Ever lose someone in the parks? How long?

[tink44]

Our first time in WDW and Epcot in Jan 2002, DD8 and I stopped at a Kidcot station in Norway to add to her mask. We turned around and DH was gone.

We spent an hour looking for him, had a snack and then went back to the resort (BWI), where he was laying down nice and cosy. He claimed we disappeared.

Two days later we were at Epcot again and we lost him in France (do you see a pattern here?). This time DD and I looked in our immediate vicinity for 2 or 3 minutes and then went on to enjoy Off Kilter, the Beetles, the parade, all the rides and Illuminations, and shopped afterwards, then returned to the hotel. We didn't even call. DH was waiting- "what happened?" We don't know, but we had the time of our lives, we responded, happy as clams. The next day in MGM, he stuck to us like glue.

 

[IvyandLace]

Well, I'm definitely NOT proud to admit it, but...on our first trip to WDW in 2000 with my nephews (ages 12 and 8) and niece (age 10), I lost my 8 year old nephew on the VERY FIRST DAY!! No one in my family will let me forget it either since I was the "leader" of the group and very organized (or so I thought!) I had repeatedly informed the kids and their "buddies" (each of them had an adult to pair up with each day) to keep together at all times!

My nephew and I got "lost" from each other right after we got out of the POC ride which dumps into that cool POC shop. Well, everyone else had stopped to look and play...but my nephew (for some reason!) just continued on through the store and out of Adventureland.

We noticed he was missing right away and I didn't start to panic (he's kind of a scatterbrained kid anyway) until about five minutes had passed...LUCKILY for all of us, he had listened when we talked about what to do if you get separated from the group (find a WDW employee who has a name badge on and tell them that you can't find your family)-went straight up to a CM and said "I can't find my family...we were just on some pirate ship ride!" A CM walked him back to POC where we were all relieved to see him again! (I felt horrible!)

Needless to say, we paid close attention to him on our 2002 trip...especially after we rode POC!!

IVY

 

[drusba]

I've tried but I am still married to her.

 

[tink44]

Funny, drusba! Now you're really making me wonder about DH.

 

[TravelinGal]

My one and only time to lose someone was HORRIBLE!

start with PMS - add an argument on how long one should video tape the dolphins at The Living Seas - (DH was using up tons of tape and battery time on the same thing...not like something special was going on in the tank!)...

I turned/stepped away (about 5 ft away) for about 2 minutes - turned back around and he was gone. Looked high and low in the LS - no sign of him. So I sat down under the stairs on a bench and waited and waited and waited. (about 45 minutes!) OK - PMS got the best of me here - I started to cry. How special - a grown woman crying on a bench at WDW.

Finally he came back - he had been waiting outside by the door for me. sigh... That really put a damper on the day. Still don't like the LS too much to this day from that bad memory.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I can still remember losing DS at age 11, although it was 9 years ago. Took me all of about 5 seconds to start panicing. It was in Fantasyland, outside the (then) Legend of the Lion King. Turned around and he was gone. I ran around frantically, then suddenly saw him calmly walking towards me (to this day, I think it was a miracle to find him in those crowds). He was so amazingly calm-he didn't want to go on LOTLK so he had walked over to SM by himself to ride on it. When I incredulously asked, "You walked over to go on SM yourself?!", his only reply was "Yes, I'm old enough to ride alone at 11", like he couldn't understand my problem. Yes, he is still alive, but I have many more grey hairs.

 

[Kallison]

We have a rule in our family -- if you get lost go to the last place we were all together.

I've lost my kids at the beach, in the mall and the all time worst an elevator (we all got out and one didnt) but never at WDW. I seem to have a knack for finding lost kids though! Now my kids are older, teens on down it's nice not to worry so much.

 

[Niagara2]

We had a last trip to WDW with my FIL who has since passed on. He suffered from dementia and we were all at Epcot watching Illuminations. My DH told me he was taking his Mom to the restrooms and I saw him walking away with her and Dear FIL following at their heels. DH was back and I was focused on watching illuminations while keeping an eye on the kids (all under 7 at the time). Well, illuminations ended and that is when we noticed that FIL was not with us. DH never knew that he followed him to restroom. SO FIL got mixed up in the crowds, We spread out and looked for 10 Minutes. It was dark and there was so much water that he could of got close to. The crowds were thining out at this point when we found a security guard who went on his radio. Yes, they did find an 82 year old man, confused but who knew to go to a CM and say he lost his family. He wondered over the bridge to France and he was in the restaurant surrrounded by French waitresses and being served a cool drink and being entertained. He was having a grand old time and we are so glad we had this last trip with him even if we had some stress. He passed on 8 months later. My memory of the night is him repeating OH LA LA!!!!

 

[tink44]

Yes it can be frightening (and maddening) when you're spending precious park time looking for what is essentially a needle in a haystack.

What a helpless feeling (especially with children and your FIL Niagara2). But what a feeling of joy and relief when they're found(except understandably with PMS).

 

[Chicago526]

Yes-I lost my wits, sanity, and sense of humor. Last I heard they were at the San Angel Inn singing trios and drinking Margaritas...

 

[doombuggy]

When I was a senior in high school, a bunch of my friends & I went to Great Adventure the day after the prom. I think there was 8 of us there. We went to get on Lightin' Loops, and one couple didn't want to ride, so they said they would be back later. We rode the ride (finally), and when we got off, couldn't find Ken & Elena. Needless to say, we moved on (we were only at the park 4pm to close, which was probably 10 or 11). We found them at the cars in the parking lot at closing time. They apparently had been waiting there quite awhile!

Moral of this story, set up a firm meeting place with time constraints.

Ahhh, to be 17 again.

 

[tmq2766]

Just so everyone knows, I would never really do this but before any trip to the world I always tell my DD that she is with me I am not with her so she has to really pay attention (She is such an air head... God Love Her) If she does not pay attention and she gets seperated I am going to finish having fun and I will meet her back at our hotel room
Befor someone burns me at the stake she really does know to find a cast member
I think it puts just enough fear in her that she stays close.

 

[SorcerersAppr]

Back in '84, I had gone down with my family. My brother and I were given the opportunity to explore a bit. He was 16 and I was 12.

Everything was fine, until I forgot the meeting place. I was supposed to meet them at the Innovaentions. I thought I was supposed to meet them at the front gate.

So when I finally remembered the right place (2-1/2 hrs) later, my Dad was none too happy!

Despite that, we managed to have a good time for the rest of the trip. Although I was not allowed to go exploring any more.

 

[jenfur]

We lost my DD age 7 on our second trip. Everyone thought she was with someone else (group of 8) when we left the shop outside of the Pooh ride at MK- then we got to the Teacups (not too far away) and proceeded to ask her who she wanted to ride with....picture 8 people in a mad dash for the Pooh shop. She was just standing there, she said she knew not to move until we got back. I try not to be harsh on anyone who momentarily loses a child anymore after that.

 

[tink44]

Yes-I lost my wits, sanity, and sense of humor. Last I heard they were at the San Angel Inn singing trios and drinking Margaritas...

Yes, my tireless, childlike self lives somewhere in WDW and meets up with me when I visit.

Also, I'm getting inspired to set a meeting place just in case. I guess DD8 will be glad, maybe I'll finally let go of her hand.

 

[pennylynn]

I have never lost anyone at WDW but my cousin's wife found someone. It was pouring rain so everyone had on a Disney raincoat which makes everyone look alike. This young lady was probably about 12 or 13 but the problem was that she didn't speak English. We took her into a gift shop and left her with a CM but I can't imagine how scared she must have been. You should always have a plan in place if someone gets seperated from your group.

 

[dclwdwlover]

Back around 1987 or so when Toontown was called 'Mickey's Birthdayland' - I had 3 sons (at that point) - the oldest & most well behaved was around 7, then 4 (the obstinate one) & 2 (the adventurer).
Needless to say, I was very focused on my curious adventurer. I had purchased one of those telephone cord-like things that people attach to their wrists to keep track of their kids. I had always detested these things, but having been to the parks before with the kids I definitely saw why some kids needed them. My only rule was my son had to walk ONLY in front of me - never behind me so that it didn't look like I was dragging an animal.

Anyway, while waiting for Mickey to come out of his house I had my 4yo stand in front of me & I kept one eye on my other son (still on the wrist band) & one eye in the video camera.

It took all of one minute - I looked down to tell my 4 yo to go up to Mickey for me to get a shot & he was GONE!! I was frantic. Here I was afraid I'd lose little Mr. Adventurous & 'good-bye' little Mr. 'I'll do it my own way". Even my oldest didn't see him shoot out.

I was going crazy for the next 1/2 hr. looking all around that area. I wasn't calling his name for fear it would draw attention to the fact that a little kid was missing & some unreputable character might go looking too. While my other son watched the 2yo, I ran all the way to the Indy Speedway & back - twice - just knowing what type of ride he liked. * Couldn't find him *.

Finally, distraut & scared 1/2 out of my wits, I told a CM in MB'daland & I took one last look around there & then - trying to 'think' like my middle son - I took the other two with me back down to the speedway where we finally saw my son - with an angry look on his face walking back out of the line.

Seems that:
1) He was turned away at the ride because there was no adult with him
2) He had decided that it was 'boring' where we were & didn't feel like being there so he left to go where HE wanted to be
3) He had seen us looking for him, but had stayed out of view so we wouldn't make him go back.

Guess who got themselves a 'wrist leash', some BIGTIME lectures, & 'time-out' from the rides?????!!!!!! After that, each trip has been uneventful. Thank GOD!

 

[bratdeb]

In 95 We lost my nephew after only being right outside the MK. We were watching all the characters and my nephew decided he was ready to go. We found him 45 mins later(with help from cm's) all the way down at the castle. Needless to say after that he was on a leash.(he was 2 1/2 yrs old)

 

[laurie31]

Originally posted by dclwdwlover

Seems that:
1) He was turned away at the ride because there was no adult with him

Okay, this part really alarmed me! Why did the CM who turned him away not notifiy someone that there was a 4 year old alone??!! Helloooo!

Laurie, glad you found him when you did!

 

[dclwdwlover]

I agree - BUT that didn't occur to me until MUCH later - I was just so happy he was o.k. & so upset with him for his actions.
From what I remember it was 2 kids running the ride & kids don't think like adults. Parents always seem to watch after other people's kids safety too when you're out in public.