It takes only a second, but in a park as crowded as Walt Disney World, you can have your child in your sights one second, only to find him or her gone the next. It’s not easy to fight down the rising panic and approach the situation calmly, but that’s the best course of action if your party gets split up.
Try to keep these things in mind if you lose track of a child on your next vacation.
1. It happens more than you think
Children dart away quickly.
Theme parks are bright, colorful, and enticing. It’s easy for a small child to spot something shiny and toddle off while the parent is occupied. This means that Cast Members throughout the parks are extremely familiar with the situation and know how to handle it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. No one will gasp and proclaim that you’re the most irresponsible parent in the park for losing your child. It can and does happen to all types of families.
2. There is a well-honed system in place
Cast members are always a good resource
Walt Disney World has a very specific system in place to handle lost parents and lost children.
If a Cast Member finds a lost child:
- They will stay in that spot with the child for 10 minutes.
- The Cast Member will get as much information from the child as possible, such as his or her name and the names of parents.
- If the child isn’t found within ten minutes, the Cast Member will call a manager or coordinator. Children who are under the age of 13 are taken to the Baby Care Center. Children over 13 are taken to Guest Relations.
If a parent approaches a Cast Member about a lost child:
- The Cast Member will instruct the parent to wait with them and remain in the same spot.
- If there are multiple adults in the party, the other adult may roam the area to look for the child.
- The Cast Member will obtain information about the child, including his or her name, age, and description.
- If the child isn’t found within 10 minutes, the Cast Member will alert a manager or coordinator, who will check with Baby Care and Guest Relations for found children, and in turn alert other coordinators, managers, and security as time passes, to create an ever-widening net of people who are looking for the child.
It’s understandable that parents will feel extremely distressed by a lost child, but going into hysterics or berating a Cast Member for not doing so won’t resolve the situation any faster. Try to remain calm, and at the very least remain cooperative. Understand that the system is designed this way because it works.
Any given Cast Member is probably approached about a lost child at least once a month. Rarely does the problem escalate beyond looking around the immediate area for a few minutes. In the first few moments after discovering that a child is missing, one of the Cast Member’s jobs is to keep everyone calm and avoid unnecessary panic. That doesn’t mean that they don’t take you seriously, only that they know how to handle the problem.
3. Most families are reunited in minutes
Families usually find each other quickly
In those first minutes when you realize your child is missing, you’re probably envisioning all kinds of terrible outcomes, but the truth is that most families are only separated for minutes. Take about five minutes to look around the immediate area yourself and you’ll often find your child long before you have to enlist anyone’s help.
4. Little preparations go a long way
Some parents like to keep a phone number somewhere on the child.
There are many things you can do to help minimize the chances of losing a child. Before you leave for your vacation, make sure your children know as many of the following things as possible:
- Their first and last name
- Their age
- The first and last names of adults in the party, including parents. Looking for people who answer to “Mom” and “Dad” will elicit a response from most of the people in the park.
- A cell phone number for at least one adult in the party.
Talk to your children before you leave and explain that the parks are very busy and it’s easy to get lost. Put some rules in place to try and prevent wandering, like “keep one hand on the stroller or in an adult’s hand at all times.” Obviously some children will just break these rules, but it’s worth making the effort. You can practice your new rules at a local mall or other crowded area before you leave.
Many companies make ID bracelets for children. These typically include identifying information on the inside of the bracelet, or on a card that fits into the bracelet’s pocket. Some parents use beaded bracelets with the parent’s phone number spelled out on the beads. SafetyTat temporary tattoos let you write your phone number on a colorful tattoo that reads “If lost, please call:” Parents have varying opinions about these types of measures, so it may not be for you, but if you want to make sure your child has identifying information on him, these are some options.
Make sure your children know how to find a Cast Member and instruct them to approach a Cast Member first if they’re lost or need help. The unique name tags that Cast Members wear are the easiest identifying factor, but you can also point out how their costumes can make them look a little funny, and how there’s a Cast Member standing outside every attraction.
For older children, you can set up a meeting spot that you’ll head to if you get separated. Choose something that’s easy to find, but don’t pick a giant icon. You won’t find it any easier to locate each other when you’re meeting “in front of the castle.” Try Snow White’s wishing well on the ramp to the right of the castle and you’ll have more luck. Visit your meeting spot early on in the day so everyone knows what it looks like, and consider circling it on a map that you had to all of the older children.
Losing a child in a busy theme park is scary, but keep your cool and you’ll likely be reunited with your family in no time.
