Be careful at Kid's Club check in

[disneymom3]

It has taken me awhile to be able to post this. I don't want to freak anyone out, but really thought I should bring up this issue. While DH was doing the little orientation talk at the Oceaneer club and the kids played, (I was at Flounder's doing that reservation) our two year old disapeared. DH was trying to keep an eye on him while listening to the CM, but lost sight of him one minute and then couldn't find him again. I got back about 5 or ten minutes into him looking around for him and went up to the couselors desk and told the first person to look at me that we couldn't find our two year old. They immediately told the other staff, got a description of him and a couple of them started looking for him. They seemed to verify that he wasn;t in there and then were on the phone for a minute or two. At that point, the CM I had talked to came over and said that they had notified all the CMs and security on the ship and that they were looking for him. Several of the counselor's left the kids club. At this point, my DH and I had taken turns looking in the hallways for him and my MIL and SIL had come too and had looked for him on their way to us. After what felt like forever, the original counselor came walking back toward the kid's club carrying him.

I can't even tell you how that felt. The whole time, which felt like forever but was probably about 15 minutes, I just kept telling myself that if you have to lose your child somewhere, Disney is the place to do it. They obviously had a plan and were very organized. I also kept saying to myself that the only people who were on the ship had a reason for being there and wouldn't just randomly be getting off, so he had to be on the ship. And I knew they had security at the exits and they wouldn't let him off. Sounds kind of dumb now, but you have to tell yourself something to keep calm. I was okay until I saw that CM coming holding my baby in his arms. Then I fell apart. He said he was on Deck 6 aft. I was totally shocked that he would have gone to another level of the ship. Nope, hasn't been long enough, I am still crying when I type this.

So, the moral of the story is, it's too busy in there for the CMs to make sure no one leaves who is not supposed to. All of our family thought that the CM at the door was partially there to watch the door, but little kids move fast and it would have just taken a moment of distraction for him to slip by just as he got out of my DHs sight for just that moment. Have one parent with the kids and one listening to the counselors.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

OH, that must have been so terrible!!!!! I really feel for you -

I too think the check in is chaotic (sp?) - We have been on two cruises - So the 2nd time we went - I left my DD with my husband (they walked around the ship together) while I went to the club to fill out all the information -

So sorry for your scare -

 

[CAMICKEY]

I'm so happy your story turned out the way it did. I was worried when I first started to read it. It can be crowded when everyone is checking into the Kids clubs and one should be especially watchful over thier children during this timeframe. - Mike

 

[professorandmom]

Makes me feel that the wrist tethers I used for my twins (boys) when they were that age was worth it - I just couldn't be sure they would stay ANYWHERE

Your story is an important one and we appreciate your telling it (with kleenex in hand)

So glad for the happy ending

Barbara

 

[hydster]

Wow that is SO scary! I would have freaked out as well!!! I dont think there is anything scarier than losing your child even for a minute! I think Disney has to have one of the best plans in place for something like this though. Our neighbors went to Disneyland last fall and they have 3 little girls 6,4 and 2. They were standing in line ordering the girls lunch trying to get everything straight. When they looked down the 4 and 2 year olds were gone. Naturally the mother freaked out and the girl behind the counter asked her what was wrong. Within 30 seconds they had notified Security and they started hunting for those little girls. It took them almost 15 min to find the girls but they did eventually find them. Every single exit was sealed off except one. They found them sitting on a bench totally calm just waiting for their food. The mom was grateful to Disney for their quick action but she was freaked out!


I can imagine you were upset but I'm glad it worked out ok! Thanks for the warning...I'll know to be alert when we leave in 5 weeks.

Heidi

 

[CheapMom]

So glad for the happy ending. I can't imagine what that 15 minutes must have been like for you. I have lost sight of my kids briefly (2 minutes tops) and it is excruciating. Thanks for the advice.

 

[SandraLee]

That must have scared you to death. I cannot imagine.

Do you think the counselors handled it appropriately? Were they well trained? Did they do all the right things?

I have always wondered how they act in an emergency and this would be a good test.

 

[rsjj]

gosh, i'm glad it turned out happy at the end. but i know exactly how that feels, losing sight of your child for a moment or two. i was getting teary eyed, reading your post!

good to know, since we'll be leaving soon, and have 2 DSs, (4 & 2). will warn my DH about this, and keep an eye on both our DSs, while we check DS4 into the club. maybe we should wait a bit later, when the crowd dies down, to check him in? what do you all think?

 

[crisi]

As someone who has lost track of their kids I know just how you felt. You age a week for every minute they are gone.

Kids club check in is a zoo. The kids are running all over the place, the counselors are working with the adults (not the kids) in order to get them through the check in process. So easy to loose your kid in there - and not very hard to loose them out the door with all the traffic (he probably followed "another mom" out the door and the couselor assumed he was one of theirs).

If one parent can check in while the other parent and the kids enjoy the pool, it would probably be easier.

 

[Captain Jim]

Here's a little secret I learned about the Disney Cruise's. Did you know they do a background check on every passenger who gets on that ship? Yep. According the one of the staff members they have had several people escorted off the ship because they had outstanding Child Support warrants out on them.

I wondered about that. It sure seemed like a child molesters dream land, but not so. Glad I paid my parking tickets!

 

[hydster]

WOW Jim that's nice to know! I knew since 9-11 they used the manifests to double check stuff but didnt know they ran background checks on people! I've thought about the pedophile/child molester dream being a Disney Cruise as well...that is very comforting to know.

Heidi

 

[sillysmom]

Oh man, I know exactly how you must have felt. I would have been scared to death. I used to think that I was a bit neurotic about my DD, but after watching the news, and turning my head in a store to look back and for just a minute not see my child, I say to heck with that. Neurotic NO extra SAFE yes. My daughter is now 8 years old. There is absolutely NO WAY that I would allow her to even leave the kids club on her own. Not so much that I don't trust her, but there are just too many people on the boat, and it is I'm sure very very easy to get lost. The idea of even a minute of wondering where she was would absolutely freak me out. I just say better safe then sorry.

 

[amtmommy]

When is this Check in time?

Is this when you first sign up or in the evening?

 

[Masonpips]

On our first cruise, DD (then 3.5) was walking with all of us through Shutters on our way to Animator's for dinner. Shutters was PACKED with people and I thought she was with dh and he thought she was with me. DS and I arrived at our table first and then when dh arrived (less than 2 minutes later) I questioned him about DD.

We immediately realized what happened and headed back to Shutters. By the time I could get DS up from his seat and head to the door, they were coming our way. I did think the same thing "if they're going to get lost, let it be at Disney.

DD (now 5) still talks about it occasionally. I think it had to be really hard on her because being so little in Shutters (which can be a total madhouse) and not finding us had to be scary. Luckily, our situation resolved itself in seconds, but the fear is horrible.

I'm so glad everything worked out ok for you!

And fwiw, that is the *only* time in my kid's life we've lost them, even for seconds. Again, thankfully it was at the happiest place on earth (I'm thinking pixie dust does help)

 

[DreaminDisney]

Wow that is scary! I'm so glad it turned out all right for you!! I can relate. Last year while at WDW, while getting off a ride with my family, my DS who was 5 at the time got shuffled in with other people and for about 5 mins was lost. I FREAKED out. My son walked up to a stranger and said he lost his family and the man saw a freaked out mom screaming her sons name in tears and said to DS..."Is that your Mom"??
It was very scary!! And it never happened again after that.

 

[lillygator]

How scary....I couldn't even imagine....


about the background check....do they really do that? That is a great policy!

 

[want2go2disney]

I'm so glad things worked out well!

My family avoided "the rush" of parents registering their children for the clubs. I believe we registered them after dinner the first night. You can register them any time, of course they have to be registered before they can stay in the club.

This may be helpful to some parents.

 

[mickeymo]

A bonus for registering the kids in the club/labs is the wrist band they wear throughout the week.

It was an extra piece of mind knowing that if my dh and I were "lost" - any cm could help find us by paging us through the info on the wristband. The kids knew to look for a cm nametag for help...

 

[cjsmith]

Originally posted by Captain Jim
Here's a little secret I learned about the Disney Cruise's. Did you know they do a background check on every passenger who gets on that ship? Yep. According the one of the staff members they have had several people escorted off the ship because they had outstanding Child Support warrants out on them.

I wondered about that. It sure seemed like a child molesters dream land, but not so. Glad I paid my parking tickets!

I highly doubt that Disney does a background check on every passenger that gets on their ship. Do you have any idea of the expense behind this or work? What about those people who book at the last minute, are they allowed to board since there wasn't enough time to do a through background check? This would be alittle too much of "big brother" watching over and I highly doubt this happens. Without a social security number, a through background check would be too hard to do anyway.

 

[professorandmom]

I, too doubt the great idea of a background check on everyone - without SS numbers there are many many people with the same name who live in the same city (criminal background checks like those for teachers require SS numbers - my child's school requires anyone who visits a classroom to have a background check)
perhaps just to check for outstanding federal warrants - OK, that MIGHT fly, but it still seems unlikely
Barbara