If child is lost

[DisneyBuffinDE]

We are going down in May and I'm trying to prepare my 4 year old on what to do if we get separated. So first question is what is WDW protocol for if a child is lost? What do they do? We are trying to teach him what a CM is and to go to them. I know they don't do announcements so what do they do?:shrug:
Second do you think I should get him an ID type tag? When I was little my parents got us Dog tags with our info on it. That is what we will probably do for DS. DD will only be 13 1/2 months.

 

[Laura]

I would just show them what a Cast Member looks like (the name tag) and tell them to find out.

Honestly though, my kids (ages 6 and 4) have gone on 8 Disney vacations and I've never worried about this. We're always either holding their hands or we've got them in a stroller. There's just no way they're ever away from our sides.

There was ONE time when I lost a kid. It was at the end of the Family Magic Tour and my daughter (then 2 years old) had sat by Peter Pan and Wendy during Mickey's Philharmagic on the other side of the theatre from me. After the tour she exited with the tour group and rather than stopping she kept right on going - straight into the Fantasyland mob. I wasn't able to catch up to her in the crowd so there was nothing I could do. I alerted the tour guide and he took off and found her in less than a minute!

 

[elcodfish]

here you go

Tell your child to go to the nearest ride, food stand, or store and to cut in front of the whole line, this is the one time it is OK, and tell the person working they are lost. You do the same thing and with walkie talkies you will find each other pretty quickly. What we did when we took our nephew was introduce him to the first CM we meet at the MK and show him teh tag she was wearing adn to find someone with one of those tags if we should loose each other, but we never had to.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Most of the time you will be reunited quickly. Announcements are made on walkie talkies so people know there is a missing child. There is usually a lost parents/children area where they are taken if they are separated for a while.

 

[Master Yoda]

Children are never lost at WDW but their parents occasionally are.

This is one of the first parts of Disney's procedure for dealing with a child getting separated from their parents. The CM's will tell them that they are not lost their parents are. This will calm down a usually hysteric child. Point out cast members to your child. They will be identified by their name tag. Make a little game of it by having your child point out all the CM's to you. Tell your child that if you (not your child) get lost he/she can go to a CM and they will help find you.

An ID badge attached to your child's shoe, wrist, neck etc (shoe is one of the best) is a great safe guard. Put your child's name along with the names of every other member of the party and every phone number that can be attached to your party. Use a simple meeting place that your child will remember that will be the same for all the parks. The turnstiles is a great universal location. Put that information on the ID tag as well.

 

[maggiegrace1]

Make sure you let them know look for the WHITE name tag..because they sell the name tags for guests and they are different colors I believe.

 

[csaribay]

It is very important that you instruct your son to seek out contact with cast members who are wearing a WHITE Disney nametag. I'm attaching a photo of mine for reference. Like others have said, there are nametags that Disney sells to guests in many different colors, but cast member will always wear a nametag that is white, with blue lettering.

Be sure to make it clear that they should ask the first person they see wearing a nametag for help. All front-line cast are equally equipped to handle the situation, and faster is definitely better (typically, the 'lost' parents are in very close proximity of the kids, so the faster kids can reach-out for help, the easier it is to be reunited).

Another helpful thing is if figure out a way to attach your contact information, by pinning it inside some part of your child's outer-most layer of clothing, or otherwise (I echo that shoes are the best location) and communicating it to them that it's there in case of emergency. They should pull it out if such a situation were to arise. Dog tags work as well, as long as they have your contact information on them. This make the work of reuniting parties much easier.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Here is my tip...when we got to our resort there was a DVC represenative that gave my 5 year old a button w. Goofy on it. She loved her "badge" and wore it every day. I took my sharpie for autographs and wrote my name and cell phone number on the back. (You can also get buttons from guest services that say "1st visit.") I explained to my daughter to go the closest store or ride, if one was not close by to go to a family with a stroller to help her call her mommy. My thinking was that any one with a stroller would have young children and understand my fears and help. That along with her Snow White costume is all I needed.

Allearsnet.com has a link to something that you can attach to the shoe laces w. your contact info. There is also a tip to get a dog tag from one of those machines that imprint names (it will loop thru a shoe lace.) I believe that is in the searchable tips Child's ID/Lost Children thead.

Have fun...you'll be amazed how good your child can be on their 1st visit to WDW!

 

[Gorjus]

The parents and grandparents that freak out the most are the ones without a plan. Be sure your child has your cell phone info and the cell phone info of everyone in your party on their person. Be sure the child has his/her name written on their person as well. Children sometimes mumble and speak in really soft voices.

If a parent can't be contacted right away, the child will be taken to the first aid station/lost child station in the park...after a brief search of the area.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

At 4 yrs old your child should be holding a parents hand - permanently. There are too many lost parents reported in The World - don't become another one :animwink:

 

[Tigggrl]

I have had both lost parents and kids looking for lost parents to reuinte! The most important thing is to also remember to remain calm. I know this is difficult, but most times the kids are ok with everything. As a former CM I can tell you that the kids are VERY good at describing their parents. It is VERY important that they know your REAL names. And make sure they know what you are wearing! The hardest thing to watch was when a parent just RIPPED into their kids after we found them.
Cm's are very well trained in what to do, and most families are reunited very quickly. Its almost easy to see when a parent or child is looking for each other...Its just something you see in their faces. It can be hard especially in a shop like WOD to keep track!
I have also had kids on Pirates Lair come to ME when they lost their parents, and I wasnt even working there anymore! It was funny! I just located the closest cm...and it was all good!

 

[JDM]

I agree on the ID/information Tag.
We put one inside our daughter's shoe and told her that if she got separated from us, the first thing she should do is find a cast member (person with a nametag)--or even another Mom with kids--and tell him/her she is lost. Then she should take her shoe off and give it to the person. Our cell phone numbers and hotel were printed on it.
Didn't have to test it, fortunately.

But I did see one other child have this problem. The kid was looking around crying for Daddy and I was about to go see if I could help, when another woman did the same thing. She ushered the child to a nearby CM, who, unfortunately, did not seem to know what to do--she just wanted to sweep.

Luckily, as the woman was explaining to the CM that she needed to call someone, Daddy showed up and all was well.

 

[TwoTigersMom]

So I gotta chime in here :lol: My oldest son (6 years) has gotten lost once at Disney and once at Universal. My youngest (2 years) got lost in the WOD store in DTD. I was fine when my oldest got lost at Disney. We were at Typhoon Lagoon and he was playing in a small spash puddle and I turned to say something to my grandmother. No longer than 30 seconds later I turned and he was gone. He had looked up (in a different direction) and didn't see me so he went off looking. I found a CM and notified them. They took me to Lost parents to take our info, in the mean time he got on the radio and gave the alert. It took about 15 minutes before he was found and brought back to me. He had gone all the way around the other side of the park from us. When he got lost at Universal it was a whole other ball game. I was terrified! Again I turned my head for a moment and he was gone. This time he was looking for lizzards. I went to an employee, but they were no help. When I saw they didn't have any radios I started to panic. I found another employee who helped me look for him. I finally found him in some bushes :lol: :hammer:

Just before Christmas, we were at DTD and I sent the kids with DH and MIL to go into WOD while I went to Team Disney. About 10 minutes later I met up with DH and asked where the 2 year old was. He said with MIL. A few minutes later we happened upon her but no 2 year old! A lady behind her overheard our conversation and said a manager had him and was walking around with him. He yelled at me as soon as he saw me.

After the oldest first got lost at Typhoon Lagoon I showed him and the 2 year old the badges and to find someone immediately wearing one. The oldest doesn't listen to well, but at least it sunk in with the 2 year old. :lol:

I put mine or my husbands business card in the boys pin trading pouches and one in their pocket as well.

 

[DisneyBuffinDE]

Thank you so much for the info. csaribay Thank you so much for the pic of the badge so I can show him. This will be his second trip, he was almost 2 the last time so he won't remember anything. I love that the parents are the ones lost thing. I know that would make DS feel better.

 

[Unplugged]

As all have said, a good plan in WDW and tags are all you should need. However, for any additional travel (including trips to the mall and such), consider an Amber Alert Child ID kit for real emergencies. We bought one for use with our DS. It's a small USB dongle that has the software already loaded on it to track all family info, photos, contact info...everything you'd need in an emergency. As a note, it's all password protected and encrypted for safety. You keep it on your person somehow, my wife keeps ours on our key chain.

http://www.amberalert.com/

 

[frazierle]

Well I've been lost at separate times from my son and daughter at WOD in downtown. One time the CM found me before I even knew I was lost. My daughter, they saw the fear in my face and found me real quick. Then we lost my daughter at MGM one time, that was the longest we had been separated. Large crowd she went one way we went another. But before we leave the house I usually print and laminate a business card with everyone in our parties name and cell phone numbers. We've instructed the kids to present this to a CM if we become separated and stay with the CM. The last time I got lost at MGM my daughter gave the CM my cell number and they were able to re-unite us. Because she knew my cell number and my information the CM's gave her VIP access for the family to the LMA showing later that day. She made sure she held my hand the rest of the day so I would not get lost again. I thought it was cool that they rewarded her for having and knowing her information. Of course my son later said he would get lost for ToT fastpass's... :lol:

 

[mickey&me]

We told our son to go to the nearest shop or restaurant and tell the person working behind the counter that he needed to find his mom & dad. Because he is insulin-dependent, he wears a medical bracelet which lists our cell phone numbers on it all the time.

To see if he was paaying attention (he's 7, so you never know) I stepped away from him in the bazaar (which was empty) and watched. He realized almost immediately that he could no longer see me. He walked up to the CM behind the counter and said, "Excuse me, but I can't find my mom. She was just in here with me but I don't see her. She has a red shirt on like mine. Here's her cell phone number." Then I walked up to him and told him what a great job he'd done.

 

[Gorjus]

To reiterate what a previous poster said:

Do NOT scold your child or grill your child once you found them. They were concerned enough. They just need about 30 minutes to be glad you have been found. I see it too much. Chances are it was the child's fault. However, your fear and anxiety and your guilt over the situation doesn't give you the right to lay into them.

Give it time and then sit down calmly and say how glad you are that they followed your instructions and how happy you are that they are safe. Then discuss what we have to remember in the future so it doesn't happen again.

One mom was great. Her daughter couldn't find her in a store and came right to me, and explained the situation. She remained calm till she saw mom and then fell apart. Mom praised her for keeping her head and remembering what to do.

One grandmother was no help at all. She was frantic. She was imagining all kinds of things. And the fact that we made her remain in one spot and not go looking for her grandchild really upset her. We tried to explain that everyone with a radio had been alerted. If we found the child and she was off still searching, we wouldn't be able to find her to reunite them. With 10 minutes child was found and the first thing she did was lay into him and his mother and the whole family.

I had asked her, while we had been waiting, if they had a plan if the children got lost. They didn't have a plan. I explained to her many of the things posted here already. That ended up being part of her rant to the rest of the family.

 

[figmentmom]

It is very important that you instruct your son to seek out contact with cast members who are wearing a WHITE Disney nametag. I'm attaching a photo of mine for reference. Like others have said, there are nametags that Disney sells to guests in many different colors, but cast member will always wear a nametag that is white, with blue lettering.

Be sure to make it clear that they should ask the first person they see wearing a nametag for help. All front-line cast are equally equipped to handle the situation, and faster is definitely better (typically, the 'lost' parents are in very close proximity of the kids, so the faster kids can reach-out for help, the easier it is to be reunited).

Another helpful thing is if figure out a way to attach your contact information, by pinning it inside some part of your child's outer-most layer of clothing, or otherwise (I echo that shoes are the best location) and communicating it to them that it's there in case of emergency. They should pull it out if such a situation were to arise. Dog tags work as well, as long as they have your contact information on them. This make the work of reuniting parties much easier.

This is a great post! If your little ones know that Cast Members wearing the WHITE name tags work for Mickey Mouse, they will ask for help when they need it. The faster they tell the nearest Cast Member, the better, too.

 

[Monty]

Make sure you let them know look for the WHITE name tag..because they sell the name tags for guests and they are different colors I believe.

It is very important that you instruct your son to seek out contact with cast members who are wearing a WHITE Disney nametag. I'm attaching a photo of mine for reference. Like others have said, there are nametags that Disney sells to guests in many different colors, but cast member will always wear a nametag that is white, with blue lettering.

Be sure to make it clear that they should ask the first person they see wearing a nametag for help. All front-line cast are equally equipped to handle the situation, and faster is definitely better (typically, the 'lost' parents are in very close proximity of the kids, so the faster kids can reach-out for help, the easier it is to be reunited).

Another helpful thing is if figure out a way to attach your contact information, by pinning it inside some part of your child's outer-most layer of clothing, or otherwise (I echo that shoes are the best location) and communicating it to them that it's there in case of emergency. They should pull it out if such a situation were to arise. Dog tags work as well, as long as they have your contact information on them. This make the work of reuniting parties much easier.

I have to add more to these posts:

I wear a "Guest" nametag in the parks all the time. I've had numerous guests drag their children to me and say "If you get lost, you go straight to someone wearing a tag like this and tell them you're lost." I always try to be as gracious as possible, but still correct them that they should only go to people with white name tags. I've had parents threaten to report me to Management because I was messing up their "safety education" of their children. One mother tried to tell me not to shirk my responsibility! :lookaroun

A nametag like this:

Is not a Disney employee! [Despite how incredibly trustworthy I might be! :lookaroun]