Lost child? Too Bad!

[themudd4]

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.

Walmart doesn't just make an accoucement...they will issue a Code Adam. No one in or out of the store until the child is found.

 

[maxiesmom]

Most retail establishments have their own "code" for a lost child. Paging that you have/there is a lost child is a golden opportunity for some weirdo to come along and either claim the child is theirs, or to try to find the child themselves.

I wonder as you didn't have the child with you, if the CM thought you were trying to lure them away from the cash register. Even if that wasn't the case, hopefully they now know the right way to respond to a lost child.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

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.

good i'm glad you called and told them. let's hope that the CM doesn't do something so stupid again!

 

[sammyteach]

We lost my 7 year old last year at Blizzard beach. Went straight to first aid lost kids they were very good. I was panicky imagining him stuck in a toilet somewhere with a weirdo or being abducted through the gates or at the least getting hurt in the pools or becoming very distressed himself. She was very experienced radio'd all life guards etc to watch out for him and he was eventually returned by a life guard after a member of the public had spotted him crying and took him to the lifeguard. he was upset but soon got over it. I later said to the girl that Id been worried someone would take him through the gates and she said the staff are given a detailed description and ask any kids that even vaguely match that description what their name is etc as they leave and will stop any dodgy behaving people "families". Scary but alls well that ends well.

 

[Disneymaniacs]

We just came back from Disney World yesterday. One day we were buying something at the fruit stand as we got off Goofy Barnstormer in Toontown and I just happened to notice a list of numbers stuck to the side of the cash register. The very top one said code Adam and had a number to call. I thought hmmm, that is probably what they do if someone loses their child and didn't think another thing of it until I read this thread. Anyway, they do have a procedure and codes are by the phones so parents please do not worry too much that this will happen to you. I think the CM is at fault here for not trying to help. My parents lost me at Disney back in the 70's during a parade. I cannot figure out where they took me but I remember there was ice cream and Tigger involved and I was not scared!

 

[PeachesDoesHair]

I'm so glad you took the time to call them. I cannot imagine being seperated from either of my children (3 and 1). The thought that nothing was done to help this man or the child really upsets me. I am glad they will be discussing this at Pop.

 

[Unregistered]

2 Easter's ago my DS - 7 at the tim - was separated from us as we were exiting the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. He was just swallowed up by the passing crowd. He was missing maybe all of 1 minute, but talk about scared out of my pants! He realized we were not walking next to him and he just stopped walking and stood still. We found him maybe 75 feet from us, with the same look of fear on his face. I wouldn't let him go for the rest of the day.

As an aside CODE ADAM is the nationally recognized code for a missing child. It is named after Adam Walsh, the abducted and murdered son of John Walsh, the host of America's Most Wanted. I worked for a clothing retailer and part of the new employee training is CODE ADAM. Let me tell you, when you hear CODE ADAM over the walkie, every associate in the store (minus the cashier) drops what they are doing to comb the store. The manager heads to the front doors and will remain there until the child or parent is located. It works.

 

[lenshanem]

That is AWFUL! I'm so glad you called back and talked to someone about this. Not only is it upsetting that a CM would be so uncaring about it, but as a woman you would think her gut instincts would kick in and she'd want to help.

I have taught my girls to go up to a CM with a name badge if they get lost at WDW. Told them to go to a counter or ride, etc. - someone who is working. I know they have the fake badges, but for the most part you aren't gonna see many adults walking around with them on. So I find this woman's behavior upsetting.

Last spring break TWICE my youngest at 5 went up to a CM. I was glad she listened to us and didn't panic and start running around. Once at American Adventures when we walked in downstairs she wandered off in a different direction and didn't see us and went to the CM at the turnstile door. I was calling for her and saw her go to the CM. Second time, she was with DH at the WL store and didn't see him. She went up to the counter and told them she had lost her Dad. He was right behind her! So, she wasted NO TIME going to someone. I hope my oldest would do the same. Unfortunately, I can picture her wandering around first trying to find us. She gets scared easier.

 

[MiniGirl]

It is scary. I found a lost child at WDW one time. Poor thing. He was so scared. It was after the fireworks and there was a mass exodus to the busses. Just outside the entrance I saw him. The first CM I saw was cleaning up and didn't know what to do. BUT, he did stop what he was doing to find out what we should do and where we should go. Normally, they take the children to guest services. However, we knew his family was heading towards the bus and would be back that way when they realized he wasn't with them. The other CM (the one the first CM asked) kept telling me they would take care of it. No way though was I leaving that little boy with those 2 CMs. I'm sure they were perfectly fine men, but I KNEW the little boy was safe with me and my girls. A few minutes later a woman comes running back with an absolutely frantic and scared look on her face. I knew that was this little boys mom. So, all ended well, but I know I held my girls' hands a little tighter after that.

 

[rie'smom]

Several years ago my niece who was 10 rode Splash Mountain while my DD and I waited for her. Apparently after riding she walked past us and we didn't notice. I panicked after not seeing her for awhile because I had seen people who were in line with her walk past. I ran to a CM in a store right near the ride. The woman could have cared less-I was a basket case and this woman did NOTHING. After I left the store, I walked under the "tunnel' thing and my niece and I found each other. It was a good thing that my niece is smart and capable. I did report the CM to the people at City Hall who were not amused by the CM's reaction. Thank God for cell phones! I insist that my DD who is now 12 has hers at all times just in case we lose each other.

 

[Princess~Fun]

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!

Personally if it was me,,,

I would have shouted out the announcement myself and then report that the CM did nothing to a manager or something

 

[mickeyfan2]

We we at PC last week when a CM was talking to a lost boy. He was in a bathing suit holding his shirt and sandals. About a minute later there were about 10 CMs around him, including supervisors. They made no announcement. About 5 minutes later we saw a women come over and the boy started to clutch her. She must have been his mom. The CMs stayed there for a while with the boy and the women, I guess to make sure she was his mom and he was not scared to go with her.

The man should have brought the child with him to a CM and then let them handle it.

 

[GalDisney]

This is kind of amusing story involving a lost child, i say amusing becasue everytihng turned out ok.. I few yrs ago i was working in a dept store. All of a sudden a mom comes up to me , hysterically saying her child was missing. So i contacterd security, etc. We also had the code adam system where no one is allowed out of the store until the child is found. Every employee possible searched for the child, while the mom was calling the child out loud. WEll, we look and look for around 20 mins and the child still has not been found. Then a few minutes later, the child was found, not 10 feet away, he had been playing "hide and seeK" and when he heard all the coomotion he started to get scared that he would get in trouble, so he did not come out of his hiding place. His mom was so thankful the child was found, and after she stopped crying and hugging the child she let him have it. lool

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

Personally if it was me,,,

I would have shouted out the announcement myself and then report that the CM did nothing to a manager or something

the reason they don't "announce" anything, is because any random person can hear you say "my boy Timmy is lost! he's wearing a blue shirt and red shorts with brown crocks!" and then some pyscho pervert knows exactly what your kid is wearing, and his name. and he can go RIGHT up to "Timmy" and say "Timmy? hi i work here, your mom's looking for you...come with me" and that would be the end of it.

 

[maddhatir]

the reason they don't "announce" anything, is because any random person can hear you say "my boy Timmy is lost! he's wearing a blue shirt and red shorts with brown crocks!" and then some pyscho pervert knows exactly what your kid is wearing, and his name. and he can go RIGHT up to "Timmy" and say "Timmy? hi i work here, your mom's looking for you...come with me" and that would be the end of it.

Good point!

 

[babywewe]

I use to work for Barnes and Noble. If you ever lost your child there and let someone know... they would shut and block every entrance of the store off untill that child was found. Its no joke!

 

[flying_babyb]

baby, thats the way to go. I have a tendancy to attact lost kids. They come up to me cause I have taught most of them.

 

[Stitchfans]

That is very disappointing to hear.

 

[Becky2005]

I haven't read the whole thread but they even have a system for finding lost adults Or basically a ditzy mom (ME) who loses an entire family in Downtown Disney in a storm.

I'm sure they actually HAVE a procedure in place, the CM just apparently didn't follow it.

 

[Uptown Sasquatch]

That's really sad... if I were the worker, I would've made an announcement no matter what. Do you know what happened to the little girl? That's really bad though, shouldn't her parents be taking better care of her anyways?