Disturbing incident in MK

[3rugrats]

Just back from Disney 5/27-6/1. We had a wonderful time with the exception of the night we spent at the Magic Kingdom on 5/29. As we approached the speedway ride we heard a woman screaming for her child. We figured that he probably wandered and would be found shortly. This was not the case. As I waited for my DH and DSs to come off the ride, I watched this hysterical woman and her family look for their child. After 45 mins he still was not found. Security had to give her a sedative to calm her down and put her in a wheelchair. They suggested the family go watch the fireworks and they would be in touch. After this episode we decided to leave the park. It was extremely crowded that night. We did not notice security at the gate looking for this boy which was very disturbing. Did anyone hear about this incident?? And does anyone know how Disney handles these cases? Other people we know who have lost children at amusement parks said that the park made an announcement and all the exits were closed until their child was found. This did not seem to be the case with Disney.

 

[Beca]

Wow!! That is scary!!! My older sister was "taken" in a shopping mall when we were little. We were VERY lucky that security found her!!!

I hope there were more measures that Disney took that were simply not observable!!

I heard a story on National Public Radio this past winter, where they interviewed a girl who was part of a...how do I say this....her captors "hired" her out to men. She didn't know her real name, or how old she was. She assumed she had been abducted from her family when she was very small. She met her "men" at DL, otherwise she was kept in a basement of an LA suburb home. The radio said that stats showed that DL was the number 1 place for child abductions. They also said that "normally" these children are killed when they "age out". Somehow this young woman escaped, and is being "hidden" by authorities.

I have a hard time hearing that WDW told people to "try and enjoy the fireworks" while their child was gone. I think that would be a little impossible!!!

Now I am worried...I hope someone posts more info.



Beca

 

[jaysue]

Hopefully all worked out - does not sound like it was well handled

thanks
jaysue

 

[mic_key_mouse]

Wow! My kids are 12 & 13 and want to venture out on their own this trip. I was OK with it...until now. I hope someone knows how the story ended- or a CM will chime in with some information. I would think if it turned out any other way than fine that it would have made the papers.

Blessings

 

[Cinderella37]

I seem to remember reading that WDW has a pretty intensive plan for finding lost children. It surely happens often with the crowds and the potential for something to catch a child's attention, causing them to wander in a different direction. That said, I don't think I'd be able to enjoy the fireworks if my child was missing (and I don't have kids yet).

 

[carolinagirl]

What moron would tell a family to go watch the fireworks while there son was missing???!!!

 

[tci1212]

Last summer we were in Disney and my 12yr old son went off with his older brother in Mgm. Well about an hour later my older son said he couldn't find his brother. We spent the next 6 hrs searching the park for him. I knew he had no money on him and there was a severe thunderstorm. It started to get dark so I went to Security and asked them if there was anything I could do. They asked me how old he was and when I said 12 they said don't worry about him he'll be okay. Well I wasn't sure if he would get on the bus and go back to our cabin on his own but since we couldn't find him we decided to go back to FW and see if he showed up. He didn't so we went back to MGM and waited by the gate. I left my Mother back at FW just in case he showed up.
Sure enough just as the parked closed she called me to tell me he just came in. Yikes!! I know he is 12 but when he was gone all that time I panicked. The workers at Disney must run into this all the time. I just hope if it was a small child they have some way of
relaying info to other cast members to look out for the child.

 

[BrianMonk]

The radio said that stats showed that DL was the number 1 place for child abductions.

I know you're just reporting what was said but I believe this had been addressed before and it's complete bunk.

 

[LBS]

We were in EPCOT on 5/27. As we were watching Off Kilter in Canada a woman came up and asked them to announce their child's name as they couldn't find him. He was 3. Immediately Disney workers came up and began helping her. Because we were close by to the CM's we learned that security immediately began checking restrooms, the exits were closed, and the greatest of effort was made to find the boy.

He had wandered from his grandmother and was noticed by a CM rather quickly. He was watched and entertained until his family could be located. It took around 20 minutes to reunite the mother and child but the boy was in Disney's care the whole time.

So our opinion of Disney is very high when it comes to child safety because they sprang into action immediately and did a great job in searching for the child and calming the mother.

 

[Laz]

That is why I always walk behind my child in crowded locations. She is always in my sight. I know its not the perfect solution, but it sure helps.

 

[Beca]

Originally posted by LBS
We were in EPCOT on 5/27. As we were watching Off Kilter in Canada a woman came up and asked them to announce their child's name as they couldn't find him. He was 3. Immediately Disney workers came up and began helping her. Because we were close by to the CM's we learned that security immediately began checking restrooms, the exits were closed, and the greatest of effort was made to find the boy.

He had wandered from his grandmother and was noticed by a CM rather quickly. He was watched and entertained until his family could be located. It took around 20 minutes to reunite the mother and child but the boy was in Disney's care the whole time.

So our opinion of Disney is very high when it comes to child safety because they sprang into action immediately and did a great job in searching for the child and calming the mother.

I'm quite relieved to hear that.



Beca

 

[minniegidget]

Well this happened to me about 17 years ago at Disneyland My nephew had won passes to Disneyland and had to take the school bus to Disneyland. He was about 7 or so. We told hm to wait for us right at the gate after he go off the bus. When we (my sister (his mom) my friend and myself) got to the gate my nephew was not there. We went right to lost and found. Disney would not make a page over loud speaker or anything. We just had to keep coming back. They told us that if My nephew had came up to a offical they would bring him back to lost and found. That was at 10:00 am in the morning. At midnight when the park was closing we still had not found him. We went back to lost and found. My sister asked my to please go and look for him one more time. Just think closing time at the gates. Thousand of guest leaving. One lost 7 year old and a VERY worried sister. I found him heading out the gate. I ran over to him crying hugging him the YELLINg at him all the way back to lost and found to a very happy sister. Disney would not do anything for us and we had to find him on our own. Now I know that was a long time ago and I hope that things have changed since then.

 

[3rugrats]

I am relieved to hear Disney handled things well with the child missing at Epcot. I just felt for that woman--it is every parent's worst nightmare. We just hope that they had a happy ending too.

 

[av8tor]

Scary........when we go to Disney this fall my DD will be almost 3 years old. She is a wild thing and we are a little worried about keeping track of her. MIL and BIL are also coming so that will help as we will also have 6 year old DS.

I would sure like to hear how the MK story ended and exactly what Disney did.

 

[daisylove]

Wow I am a litle nervous now. My DD5 and I are taking our first mommy and DD only trip in 2 weeks to WDW and i am nervous anyway because of the crowds and heat and she does wander a bit. I don't want to ask something that has been discussed but does anyone know any statistics of kids lost/taken at WDW?

 

[disneycrazed139]

This is scary. My DS just turned 13, which sounds old enough to maybe even head over to Disney Quest on his own. Now....forget it.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I won't pretend to know what happened at MK that night as I wasnt there but I do know that some of the things that used to be handled via uniformed security are now handled via undercover to not create a "panic". Whether that was used in this situation who only knows and without having the whole story- I don't think its fair to say that Disney fell down on the job-


-em

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

I know a lot of people do not believe in the child leashes, but this has saved DD quite a few times. When we took her to WDW at age 3 she had one of these on and I could easily keep track of her. One time she stepped to the side of us and if we hadn't had that thing on her we could have lost her (the parade had just ended and the crowds were THICK).
Hopefully those people found their child.

 

[Valentine]

Well.. as a finder of 2 lost children on my Disney trips.. I have to say that Disney does handle these children with great love and care..... I have personally found 2 kids ... on different occassions.. all alone.. and separated from their parents... I immediately did what I know should be done... and brought the lost child to a CM.. who then immediately notified security, etc. about the child.. and they were reunited with their parents.....the best thing I have to suggest to you parents out there is this.. the first time I found a lost child.... she had sneakers on that had her first and last name written on them with a sharpie...which really helped in locating her family... the second child did not have any identification..... and really didnt' know much about her family.... this made me realize that wherever you go... you should make sure that your child has somewhere VISABLE on their person.. their first AND last name.. as well as a cell phone or other number where you can be contacted....the first child was reunited with her parents within minutes.. where the second child took several hours.... this can make quite the difference .......I hope none of you ever have to experience this!!


Kathy

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I agree with the last post except for one thing...put their name on a shirt tag or something that isn't immediately visible. It is a proven tactic of child abductors to gain their victim's trust by calling them by their name and saying their parents said to go with them. Don't ever put your child's name "out in the open" where strangers can see it.