Kids get lost???

[santadog]

I've been taking my daughter to the parks since she was 3 - I started her on pin trading during her first visit. I figured that way she'd be able to spot and interact with cast members.
I also bought her a trac phone for $10 at Target, and put my phone number in it's memory. She knows if she gets lost, all she has to do is find a cast member, and ask them to "call my daddy"
(alternate theory, I can call her phone: I figure if a kid's standing there crying, and her pocket is ringing: someone will have the presence of mind to answer it).

 

[callmeal42]

We bought SafetyTats online and can write my husband's cell phone number right on the tatoo. They come with other safety tips I wouldn't have thought of, such as taking a picture of what your children are wearing that day so you have something to show staff who may look for them. We've also told our kids to find a CM or another mommy if they do get lost. We tried this procedure at a local amusement park last weekend with success (ie, no lost kids) and hope it works for us on our upcoming trip too!

 

[jewjubean]

Another easy trick would be to write your info on the back of one of the Im celebrating buttons. They always have markers at Guest relations and its easy for a Kid/Cm to remove the button and see the info/meeting place on the back of the button. HTH.

 

[disneyholic family]

years ago, when i went to WDW with my kids by myself, without my husband, i had the kids each wear a belly pack that had all our contact information inside on a piece of paper....my phone, my husband's phone, medical insurance policy, etc etc.

i was only a few months after a major illness where i was seriously incapicitated, so they had the medical insurance policy information in case something happened to me...

they never got lost or had to use the information, but we all felt better that they had the information in case of emergency...

 

[NewEnglander]

CMs are trained on how to deal with lost kids very early on. Among other things, and in order to put the child at ease, they tell them that they're not lost, the parents are. I would instruct your kids ahead of time to not just wonder around looking for a CM. Tell them that when they think they're lost, to immediately go to an attraction, store, or kiosk. There are always CMs there. Parents should as well. Also show them a CM ID badge, so they know how to spot a CM. Some don't wear a costume. I would discourge kids from going up to strangers. It's Disney but you never know. If the lost child and the parents both contact a CM, they'll be reunited within minutes. Kids get lost all the time at WDW and Disney knows how to deal with it very well.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

I am going solo with the kids (DD3 and DS6) in a couple weeks and was worried about the same thing. I ordered safety tattoos that are waterproof and have a place to write your cell phone number on them.

I also plan on telling DD is is stroller or carried for most of it since she likes to test limits.

 

[Tomh]

Our son was 4 on our first trip to Disney World. We had a talk with him about finding a CM if he should misplace us, and wrote my cell number on his arm with a sharpie. With 5 adults along, I wasn't all that concerned about losing him though.

Last year he was 5, and only my wife and I, and DD14 were there with DS, so having him get lost was a little more of a concern, especially since he had wandered off at an outlet center a few months earlier and caused us quite a scare.

I again had several conversations with him, explaining that he shouldn't walk around looking for us, he should to to the nearest CM, photopass person, store, cart, what ever was close by, and tell them that he couldn't find us. We made him one of the dog tags with my cell number, and put it on a chain, but he really wasn't fond of wearing it.

This year, I've done something a little different. I made up a card, a bit bigger than an index card, with a big LGMH, and his picture on it. Along one side it says "if lost, please call " and has my phone number. The card is printed on both sides, and is laminated. I hung the card on a carabiner, which will be attached to his shorts every day. I'm taking along a couple of extra cards, and an extra carabiner just in case one gets lost, or gets wet enough for the ink to run.

 

[goin' again!]

A few years back (10) my son got lost out side of RNR. It was one of those times when I had asked DF to watch my then DS4 so my husband and I could ride RNR and he misunderstood. All of us just walked away assuming the other was watching him! What horrible parents! Any way a CM found him immediately and helped him up onto a tall wall to see if he could spot Mom or Dad (probably not allowed anymore) but he saw Pepere as soon as she lifted him up. He was lost for all of 2 minutes and he didn't even really know it. All he knew was that a nice person helped him find his Pepere. It's comforting to know that there are so many helpful CMs around! Love the CMs!

 

[Brave teacher]

I have 2 sons. A couple of years ago, I had a stretchy Livstrong type of bracelet made for them. It has my DH and I's names on them and my DH's cell phone number. The boys wear them every day and know what to do if they get lost. I have preached to my oldest son since his first trip that if he is in a situation where he can't find us that he is to remain where he is. I f he sees a CM near him, he knows he can go to the CM and show the bracelet. Mom and Dad will find him soon. We always point out the CM nametags, and we consistenetly practice which hotel we are staying at for the trip.

It finally came into play this past trip. We were walking to our bus stop as we were leaving the MK. Sammy had seen a momma duck walking her ducklings, and no one noticed he continued following the ducks as we stopped at our bus stop. As we were talking, we realized Sam was nowhere to be found. We all immediately split up. He couldn't have gone far. My DH found him sobbing to the bus driver at the next bus stop that his parents were lost and he was alone. He did EXACTLY as he had been taught for the past 5 years.

 

[superwy]

I did the stretchy bracelets, as well. We've used them for Disney, the zoo, parades in Boston and Storyland, etc. They are great to have. My son is now 7 and may remember our number but I would rather have our numbers easily accessible for a grown up to find. Plus, they look cool with all of the silly bandz!

 

[m&m123]

We used the dog tags also with id/ph#. I had heart shaped ones and the girls liked to wear the necklaces and I think gave them comfort knowing they wouldn't lose it.

 

[MomtoAlexnWilliam]

Our kids know our cell numbers but I worry if they were to get lost they might forget it. So we also use the pet id's from wal-mart! We put our cells and names on the tag and then lace it through their shoes. Nothing for them to keep up with or lose.

In the week leading up to the trip, we remind them what to do if they get lost: find a CM and show them the tag! We also remind them each morning on the bus to the park!!