What do you do to ensure.....

[BitsnBearsMom]

the safety of your kids when you go to Disney??

Reading below was very scary about all the missing children and I hope we (and everyone else) never ever has to deal with that but what do you do to make sure your kids stay safe and with you??

I have a 10yo that is pretty good at getting people away from him (is taking Karate and self defence and getting out of people's holds is a big part of it in this belt level) but I also have a 4yo that I'm a bit concerned about.

Other then teaching them to find a disney official what do you do?? I don't think he would ever remember his hotel room number or the phone number!

Perhaps I'm worrying about too much?!?!

 

[crow11ad]

Well we don't have any children, but if I were you and it looks like your either going in October or November. Forgive me if I am wrong, but if you are going at a non busy time, you shouldn't have to worry too much about them. I mean just talk to them and say "that it will be a very exciting place full of magic and surprises but to make sure you and us get to fully experience the magic we have to stay together." Or something like that. I hope that helps.

 

[stinkerbelle]

i suggest keeping an eye on your kids (well, duh) and teaching them what to do when 'stranger' approaches them. (yelling/kicking/screaming - especially for your 4yo) Also show them that CM's are people you should go to for help.

you can't predict if something WILL happen...don't let worrying about it ruin your vacation

 

[mad4themouse]

My children are older (DD14, DS12) and both are Black Belts. DD just got her second degree belt on Friday. That kind of background is still no substitute for "stranger-danger" awareness and having a plan if we get separated. Don't let your DS's karate training lull you into a false sense of security. The idea is to prevent the need to escape from someone's grasp to begin with.

Teach the 4yo who is "safe" to go to in the event that he gets "lost".

Use a hospital ID bracelet or the kind of bracelet that they use for ride-all-day at amusement parks and fairs. They're waterproof and difficult to revove. Put the child's name, your name, cell phone number and where you're staying on the bracelet. Teach him/her to show it to a "safe" person if they're lost.

If you have a digital camera, take a photo of your children each morning. This will serve as a reminder of what they were wearing that day, should your memory fail you. It can also be shown to CMs who are looking for your child.

For older children, provide them with a walkie-talkie or cell phone. If they are to be with you at all times, make sure that they understand where to go in each park if you do become separated. If they are going to have some freedom in the parks, make sure that they know where and when to meet you. Don't allow an entire day to go by without some sort of communication with them. It's best to give them only a small amount of spending money to ensure that they get back to you when they need more.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

let the karate training lull me into a false sense of security.... we do go over with my older son (and with the 4yo) the stranger awareness info on a regular basis.... I don't want to be the paranoid parent but we are going to a different country (well not that different then Canada!!lol but different then home) and everything will be new and unfamiliar to them.

the bracelet is a great idea.... I'm trying to find fanny packs for both of them and was thinking of including a card with their names and info on them in the pack. I would assume the CM's dress in a uniform to distinguish them from the guests? I haven't been there for 12 years.

 

[stacilee]

We have been to disney 11 times with 4 kids in tow. We haven't lost one yet! Although last June we had a 17 year old with us that I would have LIKED to have lost! LOL

One of our children (now 13) has ADHD. When he was 2 1/2 years old we lost him for a few minutes at Grand Central in Washington DC. WE knew never to let go of him, but we were with friends and the friend that was supposed to be holding onto him didn't realize that this directive meant -AT ALL TIMES.

It was the single most terrifying experience we have suffered as parents !

He was a climber (out of the crib at 9 mos.) a runner away-er in crowded, congested areas, an exhausting child. We found that the more exciting the venue the more overstimulated he got. He would never ride in a stroller! I would have had to straight jacket AND duct tape him to keep him in one.

I know people here do not approve of "kid leashes" but we used them in certain situations FOR HIS SAFETY. We did not use it to be mean, he HATED having his hand held but rather enjoyed the "freedom" that the "kid leash" gave him!

At age 10 your child is perfectly capable of finding a disney CM if he gets separated from you, and believe me, they are everywhere!

If you worry that he may not remember the particulars of where you are staying etc. Write down all the pertinent info, including resort, rm #, cell phone # and put it in his pocket every morning.

*SCOTCH* makes a laminating product that sells at Walmart for about $4. It will laminate 5 wallet size photos or other piece of paper. "PHOTO LAMINATING SHEETS""QUICK and EASY. No MACHINE NEEDED"
You could do this to an info. card and not have to worry about it getting wet.

Consider using 2 way communicators at the parks and make sure that ONE of them is strapped onto his belt loop or something else securely. Lots of boys wear cargo type shorts that have lots of pockets. My A/C man calls his cargo pants his "Man-Purse"! LOL

Another alternative is a cell phone. Certainly he can remember a phone #.

At each park you could set up a meeting place in case you get separated.

Like I said, we have never lost a child at the parks although my husband FOUND a little one at Universal years ago, a child traveling with grandparents who were truly clueless. We didn't keep him though, we have enough! We found a park employee and hung around until the idiot grandparents came to get him. They didn't seem overly concerned that they had lost the child for more than 30 minutes!

I cannot spend my life obsessed with worry. I honestly believe that there are infinitely more "good parents" in the world than bad, and that a great number of them vacation at Disney. We are all looking out for one another. My children have been taught to SCREAM BLOODY MURDER if anyone ever touches them, or even looks at them funny. They are instructed to kick and yell "This is NOT my DAD (mom, whatever) and not stop".

Remind your son that it is a huge place and that getting separated is easier than finding each other, AND that time lost trying to find each other will ultimately take away his RIDE TIME!

Take sensible precautions and have a great time.

 

[stacilee]

I'm sorry to hop in here again but I had another thought about your little one. Even though he is 4, many, many people use Disney strollers for kids that age and WAY older. The rental strollers are plenty big enough.

These parks are big and their little legs get tired! It also frees up your back so you don't have to lug a backpack around 10 hrs. a day! That would be a good way to have a handle on one of your children, if he will sit in one.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I agree with the stacilee about using a stroller for your 4yr old.

I take my DD's 6 and 4 to the parks solo and using in a double stroller I know where they are at all times. My DD's haven't been in a stroller otherwise since they were two, but Disney is different. I've seen much larger children in strollers there and although they wouldn't dream of going in one at home I really don't give them an option. It is just what we do at Disney and they know it.

My other tip is to tell your children that PARENTS sometimes get lost and whom to go to when they do. It keeps a child from panicking when they are separated.

 

[DizBelle]

I think that the kid leashes are a GREAT idea. They allow the child to have a little freedom and let you get some freedom as well. You don't have to have a physical hold on the child or be looking at them at all times and if they start to get too far away, there is a tug on the leash that you will feel to let you know.

Why would anyone have a problem with these? Is there anyone that thinks they are a bad idea and wouldn't mind sharing why they think so?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I've never used a child leash, but I'm all for it. Anything to keep your child with you (and no chance of wandering off) is a wonderful idea. I do know people who don't like the idea of them, because it's like treating your child as a dog. They think it's inhumane or something. That's just the people I've talked to.

As for me, I'm definitely renting a stroller for my dd3. She probably won't like to ride in it, but it beats losing her. It also beats carrying her, since she's always complaining that she's tired. I read in the Unofficial Guide that it's a good idea to have a stroller for children under 7.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by lfontaine
Why would anyone have a problem with these? Is there anyone that thinks they are a bad idea and wouldn't mind sharing why they think so?

I think they are fine for a certain age...once your children get into the 5/6 year old range - they are too old for leashes. And I've seen them on kids that big. I find it rather humilating for the kids.

but that's JMO.

 

[wdarling]

i'm a firm believer in renting disney strollers. my fam rented one for me til i was 8. we used it for storage with our cameras, umbrellas, and goodies but when it got really packed i could ride. it was hard for me to keep up with my fam and this way they knew where i was

 

[mrsltg]

Rent a stroller and when the 4 y.o. is not in hold onto them. People who are looking to do harm to your child are like all criminals, they strike easy targets. Don't let your kid be an easy target. Pay attention to what they are doing. Make eye contact with those around you. If someone looks off listen to your instincts (you have them for a reason). Keep a hand on your child and don't let them run off ahead of you. These are things that you do everyday, Disney is no different.

Enjoy your trip!

Erin

 

[McKelly]

Teach your young one to shout "Help, you are not my mommy or Help you are not my daddy!! Our pediatrician recommended this to us. After I thought about it, it is a good idea. Yelling and screaming kids probably would not draw my attention as much as a child yelling "Help, you are not my mommy." That type of screaming would alert me more. I would imagine after a long hot busy day at DW quite a few kids might be yelling and perhaps having tantrums, however, how many are going to be yelling "You are not my Mommy!!"

I also rent a double stroller for my DD6 and DS4. I actually enjoy my vacation without spending every minute wondering where the kids are. I am paranoid, but in this day and age, I don't think that is such a bad thing.

 

[sugermouse]

Disney is really safe. Not to many kid nappers are willing to pay $50 dollars to get into a place of high security to try and kid nap a kid.

I'm 15 and I am two belts away from my black belt. I am finally starting to feel a little safe, but I'm not taking it all the way. See how your kid spars. Don't feel like if he is wearing a belt he is safe, because he's really not.

I'm not even sure I am. I guess what I'm trying to say is you never know, but I'm sure he will be ok

 

[heart4dis]

* for the younger ones, a stroller helps. They can't lag behind when tired if they are in a stroller.
* Every one of us wore a lanyard with not only our ticket, but a family picture in it. It also had a label I printed with our cell phone numbers (we brought them) and our designated meeting places per park and what hotel we were staying at (we didn't put the room number!).
*We also had our stranger danger talk and told them about asking CMs for help and how to yell for help.
We never got separated, however.

 

[qtwns]

I saw this a couple of weeks ago and haven't stopped giggling since. "Grandpa" had his suspenders hooked to the back of his pants and the long ends each attached to a different kid! I don't know if this was for Gramps well being or the kids!!