Observed a scary situation

[surfergirl602]

People laugh and poke fun at those leashes for kids - but sometimes kids just run. Maybe it helps those parents that don't know how to parent keep their children attached.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Maybe it helps those parents that don't know how to parent keep their children attached.

Wow, big presumption that just because someone has a "runner", they don't know how to parent?

 

[surfergirl602]

Scary stories

We were at SeaWorld last week when I was about to go into the restroom and a man had his little girl (about 6ish) and was looking like he wasn't sure what to do. I started to ask him if he wanted me to bring her into the ladies room and then thought this man may think I'm crazy. He ended up bringing her in the men's restroom.

I didn't see a companion/family rest room like all the ones I saw while at Disney.

Poor Dads! My husband has had to take my daughter to the bathroom in the men's room - and he pulled her coat over her face to take her to a stall!!! Moms have no problems bringing kids into the bathrooms with them - but when will people realize that there are dads out there with kids as well?

 

[surfergirl602]

I wish more parents who know their kid is a runner would use a leash.

I was sitting outside the bathrooms at the front of Epcot when a little boy about two came bolting out. I was about to get up to catch him when his mother followed after him a couple seconds later.

It's always so sad to see parents who have lost their kids. I was at Water Country on July 4th, and this woman came running frantically into the gift shop I was in asking anyone who would listen if they had seen a little girl. Thankfully, a worker saw her and asked for the little girls description, and radioed security.

I work in a military registration office for childrens activities. No matter what we do, parents will come in and let their children run wild all over the building. They do it at the commissary, at the PX... they don't even care! I've had to tell parents that their child just walked out the door!! Yes, it is a military post, but come on people!!! Have some responsibility! There are civilians on this post, too!!! Who do you think cuts the grass? They just don't pay attention! They have their chatty little conversations and expect everyone else to watch their children.

 

[LadyOmega]

I work in a military registration office for childrens activities. No matter what we do, parents will come in and let their children run wild all over the building. They do it at the commissary, at the PX... they don't even care! I've had to tell parents that their child just walked out the door!! Yes, it is a military post, but come on people!!! Have some responsibility! There are civilians on this post, too!!! Who do you think cuts the grass? They just don't pay attention! They have their chatty little conversations and expect everyone else to watch their children.

That is definitely rude. However, I don't think that's what people are meaning when they say "runner". When I think of a kid being a "runner", I think of it meaning the kind that just gets excited about something and takes off like a shot, and you're constantly chasing them down. I didn't even think of that word in connection with kids who's parents just aren't watching them and letting them run all over the place.

This is a sad, scary, but informative thread. It's definitely got me thinking about hwo things are gonna go when we take DD next year....

 

[surfergirl602]

Reported him for what? "Oh Security! Security! This older man smiled and was nice to my daughter in the line at the Dumbo ride!" Come on. Really? Let's not forget that the mother admitted, "her daughter is not afraid of anyone and would go to anyone." Maybe part of the onus should be on the mother for not teaching her child not to approach strangers. But truly, do we want to start reporting every person who is nice to our kids? I can't believe that it's now not okay to smile at or chat with a child for fear of being thought a perv.

Reported him on the fact that he took her hand and told her she could ride the ride with him. Was he only kidding?? Or was he completely serious about taking her on that ride?

 

[julezdisney]

I'm really annoyed by people who make statements like this. It's tabloid tactics based on nothing but the fact that there are a lot of kids at WDW and so, therefore, the place must also be rife with pedophiles. WDW is no more dangerous a place for children to play and enjoy themselves than any playground, schoolyard, mall, fair, amusement park or Chuckie Cheese's in the country. And based on the amount of security and the level of awareness among the cast a Disney, it's probably far safer than anywhere else.

I agree. I think we're all just devastated to think that our favorite place on earth can let in freaks and wierdos- but the truth is- they are everywhere, so why should Disney be any different?

 

[surfergirl602]

Wow, big presumption that just because someone has a "runner", they don't know how to parent?

It was just a joshing around, a joke - not meant to be taken in harm saying they don't know how to parent. Not at all. Sorry - it was just poking fun at it, from what I've seen from my job. When parent's have their child attached to them, on a leash, they will know where they are and not out in the middle of the road somewhere.

 

[LuvsTinker]

No, 11 years old is waaayyyy too old. I would teach your child what to do in these types of situations. Realistically, you cannot watch your child like a hawk all the time. It is always good to teach them safety info and maybe even give him a small bottle of mace if he is ever faced with an unsafe situation.

That's easier said then done sometimes. My 8 yo who is tall for his age is mildly autistic and I don't feel comfortable at all with him using restrooms without an adult or leaving him stand outside by himself.

I see nothing wrong with him standing inside the restroom by the door. All the stalls have doors and he's not going to see anything.

I did see several companion restrooms when at WDW last week. We didn't have to use them since my DH could bring our son to the restroom.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

It was just a joshing around, a joke - not meant to be taken in harm saying they don't know how to parent. Not at all. Sorry - it was just poking fun at it, from what I've seen from my job. When parent's have their child attached to them, on a leash, they will know where they are and not out in the middle of the road somewhere.

I'm so sorry. I completely misunderstood your post. I mistook the winking smiley to be poking fun at parents who can't control their kids and are too attached.

I never had a runner, but I've seen some little kids get a number of adults up and running and chasing after them and I feel for those parents. It must be exhausting to chase a child all day.

 

[Tricia819]

I'm really annoyed by people who make statements like this. It's tabloid tactics based on nothing but the fact that there are a lot of kids at WDW and so, therefore, the place must also be rife with pedophiles. WDW is no more dangerous a place for children to play and enjoy themselves than any playground, schoolyard, mall, fair, amusement park or Chuckie Cheese's in the country. And based on the amount of security and the level of awareness among the cast a Disney, it's probably far safer than anywhere else.

Didn't say anything about WDW being "rife with pedophiles" as you put it. But there isn't usually too many little kids running through fountains half naked at our local mall.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Damn right I would have called a CM and told them when my back was turned he tried to walk off with my daughter (he invited her to join him -- she did not ask him to take her away.) After that it's up to Disney and the local police to decide whether to press the matter. If asked, I most certainly would have pressed charges. End of story, don't care if he gets offended, my first and only responsibility is to my child.

Pressed charges for what?? I do not get it.

I will be at Disney this month with my family - including 69 old father. He is a baby/kid magnet. He always carries candies. He is the dream of the neighborhood - if a kid cannot be found - usually they have wandered to my dad's house. He "watches" them until a parent comes around (they live in Chicago where kids are allowed to play outside).

He loves babies and talks to them everywhere. I never thought I would have to hurt him and tell him he is not allowed to speak to ANY kids.

To me this seems like an awful lot of paranoia.

 

[Starlight792000]

Pressed charges for what?? I do not get it.

I will be at Disney this month with my family - including 69 old father. He is a baby/kid magnet. He always carries candies. He is the dream of the neighborhood - if a kid cannot be found - usually they have wandered to my dad's house. He "watches" them until a parent comes around (they live in Chicago where kids are allowed to play outside).

He loves babies and talks to them everywhere. I never thought I would have to hurt him and tell him he is not allowed to speak to ANY kids.

To me this seems like an awful lot of paranoia.

It depends i guess

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

We also have to remember that people are coming from different countries. It's not "weird" in a lot of countries for little kids to be topless at the water parks and such.

Trust me my first time at Typhoon Lagoon there was a whole family. The boys and father in speedo's and the DD's in just bathing suit bottoms. I'm talking kids in teh 12-9 range. I was weirded out but remembered that they were from a different country and it's probably very normal.

It is normal - there is something to be said that AMERICANS are the ones who sexualize our daughters. I mean we cover up their chests when there is nothing different from a 5 year old boy versus a 5 year old girl.

Wearing a top implies there is something good under there that needs to be covered up. I wish our little girls could go topless.

 

[WDSearcher]

Didn't say anything about WDW being "rife with pedophiles" as you put it. But there isn't usually too many little kids running through fountains half naked at our local mall.

I'm sorry. I guess I misread "A pedophile's paradise ... is still, after all, Walt Disney World." That seems like a pretty clear statement that there are a good number of pedophiles at WDW. Maybe you could explain what nuance I missed?

I still say it's no more or less dangerous from that perspective than any other place where kids congregate. Children don't have to be disrobed or half-naked for a pedophile to strike. (But, just for the record, our local mall does have several fountain areas where kids run around in their diapers and bathing suits.)

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Pressed charges for what?? I do not get it.

I will be at Disney this month with my family - including 69 old father. He is a baby/kid magnet. He always carries candies. He is the dream of the neighborhood - if a kid cannot be found - usually they have wandered to my dad's house. He "watches" them until a parent comes around (they live in Chicago where kids are allowed to play outside).

He loves babies and talks to them everywhere. I never thought I would have to hurt him and tell him he is not allowed to speak to ANY kids.

To me this seems like an awful lot of paranoia.

What I said was, if I were asked by the police if I wanted to press charges (I'm assuming they would know whether it was an option or not), I would have. Also, you forget, you know your father, I don't. The neighborhood kids know your father, I don't. I don't have a problem with people talking to my child or smiling at them WHEN I'M THERE AND PAYING ATTENTION. I do have a problem with a stranger (man or woman) offering my child their hand AS SOON AS MY BACK TURNS. If there was no ill intent, it doesn't look good that he waited for the mother to be otherwise momentarily preoccupied.

Obviously some of us will never agree on this matter, which is fine. I'll do what I feel is best and you'll do what you feel is best. I pray none of us ever has to feel the pain and guilt that would come if something were to happen to our children.

 

[WDSearcher]

If there was no ill intent, it doesn't look good that he waited for the mother to be otherwise momentarily preoccupied.

Obviously some of us will never agree on this matter, which is fine. I'll do what I feel is best and you'll do what you feel is best. I pray none of us ever has to feel the pain and guilt that would come if something were to happen to our children.

But the OP never said the guy "waited for the mother to be otherwise momentarily preoccupied." She never once implied that he'd been watching and waiting for an opportunity to strike. That's a spin YOU put on it.

I do agree with you on one thing, though. We will never all agree on this. But hopefully it will make us all more aware of our kids in public places which was, I think, the OP's point in the first place.

 

[jblrn2b]

chicagodisneyfan

No offense but if an older man that I didn't know offered my kid candy at WDW I wouldn't let them eat it. I try to teach my kids that not everyone is bad its just not worth the risk. There are a lot of nice people in the world but you have to proceed with caution so don't be offended if people are leary of him.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

The bottom line is you can never let your guard down no matter where you are. Even in the happiest place on earth.

 

[Missy1961]

I'm really annoyed by people who make statements like this. It's tabloid tactics based on nothing but the fact that there are a lot of kids at WDW and so, therefore, the place must also be rife with pedophiles. WDW is no more dangerous a place for children to play and enjoy themselves than any playground, schoolyard, mall, fair, amusement park or Chuckie Cheese's in the country. And based on the amount of security and the level of awareness among the cast a Disney, it's probably far safer than anywhere else.

Amen!