input about kids' shirts

[kwitsup]

Hello everyone,

I have read the messages for weeks enthusiastically planning every detail of my first visit to WDW. I have a few designs for shirts for my two girls - 6 & 4, and one of them has their names on the front. I have heard now from three different people exclaiming "you aren't going to actually have them wear shirts with their names on them, are you!?" I honestly hadn't thought about the possible dangers of having their names on the front of their shirts - afterall, it's Walt Disney World! I am seeking opinions of those of you who've been there, who proudly print your child's name on their Minnie Mouse shirt - so you think there is any real danger in doing so? I just love the designs!! Thanks for your help!

Karen

 

[TravelinGal]

If they (other people) are near you for more than 2 minutes they're gonna probably know your kids names anyway!

"Susie, stay next to me"

"Janie, don't hit Susie"

etc etc etc

 

[eeyore3847]

ok, I did this on a trip last year to disneyland. now many people stopped her including CM's to say hello "Anastasia". and it was cute for her she was 5, but the fact is even though it is disney. there are always wierdo's and if wierdo's are looking for kids well disney has a lot of kids all over the place. I felt funny about it and now want ot limit any exposure they already do not need. one less thing to worry about. She is polite so if someone said hello and struck up a conversation and knew her name she would probably answer them and that scares me!

Lori

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I personally would not do it. The shirts I made for my DS said things like "my" first trip, etc. I was going to put his name on one with cute character lettering but then thought if somehow he gets away from me (doubtful but still!), then anyone could walk up to him and say his name and he would go to them because he would think they know him. I felt like I'd be helping the weirdo's out by broadcasting his name everywhere.

 

[wakica]

I know lots of people don't think it's a good idea to put their names on their shirts but I am not too fussy about it. If it bothers you, maybe you could just put it smaller on an arm of the shirt or something???

 

[laughinplace199]

Although it would be pretty easy for people to learn your kids' names just by standing near you, it would still make me a tad nervous to have their names on their shirts. I worried about this too since I was buying shirts for my kids as well as another family's kids (as a surprise). I was a little nervous about putting their names on the shirts and I didn't know how the other family would react to having their kids' names on the shirts, so I didn't do it. I bought the kids customized shirts at disneyshopping.com. I got my DD and our friends' DD matching Disney Fairies shirts and our DS and our friends' DS matching Cars shirts. Instead of putting their names on the back, I just put 2007. Now when they wear the shirts at home, they are reminded of the great trip they took with their friends this year.

 

[mom2mek]

I'm in the same situation as you. We are in the planning process and I have started to look at some t-shirt designs, but I'm going to have to vote "no" for the names on the shirts, for the same reason I don't think it's wise to put their names on the outside of their backpacks or your name on your license plate. There are a lot of people out there that do want to cause harm and I'm not willing to take the chance that when they walk away from me for a second, someone could say "hey, (name), look at this and whisk them outside of a store and into a sea of people and noise! Not worth it! Almost all the stories you read the parent says "they were just out of my sight for a second or they just walked around the other side of the display from me."

Instead, I'm thinking of asking them what Disney character they think they are most like and making shirts with their "disney twin" and a short description of the personality. (Tinkerbell - tiny, fast, and fesity for my 4 year old niece; Belle - avid reader, loyal daughter, sees good in people - for my 11 year niece, etc). This could work for the grownups too - Grumpy for DH (speaks for itself), Fairy Godmother (my mother who makes dreams come true), Goofy (my father), etc...

I'm hoping I can find some other good ideas without using their real names.

Good luck to you!

 

[TravelinGal]

People need to do what THEY feel most comfortable with.

No, I wouldn't do it for someone else's kids - at least not without checking with the parents first. If they said they didn't mind then I'd do it.

I'd do it at Disney, but probably not for general daily wear. (because it just seems silly in 'the real world')

But, how about sport shirts that have their last name on it??!! Guess kids shouldn't play any team sports - just in case... (not) As a young child, I would have been intrigued if someone had said "Hi Miss Smith" - I'd have turned to talk to them because they just made me feel more grown up using a 'title' and my last name they got from a team sport shirt I was wearing. (disclaimer - Smith is not my maiden name - and I never did sports - never liked them)

I still stand by my original comment.

Just two days ago we were at the craft store and a complete stranger stopped and said "Hi Ethan." because they'd heard me using his name. Do we not use our children's name in public now because it might tip off a weirdo? (not saying the gal at the craft store was a weirdo - just a pregnant mommy with a toddler about my son's age) If someone is out to do wrong, printing a name on a shirt or not isn't going to be the deciding factor. It's plenty easy to stalk someone in a crowd like Disney, wait to hear a kids name and then swipe them. A true weirdo isn't going to care if they know the kids name though.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS wore a Disney-issued birthday button which the CM at the Pop wrote his name on in permanent marker. He wore this pin all day long and people wished him "Happy Birthday Matthew!" ....it never occurred to me that one of them might be a psycho...

I don't really see a problem with it....

Marcy

 

[kwitsup]

Thanks you for your input. I don't know what I am going to do, thought I better get to it! It just didn't occur to me that at DisneyWorld of all places, wierdos could be eyeing my kids. I guess it can happen anywhere. Thanks again!

 

[jessica52877]

I agree, things can happen at disney. That being said I am not against putting my son's name on his shirt. Just my opinion. I usually don't, but do to resale purposes.