| Author |  Topic  |
mizzy
 United Kingdom
4402 Posts
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Status: offline |  Posted - 21 Oct 2005 : 10:21:24  
| hi
i though that this would be of interest to any parents with small children
my friend was at disneyland paris two years ago and she lost her youngest child who was almost 5 at the time one minute they were approaching the castle on main street and the next their child was gone
obviously after a few seconds of frantic searching, shouting his name and crying (it felt like a lifetime for her)
they were approached by a cast member and asked if there was a problem
my friend was past herself at this moment and couldnt string a few words together her husband explained that their son was missing and he was only 4 years old
the cast member spoke something onto a radio but it was in french so she and her husband couldnt make it out he then spoke in english and some of the words he said was the "time" and "operate 2 minute lock -down"
they where then approached by another member who took them to a room with security camera monitors whist a very nice lady assured them that their son could not leave the park or be taken from the park as all exits had been sealed within 2 minutes of his reported dissapearance
people could enter the park but no-one could leave
they then asked for a description of their son and in particular what he was wearing this description was then passed onto all exit staff and cast members via radio
they where assured over and over again and again that it was only a matter of time before they would be reunited with their son
it took 37 minutes to find their little boy and he was oblivious to all the fuss going on around him (he was sat on the floor near the entrance to the dragons lair talking to a duck)
the hardest part for my friend was remembering what he was wearing so she could give a clear description she was so beside herself
the lady cast member asked if she had taken any photos in the park today with her digital camera and then took this off her to look for a picture
after finding a picture my friend could only nod that this was her son
they found the picture a great help to the security camera operators who where looking for her son on the many monitors
since this happened whenever i have gone to any big outdoor event or place i always take the childrens photo either before we go or at the entrance
i also think it is a good idea to tag a child with those clever little bands you can get from nationwide building society and gmtv
my friend was so relieved that they found her child she was soo frightened that she could have lost him forever he now gets tagged and a good talking to whenever they go to a theme park or big outdoor event he moans of course says he's much to big to be tagged but she can joke now and tells him to moan to the ducks!
Does anyone on this forum know if they have a similar policy in place in any of the orlando parks
it took 27 minutes to find their little boy | | Report this post to a moderator |
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ellie
 United Kingdom
5994 Posts
Joined: 31 May 2004
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Carla
 United Kingdom
9260 Posts
Joined: 13 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Oct 2005 : 11:59:25
| | Disney do have this policy in Florida too. All of the theme parks in Florida are very security conscious when it comes to children. If ever your child is missing, report it immediately to the nearest Cast Member, so that the lock down happens straight away. Don't try and do any searching yourself, this just wastes time, tell them straight away. A false alarm is no problem and the Parks will be fine about this, as it is so much better than the possible alternative. |
Carla
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-135.aspx |
Edited by - Carla on 21 Oct 2005 12:00:15 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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fiona
 United Kingdom
6440 Posts
Joined: 21 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Oct 2005 : 12:07:41
| I always give advice to my guests - having "lost" my 11 year old for 45 mins once in Magic Kingdom, and MIL for 1½hrs - she would not stay with me and insisted on following DH in the rush after the parades!!
Always make a note of what the children are wearing, and if possible, ensure they have something on them that identifies them. If they are old enough, agree a meet up place in case of separation during crowd times. You never know when you might need this!! |
Fiona
www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/148.aspx |
Edited by - fiona on 21 Oct 2005 12:09:28 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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SunLover
 United Kingdom
4190 Posts
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
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pieman790
 United Kingdom
3862 Posts
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Oct 2005 : 12:52:14
| | I remember loosing sight of my son (4 at the time) a few years ago in Asda. I quicky made my way to the entrance and spoke with a member of staff who quickly put a staff member on each of the exits. We put an anouncement out and found my son within a minute or so. He had decided that shopping wasnt for him and that DVD's and Videos were much more interesting. I felt sick even if was only for a few minutes. |
Neil & Cathy
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1401.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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steph_goodrum
 United Kingdom
7148 Posts
Joined: 12 Feb 2002
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Ray&Sarah
 United Kingdom
10599 Posts
Joined: 11 Nov 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Oct 2005 : 16:22:50
| | It is reassuring to know that the Theme Parks act so quickly to an alert like this, my eldest now 16 was always wandering off if you took your eyes off him for more than a minute. |
Sarah
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chrizzy100
 USA
7229 Posts
Joined: 26 May 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Oct 2005 : 16:58:26
| | My mother in laws best friend lost her two young kids in Disney years ago.....they were never found.........a lot of things are now in place because of them......it was not unknown for kids to go missing in Disney...........but it not something you hear of nowadays........the kids got off the roundabout out of sight of their mother.....never to be seen again......thats why the fence is now up... | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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LiesaAnna
 United Kingdom
11925 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 21 Oct 2005 : 17:28:04
| i was trying to find that thread rather then put you through that again Chrizzy, very sad,
glad that there are lots of things in place to help find little people that wander off, |
Liesa | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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philgrove
 United Kingdom
255 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Oct 2005 : 09:21:22
| Its great to here advice on this as the place is so big you wouldnt know where to start. So best thing to do is to find a CM as soon as poss so this procedure can be operated.
I like the idea of taking a pic on the digital camera as you arrive.
Where do you get these tag things from and do Disney do them?
Chrizzy,how awful.
We try and arrange a place to meet if we get "separated" especially as William now 6 isnt safe in a stroller anymore.
Karen | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Paula D-S
 United Kingdom
4559 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2005
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janny
 United Kingdom
2288 Posts
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Oct 2005 : 10:33:31
| If you have a phone which you are taking with you get a dog tag engraved with the number and/or other info that can be used to get in touch with you and attach it to the shoelace.Some parents tell their children to "hug a tree /post" to make them stay put and not wander once they realise they are not with their parents. Also at Disney children don't get lost -Parents do apparently |
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-393.aspx
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Sharon G
 United Kingdom
2902 Posts
Joined: 08 Nov 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Oct 2005 : 11:55:30
| I lost my then 3 year old son in Wal-Mart last year!!.... I was so upset and shouting his name that a member of staff came over straight away. She was so helpful and got straight onto the loudspeaker and even at Wal-Mart members of staff were sent straight to the exit doors!!!
My son then came wandering out of the toilets where he'd been to wash his hands!!!
...its an awful feeling and now have him on a lead!!!!
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http://www.orlandovillas.com/Villas/1120.aspx
Sharon | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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LiesaAnna
United Kingdom
11925 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
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mizzy
United Kingdom
4402 Posts
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Oct 2005 : 12:40:53
| Karen
every year before the summer holidays GMTV feature heavily on a tag you tots campaign
you can get these flashy bright orange and green tags at Nationwide Branches and i know my local branch still have them so it may be worth asking
also a good idea for older children is to use one of the many charity wristbands and write your mobile number on the inside using a permanent marker pen this way they can still look cool!
i also buy those glow stick wrist bands you can get about 50 for approx £8 and they glow for about 8-12 hours these are great for little ones when waiting in dark queues or at night because you can spot them easily
we also used them as diving sticks in the villa pool when it was getting dark the kids loved this game
Mizzy | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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florida4sun
 United Kingdom
7040 Posts
Joined: 16 Feb 2002
Status: online | |
ellie
United Kingdom
5994 Posts
Joined: 31 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 22 Oct 2005 : 13:11:00
| These tags seem to be a very good idea, especially ones that glow in the dark. Brilliant idea to put your mobile number on them, too. Luckily, our 'baby' is nearly 18, although he does go missing frequently in Walmart, Disney etc. but he has his own 'phone so its no problem!
A word of caution, however, about throwing anything small into the pool - they could get sucked into the filtration system and severely damage the pump - a very expensive item to replace, and it would be down to you. Better to be safe than sorry. |
Ellie
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ellie
United Kingdom
5994 Posts
Joined: 31 May 2004
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mm69340
 USA
2817 Posts
Joined: 04 Mar 2003
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Southsider
 United Kingdom
1346 Posts
Joined: 23 Nov 2003
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disneys 2 minute lock down policy?
