Kids get lost???

[steelek_29]

Ok... This Week I'll be in the Disney Wonder and then I'll stay a couple of the on POP. I'm doing this trip alone with my 2 DD (12 & 6) The question is... What advise should I give them if by any chance we get separated on WDW (Magic Kingdom). I'm a little anxious because is the first time I'm traveling alone with them. Thanks

 

[skiingfast]

I'd keep a closer eye on 6yo. Let 12yo know where to meet. Like Partners staue in MK. Not to go back to the hotel. Also kids don't get lost, parents do. Tell them to talk to any CM if they can't find mom.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Ok... This Week I'll be in the Disney Wonder and then I'll stay a couple of the on POP. I'm doing this trip alone with my 2 DD (12 & 6) The question is... What advise should I give them if by any chance we get separated on WDW (Magic Kingdom). I'm a little anxious because is the first time I'm traveling alone with them. Thanks

I haven't done this with my DD since she's just 9, but having cell phones for each of us works great to keep track of my husband!

 

[Figmificent]

Take a picture of your kids each morning on your digital camera or cell phone. This way it helps when CMs ask you what they were wearing. If you pick a meeting place but do not use the castle. It is far too large. Make sure it is something they can both easily identify. Also teach them how to spot a CM and if they lose you, tell the nearest CM immediately (I personally think this is a better idea then a meeting place, especially given the ages of your kids). Parents get lost at WDW every day, the CMs know what to do. And if you notice the child missing, immediately tell a CM too

 

[dismom73]

Make up little laminated cards with your name and cell phone number on them and put them in your kids pockets each day. If they get seperated from you tell them to find the nearest CM and hand the card over, the CM will know what to do from there.

 

[disney-lover]

We were on the magic a few weeks ago and we found a little boy, probably only about 5 years old and he was lost. He was really upset and crying for mummy. He had a wristband on so we took him to a CM and who paged his mum straight away. It gave me peace of mind after that that if my 4 year old got lost, we would be able to find her quite easily.

Woops sorry I read the question wrong.

 

[misseulalie]

My DD6 got lost after the Main Street Electrical parade. It was rediculously dark and the stampede of people pushing to leave the park got us separated. Everytime we go to the parks, I have her repeat her full name, phone number, school name and city and state.

I typically put my business card in her pocket but of course, this time I didn't. (of course!)

A family found her (only about 30 feet from me, but she took off her jacket so I was still looking for a pink jacket, not a black shirt- which made it worse)

The family asked her name and phone number and they called me. I found her within 3-5 minutes.

Scariest thing ever. BUT she was prepared and with even being scared and upset, she knew her phone number

 

[Jennifer in MI]

Definitely have a laminated card with all the pertinent information on it. Two years ago, my then-7 yo got lost. He lost his mind! He didn't remember ANY of the information we had talked about if that happened (I had 4 kids with me alone at the parks!). Luckily, a family found him and then found me, but it was horrible for him!!!

(Weird situation - I didn't know he was missing until they found me. I thought he was on a ride with his brothers and he chickened out and went out the entrance. I had already gone to the exit.)

 

[jilljill]

Moving this to the theme parks boards.

 

[wahooker]

I've heard of some parents who wrote their Cell Phone Number in Sharpie on the kid's arm.

Not sure I'd go that far, but it is a thought.

 

[danceintherain]

Try to make sure your kids have your cell phone number written on something somewhere on their person.
When you get to a park with them, show them what a Cast Member looks like - point out the nametag etc.
Taking a picture of them in the morning will help with identification.
Having a meeting spot might work with the 12 year old, but the 6 year old probably wouldn't know how to get to said spot if she got lost.
If you both go to CMs, then they will be able to get you together fairly quickly.

I got lost at Disney World when I was about 5 years old. This was before cell phones and digital cameras. I doubt I was separated from my family for more than an hour. When I realized I was lost, I started crying, a CM found me, and kept me somewhere until my parents found me. I would imagine that there was some radio action going on, but all I remember is them giving me a lollipop.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Definitely tell them to find a CM and let the CM know they are separated (you are lost, they are just misplaced). There are procedures in place for reuniting families.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I went Easter week(8 nights) (peek week) alone with my 3 children (ages 5,6,7) and had no problems. They know the rule "If you can't see me, I can't see you". I simpoly tellthem to stay with me and they do - never worried about losing one.

We are going back Christmas week (the kids and I) and same rules will apply.

My kids know if anything ever happens that they should find the closest CM. They are also old enough (as are yours) to know my name and their names. No cards needed.

Relax you will have a great time.

 

[seelyt2]

There are some great tips at allears.net Click on tips, and from the drop down box select child ID and lost child tips.

 

[VickiVM]

When my kids were a bit younger I would tell them if we get separated to STOP and do not move (or panic) for a few minutes. I will backtrack and find them. Generally speaking, we get lost from one another when we start straying from the point we were last together.

After about 5 minutes or so if we haven't located one another, then find someone nearby who has a uniform/namebadge and ask for help.

The other suggestions of having id on their person is also great.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

My best overall tip for families is to reinforce the final rule: No matter what, do not exit the park!

Even though all my kids are HS and college age, and they all have cell phones, we've encountered dead spots, dead batteries, etc. And they are certainly old enough to walk off to shop on their own or walk ahead to our next destination. Still, it is good to know that in the end who ever was missing would be standing right inside the turnstiles.

 

[dragonfly08]

I've made sure that my 6 year old has home and cell phone numbers memorized. When we were last in Disney, she had just turned five and didn't know them as well. I told her that if I got lost, she was to find a CM immediately (and I showed her how to identify one). I also tucked a piece of paper into her shoe with our names and my cell phone # on it. She was too young and too small (she's short for her age), IMO, for me to give her a designated meeting place. I didn't think she'd be able physically or emotionally to get there especially if I got lost far across the park from where we'd agreed to meet.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

We had our cell phone marked with a Sharpie on our son shoes. We explained to him go to a CM and show them the tel# on his shoes (last time we were there he was 3yrs old). Each morning we explained to him in case mommy or daddy gets lost, he needs to do this (find a CM...he knew what they looked like in each park and show the tel #). Lucky we never was in that sutiation. Now our son will be 5yrs old he knows my cell phone and my husband by heart (but I will still put the our numbers on his shoe and explain what he needs to do in case mommy or daddy gets lost and we need help...we don't tell him in case he gets lost).
Good luck

 

[mog]

I can speak from experience. My son got lost at Animal Kingdom on our trip several years ago. I think he might have been around 9. I am very grateful that we had followed some advice I got on the Dis boards. We had gone to one of those "pet tag" making machines at Wal-Mart or Petsmart and made cute little metal engraved tags for each of the kids with our cell phone numbers on them - no names or anything identifying. We put them on stretchy cords and they wore them each day to the park. We had also discussed what to do if they got lost - stay where you are and find the nearest CM (also discussed how to tell if someone is a CM - for example someone loading or unloading people from a ride or working at a food cart). I am very glad we did b/c when my son got lost he knew exactly what to do and we knew exactly what he was wearing so we could tell the CM's. We told someone as soon as we realized he was gone and so did he. They were amazing! They had closed down the path we were on within seconds and were on walkie talkies. Within minutes, a security guy came walking up to us with our son.
In the end, they didn't even need the cell phone numbers, but the security people told me afterwards that my son had immediately showed them his tag and they thought it was a great idea!

 

[CathieArms]

My rule with my 5 year old is to SIT DOWN WHERE YOU ARE. I will always go back to the last place I remember seeing him, so if he sits down and isn't wandering around looking for me, he'll be easier to find.

Also, you might put some information in his pocket...your name, what resort you're staying at, his name and age, etc. It's not that he's not old enough to relay this information, but he may be overwhelmed and unable to in the heat off the moment.

With your older child, just set some ground rules..don't leave the park or meet me in front of _________, etc.