Keeping track of kids at water park

[kilee]

I am one of those neurotic mothers who is paranoid that her child is going to get lost. Anyhow, we have decided to build in a water park day in our next trip. Since we will have the pluses to use. The thing is, only DS and I are going. DH is going to take his mother shopping who is also going us. Now, DS is 11 and I know, I know, he knows better. But I will panic if we get separated and I don't know where he is. So how do you handle this in a water park?? I will go on most slides. In the past at water parks (have never done Disney) I go down first then him right after me. But there is going to be slides at Disney I'm not going on (like SUmmit Plummit). So, how do other parents handle this.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

First, make sure your son knows the layout of the water park and where you are in relationship to other landmarks. Since he is 11, he will pick up on this easily.

Second, just go to the slides with him, as planned. Why don't you just decide to go on all the slides and then there won't be a problem. I suggest that he go first and that will be incentive for you to follow on Summit Plummit. If you don't want to do that just go up to the top, watch him go down and then walk down to meet him at the bottom.

It will be easier than you think now.

Enjoy your time there. Both parks are great.

 

[CHARLADIZ]

This reminds me of a funny story. On our first trip to Disney my DS was 9. We told him if he got lost at any of the parks to go to someone in uniform who works at the parks. Well we got separated at BB on the lazy river ride. His dad and I stood at the lazy river exits waiting and waiting for him to come around, which he never did. We split up and walked for about 15 minutes, when my husband said maybe I should ask a lifeguard. DUH Turns out our son did exactly what we told him and was as the lifeguard station the whole time. They were very nice to him and he wasn't scared - Just waiting patiently for us!! Moral of the story is if you have a plan make sure you stick to it!! I would suggest having a easy to find meeting place.

 

[kilee]

Thank you-- I mean I know it's not like I'm trying to keep track of a toddler who wouldn't possibly know how to handle getting separated. Actually DS would be fine-- it's me who would panic. Up until now this fear is what has kept me out of the water parks. We're going to take the plunge though .

 

[cindysteve]

When my DD was 5, she took off on me from the changing room while I was naked! She took off out into BB! My husband and DS were in the men's changing room. By the time I yanked on my suit and took off after her, she had disappeared into the park. All I could think is my poor baby can't swim yet, and as my husband emerged I was panicing. We told the nearest CM and they located her within a few minutes. They told me that she was now safe with a CM and I headed toward where they had her. There she was, eating a cookie they gave her, smiling and happy. I was so relieved!

 

[shelleybell]

When my DS(10) and I go, I dont ride all the slides with him. I wait at the bottom for him to come down. The first year at TL, he got a BIG tatoo on his back. I could make him out easily in the wave pool. Have fun!

 

[CaseyJr]

I like the idea of the big tatoo! DS (8) and I will be spending some Mom & son time there in May, with similar concerns. DS LOVES tatoos.

 

[shelleybell]

Another cool thing about the tatoo is if he/she gets a tan, after the tatoo wears off, they will have a tan line where the tatoo was. It is fun to see after you come back from the world. It just makes you smile and say...remember when....

 

[Jillpie]

I have a big tip for the lazy river. It is SO easy to stray from each other here and float down seperately. We quickly learned to keep our family together by holding on to each other's floats and float down connected. Also, take a minute to study the map before you take off and start your day. BB is pretty big and SO fun, but knowing where things are really helps.

 

[Partridge4ever]

I actually did lose my DD7 at TL last June. We had no trouble w/the slides. First we'd find the end and pick a spot for me to stand. I told her if she came down and didn't find me immediately, to tell a lifeguard right away. I'd watch her climb til she went out of sight, then I'd wait at the end for her.

She wanted to go in the wave pool, but my 3 year old was scared. It wasn't one of my stellar parental moments. I allowed her to go in, planning to stand at the edge and watch her. Then the tidal waves hit and she got pushed further and further into the crowds. I tried to report that she was missing, but was told that I'd need to go directly to the lost child area to do so. (Mistake number 2 that day. I should've refused to move from that spot.) The CM there was very helpful, put out TL's version of an APB on DD, and watched the 3 year old so I could go in the wavepool myself to look for her. In the meantime, DD had come out a different entrance, told a lifeguard who took her to where I had been, saw that we were gone, and took her to the top of the kiddie slide to watch for us. He didn't report that he HAD a lost child. It was the longest 20 minutes of my life. That said, I think you and your son will do fine. My problem was trying to satisfy 2 kids w/very different interests.

 

[veruka]

Like Partridge4ever, we also lost our almost-7 year old at TL last year...also not on the slides, but while we were snorkeling. She was on the bridge near the the submarine with dh watching the fish while I was snorkeling with my other child. Next thing we know - she was gone. The CM saw us looking around panicked, and she jumped into action and contacted someone else to help us look. It so happened that my daughter did wander off, realized she was lost and was en route back to our chairs.

I was really impressed at how the CM were so responsive. The whole incident lasted under 5 minutes, but as you parents know, any time with a lost child seems like an eternity.