Lost child question

[littlesuitcase]

When we take our kids to a park in the summer - not big like WDW - I always have them wear a bracelet I made for each of them. It has beads that say "If Lost call (then my husband's cell phone number). I was planning to have them wear them again but I am curious to know if WDW would call the number if it is long distance? My son has special needs and I do not believe he would be able to give them much in the way of information that would help. If they wont call the number can I put something else that would help them locate us?

Thanks,
Helen

 

[Bellefan66]

I am positive Disney would call the number. I got "Lost" or as I like to tell the story, left behind, back in 79' was "found" very quick. I remember going up to a cast member, saying my family left me in the bathroom, and within minutes, they contacted my family,who had reported me missing as well. They are VERY serious about lost little ones. I really can't imagine them not calling a number,just because it's long distance. And BTW, great idea with the bracelet. Good luck!

 

[WDSearcher]

You might want to put on the bracelet, "If you find me and I'm lost, please call xxx-xxx-xxxx (it's my dad's cellphone)." That way, whoever finds your wandering child knows that it's a number that will do some good. If they see a long-distance number, they may think, "Well, what good will THAT do, since we're in Florida and that number is in another state." If it says on the bracelet that the number is dad's cell, then WDW will know that if they call, someone is likely to show up.

 

[firstcruiser]

What a great idea. We lost our two year old once by Small Word at Disneyland in CA. DH thought I had her and I thought he did. We started looking and found her walking back from Toontown with a sweeper cast memeber happily eating her churro. It was scary for a few minutes but we laugh about it now.

 

[buzz2400]

Just to let you know that Disney is very good when it comes to lost kids. If you are there and lose a child, go immediately to a cm. They use their radios and are in constant communication when it comes to this. I would explain to your son that if he does get separated from you, he should go to a cm (and also try to explain to him who is a cm since they all have different outfits).

 

[erinch]

we lost a perfectly drip-dry, verbal 7 year old in Epcot at the conclusion of Illuminations. We went up to a vendor of one of the little carts; explained that we were separated from our daughter, that she knew to find a cast member and not panic, but needed to figure out how to get reunited with her. She had found a CM who immediately reported 'in" to the lost child network, and we were reunited within 5 minutes. We weren't that worried, since she was older and had rehearsed what to do, but they were very brisk and anxious to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

 

[eeyore0062]

Yes, they would DEFINITELY call it. The fact that it is long distance doesn't matter.

 

[JCTigger]

not only do you want to tell your kids that the CM's are in diffrent costumes but also that they have name tags on and those are they only people they should talk to when they get lost... you maybe be a disney world but that doesnt mean things couldnt happen to them if they talk to some one besides a CM...
you might also want to put on the ID badge that the child has special needs if his needs might make it difficult to communicate

 

[dyingtodisney]

FIrst thing I did when we visited disney the first time was show them the CM at the checkin desk point out the nametag, explain the clothes will be different but if you get lost find someone with this kind of tag.

Also it's good to keep a current pic of your child on you.

 

[MrBelding]

I thought I read a while ago that a company makes Childrens ID Bracelets or Shoe Tags....any one recall or have similar info?

 

[debster812]

Also it's good to keep a current pic of your child on you.

I took this a step further. Every morning before we head out to the parks, I took a picture of DS with the digital camera. That way I knew what he was wearing, and we had a totally up to date picture.

These are all GREAT ideas.

Debbie

 

[lham1531]

We have friends who were seperated from their child at MK around 15 years ago - I don't want to scare anyone, but it didn't end up being a simple case of seperation - there was a third party involved - anyway, apparently the camera system at the exits is incredible and the staff is very well versed on worst-case scenarios and through their efforts, the child was recovered - the details are quite distressing and I tend to surpress them with thoughts that this is the rarest of occurences at WDW - never made headlines that we know of -

Having the CMs is great - there's one everywhere you look - but I've also taught my children to approahc another mom with kids for help - less likely to be a "bad guy" -

 

[twocjsmom]

I saw how the lost child scenario work last week as we were leaving Fantasmic with the rest of the crowds. A little boy, about 6-7 got separated from his parents ( which I night say was very easy to do since we got separated from the other couple we were travelling with) and before I even had a chance to approach him to offer help, there was a CM with him radioing that he had found the child, who had already been reported lost. My DH and I were very impressed to say the least.

 

[daisylove]

FYI Only Castmembers were white name tags. We drill my DD5 in this. They sell the name tags all over the parks that could confuse a little kid so make sure that they know to look for a white tag and not just anyone with a colored name tag.

 

[Karibeth19]

On our last trip, I printed up a small label with DD's name, our cell phone number, and resort, and stuck it on the back side of her Guest of Honor badge. She wore it every day and we told her if she got separated from us, to find someone wearing a white badge like hers and to show them the back of it.

 

[lovethattink]

I thought I read a while ago that a company makes Childrens ID Bracelets or Shoe Tags....any one recall or have similar info?

Yes, but I can't find the post. Hopefully someone else can help. It was a ID that was placed into the lacing of the shoe. It was recently featured on The View.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

Another important tip is to remember what SHOES your child has on. Kidnappers will change a child's clothes, cut a child's hair, but they rarely change their shoes.

 

[daisylove]

http://www.whosshoesid.com/

 

[lham1531]

Another important tip is to remember what SHOES your child has on. Kidnappers will change a child's clothes, cut a child's hair, but they rarely change their shoes.

Continuing on my earlier post, our friend's child was snatched while at the park, taken into a restroom, hair dyed and clothes changed (into a dress and the child was a boy) - our friends were rushed to security and were told to watch every child who was exiting and concentrate on their shoes - they spotted their child's shoes and the man trying to leave with the child was detained - can you believe that?

Like I said before, it scares me but I think WDW has a reputation for being non-condusive for this kind of thing - imagine, the PR for cases like this could be a real blow to them if they were lax -

 

[daisylove]

Iham1531
Not to disbelieve you on such a horrible thing to happen but just to let others know.
This scenario is (also???) a famous internet urban legend.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/kidnap.htm

I actually got this one in my e-mail about 2 years ago. The site above can prove or disprove many of these as you get them in your email. However, the moral or point to the story of being careful and watchful over your kids is always a good one. Again Iham 1531 I hope I have not upset you. If this happended you are certainly doing a service warning other worried parents. Thank you.