Observed a scary situation

[Interstellar Mickey]

I hope someone reported this man (or at least talked with the mother to see if the man is in any relation),

He may have been getting old, being super friendly or just mentally unstable .... but there is a chance it could have been the other. If a stranger would have taken my child without my permission, no way on earth would I let it 'slide'.

I wouldn't go out and embarrass him or make him out to be a bad guy (there might be a reasonable explanation), I would just notify the CMs as casual as possible. Same goes for anything, really. There's nothing wrong with reporting suspicious acts

 

[PlainJane]

Thank you! My DS has a harness/leash and last time in WDW we were in Epcot - DS wanted to go left, the family was going right, so there was a minor tantrum involved (he was 21 months old). Here he is laying on the path in front of Mexico with his harness on and I'm standing over him mildly amused asking, "Are you done yet?" - because as all Mom's know, it was for show. Some young lady (19-23) walked by and murmured, "poor kid" and all I could think was "How about poor Mom?" But he won't be taken from me when he's on that leash. It may look mean or cruel but I am smart enough to know that my child will bolt or cut left and I've taken the precaution to stop that.

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.

 

[mom2boys77]

This was my exact thought. It's really sad that our world is like this.

I understand what you're saying, but isn't it a sad world where a man can't talk to kids? My DH loves kids, but he knows he can't talk with them unless I'm with him and even then, its a fine line. Why have things changed? Is there that much more abuse?

 

[ILuvCrush]

I think this is really sad. I would have asked your son the same thing, and not felt bad about it in the least. Your dad WAS being friendly, and he didn't do anything wrong. The day I teach my kids to ignore strangers in public places even when the risk of danger is very low...MANY people around, the guy was with his family for goodness sake, and asking a totally innocent question, not trying to entice him to do anything or go anywhere. I am a protective mom, but at some point it becomes self-destructive for a child to fear every person he doesn't know well. I would be comfortable with an 11-year-old interacting in a NORMAL manner with someone asking a friendly, innocent question. I don't buy this "teach your kids every stranger is dangerous" crap. I know that's the least of my children's worries. They are more likely to be abused by a family member or friend who can get them alone over and over and over than a man WITH HIS FAMILY asking a completely normal question about a ride in a theme park. A stranger is statistically more likely to help a child in trouble than hurt them. By all means, teach your kids every sign of danger, every strategy for escape or attracting attention, that you will never be mad if they tell and that they should tell immediately...if not you, then another adult they trust. But never will I teach them to look at people like they are all potential child molesters or murderers. That's living in fear and I won't have it. By the way, I realize a lot of people will disagree with me and that's fine. Teach your kids that strangers are all scary and potentially want to hurt them if you want to, it's your right. I simply disagree and won't do that to mine.

Others may disagree...but I don't

My kids are taught about strangers and dangers, but I think that having them in constant fear is a bad thing.

 

[centurythree]

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 wandered off with a friend once at King's Dominion when I was a kid. (My friend's mom was supposed to be watching us in the kiddie section, but being me I wasn't into the kiddie rides and off we went to the bumper cars.) I don't know who was more stern, the security guard that finally caught up with us or my mom.

 

[WDSearcher]

I hope someone reported this man (or at least talked with the mother to see if the man is in any relation),

He may have been getting old, being super friendly or just mentally unstable .... but there is a chance it could have been the other. If a stranger would have taken my child without my permission, no way on earth would I let it 'slide'.

I wouldn't go out and embarrass him or make him out to be a bad guy (there might be a reasonable explanation), I would just notify the CMs as casual as possible. Same goes for anything, really. There's nothing wrong with reporting suspicious acts

Well ... except that sometimes, the person reporting is the unstable one, KWIM? I think a fair amount of common sense needs to be applied. If a child behind me trips and drops a toy and I pick it up and hand it back and ask the child if they're okay, I don't really think that warrants someone pulling the child away and then asking me (angrily) who I am and why I was talking to their child. But yet ... that's happened to me at the mall. I think that it would be more reasonable to find out if there WAS an explanation before you "notified the CMs as casually as possible." I mean, really. What do you say? "That man over there spoke to my child and she walked over to him and took his hand?" I mean, it's not like the gentleman walked up to the child, pulled her out of line forcefully and said, "Here ... stand with me." I'm all for child safety, but let's not falsely accuse people either.

From the description of the incident, it doesn't appear as though the man was stealthily looking around to see if anyone was watching, and even the child's mother didn't feel it threatening enough to do anything more than go retrieve her child. The OP would have intervened, but even she didn't find it to be so dangerous that she had to instantly step in to save the child. So ... scary, yes. But in this case, it seems more like an incident of a too-friendly child and an elderly gentlemen who may have been missing his grandkids. If it had been me, I probalby would have gone up to the gentleman, smiled and said, "Hi ... this one's mine. Sorry!", picked her up and moved on. But then, I tend to believe the best in people.

The other problem here, though, is the mother's comment that, "her daughter is not afraid of anyone and would go to anyone." Clearly, mom needs to chat with her daughter about how to deal with people she doesn't know. This isn't really something she can let go for much longer.

 

[GovieMom]

i agree someone is just trying to make something out of nothing she was probably staring at him getting on the ride so he talked to her and asked it she wanted to ride just playing with the child and her mother was right there

Add me to the "I agree with this" list!

 

[hsmamato2]

I am a mom,and a fierce protector too ....but to the Op's story,don't forget,many people visiting WDW are from other countries,where talking to,touching,or sitting with a strange child is considered normal,and natural. As is kids running around naked,or in underwear.
I do understand caution,but I've known quite a few folks from various places,and their treatment of kids is way different from how it's ingrained here in America. here,we all feel VERY unsafe,and watched. Many other places, people feel safe,and the way they allow kids freedom shows a big difference.
All I'm saying is,I'm overly cautious(I'm American) but I've also met plenty of people who are like this with kids,and it's completely innocent.
Not saying it always is( the pp's POP story was BAD)
This is not to say creeps aren't everywhere,but here in USA,we think differently about norms.

 

[hsmamato2]

That man does sound interesting, but it's often the "normal" looking people that cause the most problems . . . and I hate to say it, but leaving a 13 year old boy alone is just as much a risk as leaving a 13 year old girl alone.

Thank you for saying so..... if you've read statistics,boys are in as much danger as girls.

 

[hsmamato2]

To all.....read the books on safety by Gavin De Becker......surprisingly,he advocates teaching kids HOW to talk to strangers,not being afraid of everyone.....makes good sense.
In reality,we need to teach kids how to be sensible,to protect themselves.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

After a 2+ hour private meeting between police and the 18YO, they came into another room to tell us that the guy finally admitted that he hadn't yet touched my daughter, but he very much wanted to, so he could "get off".

That is absolutely terrifying and downright creepy! I'm so glad you're DH was able to stop it from happening. I'm so sorry you guys experienced that while on vacation - at WDW no less. UGH!

 

[mickaholic4077]

When DS was about 12 we were staying at WL in a courtyard view room 4th floor. He asked if he could go down to the pool himself, so I watched till he got on the elevator and then went back to the balcony to watch him. He was swimming for a while and then a boy about his age started talking to him and asking him to go somewhere with him. DS yelled up to me to ask if it was OK. I said No. All I could think was that this kid could have been used by an adult to lure my DS someplace. When he came back to the room I explained that I just felt uncomfortable about the fact that the other boy had just started talking to him and then wanted him to go somewhere with him.

Just another situation of people who look OK, but may not be.

At 15 I did drop him and a friend off at DQ for the evening and at 17 I let him take a bus to WL to transfer to DTD bus to go to DQ by himself while we stayed at HS for Fantasmic. He had to call us on the cell phone to let us know when he got to each place. This year he's 21 and we're going on the Disney Cruise for 4 nights and even though he is of age, there will still be rules to follow because I still feel responsible for his actions.

I don't know about anyone else,but if I was a 21 year old man,I would blow off my mother trying to lay down any kind of rules for me to follow anywhere. A polite request to call me if I'm going off the ship,but otherwise,forget it. I'm a grown man and I can take care of myself.(referring to the 21-year-old DS,not me!)

 

[Sparkie]

What an eye opening thread!!!!


We were in Disney July 2008. Me (aka mom), DD 12, DD16, and DD friend 16- all girls. I'm usually very cautious with my girls. But as they have gotten older I have relaxed a little.... and now I worry that I may have relaxed too much.

I have let my DD12 wander the POP gift shop with me or her sister close by. I left all three girls at the hotel one morning while I went to lost and found to find my phone and the 3 of them met me later at Epcot so they traveled the bus alone- together but alone. I let DD16 and DD friend 16 go to World Showcase alone while DD 12 and I were in Future World.

I do get that "panic" feeling when I let DD 12 walk away from me and end up looking for her and staying with her but what about those few minutes that I have left her alone???? NEVER AGAIN!!! I PROMISE!!!

I thought my DD 16 was just being difficult when she refused to go the food court alone and wanted to wait until we could all go together, thought she was crazy when she insisted that we just stay together as a group and do the rides together.

You guys have certainly opened my eyes. I am aware of stranger danger and thankfully I have not had anything happen like some of the others that have posted here and hope that I never do.

 

[dzorn]

This is a long-running urban legend that has been debunked many many times over the years. This same story shows up constantly -- sometimes it was in a mall, sometimes at a theme park, sometimes at the county fair. This has NEVER happened at Disney. I'm sure it probably happened somewhere -- or that some of the story happened somewhere and was then embellished -- but this abduction never took place at a Disney park.

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/kidnap.asp

Well I do remember (I was in park at the time) all Bob-lo (now closed Amusement park) Boats (Boat from an amusement park on an Island in Canada close to Detroit) being stopped while a child was missing. No departures were happening until she was found. Cannot remember the details but needless to say my Mom was pretty freaked. Though I do recall something about shoes.

Denise in MI

 

[LoraJ]

I hope someone reported this man (or at least talked with the mother to see if the man is in any relation),

He may have been getting old, being super friendly or just mentally unstable .... but there is a chance it could have been the other. If a stranger would have taken my child without my permission, no way on earth would I let it 'slide'.

I wouldn't go out and embarrass him or make him out to be a bad guy (there might be a reasonable explanation), I would just notify the CMs as casual as possible. Same goes for anything, really. There's nothing wrong with reporting suspicious acts

I doubt he would have taken the child in the Dumbo line. Too many people there. I can't believe how many of you say you would report Grandpa. For what???? Talking to a child is not against the law.

And having rules for a 21yo on a cruise. Are you kidding me?

How will these kids ever function as adults on their own? Or will they not be allowed to be on their own until they are 40?

 

[Racknack]

Strange thing for that old guy to do. I wish old guys would not do such strange things. I'm an old guy myself, and really enjoy my annual solo visit to Walt Disney World. But I avoid being too friendly with children because I do not wish to cause any parents to be concerned about my presence. I limit my contact with children to a smile if they smile first, and that's about it. I love to strike up conversations with friendly adults however.

RackNack

 

[Mick&Minn]

You should have reported it but you dont think about that at the time

 

[skater]

It will be a sad day indeed when our generation is old and we're not allowed to talk to kids. Hopefully we'll all be lucky and have plenty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren .

 

[Disneyholic]

I don't know about anyone else,but if I was a 21 year old man,I would blow off my mother trying to lay down any kind of rules for me to follow anywhere. A polite request to call me if I'm going off the ship,but otherwise,forget it. I'm a grown man and I can take care of myself.(referring to the 21-year-old DS,not me!)

Do you want my DS 21 hanging around with your 13 -17 year old daughters or sons? That is the kind of rules I am talking about. Don't need him getting in trouble because some parent thinks he is up to something. I met my husband, who was 27 at the time, when I was 17 1/2 and you better believe my Dad set down some ground rules for him if he wanted to date me. (By the way, we have been married for 36 years) DS is very responsible, finished school for automotive tech and works full time. He rides a motorcycle (put on 3000 miles since May) so, yes he is living a very normal & active life.

 

[WDSearcher]

You should have reported it but you dont think about that at the time

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.