When a child is lost in Disney?

[Battersea]

Hi, Does anyone know what Disney's policy is if you find a lost child in one of the parks? I found a little girl today and quite frankly I was a little concerned that several cast members didn't seem to have any idea of what to do. They suggested we walk around and look for the parents but I suggested we stay put because Epcot is so large that we could miss the parents if we were both moving around. Mom eventually found us but by that time both mom and little one were in a panic. I just hope that they have some sort of policy in effect to deal with lost children. Lynn

 

[eeyore0062]

Yes, the lost child area is located in the Odyssey building between Test Track and the Mexican pavillion, next to First Aid and the restrooms. Normally, a child will be taken there, and when the parents ask a castmember about a missing child they are directed to that area. In any of the parks, the area for lost children is on the map.

I am sorry that you encountered such problems.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I don't know if this is Disney policy, or just an urban legend, but supposedly a child never gets lost. The parents get lost, and that's what the cast members are supposed to tell the child to keep the child calm, so they don't think they've done anything wrong.

I then thought that the child was to be taken to the lost children area, and cast members could radio one another to find the parents.

 

[jgates]

We ended up in the bad experience area here. I had heard all these great stories - yet Kendra went missing near the Honey I Shrunk area. She got swept along with an Oriental family (gee - did you think that little brunette norwegian looked like your kids? ) and back out onto the street (New York street?). Meanwhile I am running in circles around the Shrunk the Kids and food area there and her brother was losing it too! She had the good end - she walked up to a CM outside on the walk and told her she lost her mommy. The CM walked her back inside the entry and started looking in sweeps around the area all the while keeping her in one spot so we could find them. The dufus I had said, gee I don't know how we are going to find her. Are you sure she is lost? Things worked out great thanks to the gal that Kendra chose to help her. I just had the idiot on my end.

 

[Grumpy37]

DS5 carries his own non-charging resort room key and our cell numbers. Worst case, a CM should be able to figure out how to find us (though Sprint PCS service is terrible inside any of the theme park buildings!).

 

[tddalton]

I've been haunted by "Charlie" whose father was frantically shouting for him last April. It was the most gut-wrenching panic that I have ever heard. I was practially sobbing for him. When we were leaving, I ALMOST went to Guest Relations to see if Charlie had been found, but I thought I'd look like a stalker.

We've trained DS to find people with the Mickey nametags, and with what our first and last names are, and where we are from. Hopefully he'll never need to put that skill into action!

If, by any chance, Charlie's dad is out there...... let me know he's okay!!!!

 

[mbb]

we were in the lineup (ugh!) to return stroller (wanted that Disney Dollar!!LOL) anyway, all of a sudden, this little girl is wailing right next to us " I lost my dad!!DAADDDDY! You left me!!" We turned around to help her (my kids were quickly getting upset) and there was already a CM with her, reassuring her that she was not left - she would be ok etc... the CM very politely told us everything was ok, not to worry, and comforted MY kids too!!...and then proceeded to play a "Mickey's Fingers" game with the three of them...Daddy ran up with another CM, all's well that ends well - phew...I don't think her name was Charlie though...I would be haunted too tddalton...

 

[purplebelle]

At the World of Disney shop, I saw a child walking around with a CM who was asking her name and where she was from, etc. Then the CM told the little girl her name, where she was from, etc. I didn't see much else but what I witnessed was a CM who had a handle on the situation and kept the kid calm. Hopefully the majority of CMs are like that.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I have a DS 15 and a DD 17 , to this day they still carry my name and phone number in thier wallet! Seems silly now but they are used to it . I took my Nephew who is 3 to WDW a couple of months ago and everyday when I got him dressed I placed the little card n his pocket. It had the WL phone number , my cell number, his Moms work and home number and the dates we were there. We trained him just like my own that if he could not see me to walk up to someone with a tag in the nearest store/ foodcart whatever and give them that card .
He didnt stray for a min. when we there But I was ready if he did LOL

 

[bryantslovedisney]

About 3 years ago, we lost my 5 year old as we were coming
out of Lion King in AK.I remembered reading somewhere that
you do a quick sweep of the area and if you don't see your child
immediately notify a CM. So I immediately found a CM and luckily
I knew what he was wearing(we always wear the same color
shirts) and that he was carrying a stuffed tiger. It was almost
unbelievable, the drill that went into place. I mean CMs literally
immerged from the trees and bushes. They shut down all of the
entrances and exits and did a all points bulletin on their radios!
There must have been 20-30 CMs helping us. One CM who
was obviously the Ring Leader told me and I quote "Disney
DOES NOT lose kids, Your child is safe and will not leave this park!" By this time, I was getting pretty frantic...there was
so many places to look! Anyway, on the way to the front security
station, my oldest son saw my 5 yr old sitting on a bench down
a little alcove. We went running over to him and the CMs followed
shouting "OK, we need Ice cream here!" They were terrrific!
They gave all of my boys Mickey Ice Cream Pops and water for
us(I needed it, with all of the tears, I was getting dehydrated LOL) Anyway, they talked to my son and gave him the speech
on what to do if you get lost...which incidentally for some stupid
reason me and DH had not done??? Disney did an outstanding
job and they said that they run this drill about 4 times a week!
Thanks Guys!!

Jill

 

[tddalton]

OK, on a MUCH lighter note....

We watched Illuminations over the Millenium (but not actually on NYE) vacation, and my 1 year old son lost his "Binky Bunny" with whom he had slept for his whole life (and still does at age 4 1/2!). Fortunately, Matty had already fallen asleep in the stroller when we realized that Bink was missing.

Our family went into action (a la the CM's at the Lion King). My mom and dad went to the room with Matt. My brother went back to where we watched the show. My sister and brother in law went to the left, and my husband and I went to the right.

We made it over by the American Adventure and the park had almost completely cleared out EXCEPT for Binky Bunny, who had been adorably placed on a park bench. Some wonderful person must have known that we'd be back....

We tell our son this story all the time, and he loves hearing about Binky Bunny's adventures while "we" were lost. I've elaborated a lot on the story over the years.

So, thanks to my family for running through EPCOT like the Brady's at King's Island, and thanks to the wonderful people who made sure Bink was safe!

Denise

 

[RAV]

I had the experience of finding a lost child. We were staying at the Yacht Club and walked over to the Beach Club. Walking through the lobby to the gift shop, I noticed a little girl standing alone and sobbing very hard. Guests just kept passing her and this was no ordinary cry. I approached her and asked if she were lost and she told me that her family was headed for dinner and she got separated from the group. I told her my name and asked hers, I went to the front desk and told them that she needed help. They called the rooms, checked the restaurants and still no one was looking for her. We expected a frantic parent at anytime, but nothing. As we sat in the lobby a security guard came in to speak with her and the hotel manager told my family that they would stay with her until her family was located. The little girl asked me to stay. I stayed with her until her family arrived. It took awhile for them to return to the hotel as they had gotten on a bus to another resort with everyone in the party thinking someone else had her. Her frantic parents returned and thanked me for helping her. It was very upsetting to me that so many people just walked passed this child. It was the first night of our stay and I held on to my son like a maniac for the rest of the week.

 

[ilovefh]

I don't know about now, but back in 01 our managers at MK trained us to walk the children around the area they were found in because 99% of the time that is also where the parent is. I worked at CRT so we'd take a stroll around the carousel with the child (while leaving word with a CM at CRT that we had the child just in case the parent came there). If we didn't find the parent we would call Security and if they had heard nothing from the parents we would take the child to the missing children area.

I walked many a child around fantasyland looking for families! And most times thats where they were!

The weirdest was a woman who came up to me calmly and said "My child is missing, what do I do?" Another CM called security while I got information from her. She said it was her son and he was six...I asked her how long he had been missing and she said 3 HRS!!! And that she had lost him in Adventureland! I know people handle things differently....but lord I would have been histerical after 5 mins let alone 3 hrs!

 

[dawgfan]

We took our first trip with children in 02. I had been lost in WDW back when the only thing they had was MK. I was walking holding my fathers hand when someone walked between us and broke our hand clasp. I had been turned around while walking looking at the castle when this happened. I was 9 years old at the time. I turned to look for my family. They were no where to be seen. I did not panic. We were leaving the park and I knew that they were headed to the car. I figured that I would just meet up with them there. I never stopped to ask a CM. I was totally distrustful of anyone. I took the monorail to the TTC and caught a tram to the car. A young couple asked me if I was lost on the way. I told them "no" as I did not want to admit to anyone that I was a lost child. I was afraid to tell anyone. I went to the car and no one was there. I sat on the trunk and waited. I waited and waited. I had to go to the bathroom bad after a while and went to the "outdoor facilities" in a grove of trees near the car and returned to the trunk and waited and waited. A WDW police cruiser came by and I acted as nonchalant as a 9 year old could. Barney Fife kept moving. I sat until dark and finally my father and sister showed up as they had returned to the car to get something while my mother and other two sisters waited in terror back at a visitors relations area. I had no idea what I was supposed to do here and did the only thing that I thought was reasonable. You can only imagine that I was terrified about this very same situaition regarding my kids when we went. I made sure that we had a plan and I coached them on what to do if you got lost. I do not know if they would have followed the plan. Luckily we never had a problem. The sights and sounds of WDW can be overwhelming to a kid on the first trip. My thrill at all the details of WDW led me to that other thrill of being "home alone-lost in WDW".

I read that a good idea was to have the kids all wear something alike and somewhat loud in color. That way they are easily seen and identified. Use a differnet poncho than a mickey poncho on rainy days so that the kids don't get lost in a sea of yellow. CMs all have radios and an alert is supposed to go out as soon as a parent or child notifies that they have been seperated. I told my kids to go to a CM immediately and instructed them on what a CM "looks like"-the mickey badge etc should they get lost. I also told them that they are to trust no one other than a CM with the exception of a "mommy". They could go to a "mommy"-any woman with a child. I work in law enforcement and with child molestors. Woman engage in this crime only on rare occasions. I taught my kids this fact (women are usually safe) for safety in an instance like this. Child predators are not likely to include women in their predatorial scheme. The safety system in WDW for this is good. You just have to make sure that you drill the kids on what they should do before and during the trip. I was responsible for one child and my wife was responsible for the other while my in laws formed a secondary perimeter around us (you never know when you may have a sudden rug rat escape under the wire). I was paranoid to say the least. Okay I am always that way...I am a "PO LEESE" ( That is two words here in the South. Not one. Coldbeer is one word and my dad could have used one that day...okay maybe he could have used several).

Had I known what to do I would have followed my parents instructions no matter how distrustful I may have been. At least I like to think I would. I guess you should have dear old dad check the car some times in this situation. That is where I was at my most vulnerable spot. The weird thing is my father had great difficulty in finding the car in that huge parking lot while I had little trouble. Maybe they should have just followed me. I guess the parents really are the ones that are "lost". I probably shaved a few years off my moms life that day.

 

[Eggleboo]

Experience speaking here, one location to drop off lost children and CM's aware of it and every location in the park notified that there is a lost child so that they can watch for the parent who looks like they are having a heart attack! While I am sure most of the time most kids aren't far from most parents, I don't think wasting time walking around looking in such a vast space is worth it. The child could of been taken and not lost! Think of all the nooks and crannies for a two year old or any child could be at. This little girl that I found was playing in the store in America Epcot for at least 10 minutes before I realized (am I am a very alert person when it comes to kids) that she was alone. I think it was the little bat to the ankle bone that got my attention! : ) Anyway, alls well that ends well. Lynn

 

[Sally Bradley]

After reading these, I think I've decided to give my 9 yr old DD one of our cellphones...we'll hang onto the other. If we get separated, she can call via cellphone and tell us exactly where she is. Of course, this deal will have to come with instructions that it is not to be used to call every single friend of hers back home!!!

 

[Earstou]

Remember to tell your kids when looking for a CM to look for the WHITE Mickey badges (not the RED guest of Honor badges)!

I had a little lost girl approach me when I was wearing my GOH badge and tell me she couldn't find her nana in the HISTK play area. I found a CM and told him she was lost, which she quickly denied. So I had to correct myself and tell him her nana was lost!!
Just minutes earlier another child was lost. They handled that one by making a lost child announcement and asking the parents to please come get her at the entrance of the play area.

 

[eeyore0062]

We've trained DS to find people with the Mickey nametags, and with what our first and last names are, and where we are from. Hopefully he'll never need to put that skill into action!

Just to let you know so you can re educate the kids..... the "Mickey" name tag that is worn by WDW castmembers now is white, trimmed with blue and has Tinkerbelle on it.

 

[InstImpres]

Just a little tip....though thankfully I have never needed it, I am always afraid I will be to upset to think straight when asked questions if my DD or DN's ever got seperated. Just before heading to the park each day, I use my digitial camera to take a picture. If the need should ever arise, I can use the viewing screen for an exact description.

I am also a big believe in being prepared lowers the odds of needing it.

Sandy

 

[ivanova]

and if you don't have a digital camera - use a polaroid instant camera every morning - or if you can't do that, use a regualr camera/film (Disney can have it developed quickly if needed).

I was on Tom Sawyer Island once (at DL not WDW) and witnessed a CM with a frantic "lost" mom - they were casually walking around the fort looking for her young (3 or 4yo) son - the CMs locked down the island, now allowing anyone to leave until the child was found & reunited with his mom.