge for my DS?!

[vicb]

giftsofalifetime.com is where I ordered mine from. I plan to put them in goodie bags I'll give on the airplane in Feb. I am not concerned about the security issue with their names on the badges, my children know not to go with anyone besides us in a place like that nor will they be left alone at any time. But each family should do what they are comfortable with, I can respect people's concerns!:sunny:

[GlennandAnn]

Thanks Vicb. I'm not concerned about my son's safety either. He's only 21/2 ane won't ever be out of our sight.

[Pete's Mom]

Paid $ 7.50/EA for them and about $ 8.00 for shipping. They cost $ 5.00 at the park. Would have saved about $ 13.00 if I'd waited but we wanted them now! :p

So far as worrying about some stanger finding out his name, they only put your first name on it, and let's face it people, all someone would have to do is follow or stand around you for 5 minutes and they would over hear your names several times. :rolleyes:

My son is never out of my sight or reach. Would that other parents exercise the same caution. I won't even go into the number of children I see rambling along with little or no parental supervision. Breaks my heart sometimes. :mad:

[Bryn]

What is the benefit of having these badges? Is it to make the kids feel special and so that CMs will use their names? Or are there other things?

[BethR]

Hi Bryn!

There are no benefits that you are ENTITLED to by purchasing and/or wearing the Guest of Honor badges. It just makes you (kids and adults alike) more like the cast members since the badges are very much like their name tags.
It is just a cute, relatively inexpensive keepsake from WDW.
Hope that this helps. :)

[LMHB]

Oh, my! I had been thinking the EXACT thing about my 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 year olds! No, I don't think you are being overprotective at ALL. It is a very real concern. I am so glad I am not alone! Even with your children "not out of your sight," we all know that a child of this age can take off in an instant. I watch my kids like a hawk and twice in his 3 1/2 years my son has disappeared from me momentarily. That is a terrifying experience, and it only takes once. Anyway, I am also concerned about the pins in the badges, mine are always running around, and it would be just like my older son to trip over his too-big feet and fall on that pin. Now, how is THAT for worrying about the possibilities?!! LOL Best of luck with your decision, I still haven't completely decided yet.

[Pete's Mom]

Got our Disney Catalog in the mall today and it had a sneak peek section for Christmas. They had the Personalized Mickey Santa Hats inside for $ 12.00 (they are regular Santa hats, but with Mickey ears too!). We had planned on buying these at MVMCP, so I went ahead and bought them today online! Saved 20% on them with the Book of Pooh coupon so they came to $ 9.60 each! :D

http://disney.store.go.com/DSSectionPage.process?Merchant_Id=2&Section_Id=11833&Product_Id=81228

Oh, yeah, got 'em personalized too. Guess it is easier for me to keep up with him since it is just the two of us, plus he is almost 5 and he has been taught all about strangers (we took a wonderful course our local police station held).

LMHB & Mommemouse, have you thought about a code word to use with your kids? We have one that we use and he knows that unless someone gives him that code word then they are strangers (regardless of who they are or what they say) and not from Mommie. Just a thought! ;) ;)

[BethR]

Great idea, Pete's Mom, about the code word. We have used this policy (never needed, of course) with our daughters since our oldest was about 5 - 16 years now!!! :eek:
About the pins on the Guest of Honor badges, they are safety pins, LMHB - almost NO chance of anyone running and getting poked with the pin!
Hope that this helps! :)

[Pete's Mom]

about two 8 year old boys who wandered off while hiking with their parents.

Their code word was "Butt Wipe". What was so funny was that the search crew and park rangers were stomping through the woods yelling, "BUTT WIPE" over and over and over. Said they got some funny looks from others on the trail.

They found them after about 2 hours. They were back down in the play area, said they got tired of hiking and came back to play. :rolleyes:

[BethR]

:D Pete's Mom!

Caution to All Others : Try NOT to choose BUTT WIPE as your code word. It COULD come back to haunt you! :D

[samoyed]

I have had a GOH badge for my DD for over a year now. We have visited the park three times since the purchase. She is now 3 1/2 years old. Now that she talks a mile a minute, she doesn't even need a name tag. The first thing she says to people is "Hi my name is ___, what's yours". My daughter was never out of my sight for a minute. I even took the advise of a previous post on losing children and had my daughter's information (name, where we are staying, cell phone number etc), on a luggage tage I attached to her clothing. Ariel thought that was a great idea as did some of the other princesses. Many autographs in her book are made out to her, love <character name>.

I am a very nervous, over protective mother, with a very active DD but I feel safe in Disney wearing a name tag.

[Barbruka]

Guest of Honor name tags are the greatest!!!!!!! We just returned Sunday night late (9-30), and we loved wearing them. Cast members called us by our first names, and the characters loved knowing them for signing their autograph books. At the Kidcot stations at Epcot, they were perfect for the cast members when signing their passports. We definitely got extra attention by wearing them. Even my dh never took his off! They were great!

[Dad of 5]

In addition to getting them through www.giftsofalifetime.com, you can order them directly from WDW Mail Order.

Limitation on ordering from WDW is that you're limited to "ready made" names and stock on hand. You'll have to check first to see what they have, and don't be surprised at the omissions - SAMUEL ? CAROLINE? TRACY?

WDW Mail Order - $5 each, but no personalization
Giftsofalifetime.com - $7.50, but can personalize

I had to get 3 at one, and 4 from the other!

[vicb]

I've seen posts before that mention WDW mail order... exactly how do you do that? Is there a website or a phone number? I am assuming this is different from the Disney Store.

[Dad of 5]

You can contact WDW Mail Order to get info and to order merchandise available only in the parks and in the resorts. The CMs I talked with were extremely helpful, will take all the time you need, and can be fairly chatty <g>.

Call: 407-363-6200
Fax: 407-352-6369
Email: wdw.mail.order@disney.com

In any case, just start describing what you're looking for (narrowly or broadly). They apparently have a great computer system that lets them search for items throughout all the various merchandise locations in all the parks, and can even tell the quantities available.

As a testimonial, we were looking for some sort of pre-trip "prize" for our 15-yr-old son, and thought about a cap, maybe with a Test Track theme. This CM looked through her system, found a couple of options, and let me know a part number. The next day when I called to place the order, I was told it was discontinued. That CM then called the store outside of Test Track, and asked someone there to pull a cap off the rack and hold it for their runner to pick up.

A little Disney magic once again.

[ABCMom]

Just another thought...

My kids wore their badges on their pin lanyards. This also helped eliminate fights over who's was who's as they had many of the same pins.

[ktkcsmom]

I hadn't even heard about the badges so I didn't have that concern. We were just worried the kids would get out of our site for even 1 second. They are too old for those hand-holder leash things.

We got the planning videos and have pointed out park workers. We have spent a lot of time telling them not to talk to anyone who doesn't work at the park if we aren't with them. They know if they can't find us they are to go to the nearest shop, rest., attraction, etc and find a park worker.

[Jane and the Pixies]

Originally posted by GlennandAnn
Can someone tell me where and how to get a GOH badge for my DS?!

You can either buy them at the Five and Dime in MGM, the Toy Tower at the DVMP or by
going to http://www.giftsofalifetime.com/shopping.html

[B3LM]

I have to admit that when I first heard about the GOH badges, my first thought was about safety. As parents, we've always been told that you should not display the child's name. In fact, when we went on school field trips, each child was given a badge so that it identified them as part of the school group, but they only had numbers on them.

JMHO
Beth