Phone number in magic band?

[rznhal]

hello!
I was wondering if it is possible to personalize my kids' magic bands with our phone number in case they got separated from us?

tia for your responses!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

get a sharpie and write the phone number on the band. Or on the underside of the band. You could probably put the phone number on it instead of their names when you customize it but would someone think to look there? Also the kid has to remember that the number is there so they can show it to a CM or whoever. would a 2 year old understand that?

 

[k9muttlover]

You can only enter up to 9 characters on MB personalization, which would not be enough for a phone number.

 

[rznhal]

get a sharpie and write the phone number on the band. Or on the underside of the band.

Would that be better than having Disney do it? I just got the mail that said I could personalize them...which got me thinking about putting my phone number(I'm a little freaked about strangers knowing my kids' names anyways, so the number seemed like a good idea?)

 

[rznhal]

You can only enter up to 9 characters on MB personalization, which would not be enough for a phone number.

Ahhh I wondered about that:-/ oh well I think I'll go with the sharpie idea then!!!!

 

[k9muttlover]

You could also get a little creative with it and order some custom decals from sellers on etsy that include your phone number. There are many sellers that do names, etc for bands and I'd think it'd be easy to incorporate a number as well while also including some Disney themeing.

 

[scrapquitler]

Would that be better than having Disney do it? I just got the mail that said I could personalize them...which got me thinking about putting my phone number(I'm a little freaked about strangers knowing my kids' names anyways, so the number seemed like a good idea?)

The name is written in tiny letters on the inside part (think of it like it's on the back side of the watch face if the band was a watch, in probably a number 8 font. Nobody is even going to see it unless they take the MB off and look for it. Strangers are much more likely to know your kids names by simply standing in line behind you for a ride when you say it.

 

[dprincessmom]

Would that be better than having Disney do it? I just got the mail that said I could personalize them...which got me thinking about putting my phone number(I'm a little freaked about strangers knowing my kids' names anyways, so the number seemed like a good idea?)

If this is a concern you could go with a nickname, but the printing is really small and on the inside of the band (my sister wore hers 1/2 of our trip and didn't realize it was there until the event listed next happened), so no one will see it unless they pick it up or it is shown to them. The one time I have seen the name on someone else's band, was a ETWB when a girl maybe 8 left hers on the floor. I got the band and waited until the kids were talking with Belle telling her the name and when she walked back to her family, I handed her the band.

 

[Luvchefmic]

No CM is going to take a child's magic band off. Typical CM doesn't even have access to scan your MB and get any personal info. Normally won't even touch the child to look for ID. The 6 year old maybe can learn your full name and phone number ? The 2 yr old that isn't going to work. Just hold tight I guess is the best advice.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The name that Disney puts on the band is just for identification (so that you can remember whose band is whose). Nobody can see it unless they remove the band from the child. You can put anything you want back there as long as it doesn't exceed 9 characters. If CMs will not remove a child's band to look for a phone number, even if the child is capable of saying that the number is there, then write the number on the front of the band or get an ID bracelet that is specifically for that purpose.

 

[rznhal]

I'm thinking about just making them bracelets with number beads....both kids know my number (I need to update my sig....they're 9 and 5 now), but I'm always afraid if they were lost they might be too stressed to remember it....I always imagine the WORST possible scenario! Haha

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm a little freaked about strangers knowing my kids' names anyways, so the number seemed like a good idea?

There is no one telling us to put a NAME in the MB. You can put whatever you want. I've put "5k redo" or "Half!" and "keepcalm" with the other from my split stay saying "carryon", and things like that

I always imagine the WORST possible scenario!

Then it behooves you to familiarize yourself with the actual methods Disney uses. They do not generally take a MB off and call a number. They do not usually look at tattooes or bracelets or sharpie on the forehead and call a number.

What they DO when they become aware of a lost parent (whether the parent has noticed they are lost or the child has noticed the parent is lost) is mobilize in their own ways.

As a parent, take a picture of your kids every morning, in a way you can EASILY retrieve. On your smartphone or in your digital camera but know how to find that picture. Instead of describing the child, you have a picture.

Help your kids know what to do. STay in the same basic place; don't run all over everywhere. Find a Cast Member, and here is what they look like in the various areas. Better, find a Cast Member at a cash register to show them, "here is what a cash register looks like, can YOU find a cash register and a cast member here?"

Make sure the kids know your NAMES! I'm biased because I called my mom by name and my son did until he decided to be "normal" and call me by my title, but it really bothers me when kids think their parents' names are mom and dad. Everyone has a name, and people in a family should KNOW THE NAMES.

If the kids can't find a CAst Member, have them find a woman with children that the child feels s/he can trust. Go to the mom and ask for help. (yes dads are awesome, yes no-kid people are awesome...this is coming from the excellent book The Gift of Fear*, that intuitively kids will choose a safe person to go to, and the statistics that show clearly that the safest person for someone to go to is a female who has children) Hopefully that mom will alert a Cast Member and not go rogue, trying to find the parents on their own.

Once the CMs are mobilized, reunion will likely happen soon.

Please have one parent NOT panic. The other parent can do what they like. But have ONE adult try to stay calm. The CMs do this allllll the time. They are the experts. We are not.

Know that ultimately reunion might happen at the Lost Child center (might be called Lost Parent), so you could send one parent there while the other parent stays with a CM if that's what the CM is asking them to do.

Know the Disney protocols!



*If you have not read The Gift of Fear, it is EXCELLENT. As another person with a huge imagination (and always the negative stuff; I have never once imagined winning the lottery and being happy forever), that book was incredibly good to read. Gavin deBecker is the author.

 

[disney world dreamer]

sure. just use a sharpie.

 

[Luvchefmic]

There is no " lost child center " per se, kids of a certain age get taken by a CM to the baby care center and older ones get taken to town hall if at MK. Not sure about the other parks, may just be at the baby care centers there. As a parent stop in at guest relations or ask security at bag check best place to go if party gets separated.

bumbershoot I'll agree with everything you said EXCEPT telling a lost kid to find another parent. A CM can ALWAYS be found and that is who they should find and stick with.

 

[kiford]

Would that be better than having Disney do it? I just got the mail that said I could personalize them...which got me thinking about putting my phone number(I'm a little freaked about strangers knowing my kids' names anyways, so the number seemed like a good idea?)

We didn't use our names on them. DH used his initials and I used a nickname. We had to pick ours up at the hotel because they don't ship to Canada and the clerk at check in snickered a little when he asked which one of us was "froggy". It's only to differentiate bands in case you have the same colours. Best to use a permanent marker if you want to add additional information.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you scan your MB to enter the FP line I believe your name comes up on the monitor. The reason I think this is true is because if I remember correctly the CM called me by name. AND I don't believe I used my name on my MB for that trip. So there might be a way for them to find your cell # if they scan your child's MB. I would definitely ask about that. And make sure you Cell # is on file correctly.

 

[pookadoo77]

I created custom MB stickers with fun images and inserted my number on all of them for the kiddos. smaller near the clasp part for the older kids, larger for the 4 y.o. Magicyourband.com @MagicYourBand , there are several pics of other ones they made on the SWW thread too. They seem VERY durable and even came with some spares!!

 

[crewsn]

I'd write it on the inside of the magicband. Protocol or not. Having a number on you will increase the likelihood of someone just calling you. Simple.

I wrote my number in the band, but also wrote all my information including what hotel we were at on multiple stickies "name tags". I put one in the inside of my child's shirts each day. That way if he got lost he knew this WS in his shirt. I told him to just give to a cast member.

I can tell you from experience the name tag worked best for us. As he would take off the magic band and want us to wear it occasionally, but I would do both. It did come in handy too. My son did get separated in a mess of people in a ride area in MK. He pulled out the tag from his shirt and handed it to a CM who called out my name. She spotted me too though as we had matching shirts. A plus for matching shirts as well in this situation. Though this was a mild example. It was something easy for him to remember and he didn't have to say or remember much.

 

[Shana Banana]

There is no one telling us to put a NAME in the MB. You can put whatever you want. I've put "5k redo" or "Half!" and "keepcalm" with the other from my split stay saying "carryon", and things like that



Then it behooves you to familiarize yourself with the actual methods Disney uses. They do not generally take a MB off and call a number. They do not usually look at tattooes or bracelets or sharpie on the forehead and call a number.

What they DO when they become aware of a lost parent (whether the parent has noticed they are lost or the child has noticed the parent is lost) is mobilize in their own ways.

As a parent, take a picture of your kids every morning, in a way you can EASILY retrieve. On your smartphone or in your digital camera but know how to find that picture. Instead of describing the child, you have a picture.

Help your kids know what to do. STay in the same basic place; don't run all over everywhere. Find a Cast Member, and here is what they look like in the various areas. Better, find a Cast Member at a cash register to show them, "here is what a cash register looks like, can YOU find a cash register and a cast member here?"

Make sure the kids know your NAMES! I'm biased because I called my mom by name and my son did until he decided to be "normal" and call me by my title, but it really bothers me when kids think their parents' names are mom and dad. Everyone has a name, and people in a family should KNOW THE NAMES.

If the kids can't find a CAst Member, have them find a woman with children that the child feels s/he can trust. Go to the mom and ask for help. (yes dads are awesome, yes no-kid people are awesome...this is coming from the excellent book The Gift of Fear*, that intuitively kids will choose a safe person to go to, and the statistics that show clearly that the safest person for someone to go to is a female who has children) Hopefully that mom will alert a Cast Member and not go rogue, trying to find the parents on their own.

Once the CMs are mobilized, reunion will likely happen soon.

Please have one parent NOT panic. The other parent can do what they like. But have ONE adult try to stay calm. The CMs do this allllll the time. They are the experts. We are not.

Know that ultimately reunion might happen at the Lost Child center (might be called Lost Parent), so you could send one parent there while the other parent stays with a CM if that's what the CM is asking them to do.

Know the Disney protocols!



*If you have not read The Gift of Fear, it is EXCELLENT. As another person with a huge imagination (and always the negative stuff; I have never once imagined winning the lottery and being happy forever), that book was incredibly good to read. Gavin deBecker is the author.

bumbershoot, you nailed it! Thanks for your detailed post. It was a good reminder for me. In our everyday life, my DS is well versed to find a mom with kids so if he would happen to panic and default to that at WDW, I hope the mom would just grab a CM. Who wouldn't? She won't want to waste too much valuable vacation time but hopefully will take the time to grab a CM.

 

[JanaDee]

I'd write it on the inside of the magicband. Protocol or not. Having a number on you will increase the likelihood of someone just calling you. Simple.

I wrote my number in the band, but also wrote all my information including what hotel we were at on multiple stickies "name tags". I put one in the inside of my child's shirts each day. That way if he got lost he knew this WS in his shirt. I told him to just give to a cast member.

I can tell you from experience the name tag worked best for us. As he would take off the magic band and want us to wear it occasionally, but I would do both. It did come in handy too. My son did get separated in a mess of people in a ride area in MK. He pulled out the tag from his shirt and handed it to a CM who called out my name. She spotted me too though as we had matching shirts. A plus for matching shirts as well in this situation. Though this was a mild example. It was something easy for him to remember and he didn't have to say or remember much.

CM's as a rule will not touch your child. They won't take off a MB to look for a number and they surely won't be looking inside clothes!