Lost Child – Advice

[KatWI]

We’re heading to Disney in TWO DAYS! We’re taking my Nieces (14, 11) and Nephew (9).

Although we are planning to be diligent in watching them, I’d like to know what to do if we get separated. We’re going to make sure they have our contact info and we’ll be taking lots of pics of them.

Does anyone have any advice on how to instruct the younger kids on what to do if they get separated from us. Is it safe to tell them to go to the nearest CM or should we just tell them to stay where they are?

 

[disneyag]

When our kids were younger, we pointed out CM badges on CM's as soon as we entered WDW. We instructed them to find a CM if ever Mom or Dad was "lost".

 

[Mark The Shark]

Put your cell phone number on a piece of paper tied to their shoes. That way a CM can easily contact you if you get separated from the kids.

 

[goofy4tink]

If they walk off and get separated, tell them to stop, and stay where they are!!! They should find a nearby CM...show them on your first day what the CMs look like. There are plenty of gift shops around...they can go there, and then stay put.
Many kids take forever to find because they start wandering around, looking for their family!!! And the family is wandering around looking for the child!!! The child should stay in the same area he wandered off to...and find that CM!!! The CM will then set things in motion to find mom and dad!!!!

Also...most kids have cellphones nowadays. So, be sure that everyone has everyone else's phone numbers listed!!! And those kids should stick together like glue!!! And just for planning purposes??? The bathrooms tend to offer the most opportunity for getting separated.

 

[homer2210]

i put my kids name and my phone number on a pet id (dog tag) and then just attached to their shoe laces or belt loop. When we got to the parks I showed them what a CM person looked like and said that if they ge lost, find a CM, tell them you are lost and show them your tag.

 

[amomma23]

We tell our DS6 and DS10 that if they are lost to just sit down right where they are and we will come to them. I don't think we would get very far before we realized they weren't with us. If they start walking around looking for us, it might be a while before we find each other.

 

[SueM in MN]

Children of those ages would not need your cell phone number pinned to them - unless they have special needs, they should be able to get the phone number out of a pocket, explain to a CM that they have lost you and ask for you to be called. Going to a CM is fine, especially for teens and pre-teens. I would probably tell them to stay where they are; you could easily miss each other if you are walking trying to find each other.

Many 11 and 14 yr olds have their own cell phones. If they do, I would make sure it is charged, is on, make sure your phone number is programmed in and that you have their phone numbers. That way, you can call each other if you lose each other.

If you are arranging a meeting place, make sure you agree on what side of an attraction you are meeting. "In front of Small World" sounds pretty straight forward, but with the large number of people at WDW, you could be in front of the area closer to Peter Pan and they could be closer to Pinocchio's and not see each other. Attractions that actually have 2 sides (like Spaceship Earth) also can lead to confusion. Your 'front' may be what they consider the 'back'.

 

[KatWI]

I really appreciate all the advice! The two younger kids don't have cell phones so we're going to make sure they have our contact info on them. I had hoped it was safe to tell them to tell a CM that they are lost. Telling them to stay put instead of wandering is great advice!

 

[sephorachick]

I wrote a blog on what to do if you lost a child at WDW here you go for sopme tips

http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com/2012/08/disney-lost-child-procedures.html

 

[KatWI]

If you are arranging a meeting place, make sure you agree on what side of an attraction you are meeting. "In front of Small World" sounds pretty straight forward, but with the large number of people at WDW, you could be in front of the area closer to Peter Pan and they could be closer to Pinocchio's and not see each other. Attractions that actually have 2 sides (like Spaceship Earth) also can lead to confusion. Your 'front' may be what they consider the 'back'.

I hadn't thought of that! Thanks so much for pointing that out!

 

[mjtm610]

While we don't have lost "children" we have "lost" or become separated from some of our party.
What we do is we all agree on a "spot' to meet. The partners statue. the bench in front of the bakery.....whatever. Then we go there and stand there. So we all agree....yes, this is THE bench, Yes this is THE statue. We've found "seeing" works better than "saying"
Good luck!

 

[WDSearcher]

Take a picture of each child first thing in the morning, every morning. You would be surprised how many people can't remember what their kids were wearing that day. And it's tougher to track down a lost child if mom and dad don't know what the kids are wearing!

 

[jaysmom4285]

I believe that it is standard procedure for a CM who comes across a "lost" child to take that child to the Baby Care Center in that particular park. Any CM who is asked about the lost child can contact the Baby Care Center to see if the child is there. I overheard this scenario last week while I was at WDW. There was a mother outside the jewelry store part of the Mexico gift shop describing her young son to the cast members. Apparentlly he had wandered off and she couldn't find him. I spent some time in that gift shop area, and while I was in their jewelry store about 20 minutes later, I overheard one of the CMs ask about the lost boy, and the response was that he had been taken to the Baby Care Center by a CM who had found him and that he and his mother had been reunited fairly quickly. So there is a good plan in place for the CMs to look out for lost children, take them to a central location, and get them back with their families as soon as possible.

 

[OKW Lover]

I believe that it is standard procedure for a CM who comes across a "lost" child to take that child to the Baby Care Center in that particular park. Any CM who is asked about the lost child can contact the Baby Care Center to see if the child is there. I overheard this scenario last week while I was at WDW. There was a mother outside the jewelry store part of the Mexico gift shop describing her young son to the cast members. Apparentlly he had wandered off and she couldn't find him. I spent some time in that gift shop area, and while I was in their jewelry store about 20 minutes later, I overheard one of the CMs ask about the lost boy, and the response was that he had been taken to the Baby Care Center by a CM who had found him and that he and his mother had been reunited fairly quickly. So there is a good plan in place for the CMs to look out for lost children, take them to a central location, and get them back with their families as soon as possible.

Actually standard procedure is to look around the immediate area for frantic parents. They will alert other CM's in the area. Only after some amount of time will the children be brought to the baby care/first aid center.

 

[larryz]

Tell them that if you get separated and all contact is lost, to meet you at the top or bottom of the hour at the Sword in the Stone.

If they don't show up in an hour, time to call in the CMs.

 

[bjakmom]

When travelling with kids of those ages, I always made small wallet or pocket sized ID cards with their name, my name, their parents names if they weren't mine (grands, nieces, nephews) and all our phone #s (I always included a contact # of someone back at home). I also included the name of the resort we were staying at. I laminated them to protect on water rides, etc. They knew to go directly to a CM (or to a mom with children if no CM was around) and ask for help. When travelling alone with kids it also made me feel better that they would have all the contact info in case something happened to me and I was incapacitated.

 

[luvmy2babies]

My daughter is 9 (7 on our first trip) and we establish how to recognize the CM and she is instructed to find a CM and give them my cell phone number. A lot of her summer clothes didn’t have pockets and she tended to leave her little park bag on the stroller, so she has it on her inside a water proof wrist band I ordered online if she forgets it. Resort name was also on it.

My son is younger, but a runner, so he wore a toddler band on his leg with the words “If I’m lost, look under this band” and my cell number and our resort is underneath.

It was tested on our last trip when dd got separated from ds and me at Epcot. Didn’t get as far as me getting a call, but it was close. When I found dd, she was handing the CM her bracelet.

The CM said something that surprised me. She commended me on making sure my daughter had the number on her. She said most children they encounter are actually without the information. In this day that surprised me. She said a lot of them know the number, but they got so scared they forgot it. My daughter has some challenges with anxiety, so I could see that happening to her, but she said just having the band kept her from getting scared.

 

[KatWI]

When travelling with kids of those ages, I always made small wallet or pocket sized ID cards with their name, my name, their parents names if they weren't mine (grands, nieces, nephews) and all our phone #s (I always included a contact # of someone back at home). I also included the name of the resort we were staying at. I laminated them to protect on water rides, etc. They knew to go directly to a CM (or to a mom with children if no CM was around) and ask for help. When travelling alone with kids it also made me feel better that they would have all the contact info in case something happened to me and I was incapacitated.

Great advice...and I agree that while we're hoping for the best, it will make us all feel better to be prepared.

My daughter is 9 (7 on our first trip) and we establish how to recognize the CM and she is instructed to find a CM and give them my cell phone number. A lot of her summer clothes didn’t have pockets and she tended to leave her little park bag on the stroller, so she has it on her inside a water proof wrist band I ordered online if she forgets it. Resort name was also on it.

My son is younger, but a runner, so he wore a toddler band on his leg with the words “If I’m lost, look under this band” and my cell number and our resort is underneath.

It was tested on our last trip when dd got separated from ds and me at Epcot. Didn’t get as far as me getting a call, but it was close. When I found dd, she was handing the CM her bracelet.

The CM said something that surprised me. She commended me on making sure my daughter had the number on her. She said most children they encounter are actually without the information. In this day that surprised me. She said a lot of them know the number, but they got so scared they forgot it. My daughter has some challenges with anxiety, so I could see that happening to her, but she said just having the band kept her from getting scared.

This is exactly what I'm worried about! Because they're my sister's kids, they don't know our cells as well as their home number. Thanks for sharing!

 

[MichiganKris]

My daughter (just turned 12) keeps a card with our contact information on it in her lanyard with her fast passes (I haven't let her keep her Key to the World card yet). I was worried about her running off when she saw something, but she really sticks very close there. I think it's because she doesn't want to end up not knowing where we are. When we were there a year ago, she mentioned once that the worst part about getting lost would be missing out on park time to see more attractions or go no more rides.

 

[mommy2jack]

My daughter is 9 (7 on our first trip) and we establish how to recognize the CM and she is instructed to find a CM and give them my cell phone number. A lot of her summer clothes didn’t have pockets and she tended to leave her little park bag on the stroller, so she has it on her inside a water proof wrist band I ordered online if she forgets it. Resort name was also on it.

My son is younger, but a runner, so he wore a toddler band on his leg with the words “If I’m lost, look under this band” and my cell number and our resort is underneath.

Where did you order these bands from?