Child Safety at Disneyland Paris

[disnut8]

I don't normally post on this forum since I've never been to Disneyland Paris. I'm in the Walt Disney World forum since I go there quite frequently. But I've been asked a question about Disneyland Paris so I thought I'd post it here to see what responses I receive.

A woman's forum I belong to (which is great, you can PM me for the website) has been having a discussion on the tragic situation of Madeline McCann, the 4 year old child from the United Kingdom who was abducted from her hotel room in Portgual while on vacation. The parents had left Madeline and her two year old siblings while they dined at a nearby restaurant and checked the children every half hour to an hour. That's not what this post is about. The parents thought their resort was a safe place and so thought is was fine to leave them alone. I brought up that Disney World is considered very safe and listed some of the precautions parents take for their children even though they are in a "safe" environment. And the precautions and measures Disney World takes if a parent does misplace a child. Even though Disney World is a safe place.

Another poster found the comparison interesting but asked what precautions parents take with their children in Disneyland Paris. Do you consider that park "safe"? Has anyone had experience (which I hope not) of misplacing your child and having Disneyland Paris help you find the child?

the question I guess is being asked to see if certain cultures and customs are different between the United States and Europe. I've never been to Europe so I have no idea. Can the Disney people help me out? Thanks so much in advance.

 

[Cyrano]

Moving this to the community board where you will get a good variety of views on the comparison to different cultures

 

[karenmoloney]

I wouldn't consider anywhere safe & would never leave my kids alone (they are 5 yrs & 6 mths) - not in the hotel room or in the parks. I think that a place like Disneyland would maybe attract someone preying on children as they would know that there would be a lot of children there. I will be taking two pushchairs with me this year (one obviously for the baby) and one for the 5 yr old as then I will always know where she is - right in front of me & can't get lost in the crowds.

 

[disnut8]

Moving this to the community board where you will get a good variety of views on the comparison to different cultures

Thank you - one of the main reseaons I come on these boards. The mods aren't figureheads.

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

I do not consider it safe. I never really have. Nothing against WDW and their security, but if someone wants to nab a kid, they'll find a way. I always keep a very close eye on my kids. My DS7 has a neurological disability and I have a DD5. I know WDW is gated and all that, but I think you can never be too careful when it comes to your kids. I don't leave my kids alone under any circumstances and would never in WDW-even if I was nearby. For one thing, they'd be screaming and crying for me!

 

[Kath2003]

Public area with huge numbers of people? No, it's not safe. Disney, however, is prepared to handle these situations and with the CCTV coverage etc. it is unlikely that anything would happen to a child in any of the Disneyland Parks. That said, I don't think most parents would even consider leaving their children unattended in a hotel room (or anywhere else) which was the situation that led to Madeleine's abduction.

 

[disnut8]

Thanks to the ones that have responded (would like anyone's comments). From the early responses, it doesn't seem like Americans or Europeans are any more strict or any more lax in what they do with their child(ren).

Does anyone have the horrble experience of having to deal with Disneyland Paris security or Cast members if you have lost a child? I have do experience at Disney World with coming upon a child whose parent have wandered away. In both instances, the child and the parents were back together in less than five minutes (silly parents!). Thanks everyone.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

We are AP holders at Disneyland Paris, it is not any different than here in my opinion. We haven't lost any of ours at DLP but I have seen families that have, security and the CMs are on it.

I have also never seen parents leave their children outside to go in and have food. DH is from France and doesn't think it's normal as well, perhaps it's because he's from the north, I'm not sure.

 

[scald]

Simple fact is that NOWHERE is safe...well not entirely. I know this is a tad cynical, but when it comes to your children always be on your guard. When we stayed at DLP two years ago, we had a room in the Cheyenne just yards from the outside tables of the restaurant. However, even this would never entice me to leave the children unattended. We return this year in 2 weeks, and although my children are older now, the DS 4 will be in a stroller, and DD6 will have a wrist band that I can hold when in crowds at the parades etc. They will also both have whistles that they can blow if they become separated.

I know this sounds extreme, but although I have always considered the Park environments to be very safe, I would never take an unnecessary risk...it is something that would demolish your life and that of everyone around you.

 

[BONITATIME]

I have always regarded it as a fairly safe place with a lot of visible security guards. This doesn't mean I would leave a small child alone. Living in Spain means that children can go out with you from a young age without anyone objecting and I would regard Disney as the same sort of place.

 

[poohandwendy]

I think it is a mistake for parents to believe any public place is safe enough for their young children to be alone.

I am not sure why people believe that a place being 'family oriented' is any more safe than any other public place? Criminals don't follow a code of ethics and steer clear of family oriented places out of respect for family values. Some actually target those areas because they know some parents and children are naive and think they are safe.

Disney does what they can, the rest is up to the common sense of the parents to take responsibility for their children's safety.

To answer your question, I don't consider anywhere 'safe'.