Is there any reason we could not put a flag on an ECV?

[emeraldmom]

We are going at Christmas time. We are planning 3 days at Universal, 2 at Seaworld, and 6 at Disney. The last time we went for Christmas, we lost my Dad in a crowd at Seaworld. It took an hour, yes an HOUR, to find him. And we were all in the same area, he was maybe 50 yards from us the whole time. So, we were thinking about putting a flag on his ECV this time. Like the kind you can put on a child's bicycle.

We figure we would probably have to figure out some way to lower it for when he's on the bus. He really doesn't use it on attractions, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Can anybody think of any reason we would not be able to do this?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I see people with them on their own ECVs. I would imagine the company you are renting from would have them available. And there is also the possibility of using a balloon (or two), but this would not work at AK.

 

[SueM in MN]

I see people with them on their own ECVs. I would imagine the company you are renting from would have them available. And there is also the possibility of using a balloon (or two), but this would not work at AK.

I have seen some people using balloons, but the issue with those are the Enid catching the ballon and it bopping someone on the head or gets in the way of the driver.

I've seen people also with flags on their own ECVs. The issues I could see would be having it put on in a way that you can easily remove it when you need to and having it secure enough that it's going to stay upright where you can see it.

If there are enough up and down pieces on the ECV, something like these Velcro straps might work.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Velcro-Re...db934eab16f1&bucket_id=000&findingMethod=p13n

 

[Michigan]

Please don't use balloons. If you go by someone like my oldest daughter and the balloon hits her or pops it becomes a life and death situation especially while waiting in line because of a latex allergy.

 

[SueM in MN]

Please don't use balloons. If you go by someone like my oldest daughter and the balloon hits her or pops it becomes a life and death situation especially while waiting in line because of a latex allergy.

I as thinking the Mylar balloon since those are mostly what are available in the park. Good reminder though.

 

[cobright]

Couldn't you give pops a cell phone? Give him a boat horn maybe? Or one of those frs radios walkie-talkies?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Couldn't you give pops a cell phone? Give him a boat horn maybe? Or one of those frs radios walkie-talkies?

Boat horn is a very bad idea. They are designed to be heard several hundred yards away and can scare nearby people. (Which is why my late wife would not allow me to use one.)

 

[disney david]

Boat horn is a very bad idea. They are designed to be heard several hundred yards away and can scare nearby people. (Which is why my late wife would not allow me to use one.)

Their almost as bad as people putting train horns in the vehicles.

 

[ttintagel]

I put a pirate flag on mine in 2011. I stuck the pole into the pouch on the back of the seat. I don't know if that makes it as high as you want it, but pole heights vary. Maybe you could find a telescoping pole of some kind.

 

[emeraldmom]

Thanks for the thoughts everybody. I'm going to look around and see what I can come up with. I don't think balloons would be a good idea for all of the reasons already mentioned. Personally, I don't know that a flag is practical, but my mother really wants to look into it.

The last time we lost him he had a cell phone. First, you have to get him to hear it ringing in the crowd so that he can answer it. Once he answers it, the conversation goes something like this:
me: we lost you, where are you
him: I'm over here
me: over where
him: I'm near a store
me: what store, are there any landmarks near you
him: yes, I'm under a pole
me: what kind of pole
him: I don't know, a light pole

You can see why this does not work well. My suggestion was that we give DS15 order to stick to his grandfather like glue. This does two things. One, he's about 5'6" now, so I have a decent chance of seeing him, and he will answer his phone. Though I'm not sure I'll get any better description out of him, depends on how rattled he is. Two, he's an Aspie, and he will do better if I can give him a task to focus on. He will pay attention to sticking to his grandfather, and not pay so much attention to the crowd around him......I hope.

Now I just have to convince my mother. We'll see how that goes

 

[bek]

How about one of those key locator things where when you push the button and the keys beep? Or aren't there tracker bracelets for kids and pets?

 

[curemyreed]

Thanks for the thoughts everybody. I'm going to look around and see what I can come up with. I don't think balloons would be a good idea for all of the reasons already mentioned. Personally, I don't know that a flag is practical, but my mother really wants to look into it.

The last time we lost him he had a cell phone. First, you have to get him to hear it ringing in the crowd so that he can answer it. Once he answers it, the conversation goes something like this:
me: we lost you, where are you
him: I'm over here
me: over where
him: I'm near a store
me: what store, are there any landmarks near you
him: yes, I'm under a pole
me: what kind of pole
him: I don't know, a light pole

You can see why this does not work well. My suggestion was that we give DS15 order to stick to his grandfather like glue. This does two things. One, he's about 5'6" now, so I have a decent chance of seeing him, and he will answer his phone. Though I'm not sure I'll get any better description out of him, depends on how rattled he is. Two, he's an Aspie, and he will do better if I can give him a task to focus on. He will pay attention to sticking to his grandfather, and not pay so much attention to the crowd around him......I hope.

Now I just have to convince my mother. We'll see how that goes

Thank you for writing out that conversation. I had pretty much that exact exchange with my mother. In hindsight and also seeing it written out, it is hilarious. Not so much at the time. Anyway, I am having a really bad day and revisiting that made me smile...thanks!

 

[ttintagel]

How about one of those key locator things where when you push the button and the keys beep? Or aren't there tracker bracelets for kids and pets?

Yep. Supposedly the RF kind are more reliable than the GPS kind. This one can be set to vibrate instead of beep, and to different distances.