Lost in the "World"

By: Marsha WilliamsOn my most recent trip to Walt Disney World, I had many memorable and enjoyable experiences.  There is one experience, however, that reminded me of an old saying “Forewarned is forearmed.”  Knowing in advance what to do when a situation arises enables one to be prepared.It was our first day at the park.  We just finished watching Captain EO and were headed to the Seas with Nemo and Friends.  Since I was the “tour guide”, I made sure everyone was present and accounted for, 7 adults and 3 children, before we were on our way.  I was in the lead when suddenly I heard the question that I never wanted to hear my husband say, “Where is [the boy]?”.  I turned around and he was no longer with the group.  In less than 30 seconds, he was gone and nowhere in sight in the pouring rain.  The only one who had any inkling of where he might be was the four year old in our group who saw him walk off to the right while we were walking to the left.  I never thought it would happen to me but it did, my child was lost in the world.  And, though my heart nearly stopped when I did not see my 6 year-old child, my preparedness (and adrenaline) kicked in.The best advice I can give is to remain calm.  Knowing that you and the children in your group are prepared for when such a situation can help with remaining calm.  Preparation starts before your vacation.  Before you leave for vacation and again before you leave for your park, explain to your children what you will do and what they should do if they get separated from the group.  Let children know that you will look for and eventually find them.  Tell them don’t try to look for you.  Instead, they should stay in the area where they are and ask for help.  Explain who “safe strangers” are at Walt Disney World – a cast member or a parent.  Explain to children how to identify cast members by showing them what cast members’ badges look like.  Also, explain to children that if they do not see a cast member, then ask a parent for help.  I say parent because most children have an idea of who a parent is.During your vacation, the first thing you should do is take a picture of the children in your group before you leave the park each day.  Once you discover your child is no longer with the group, immediately find a cast member (Disney employee).  Disney’s cast members are trained to help parents and children reunite with one another.  The first cast member who helped me immediately used his walkie talkie to report a missing child.  He was able to describe my child and what he was wearing, not only from what I told him, but also, from the picture I took of him that morning.  The first cast member called another cast member to help me search.  This cast member was so calming and reassured me that my child could not have gone far.   While we were walking, he explained to me that my child would not be allowed on any rides or the bus by himself.  He asked me about my child’s personality so that he could get a sense of where he might go.  While you are looking for the separated child, have other members of your group stay where the child was last seen.  If your group is large enough, have one of the adults backtrack the steps.  While I and the cast member were searching, my husband was searching too and the other members of our party stayed to the right of the path where he was last seen.  After about what seemed like forever but was probably about 10 – 15 minutes of searching with the cast member, the cast member called security and was told by another cast member that my child was being reunited with my husband at that very second.  He was safe and dry!

He was located inside the Character Spot.  During this ordeal, I learned that not only was I prepared but my child was too.  In my case, my child found a mother or the mother found him and told her that he was lost.  She took him to a cast member who radioed that she had him.  When I was reunited with him, the cast member told me that he was calm and gave her a lot of information.  She told me that my child told her his full name, his parents’ name, the name of the resort where he was staying, the city and state where he lived, and other details.   It is important to make sure your child knows not only his or her name but also your name, not just mommy or daddy, but your actual name and as many details about their vacation.

I learned quite a deal from this experience.  There are some things I wish I had done ahead of time like having my son remember my cell phone number or maybe purchase safety tattoos or bands for the children in our party.  Of course, I hope you never go through this experience, but if you do I hope my story and tips help you if you are ever faced with children being lost in the world.

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