Security for our kids and my peace of mind

[thisthingsgottawork]

When last we went to DLR a year ago, we hadn't given much thought to lost kids. That has changed. Our three year old has an independant streak, but is not very well understood by those not used to his verbal pronunciations. Neither child has our cell phone numbers memorized.

What we have done is surf the web for child id solutions. We wound up purchasing through My Precious Kid . Com and got velcro id bracelets for the entire family. We also got some engraved dog tags that are cute and clip onto clothing. Overkill.Maybe.but... only if we don't need them.

The other issue from last year (only noticed on two rides) was inadequate restraint for the kids. On Gadget's Go Coaster and BTMRR, when small children sit next to a full (and I mean full) sized adult, the lap bar is tight on the adult. At the same time though, it is providing only minimal restraint for the kids.

My answer in this department is for all of us to wear sturdy belts, and to rig up sections of climbing rope with a carabiner at each end. It may actually do no good, but seems that it will prevent lateral or upward acceleration beyond the length of the strapping.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Wade

We are single digits. We leave in under a week.

 

[Neko]

Write your name and cell phone number with a sharpie on some tape and put it on the inside waist of their t-shirt. Tell them to only show it to a CM, police officer, etc. if they're lost.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Take a picture of them each day in the clothes they are wearing. That way if they wander off, you can show a CM a photo in their exact outfit.

 

[Eeee-va]

I've heard of people writing their cell number on their kids in Sharpie, so I'm not sure your method is overkill there. Do your kids know how to show people their dog tags? They might not be easily spotted. And if they have the kid's name, then they might arguably be a danger, as a stranger could spot the name and possibly use it. If that's the case, I'd have the kids wear them somewhere under their clothes.

I don't follow your carabiner method but from the description it actually sounds dangerous to me. I guess I'm not reading right? I'm imagining a kid somehow thrown out of the seat but then still dragged behind/alongside the car by an improvised safety device.

Or, if the safety device gets caught on something and neither the rope nor the sturdy belt gives way, there could be a very serious injury. It could cause a problem for escaping the car in case of an emergency too.

Where are they hooking to? It sounded like they hook around the bars to me? If so, will you take them off before the car comes to a full and complete stop and the bars pop up? (That's probably not AS big of an issue on BTMRR as you have at least a few seconds of warning before you reach the station, but Gadget's Go Coaster goes by so quickly--less than a minute from beginning to end--that there's not really much time to remove your safety device.)

I don't know exactly how people do it, but I have read that basically if you get your belly over the lap belt instead of beneath it, that should help keep your child in, using the restraint engineered for the vehicle.

If you feel you must follow the carabiner method, I'd just hitch a kid to an adult with a very short rope. This would keep the child from flying out (unless the adult goes too) but would not cause any real interference with Disney's engineered safety devices, and would not be nearly as bad for mobility in case of a dire emergency.

Have a great trip!

 

[Pomlover2586]

I agree DO NOT put any identifying info [name address etc] on the outside where random guests can see it.....such as Name tag on clothes, Bracelet with info etc.......too many weirdos would see the info....try calling your kids etc....

Police are really trying to warn people about personalized backpacks [ones with names] etc because of this reason.....bad guy can just call the kid by name


As far as restraints go.............I kinda think your over thinking it. JMHO....Those restraints have been tested time and time again......it's been specifically tested to make sure a person X height and over IS protected by the belt/bar etc. If your kid is under X height then yeah you could worry.

Your child may experience a little 'butt lift" [bottom coming off the bench during drops] but it's not going to be enough to remove the child from the car.

If your truly concerned I think a simple parents arm around childs shoulder would more than suffice- no need to bring in the ropes and chains.

 

[usschmidt]

We do the sharpie on the body thing...the kids love it! We also point out the DLR security guards and we go over what to do if we get separated. We also have a set of fingerprints stored in our hotel room. I've even taught the girls to look for LGMH's lol!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I agree DO NOT put any identifying info [name address etc] on the outside where random guests can see it.....such as Name tag on clothes, Bracelet with info etc.......too many weirdos would see the info....try calling your kids etc....

Police are really trying to warn people about personalized backpacks [ones with names] etc because of this reason.....bad guy can just call the kid by name

My kids names are on the inside of their backpacks and lunch boxes for this reason. But I think a bracelet is a little different. They'd have to be really close to be able to read it. Or have just your phone number on it and not the child's name. A couple of companies have those plastic wristbands that you can write on.

 

[Canyon girl]

Ok, I go CHEAP on the ID thing. I get the Mickey Head paint chips from Home Depot (like the LGMHs) in the kids favorite colors. I take two for each kid, peel the Mickey Head off of the backing, and double-sided tape them back-to-back. I put the kid's name and hotel name on both sides with my cell number on one side and my DH cell number on the other side. I put allergy info on one ear. I then laminate the Mickey Head and cut out. I hole punch the ear without the allergy info and tie a string through the hole. This kids wear this as a necklace inside their shirts. They are instructed to only show it to a CM or security if lost or in trouble. It's cheap but effective. As far as the lap bars, I am assuming that you mean that you don't think that it is safe when you and a child are sitting together, maybe. If this is the case, just put your arm around their shoulder and hold on. Have fun!

 

[disneynerd420]

I agree with the last few posters. Your child will be fine even if the lap bar does not come down all the way. BTMRR is not a ride that throws you around enough to actually throw you out of your seat. You may experience some lift but anyone above the height requirement will be stopped by the lap bar.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...My answer in this department is for all of us to wear sturdy belts, and to rig up sections of climbing rope with a carabiner at each end. It may actually do no good, but seems that it will prevent lateral or upward acceleration beyond the length of the strapping.

I am trying to understand exactly what you are proposing to do, but having difficulty doing so.

You will each have a belt. Then you have a rope with carabiners on the ends. Then what? I am not sure I understand.

In any case, you do not want to physically connect yourself to the ride vehicle in any way that is not designed by Disney (and the safety officials that certify the rides). You will be creating a hazard to yourselves by doing so. Suppose there were an emergency situation and everyone onboard needed to be evacuated. Your "additions" would slow the process of CMs freeing you and your family.

If you do not feel an attraction is safe - don't ride it. It really is that simply (no matter how much a family member loves it). Or, have your kid ride side by side with someone their own size if you are that concerned about the size difference creating a hazard.

As for the kids getting lost...
1. You have a week. Make a game our of your cell phone numbers being memorized.

2. When you get to the Park every day, take a picture with your cell phone of what your kids are wearing. You may think you will know what they have on should you need to tell security, but why chance it to memory. A photo lets them know exactly who they are looking for, if needed.

Others have posted excellent ideas too. Best tip: Stay close and it's not an issue.

 

[Anater]

We write our son's name and both cell numbers in sharpie on his tummy anytime were in large crowds. We also tell him to look for a police officer (security) or another mommy with kids if we get separated.

I agree that the best solution is that if you don't feel comfortable on a ride then skip it or try next year when the child is older.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Albort]

Disney has a procedure on how to deal with Lost kids.

I honestly cannot tell if a kid is lost. If i see them sitting there crying then maybe yes. But in the past experiance, other parents usually are the ones that approach me about a lost kid.

Now, the question is, how do I deal with a lost child. first off, i try to get to know the kid. Lettin him know that I would find his parents. If i have an important task at hand, i would call security.

But security would do the same as i would do i have the time. I would ask if he/she would know which way his parents would have headed. If he/she know a cell, i would call it, BUT CMs arent allowed to pull out a phone onstage.

I would then walk around the area where the parents walk, and go back and forth, hoping the parents or the kid would see his/her parents. If this does not happen in like 30min, its off to the guest relations. There, the guest services would call an radio call to all departments if the parents get there first with a description of the lost child. If not, guest services at a point will call an parkwide broadcast with the parents name and ask them to come to city hall or guest services...

and thats how CMs deal with Lost child.

So a few steps if you lose a child.
1) head back to the area you might have lost him/her.
2) do not freak out, CMs are well trained in dealing with this problem.
3) if all else failed, head to city hall and guest services...

hope that helps...

 

[nunzia]

I hate to start a broohaha but we used a leash with our DGD last year and am glad we did.

 

[cypressmom]

My kids wear SafetyTats on the inside of their arm, so it's only visible if looking for it.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I hate to start a broohaha but we used a leash with our DGD last year and am glad we did.

Only you can know what is right for you and your children (or DGD in this case) and the best way to keep them safe. My cousin used one for her DD2 on our trip together. Her DD is a great kid, she just likes to run off and explore. We noticed lots of other people with them too.

 

[Inkmahm]

This may make you feel a bit better about lost kids. I haven't been to DL since 1988. In about 1986, I was there by myself for a day. I found a boy (don't remember how old at this point) crying about being lost. I took him back to the front of the park where there was a place for lost kids. Cell phones weren't really around back then, parents had to go to the lost and found to get their kids back.

I can tell you when I dropped him off that that place was full of kids having fun and playing. They didn't seem scared for having lost their parents at all! My guess is that some of them didn't want to leave that nice air conditioned toy play room when their parents did finally find them!

So don't worry. Even if one of your kids gets lost, chances are they will be having a ball in the lost child area when you catch up with them.

 

[teatime]

I hate to start a broohaha but we used a leash with our DGD last year and am glad we did.

I just got this, my little one loves to run and dart to, I think this will work wonderful. I never look down on anyone who needs a harness or leash, they know there children and what there needs are

 

[jenpace]

My answer in this department is for all of us to wear sturdy belts, and to rig up sections of climbing rope with a carabiner at each end. It may actually do no good, but seems that it will prevent lateral or upward acceleration beyond the length of the strapping.

Please don't tie your child to your belt. It truly sounds like an unsafe recipe for disaster.

Like a PP said...if you feel that your child is unsafe on any ride then the best thing to do is just avoid that particular ride. It would be really unwise to try and rig up some improvised harness or restraint.

I'm guessing that if a ride CM saw something like what you're describing you would be asked to remove it for the safety of you, your child and the rest of us who might be on the ride with you

 

[jory29]

2. When you get to the Park every day, take a picture with your cell phone of what your kids are wearing. You may think you will know what they have on should you need to tell security, but why chance it to memory. A photo lets them know exactly who they are looking for, if needed.

Excellent idea!

This is O/T, but I also take pics. of my entire suitcase (whatever I packed is shown on a number of individual pictures, so as to better show detail) and I have them right on my digital camera just before leaving for my trip. I take my cam. on the flight with me as carry on, and should my bags ever go missing, I would know exactly what was in them. This saves me from writing out a list of what I packed, because if I don't need to put in a claim for lost luggage, it takes less time to take the pics. for later instant recall, than it does to work on a written list prior to going, or worse yet, to work on a list from memory.

I also hope the OP will NOT try a makeshift safety device. That would be far less safe than current safety measures that are in place.

 

[JoRo]

Thanks for the ideas on the sharpie, the different harnesses - our 3 year old does leave us our 1 and 4 month old is crazy about walking and when we get to Oct he will be even more so.

I like the harness idea and the SafetyTats for fun.

We are planning on holding on extra tight to our 3 year old who gets to go on the log ride and train ride this year...excuse to snuggle and let her enjoy - we keep showing her the rides on youtube she love it!