Lost children at WDW question

[eazyeray]

I have a 2 year old and been wondering if getting the ID tattoos would be worth getting. Then I wondered if CM have a protocol for missing children involving checking for the tattoos or tags inside the clothes or maybe even checking pockets. Any CMs out there have any tips?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There are never lost children at WDW. There are lost parents!

But seriously, we have lots of procedures in place to reunite separated families, especially if one of them is a small child.

Rather than a temporary tattoo, you might get a dog tag with a name and your cell phone number and attach it to a shoelace. And also every morning, before leaving for the parks, take a picture so if the child does get misplaced you can describe what he is wearing.

 

[eazyeray]

We were thinking dog tags if they fit on velcro straps or crocs. She's only 2 so we'll keep a short leash but just wanted the extra peace of mind.

 

[bookworm0312]

We bought a tinkerbell "dog tag" in the fire station at Magic Kingdom on our first night. We put her name (she was 18 mos at the time) and each of our cell numbers and attached it to the shoes she was wearing each day.

 

[bookworm0312]

Oops! Forgot to add something! It came with a "keyring" type metal ring that we WERE able to attach to straps rather than laces. It was very low quality metal, so, you might consider packing a better quality ring if she'll be using it much or you'll be moving it from shoe to shoe very much.

 

[eazyeray]

I think we'll go with the dog tags and a key ring. Hopefully she won't pull it off. Thanks for the help.

 

[tink576]

I second the dog tag on the shoes! It's clearly visible and you can easily have your cell phone that you will have on you engraved on it. I don't believe cast members are alllowed to look under clothes for identification, the child would have to be able to independently show it to the CM.

 

[darrengs]

I had silicone bracelets made up with "If lost call my Daddy xxx-xxx-xxxx" and told my children if they were lost to show this bracelet to someone wearing a name tag.

 

[DrMomof3]

As someone who actually lost a child at Disney.... (yes, yes, mother of the year award!). We have who's shoes for all 3 of my kids. When my 6 year old was separated from us in August at AK, he was found holding his shoe tag and looking for a CM to call us. Luckily we found him at that point. It was very scary for all involved but had a happy ending. The lost child is extremely shy or I think he would have gotten help sooner. I suspect that a crying lost child will get attention much faster than our stoic 6 year old.
The CMs were pretty laid back about a lost child - until I informed them that the last words he had spoken were that he wanted to go back to the hotel to get dry clothes (we had just gotten off Kali). He's the type of kid who actually could find his way to the buses and get on the right one! When they realized there was a risk that he had left the park for the buses, they became much more serious. They did call the lost child center to ask if he was there so I suspect that's the regular protocol when a CM finds a lost child.

Amanda

 

[Minniemouse07]

I had silicone bracelets made up with "If lost call my Daddy xxx-xxx-xxxx" and told my children if they were lost to show this bracelet to someone wearing a name tag.

We prefer using the silicone bracelets over the tattoos (kids wouldn't be thrilled w/ them) or the dog tags/shoe ids (don't attach to crocs and sandals well).

When ds was 2yo we put the silicone bracelet on his ankle instead of his wrist. We didn't want him to take it off...worked great!

 

[eazyeray]

I'll look into the silicon bracelet. Will it fit a 2 year old though?

 

[eazyeray]

My wife just found this. It works with velcro and shoe laces so it'll work.
http://www.whosshoesid.com/

 

[ses1230]

We prefer using the silicone bracelets over the tattoos (kids wouldn't be thrilled w/ them) or the dog tags/shoe ids (don't attach to crocs and sandals well).

When ds was 2yo we put the silicone bracelet on his ankle instead of his wrist. We didn't want him to take it off...worked great!

That's exactly what we do too, and it works great. They forget about the bracelet on the ankle.
They come in a smaller sizes, too.

 

[WorldWacky]

We used safety tats from www.safetytat.com. They were easy to apply and stayed on until I took them off two weeks later. They stayed on in the pool and tub. My kids were a little older at the time - 6, 4 and 4. I put them on the inside of their bicep area and we practiced how they should show their tattoos to a cast member if they got lost. I don't think my son would have left a bracelet on, but for him, a tattoo was cool.

 

[Suz725]

There are never lost children at WDW. There are lost parents!

But seriously, we have lots of procedures in place to reunite separated families, especially if one of them is a small child.

Rather than a temporary tattoo, you might get a dog tag with a name and your cell phone number and attach it to a shoelace. And also every morning, before leaving for the parks, take a picture so if the child does get misplaced you can describe what he is wearing.

Great advice about the picture!!

 

[exwdwcm]

we ordered bracelets as well. they aren't silicone, but more like the bracelets they used to hand out for EMH or parties at WDW. you can write your cell # and info on it in a sharpie marker. then attach to the child for the day. i have a pack of like 20 to use (in DIS lime green of course). I think it works pretty well for us. He wears crocs a lot, so not sure the dog tag would attach to his shoe very well.

i would say also just ensure you 'train' and prepare your child on what to do if they become separated- i.e. find a cast member, someone wearing name tag and ask for help. As CF said, all CM's are trained in the protocol on how to handle a 'lost parent' situation.

 

[kinghorse]

My advice is not to lose them in the first place. When my daughter was 2 I purchased one of those child "leashes", they have a back pack with bear or just the harness so she couln't explore or get lost in crowds, after 1 day of wearing that she disliked it so much she said she would stay right by me if I didn't use it again. that worked she stayed right by me. I suggest getting one of those and also teaching your child what the cast members looks like and every ride, restaurant has them and to go to one of them if lost and they will find you.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We used safety tats from www.safetytat.com. They were easy to apply and stayed on until I took them off two weeks later. They stayed on in the pool and tub. My kids were a little older at the time - 6, 4 and 4. I put them on the inside of their bicep area and we practiced how they should show their tattoos to a cast member if they got lost. I don't think my son would have left a bracelet on, but for him, a tattoo was cool.

During the trip where ds turned 2yo we put the bracelet on his ankle...he wasn't thrilled about it but forgot about it being there fairly quickly.

As he's gotten older (he'll be 5yo in a few weeks) we've had him wear it on his wrist and during the transition we gave him the option of where to wear it. He generally picked his wrist but the understanding was if he takes it off...even once... it goes right on his ankle.

We only had to switch it to his ankle once!

I forgot to mention the other reason I like the bracelets... the kids can wear them at water parks and in the pools (and at the beach when we are home).

We also take photos of the kids in the morning and whenever there is an outfit change...as well as play the CM game with them a couple of times a day.

The CM game is where we challenge them to identify the CMs in any given area. Since CMs wear such diverse outfits, we want them to be comfortable figuring out who they are wherever we go on property!

 

[myweegirls]

We ordered a stash of these:

http://www.mabel.ca/products/my+411+wristbands

Every morning, the girls put on their flower bracelets, and they really do stay on through hot, sweaty days, pool visits, you name it. They're disposable, which is the only downside, but at least I always know I have backups!

We make a point of having the girls meet a cast member when we arrive. We talk about the name tag and make sure they understand they should look for someone with the name tag if Mommy or Daddy are lost. We reinforce the message occasionally throughout the trip, but it seems to have stuck well. When we were there in May, the kids were pointing out cast members to us and telling us who they'd go see if we got lost!

In an ideal world, they'd never slip away, never disappear from sight. And we are certainly extra vigilant about keeping them close. But stuff happens, no matter how awesome we all are as parents (and we all are!). I like the extra measure of security that comes with those bracelets. I customize them to include Mom's cell and Dad's cell but not the girls' names.

XO
Liz

 

[eazyeray]

We had seen those water park type bracelets but my wife doesn't like them so my daughter is going to wear the velcro shoe with the ID velcro tag on it. She'll only use her crocs at the pool unless we can figure out how to get the ID velcro tag on them.