A message to all parents bringing their kids to disneyland

[DLcastmbr]

Please please please let your children know that us cast members wearing the golden name tags are okay to talk to. I know theres a big do not talk to strangers push and i am definantly for that but when i have to follow a 5 year old who lost his parents for a half hour thinking im a bad guy so i can protect him from bad guys. Whenever I take my little cousin to disneyland i always tell her if we get lost dont talk to anyone unless they have a gold name tag on they have the magic ability to find me (she is 6 so she believes me its cute :0) Also a very helpful tip: when you come into the park designate a meeting area in case you get lost like walts statue, city hall, or the castle. Just some friendly words. It really hurts me inside when children may think im a bad guy

 

[MichelleChell]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Ilkley Moor]

Very good point - and well made. Even though my kids are older (9 & 11) the "gold badge" tip if they get lost is really useful. Thanks.

 

[Lindy Loo]

Great idea, I love the gold badge idea. will explain to my DD (4) THANKS !

 

[ariel75]

thanks for the tip me and my son are going in jan 2007 so i'm pleased to know that there are staff on hand to help the little guy out if things go wrong but hopefully we won't need to use people like yourself but it is good to know that you're there!

 

[Naisy68]

We always point out who our DD can go to IF we were to get separated, heaven forbid! We usually go to WDW vs. Disneyland (no offense!) Is there a difference between a castmember wearing a gold badge and other badge wearing castmembers?

 

[DLcastmbr]

Well come september i do believe all our badges will look the same WDW and DL for the "year of a million dreams" celebration. So instead of gold badge tell them to look for a person with their name and city on their badge or a badge witha castle in the clouds picture, or anyone in a disney costume for that matter. Everyone of us cast mbrs are trained in what to do if their is a lost child

 

[suffolkprincess]

we always make a point of showing DD3 what the CM's/employee's nametags look like when we go places like WDW or Busch Gardens.

We have also trained her that Mommies with strollers can help her, too.

Last week at Busch Gardens Europe, a little girl about 6 approached DD3 and I in the ladies' room because she was scared to be alone, but she was at the park with her daddy. She told me her Mommy had told her if she ever got lost or scared to find another Mommy to help her. So, I hung out by her stall and then helped her with handwashing and escorted her out. Her Dad was really grateful and I felt for the guy-- alone at a theme park with that little girl and an even smaller boy-- tough to handle things like bathrooms! Anyway-- it was a great thing for my DD3 to see because she now knows what I mean when I tell her to get a Mommy to help her.

Too bad Busch Gardens Europe doesn't have "family" restrooms so that Dads can take their daughters.

 

[mjantz]

We took our kids to DL when DS was 5YO. I made a point of pointing out the badge to him & saying 'You go to someone with one of those name tags if you get lost.' The gal at the ticket counter held it out away from her shirt & said 'See, this is what we all wear & you can go to any of us if you get lost'.

 

[mdinecola]

I have always told them that if they get lost anywhere, anytime to find a mommy because mommys always know what to do and I feel a lot more comfortable (no offense, guys) with my lost child approaching a female. I guess most women just have that instinct. My sons know that even if there are police around, mommys are who they need to look for. My brother in law is a state trooper and he agrees with me on this - mothers are able to comfort children, even if not their own, and make it easier for a lost child to give names, numbers, etc. He says most children are so intimidated by the uniform that they clam up when spoken to. Also, I dont' want my kids to mistakenly approach a security guard, animal control officer, etc. thinking they were police officers.

Just my opinion.......

 

[TwinkieMama]

Have your children practice saying your names..... the park will be full of people named Mommy and Daddy!


We practiced with our first (who is my step son) because I was worried that in the midst of an actual trauma like being lost if a CM said "What is your mommy's name?" ... he would correctly answer but they still wouldn't be able to find me. Also many small children do not speak clearly especially while worried or scared.