Do you want to get your kids some more attention at WDW?

[!@#$%]

I'm just posting something I read here a couple years ago that we tried and it works.
Theres a store in MGM where you can get your children nametags SIMILIAR to those worn by cast members. Its on the main street in, on the right... dont know the name of the store... sorry. They are made on site with your child's name. I believe its the only place in all WDW that sells them. They are well worth the $6 you'll spend for one!!! The castmembers will walk up to your kids and talk to them by name!!! The kids (younger ones) are amazed that they "know them" by name. Especially good for autistic children who people often find it hard to talk to.
My son had one till last trip until he took his lanyard off in a restaurant and left it in the stall. We went back 5 minutes later (as soon as we realized) and someone had already stolen it. I guess they were after the pins on it, but they could have at least left the personalized tag.
Anyways... Its a great idea!!! Gets them extra attention. just dont leave them in a bathroom stall.

 

[barrysprot36]

We have just returned from WDW and our DS2 wore his all the time. The characters made a real fuss of him.

We bought it a few years ago now and I'm sure I read somewhere they are not now available.

Caron

 

[BillSears]

Kids? Adults should get these too. I still wear my pin at WDW. If you look at my signature pic you can see my red pin.

It's great CMs do react to it and even some guests do. It's nice to be able to be on a first name basis with all CMs.

 

[Haley Whippet]

They also sell them at the christmas store in DTD..
I have one too!!!!!!!!!!!
Deb

 

[Michigan]

Let me tell you my scary experience with my child when she had on one of those name tags. We were on It’s a small world in the wheelchair boat at that time my girls were 3 and 11 both in wheelchairs and my Mom. A man from the regular line jumped in our boat and began calling my oldest daughter by her name so I pulled her chair up as far as I could. We were sitting with my youngest daughter’s wheelchair up front and me next to her and then the oldest one’s wheelchair behind and my Mom on the other side a little in front of my oldest daughter and the man in the very back. When it came time to get off he said I’ll help you Megan and started to pull her chair off I yelled at my Mom to grab the front of the chairs frame and the man got with the group behind us and left the ride. The CM looked at me kind of strange and I told her I didn’t know who he was but he scared me and she told me he told her he had to be in our boat because he was her father.

After we left the ride he was outside around the corner watching us. We flew through the park to report it to security and never saw him again. However, the next day the news of the day was a child molester was caught at Universal taking someone’s child out of the park. They didn’t show a picture of the man but I believe it was him they said he confessed to trying to take children from other parks that week.

 

[scottsod]

we use them on all our trips and i got them from laughingplace com

so we had them before we got there

my 7yo with cp loved when people knew his name and even though hes verbal he talks low and mumbles so times so the whats ur name question was easly answered

 

[canwegosoon]

Let me tell you my scary experience with my child when she had on one of those name tags. We were on It’s a small world in the wheelchair boat at that time my girls were 3 and 11 both in wheelchairs and my Mom. A man from the regular line jumped in our boat and began calling my oldest daughter by her name so I pulled her chair up as far as I could. We were sitting with my youngest daughter’s wheelchair up front and me next to her and then the oldest one’s wheelchair behind and my Mom on the other side a little in front of my oldest daughter and the man in the very back. When it came time to get off he said I’ll help you Megan and started to pull her chair off I yelled at my Mom to grab the front of the chairs frame and the man got with the group behind us and left the ride. The CM looked at me kind of strange and I told her I didn’t know who he was but he scared me and she told me he told her he had to be in our boat because he was her father.

After we left the ride he was outside around the corner watching us. We flew through the park to report it to security and never saw him again. However, the next day the news of the day was a child molester was caught at Universal taking someone’s child out of the park. They didn’t show a picture of the man but I believe it was him they said he confessed to trying to take children from other parks that week.

That must have been really scarry, I am glad you were quick thinking. You could always get the name tags made up with a nickname or pet name to prevent someone from knowing(and possibly able to lure)your child's name.

 

[!@#$%]

I know most of you wont believe this, but I promise its the truth. We have discussed this sort of thing many times with both our children. My daughter, I worry about. She might still go with them.... Our son... haha He is a 120 pound high functioning autistic 8 year old, and has anger and rage issues. He also has paranoia and psychois issues. The last time we had this conversation I said "____ (his name) lets make sure you understand. If a man you've never seen offers you candy, or a video game, or calls you by name and says your mommie is over here or over there and wants you to go with him... what do you do?" I expected him to say something like I get security or I dont talk to him.... But here is what he actually said... he said "I kick him to the ground and beat him till he cant move". I said "I hope he really is a bad guy, otherwise I'll be the one in jail!" I guess maybe hes watched The Pacifier too many times.I just hope either of them would know what to REALLY do if it ever ACTUALLY happened. My wife and I are the type who watch our children VERY closely in public. Weve both been accused of being too paranid many times by family, but i dont think one can be too paranoid. It only takes a second.

I see people all the time who seemingly have no idea that things like that actually happen. They let their children run all over the place unchapperoned. At the lake recently I saw a parent who put a 4-5 year old in charge of a 2 year old in the lake. (I have children... I know approximate ages) NEITHER should have been left alone. They were on the shore with sunscreen and a loud radio watching the guys, and the kids were in the lake playing by themselves. One word... clueless.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I agree that the name tags are NOT a good idea for safety reasons. I do a lot of safety training, etc. in our local schools, and one thing we always tells parents is not to put your child's name on the backpack, etc. This is a huge lure for predators. To a child, if someone knows their name, they do not think of the person as a stranger. While I admit it may be fun to get extra attention from CMs, it is not worth the risk, imo.

 

[SueM in MN]

That is very true. To kids it makes perfect sense that someone who knows their name is not a stranger. I remember seeing a video about safety once where they talked about strangers with some kids who were about Kindergarten to 2nd grade. They basically thought if a stranger knew your name, they were not a stranger and once a stranger intorduced him/herself, they were not a stranger.

 

[zumbergc]

An inexpensive alternative to the park name tags.

Goto home depot. They have the mickey head shaped paint sample swatches.

Grab a couple in the color your "planning" to paint your room, match the most outfits you have.

Stop off at a craft store. They have pins for buttons, with adhesive on one side to stick to the cardboard like material. and a safety like pin to put it on and take it off.

You just have to cut the vanilla border off the mickey heads, and put your name on it yourself. Instant mickey themed named tag.
All depends how crafty you are.

We actually have done both. Our "official" name tags were misplaced, however recovered a year or two later in the secret stash "I would remember". At least they turned up. However we did the HD mickey head versions a few times too.

Have fun,

Connie

 

[!@#$%]

I agree that the name tags are NOT a good idea for safety reasons. I do a lot of safety training, etc. in our local schools, and one thing we always tells parents is not to put your child's name on the backpack, etc. This is a huge lure for predators. To a child, if someone knows their name, they do not think of the person as a stranger. While I admit it may be fun to get extra attention from CMs, it is not worth the risk, imo.

Ask yourself this...
For those of you with DAUGHTERS:
Does your daughter EVER do any of the following...
Wear a shirt with words across the chest?
Wear shorts with words across the butt?
Cheerleading?
miniskirts?
tank tops?
lipstick?
tight shirts?
tight pants?
short shorts?

I know not all predators are sexual predators, and not all sexual predators are after girls... but if you answered yes to any of them, how dare you criticise me for letting my son wear a nametag!!!
your asking for it in bodylanguage!!!

If you lose your child in a crowd... do you yell out "My daughter... where are you???" NO! You scream out their name. Dont be ridiculous. As long as you watch your children closely anything i just mentioned wont matter.

I often find it comical how EVERYTHING is a bad idea for "safety" reasons. the same people who have this mentality are often the same ones who will let their daughters (no matter the age, whether it be 3 or 18) run around in miniskirts and tanktops, just because its a trend. Or wear shirts with words across the chest.
If its predators your worried about dress your children not to entice them. Sure, thats not always what they go after, some of them are just sick people, but my point is I guarantee I could find something that YOU do that is just as bad.

If they want my children, they'll have to go through a 200 pound, paranoid, mean as a snake bald man with an attitude. And I'm no pee wee herman either.

As Mr T says: I pity the fool.

Besides, if they were a lure for kidnappers I dont think Disney would sell them in the park. Someone heres being a bit paranoid.

Do you smoke? Your putting yourself in more chances of death from that cigarette than I am by putting this tag on my son.

Moderator, please close this thread. Ive seen enough. Another good thread spoiled by paranoia.

 

[!@#$%]

 

[!@#$%]

Well, maybe that last post didnt sound exactly like I wanted it to, and there were some errors, but you get the picture.
If extreme sports werent done because a few thought they arent safe, a LOT of people would be very dissapointed.
I stand with my original view. They are great for attention. Just watch your children with OR WITHOUT them!

 

[Michigan]

Ask yourself this...
For those of you with DAUGHTERS:
Does your daughter EVER do any of the following...
Wear a shirt with words across the chest? No
Wear shorts with words across the butt? No
Cheerleading? No
miniskirts? No
tank tops? No
lipstick? No
tight shirts? No
tight pants? No
short shorts? No

I don't understand why my pointing out what happened to my daughter while wearing a name tag caused you to go off the deep end. All I was pointing out was that this man could see and read my child's name from the other side of the line and jumped on a boat by telling a cast member he was her father and then started talking to her calling her by name and tried to take her off the boat. If she hadn't had on the name tag he would have never been able to say to the CM I'm Megan's father.

If you want your child to wear a name tag that's up to you.

To answer your other question no I don't smoke!

 

[!@#$%]

I understand that occurance. Its pitiful that we have to worry about this in the first place. In my opinion, anyone found abducting or molesting a child should be a mandatory death sentence. Its a crime far worse than murder in my opinion. A murderer of an adult can always argue that "the person deserved it" or "I caught him with my wife" or "He was trying to hurt me" but when you harm a child... Children are innocent. None of those things apply. Its just plain sick.

I'm not mad at anyone, its just I started this thread to tell people that these tags are for sale in Disney, and if used WITH SUPERVISION they add to the magic. The cast members walk up to your little princesses and call them by name and bow to them. The children feel special. Its all good. We can never be too careful though. The guy who tried to take your daughter was an unusual breed. I watch those forensic files shows all the time. My wife says I'm obsessed with it. I dont think a person can be too careful, but I like having fun too. Most of the cases I see on there the perpetrator wants to abduct the child from "thin air". They dont want ANY witnesses. A guy who would try to talk to your daughter in front of you and abduct her right in front of you is obviously NOT the norm. Thats probably why he got caught later at another park. Most of the time on TV they just "disappear without a trace". Noone seen the person, and their child is there one minute, and the next he/she is gone.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Ummmm....no one was criticizing you...we just posed OPPOSITE opinions...and there is nothing wrong with that. That is what happens here on the DIS. No one is being paranoid and the thread is not "ruined" just because some people chose to post an opposing view.

 

[Schmeck]

My kids have the nametags, but I waited until they were older (over age 5) before I let them wear them to the parks. By that time, they knew the concept of strangers. they also knew that when we were at WDW, there was little chance of us meeting anyone that wouldn't be considered a stranger! I did explain the CM tag to them, so that if they got lost, they could identify a safe person to be with. Not only did the CM need to have the nametag, but they also had to be wearing odd clothing (themed to the land/park) and working at an attraction.

If my children were younger than 5, I'd be wary of the nametags. It's too hard for the kids to understand the stranger-danger, IMO. I know some kids are more 'streetwise' at an early age, but my kids certainly were not.

To the OP - a few things to point out. First, your 'name' of symbols can be taken to represent an obscenity, as using them is a way some people reperesent words screened out by this discussion board. Also, anyone who dwells on a child in a sexual way is a pervert, whether that child is dressed with 'cheer' on her butt or not. Not just 'sometimes', as you stated, but ALWAYS. No matter how suggestive the child is dressed, it's still perversion.
And last, but not least, when you post on a BB, expect to be disagreed with sometimes. Expect people to point out flaws, and don't explode when they do.

 

[mommaU4]

We went to WDW last Nov. with the whole family. Before we went I ordered some personalized sweatshirts for my then 5 yr old twins.

There was a thread on the theme park board at the time that talked about this exact thing, about a person seeing the childs name, calling them by it and therefore gaining that child's trust easier than they might be able to otherwise.

So it gave me food for thought.

That's why it's good to have different opinions on things. It makes you think. You can weigh the pros and cons and in the end decide what is best for you and your family.

Not what's best for everyone, just for you and your kids.

In the end, I let them wear the sweatshirts and fun was had by all. Nothing bad happened.

But that was my personal choice to let them wear them. Maybe in the same situation and faced with the same info some one else would have said no way, too risky.
And guess what? That's okay too cause that's their choice.

I think the info about the name tags was great and helpful and maybe instead of debating who's right or wrong, we can put all the info out there and let each parent make an informed decision.

 

[!@#$%]

The screenname was an experiment to see if it would work using symbols. I had intended to change it immediately afterwards, but couldnt figure out how. 270 posts later, I still havent figured out how, so it kinda took. but it was a mere mistake, never intended to be permanent.