Lost Children

[lovelylins]

Hello

Having visited Disney several times with my own children and never having lost one, I don't quite know why I'm so panicky about the idea of losing my 6 year old grandaughter while we are there next month, but I am!

Does anyone have any experience of this,and also does Disney have any sort of tracking system - someone told me that you could get a number for your child, then provide Disney with your cell phone number and they would ring you when the child is found?

Do you think it's best to tell her to just stay where she is if she loses us, or should I tell her to look for a member of staff?

Help please!

 

[Elise79]

Cast Members are trained to deal with lost children The best thing to do is tell her to go to the nearest cast member and you do the same too! Remember every ride has a CM greeter

I am sure you will be fine

 

[lin85prest]

Last year when we were there we got seperated from our foster son 11. The CM's were excellent and called security, we stayed where we were and he found us again but it is frightening when it is so busy.

 

[wayneg]

We found a little lad about 7 or 8 year old last month on our way to IOA near Margaritaville, he was stood looking lost, DW asked him and he nodded but he was terrified wouldn't speak at all, I went into Universal store and CM came out, she said they get it all the time.
They are trained for it and it happens often, best goto them.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Some people put details in children's shoes so they have them - they will probably be so scared they would forget - or get them to wear a necklace with a tag attached with your cell no. on.

The only person we ever lost was our MIL at the toilets - she came out - we had never moved & just didn't see us. Luckily we found her after about 15 minutes but she said she was so scare she couldn't even remember her name!!

 

[UKDEB]

You could consider the Who's Shoes child safety system. As others have said, though, the CMs are well versed. I'd suggest introducing your grand-daughter to one and explaining that she should tell one if she can't find you (pointing out that she can recognise them by their name badges.)

 

[dooledoo]

We went 2 years ago with our 5 year old daughter and I bought some wristbands for her. They are bright yellow and on the inside there is space to write your name, address (or Hotel) and a mobile phone no. I think they are called WicKID bands and come in various sizes. If you search on the internet you can find them and I also think Boots sell them.

It put my mind at rest, that should she get lost and the CM's found her, if she was upset she might not be too coherent and at least the wrist band would let them know a bit about her. Luckily she never got lost!!!

 

[neilsalop]

Is it OK to lose them if they're over 18? And if so do you have to take them back if they're found?

 

[wicket2005]

Is it OK to lose them if they're over 18? And if so do you have to take them back if they're found?

Yes I am afraid you do.

 

[~Fisharefriends~]

It snever happened to us but it is somehing i worry about. A tip i learned from here is to take a picture of your child every morning so if they do go missing you can show the CM's without having to ry and decribe what they are wearing.

Whenever we go out a lost child always seems to approach dh and I (we ,must look nice!!) and we always take hem straight to the nearest member of staff who alwasy seem to be very helpful and know exactly what to do.

 

[cowza]

Yep... best advice is to make sure your kids know they can approach any of the cast members at Disney World if they get lost.

What happens is the cast member will stay in the area for a while with the child (because usually the parents are close by). If parents don't appear the cast member will call security and they will take down a description of the child. Someone from security would normally come to get the child.

Then when you realise you've lost your child tell a cast member and they will call security. And they should be able to match the missing child with your description... and tell you where they are located.

Distinctive clothing is usually good... not difficult with children though because they usually want to wear their favourite Disney character in some sense or other.

 

[cowza]

Oh I might add that leaving a cell phone number is always helpful because yes... someone can just call you. But don't panic if the child doesn't have it... Disney will find your child haha ;-)

 

[scojos]

ok, i have an 8yr old asd child, so am good at this!
we did the following-
wore identical bright tshirts, v easy to find a kid in lime green (and helped us find other disers too!
took pictures in car park which also helped us find the car!
brought a lanyard which is disigned for room keys and wrote our numbers, names and room location (we were at PORS)
on the disabilities thread there is a link too a tatoo on seller which makes removable tats with phone numbers but they come off in water
we did not lose any of our kids this time, but we have lost them on previous trips!!
hope this helps
tracy

 

[Hilary]

We haven't yet managed to lose a child, but have had experience of getting Security involved when my DM went missing in OKW last year!

DM had gone for a short walk while we finished getting ready to leave for the park about 20 minutes later. She is so punctual that I began to get concerned when she hadn't returned after half an hour as I knew she would be worrying about keeping us all waiting (and I know she has absolutely no sense of direction!). DH and I set off in different directions to look for her but, after a fruitless search for about half an hour, had still not found her. I was even looking in the lakes!

I decided to call Guest Services and they put me through to Security who were so patient and understanding and didn't make any of us feel we were wasting their time - even when DH eventually found DM standing outside the wrong villa a few buildings away from ours, just waiting for us to find her! Now, if she'd found a CM (or Mosekeeper as this was in the resort) to tell them she was lost, it would have been a much quicker process, but it didn't occur to me to tell my DM what she should do!

So I would definitely recommend the 'find a CM' instruction to anyone lost - young or old!