Two Parents Arrested After Child Found Abandoned Outside Disney Ride (2007)

[Champion]

No it wasn't. When people came to the parks with children at certain point they were given wristbands with a the same number on them per family. So if you walked out of the park with a different number than the child with you, you weren't leaving.

Please educate yourself before you spread blatantly false information. Think about the statement. If such a thing had happened, and they did give out the wristbands - they NEVER EVER EVER would have stopped. Could you imagine the uproar if they did?

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/parks.asp#kidnap

Also, there are not a group of people that hide in mall parking lots under cars and will slash your ankles when you come out.

 

[slappy magoo]

Even at my most charitable and benefit-of-the-doubt-able, I just can't fathom the mindset or the extenating circumstances that says leaving a 3 year old completely unattended is perfectly OK. I'd really like to believe some wild scenario that would make this a tragic misunderstanding - an elderly relative WAS watching the child, but he started to dehydrate in the heat and passed out and whoever came to his aid didn't know he was watching a child, called First Aid and they carted him off to get fluids without him ever waking up to say "Where's the baby?" That sort of thing. But the phrase "slim to none" comes to mind in regards to the odds of something like that occuring, esp. if the parents were arrested as opposed to merely questioned or detained.

Sorta makes you wonder if the kid gets more attention at home (when there isn't pretty Disney magic to distract Mom and Dad) or less (because life is so kick-in-the-nards pathetic, who has time or energy to worry about a baby?).

 

[slappy magoo]

Please educate yourself before you spread blatantly false information.

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/parks.asp#kidnap

Also, there are not a group of people that hide in mall parking lots under cars and will slash your ankles when you come out.

When they're not busy planting dirty hypodermic needles in the change slots of pay phones and vending machines. :lookaroun

 

[Champion]

When they're not busy planting dirty hypodermic needles in the change slots of pay phones and vending machines. :lookaroun

I thought it was gas station pumps? :brick:

 

[the-reason14]

First of all, thank God that the little girl is ok. I am confused as to why they said she was found lifeless, but thank God she is alive. And second, how in the world do you forget a child, no one in their right mind can forget a child, anything else but that, thats just straight up ridiculous. I can kinda almost see them forgeting a child if she were standing or walking, but to forget a big a__ stroller with a child in it, you cant "forget" that, they left. What insensitive idiots.

 

[Xadllas]

Please educate yourself before you spread blatantly false information. Think about the statement. If such a thing had happened, and they did give out the wristbands - they NEVER EVER EVER would have stopped. Could you imagine the uproar if they did?

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/parks.asp#kidnap

Also, there are not a group of people that hide in mall parking lots under cars and will slash your ankles when you come out.

Well I didn't hear it from just anyone. I heard from my mothers own experience. So I take it as you will. Otherwise I still take it as truth for I don't know who you are to tell me otherwise.

 

[slappy magoo]

Well I didn't hear it from just anyone. I heard from my mothers own experience. So I take it as you will. Otherwise I still take it as truth for I don't know who you are to tell me otherwise.

I know it's off topic but now I'm curious...did your mother SAY it happened to her, or she actually saw it happen? Or did she say she heard it from someone who heard it from someone who was there?

If she said she saw this happen in front of her, how old were you at the time? Did you have younger brothers or sisters? Any chance she told you the story as a way to keep you vigilant from strangers? The same way my mom told me there was a stranger in town, asking kids for directions from his car, then snatching them when they got close enough? No such thing was happening in my town, but at a young age, scary stories like that are a better way to remind you not to get too close to strangers, knowhutimean?

Besides, you don't have to take the word of Champion or anyone else on these boards. Snopes.com is a website devoted to proving OR disproving urban legends. It's what they do. Did you read the article? Look around the website, see what else they've been able to uncover, they might set your mind at ease about other things as well.

 

[Xadllas]

I know it's off topic but now I'm curious...did your mother SAY it happened to her, or she actually saw it happen? Or did she say she heard it from someone who heard it from someone who was there?

If she said she saw this happen in front of her, how old were you at the time? Did you have younger brothers or sisters? Any chance she told you the story as a way to keep you vigilant from strangers? The same way my mom told me there was a stranger in town, asking kids for directions from his car, then snatching them when they got close enough? No such thing was happening in my town, but at a young age, scary stories like that are a better way to remind you not to get too close to strangers, knowhutimean?

It happened to her and she isn't the kind of person to make up stories. And nice Bobo av by the way.

 

[c133125]

Exactly. Isn't there usually a CM working outside of the attraction putting the strollers in rows? :veryconfu

Not if they are understaffed.

 

[Dwarful]

If it doesn't matter then why are you asking? hmm?

I think they asked because in certain cultures it is perfectly normal to line your stroller/buggy up with all of the other strollers and run into the store/post office, bank etc leaving your child outside. (remember the little girl who was recently taken from her hotel room while her parents ate dinner?) This is not the norm in America, but it is elsewhere.
I would never condone such an act, if you go on a family vacation the one thing you should never forget is your family! It amazes me at the number of people who still leave their children in a running vehicle while they run in to grab their $4 coffees. Uh whats more important??????

 

[doop]

Poor kid. I hope the parents realize how stupid they are.

 

[WaltzingMatilda]

What a sad and scary story...poor wee thing. I'm trying hard not to judge, because as vigilant as you think you are a as a parent, things do happen. I was at Target last year and as I was walking out, this little guy (maybe three?) came running out the door after me, crying and heading right for the parking lot. I stepped in front of him and grabbed him...there was a security guard right behind him and he said "ma'am, you forgot your little boy!" (oy, such a look he gave me too...bless his heart!). I explained he wasn't mine and that I was just trying to keep him from running into the street...we took him back inside and I settled him in with the customer service desk. For all I know his mom was still somewhere in the store and just hadn't realized he wasn't still with her...I did call later and found out he was reunited with his family.

I don't know though...it does seem odd that you wouldn't know the baby wasn't with you. Someone did bring up that a three year old is usually walking and talking...so if you went to get the baby out of the stroller you would either (a) notice she was asleep and act accordingly (ie, take turns on the ride or wake her up) or (b) tell her it was time to get out and go on the ride.

Either way, I hope that the parents have learned from this experience, and I'm very thankful that the child survived the experience. As to people who have made mention that CM"s or other guests should have noticed, I disagree...the parents of the child are the only ones that are responsible.

 

[Krozar]

Wow...this reminds me of a saying I'm very well known for at work...

Stupid People Shouldn't Breed.

'Nuff said

Darwinism has been circumvented by human society. The gene of leaving toddlers in the hot sun shall pass to the next generation. Evolution...THWARTED. Intelligent Design? not in this case.

I say the parents should have to sit in strollers, in the sun, at Disney for the entire day holding signs that say "we are the idiots that left our baby in the sun so we could enjoy the ride"!!!:fork:

You're saying they should apply for outdoor merchandising?

You have factor in cultural differences. Where we do not leave our small children alone ( or in the care of other small children) there are some cultures who do this... again, not what we do, but if that is how they live in their country then they would see nothing wrong in doing it here.

Very few cultures are that ignorant anymore. Innocence has faded virtually everywhere. This stems from the NYC incident where a Danish couple left their baby outside of a restaurant. Most Danes won't do that, nobody leaves their kid outside in Copenhagen. There are kidnappers and weirdos all over the place in all countries. All the Danes I know were offended a bit by the news of their excuse, because it made Americans believe that Danes would be that stupid. Danes are modern Europeans and typically well educated. Plus, leaving the kid under the FL sun adds a whole new element of danger. Danger which is proven by the state that the child was in.

 

[minnie2000]

I think they asked because in certain cultures it is perfectly normal to line your stroller/buggy up with all of the other strollers and run into the store/post office, bank etc leaving your child outside. (remember the little girl who was recently taken from her hotel room while her parents ate dinner?) This is not the norm in America, but it is elsewhere.
I would never condone such an act, if you go on a family vacation the one thing you should never forget is your family! It amazes me at the number of people who still leave their children in a running vehicle while they run in to grab their $4 coffees. Uh whats more important??????

The little girl, Maddy, who was taken from the hotel room in Portugal is British. It is NOT normal practice in the UK to leave children alone anywhere. My first reaction to this news story was why was she left alone, and everyone I know feels this way too. I would never leave my girls alone in a hotel or anywhere. However, I feel terribly sorry for the parents, they don't need anyone to tell them it was not safe - this has been proved in the worst way possible. I hope she is found and is healthy.

 

[morgan22]

I think they asked because in certain cultures it is perfectly normal to line your stroller/buggy up with all of the other strollers and run into the store/post office, bank etc leaving your child outside. (remember the little girl who was recently taken from her hotel room while her parents ate dinner?) This is not the norm in America, but it is elsewhere.
I would never condone such an act, if you go on a family vacation the one thing you should never forget is your family! It amazes me at the number of people who still leave their children in a running vehicle while they run in to grab their $4 coffees. Uh whats more important??????

I presume the incident you are referring to is the disappearance (sp) of Madeleine McCann from Portugal .... they are a British family and I dispute your claim that this is the 'norm' that we regularly leave our children alone. This was an isolated, albeit well documented incident as is this case in question.

 

[morgan22]

Looks like Minnie2000 beat me to it!!

 

[Agent1964fem]

I just read this article in the orlando sentinal ....what were these people thinking ?? camera ? --check water ?--check--money ? -check ....kid....oh snap we forgot the kid!!! My kids are 13 and 16 and would not leave them alone while I get on a attraction without them...my question why didn't they take her on the attraction ? Pirates is not that scarey of an attraction .
Only my opinion.

Wilderness Lodge Aug 1997
Caribbean Beach Aug 2003
Port Orleans -Riverside Aug 2005
Wilderness Lodge July 2007

 

[The Mom]

It happened to her and she isn't the kind of person to make up stories. And nice Bobo av by the way.

I was a mother with two children in the early nineties, and went to WDW frequently with children starting in 1983. There were only two circumstances when my children and I were ever given a wristband- when I left them at a childcare center (only once, at The Contemporary) and when we went to special ticketed events, such as MVMCP, extra hours for resort guests, or private parties.

I have NEVER worn a wristband when just visiting the park during normal operating hours, and the ONLY time my wristband was matched to my child's was when I picked her up from the kid's club.

Is it possible that your mother attended something like the events I mentioned, and is just misremembering the the actual procedure? That would make more sense, especially if she didn't visit frequently. (unlike so many of the people who post here)

 

[The Mom]

I




Parents Juan Carlos and Danette Rodriguez, 35 and 32, approached park workers seeking the girl about 50 minutes later. The couple said the girl was asleep inside a double stroller and got lost in the shuffle as their group of two adults and four children approached the ride, they told investigators.
When they entered the attraction, Juan Carlos thought Danette had their daughter, while Danette thought Juan Carlos had her. Shortly after, Juan Carlos went back outside to move the stroller to a designated area, but failed to see the little girl, he told deputies.
The parents only realized their daughter was missing when they exited the ride.
QUOTE]


OK, I can see the initial confusion, BUT THE FATHER WENT BACK ON THE RIDE WITHOUT FINDING HIS CHILD!!!! And apparently, the mother didn't tell the loading CM (who could have both alerted security, and let her out the back way) but went ahead on the ride. Or, it's possible that she was already riding, and the father rode alone in a later boat (but it doesn't sound that way if they exited together :veryconfu ) But if that's the case, I would hold the father more responsible. But it just sounds like they're trying to make up a reasonable excuse for what they did, rather than just coming clean and telling the truth. "She was asleep, we didn't want to wake her up, but no one wanted to miss the ride to sit out here with her , either. So we just left her sleeping. How stupid of us; what were we thinking?" This is from someone who has had a child fall asleep in the stroller, so just grabbed a Dole Whip and found a shady spot to wait it out while DH brought my older child on the ride.

 

[The Mom]

I'm responding to both a question asked, and a snarky reply, which I deleted.

I can understand the question, as many children in impoverished circumstances (not all 3rd world countries are impoverished, BTW...it's a political, not economic, designation) do not have the luxury of a protected childhood. However, families who are forced to leave their infants/toddlers under the care of a somewhat older child due to family circumstances are not likely to be visiting WDW, either.