Lost child? Too Bad!

[maddhatir]

DH and I were in line a few days ago waiting to pay for our breakfast at the POP Century Caf. This man walks up to the CM/cashier and asked if she can make an announcment b/c there was a little lost girl that (he must have found)- dont think she was his-- any way- the CM just said calmly-- "No- I am sorry- I cant do that here" no suggestions on WHAT the person can do etc! and she went back to checking us out! Nothing was ever done on her part!

You would think all CMs should be trained in what to do in case of this situation! Something! Anything!- show a little concern maybe!!?

I know some may say- well not all CM are like that- but it only takes that one CM not willing to help that can lead to a child being gone forever!

 

[themudd4]

Wow...Me and My big mouth would have stood on a chair or something and annouced it myself. The CM should have at least told him what to do or where to go. Hope everything worked out ok for the little one!

 

[Indianadisneyfan]

I would have asked for her supervisor and told her of the problem, or would have told somebody else that could have make the anoucement.

 

[petrymom]

Wow, I sure hope my kids never get separated from me there. How surprising that the CM didn't at least try to offer help for this child!

 

[maddhatir]

The guy didnt have the child with him- but you can tell by the way he was calm that it was not his child missing.

I should probably e-mail POP and let them know- do you think??!

 

[hniki234]

The guy didnt have the child with him- but you can tell by the way he was calm that it was not his child missing.

I should probably e-mail POP and let them know- do you think??!

I would send an email. That's horrible! I can understand if there's some policy reason that she couldn't make the announcement but she should have told the man who he needed to talk to...or even better she should have contacted the appropriate person to handle those type of situations herself. I hope everything turned out ok.

 

[PeachesDoesHair]

If Wal-Mart will make an announcement concerning a lost child, I would have thought Pop would. I am really shocked that she did not even offer where he should go to have an announcement made.

 

[maddhatir]

geez- I was at the grocery store before vacation and they announced a "code Adam" over the loud speaker and described the boy that was lost- I then saw managers running all around the store on walkie talkies-

The little boy was found- but at least they made an effort!

I dont think it hit me so much b/c the man didnt see histerical or worried!

I am not a parent and I guess I dont have that instinct to do something. Not saying I wouldnt help a child if they were lost but I guess I assumed the guy would find someone to tell!

It did shock me though that the CM didnt seemed concerned--- I cant find an e-mail address for POP- anyone have it- I can only find the phone#- if I cant find the e-mail I will just call tomorrow.

 

[snowy76]

The CM should have called the manager or something -- or directed the person to another CM who could help!

I think WDW's policy is to not make an announcement if a parent reports a child is missing -- the idea being that identifying a missing child draws the attention of a predator; in other words, it's like putting a neon sign up that says, unaccompanied child waiting for you to snag!

But as far as a missing child found... not sure what the deal is there... someone could've asked the child for her mom's name and the parent could've been paged without reporting any details about the kid!

 

[LMCT88]

Where I work we have code "Adam" and even a video to watch to see what it is all about and how fast a child can disappear. You would think they would have something like that where it is a highly populated children's attraction.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

she didn't get on the phone or anything afterwards?? that's weird. maybe she was having a very bad day and didn't care.

i know that at Disney they don't "announce" anything over loud speakers when children are lost. they radio people that are in the parks. they have security people dressed regularly, stationed at different places around the parks. and when there's a radio about a missing child, that's when they start looking.

and they also say not to yell the child's name, either. they usually would just like a description of what the child looks like, and if someone thinks they see them, THEN they might say "so-and-so?"

i think it's mainly because they don't want mass hysteria at the parks. if someone announced "Code blah blah" over the speaker at Disney, i think some people would get a little freaked out.

but still, i can't believe that CM did nothing. how ridiclious! like i said, maybe he/she was having an "i don't care" day.

 

[Gdad]

How scary! That's always my worst fear when going to DW or any crowded places like that. DW and I got seperated from our DD- then 5- at the mall one for maybe 5 minutes- total panic is alll you feel.

 

[Racey]

how awful for all concerned

id definitely email pop as there is certainly a training issue to be raised with the staff!!!

 

[earstoyou]

O.K., I had to post a reply. Two years ago, My 9 year old DD was seperated from us. I thought she went with her Dad and he thought she went with me. About 15 minutes later here comes Dad to meet me and our other DD and no child. We both freak and say WHERE IS SHE??? A CM happened to be walking by right at that second, got on his radio and reported her missing. He told us there is a system for missing children and average 7 minutes in finding them. Not even 5 minutes went by and she was found at the Ye Ole Christmas Shoppe-she had gone with her dad and had stopped to watch the artists and he thought she had ran back to catch up with me at crystal Palace. She was with a very sweet lady who worked at the shop and gave her a Disney Pin for being so brave. He also told us the children are taken to another place-forgot where- to be picked up by the parents. We all had a slight melt down and stuck so close together afterwards. Disney handled it so well. So I know they have a system and can't believe she did not stop to handle this.

 

[Goofyluver]

How uncaring and rude! I can't believe she didn't offer some type of assistance!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I work very seasonally at Universal - and while we don't make announcements over the speakers - you can BET we immediately do everything possible to help! I know Disney does the same. We stop what we are doing, call security - whatever it takes. The person at POP should have gotten her supervisior to take care of it!! I'd tell you to email CS about this. Lost children/parents should be considered a priority issue.

 

[maddhatir]

OK- I just got off the phone with POP food and beverage manager/supervisor and told her my story- I wish I could remember the CM name b/c she asked me! I did describe the woman and told her it was at breakfast and which day it was so maybe that might help.

She told me they have meeting everyday and this WILL BE addressed- she said the CM should have gotten one of the managers. I usually throw away all of my receipts- so I dont even have that to go buy to check who the CM was. I might have a few reciepts that I didnt trash so I am going to look through them-

I did appologize to the manager that it didnt hit me right then to get the CMs name b/c I just figured the guy would find someone to help him. (as I said before- I dont have kids and I assumed he would get help)

Just wanted to give you all an update.

 

[horseshowmom]

OK- I just got off the phone with POP food and beverage manager/supervisor and told her my story- I wish I could remember the CM name b/c she asked me! I did describe the woman and told her it was at breakfast and which day it was so maybe that might help.

She told me they have meeting everyday and this WILL BE addressed- she said the CM should have gotten one of the managers. I usually throw away all of my receipts- so I dont even have that to go buy to check who the CM was. I might have a few reciepts that I didnt trash so I am going to look through them-

I did appologize to the manager that it didnt hit me right then to get the CMs name b/c I just figured the guy would find someone to help him. (as I said before- I dont have kids and I assumed he would get help)

Just wanted to give you all an update.

Thanks for taking the time to do that. I don't have a small child (mine's 19 now), but I'd sure hate to know that I'd lost mine if that cashier was all the help I got.

 

[sandicinderelli]

Well, I'm glad you got a hold to the manager. And when they say "they're going to have a meeting about it", you can bet that there are going to be consequences! What she did was so irresponsible and she risked Disney's reputation within those few seconds that she did not react properly.

I wouldn't be surprised if she were severly reprimanded or even terminated. I know it sounds harsh, but since word-of-mouth is a powerful marketing tool, having her do nothing was a no-no.

 

[drag n' fly]

I am really glad you posted this. We have been to DL but never WDW and will be going soon. I have taught my kids to go to a cm immediately if they become separated from us (which coincidentally one did at night in MK no less) and was found 5 minutes later. I know this is not the trend for cm's. When it happened to us at DL they were very professional and prompt in their response. Sounds like an inexperienced cm to me. Hopefully they resolve their issue at POP as we were really pleased with the way they handled it at DL.