Hi all,
I've watched the board for a while, but this is the first post. Before I tell my quick story, know that I have two kids now, my daughter will be 2 on Oct. 14 and my son will be 4 on Nov. 14. We went to DLR two weeks ago and are going back (staying at the GCH with a wedding thrown in in Anaheim) from Nov. 2-7.

I'm putting this on after I read the tips on keeping kids from getting lost, etc. Everyone has their own style, and each kid is different, and the No. 1 thing you can do is remember to be a parent first and a tourist second. That said, here's my story.

In 1983 (I may be off by a year. I know Thunder Mountain had opened), my mom, brother (7yo), sister (4yo), four cousins, uncle and aunt went to DL. The day was great. We all had fun. Then it got tough. It was near dusk, and we had just gone on the Haunted Mansion. We all were deciding what to do. We seemed to be leaning toward BTMRR but hadn't walked over there yet. My uncle and oldest cousin walked to a popcorn stand for a snack near the water (longtimers probably know exactly which I'm talking about). My brother walked after them. He thought they were going to BTMRR, and he didn't want to miss out. He walked past them and into the crowd.

Uncle and cousin returned, not knowing my brother had followed them. Panic. I'll tell you what we did first, then what happened to my brother.

We split into teams and searched. We walked to BTMRR,around frontierland and NO Square. We walked Adventureland. We went to the lost child office. we told security. We stalked the exits. My mom stayed where she was back at HM with my sister in a stroller, just in case. It got dark. We kept going around in circles looking at each place we'd been before. We kept checking with the lost child room and security. Nothing. The MSELP came through. Nothing. This was summer, so I don't actually remember how long we searched. But I know the parade was after dark and people were starting to leave for the night. I'd say about 90 minutes total searching. The fourth time we go into the child lost room -- there's my brother, watching a Donald Duck cartoon. He's smiling. He says "hi guys! I had fun!"

My mother hasn't been back since. Seriously. She's going to meet us in November to be there with my kids and us. But it's been more than 20 years. And she admits it's tough to think about.

So what happened? We only have his recollection, but here it is: First, my brother did one of the two things he should have done. He didn't return to where he was, but he DID immediately go to a cast member when he couldn't find us. The CM was walking along toward IASM (I guess Fantasyland trail). She took him with her, but instead of taking him to lost children, she went about her appointed round... traffic control for the MSELP. He stood with her the whole time roping off the path, then actually using her little flashlight cone thing to direct traffic. He watched the parade with her. THEN she took him to lost children. We never knew her name. My brother didn't remember or ask, i don't think.

The moral? Be parents. My brother's journey was OUR (I was a kid, but all the adults) fault. We all thought the other was watching him. And I would NEVER put my kid on a leash. Even now. Let them be kids. But be a parent. The second moral? It might be Disney, but many CMs are still just kids, and while this CM did a good job of calming and caring for my brother, there were still serious mistakes.

I'm not posting this to be paranoid or alarmist. I love DL, and we have taken my kids twice already with the third trip coming. We teach them (my son, mostly, since my daughter isn't old enough yet even though we're starting) our phone numbers, names and rules for staying with us. But we never forget that they are kids, and even though we are kids at heart, we must be parents.

All the tips and doodads in the world can't make up for us doing our jobs.

The same sort of thing happened with my family about 6 years ago. It was my mom, my dad, myself and my little brother. Since it had been pooring rain we (and just about everyone else in the park that day) were wearing those bright yellow rain coats/windbreakers that they used to sell/give out at the disneyland. We were walking down main street looking at all the little shops. Aperantly my little brother kept walking when we had stoped to look at a window display. At first he thought the group of yellow duck people was us, and when the poor thing realized it wasn't he freaked out. Imagine, you're only five years old, there are hundreds of people all dressed the same and you can't see anyone's face, you have no clue where your family is. After a minute or two we realized he wasn't with us and we too freaked out. Luckily after about 5 minutes of searching through the crowd on mainstreet we were able to find our little duck in the sea of yellow yelling "mom...mom...MOM!". Lesson number one: watch your kids!
Lesson number two: while wearing the same color can help you find your group easily at times it doesn't work when EVERYONE is wearing the same color.

My2kidsrule, if I were your parents I would have been furious that the cast member didn't automatically take your brother to the lost child area. Perhaps that wasn't procedure back then?I know it definitly is now. Although common sense should have told them that taking him all around the park with them while you guys were looking for him was obviously not the right choice to make.

I don't know what the exact procedure was back then. And yes, the CM was the target of all our ire for years to come, even though we didn't know who it was. But the core issue remains... if you watch your kids and communicate with each other, everyone has a fun, safe time.

Thanks for sharing your story. I am glad your brother was found ok.
While I never agreed with the wrist attachements, I don't call them leashes, before I had kids, my 14 month old is a monster! He will run off. Not that I am not being a parent, but he runs even while you are watching him. For me, the wrist attachment is to keep him near.
We are going the same time you are, for our 2nd trip this year. I plan to take my DuoGlider and both my boys will be in it, for the most part while we are walking around the parks. My oldest is 3yo and I think it is just smart, and easier, to have them confined to the stroller, to avoid accidents and things happening.

I was in the park with my husband and my girls September 8-12. On Saturday, we were walking out of the Jungle Cruise and I noticed a little boy about 3 or 4 years old standing off by himself crying. I walked over to him and I asked him if he lost his mommy and he nodded. So I asked him what his mommy's name was and he told me her name was Wendy. So I grabbed his hand and started yelling "Wendy!" hoping to find her.

The woman was all the way over at Tarzan's Treehouse and she was still walking. She hadn't even noticed her son was missing when she finally turned around. I gave him back to her, and she proceeded not to thank me, but to instead, yank on his arm, spank him, and yell at him never to wander off again. Then she turned around with him and stomped off.

Some people are not equipped to be parents. :rolleyes: Oh, and when my oldest daughter is not in a stroller, she is wearing a kiddie "leash" as well as "lost children stickers" from City Hall.

I'm a big fan of "kiddie leashes." My daughter is almost 17 months and she runs EVERYWHERE in a matter of a couple of seconds. Our next trip to the resort isn't until November and I will have her on a "leash." She doesn't like being confined to her stroller and at least with her attached to me she can run around while waiting for DL railroad and I don't have to worry about her taking off or being snatched. I'm extremely paranoid about her being snatched since on a couple of occasions I have had complete strangerstell me "If I could keep her I would." That doesn't exactly make me feel all warm and fuzzy!

I'm not judging those who use attachments for their kids. I just wouldn't use one. And I wasn't implying that someone who does use one isn't being a good parent. Just a different parent from me.

And it's true. Some people just aren't meant to be parents. Unfortunately, they are. We'll bring our duoglider, too, even though it squeaks now from my son. My wife and I did the no-stroller thing at the state fair up here in Sac, and it's a bad idea still.

My whole point was just to bring it out that even with attachments and strollers and such, being alert is the best tool we have.

My son is a runner - all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he just *bolts*. You have no way of knowing when it's going to happen or where he's going to run... he just does it. I was almost glad when he did it to my mom one day, because she finally understood what it's like to be holding a two-year-old's hand one second and the next second he's just gone. "I had no idea!", said she. :rolleyes: Although maybe that's how it is... maybe you can't truly understand unless your child is the same way.

Regardless, I have ZERO qualms about putting my child in a harness (I don't like the wrist restraints because he takes off so quickly, using a wrist model would jerk his arm). I don't give a hoot what anyone thinks of my parenting... this is MY child, and I am going to do MY duty by protecting him from harm. My other two options would be to a) never take him anywhere, or b) confine him to a stroller or other contraption in lieu of letting him walk and get some exercise. While I'm sure there are "different parents from me" who would choose one of those options, I think I'll stick with my harness.

To those who have children who do not wander, You are lucky! But I made the mistake of not bringing the harness I have had it in a drawer at home and took it for granted he would sit in a stroller. He wanted to walk, but would run and try to get away to see what he wanted to see and so had to be in a stroller most of the time. I wish now I had brought the harness , he could have walked more and gotten more excercize. he is a runner, and will not listen to reason when I tell him " you must walk beside mamma". He wants to do as he wants and I understand this, but for his safety I will bring it next time so he can walk and be close enough to me that he is safe and I will not worry one second he will disapear. He refuses to hold my hand or his sisters, he is independant and so will not walk beside us. for this reason the harness is the answer.I am a great mom,and so if you do not need a harness and your child is a hand holder great, but for some of us moms, a harness is the answer.
where we live crowds are not a problem, and so I can see him in front of me, I have never needed the harness and if he does better this year maybe he will not need it, but in case he does you bet I will bring it next year.

Every child and family has different dynamics so what works for one may not for another.
Harnesses are too *dog on a leash* for me. My children are not wanderers so it hasn't been an issue.
We do dress the kids alike when we go to DL; same color shirts etc..

The poster who said being alert is key. I am first a parent and then a tourist.

The important thing is to keep our kids safe and that means all kids!

Before I had children(now I have two, ages two and seven) I thought people who put their children on leash type things were being cruel. I am with others on the thought that children are not pets. Now I have a VERY different perspective on this topic. My 2 year old son is like the energizer bunny, he never stops until he runs himself down. When we go anywhere he instantly takes off running, he will look back once or twice but he will NOT stop. So for his safety and my peace of mind I am buying one for our trip to Disney World in December. We have a stroller but with that he's like Hudini(he can get out of anything) so this is not a option. As far as what other people think of someone using a leash for their children I will live by this philosopy TO EACH IT'S OWN but my son will be safe where he belongs with his MOM.
P.S. People who use leashes know that there is no subsitute for Awareness re:childrens safety

maybe you can't truly understand unless your child is the same way.

Regardless, I have ZERO qualms about putting my child in a harness (I don't like the wrist restraints because he takes off so quickly, using a wrist model would jerk his arm). I don't give a hoot what anyone thinks of my parenting... this is MY child, and I am going to do MY duty by protecting him from harm. My other two options would be to a) never take him anywhere, or b) confine him to a stroller or other contraption in lieu of letting him walk and get some exercise. While I'm sure there are "different parents from me" who would choose one of those options, I think I'll stick with my harness.

:sniff: it's like we were separated at birth ;)

I have never even considered a harness for my S. My M is a whole 'nother story.

Like AQW, I'm not a fan of the wrist leash as a wrist leash because I didn't want to hurt his wrist but also because he hated it on his wrist and would take it off. :eek:

Then I got a harness and I didn't like that the harness leash wasn't elasticized. That's when I had to "build a better child harness."

I took my elastic wrist leash and attached it to the harness and I liked that a little better. Eventually I took to dressing Mr. M in overalls whenever we went to Disneyland and I put the wrist leash around the back of his overalls. THAT is my favorite solution of all. It isn't as practical with little ones who are potty trained but I get the best of all worlds- the convenience of the elasticized wrist leash with the better body placement of a harness.

Meanwhile, I've seen my fair share of board wars over the leash issue over the years. It seems to me that like many other parenting issues, it's an opportunity for good parents on both sides of the issue to respect each other's choices. I know good parents on both sides of the issue and I think we respect each other, I know I respect them! :)

Adrienne

I used to be of the mind that those leashey things were horrible...Now Im not so sure. I stil dont have any children but I have several friends who have 'runners'. One in particular can wriggle his way through any size crowd and has no fear at all of being alone. He's an adventurer for sure. It terrifies her. (as well it should)

Yeah, if I have a runner I will most certainly not feel bad about using the harnesses or wrist restraints. :) Better to be safe than sorry, and we live in a scary world nowadays. :(

When my kids were smaller, we would hold hands. If he wanted to run ahead, I would squeeze a little harder to stay with me. If he was falling behind, I simply yanked him (jk -- I just slowed down).

[QUOTE=EmmaOh, and when my oldest daughter is not in a stroller, she is wearing a kiddie "leash" as well as "lost children stickers" from City Hall.[/QUOTE]

What are the lost children stickers??

This "harness talk" reminds me of a trip our family took to a local amusement park.

My 4 year old son was buckled into his harness in the car in the parking lot before we entered the park.

On the way out that afternoon, after a hot, tiring but fun day, he turned to me, clutching the blue straps and said, "I WUV my hawness!" (he couldn't say his 'R's then...) :D

He really associated the harness with the great time he'd just had. It was SO cute!

Sharla

What are the lost children stickers??

A lost children sticker is a sticker you can put on your child with your contact information (i.e. cell phone number) in case your child gets lost. You can write your name, their name, etc. on it. You get them at city hall.

My 5yo niece disappeared at the Finding Nemo exhibit at Epcot. This is basically an aquarium exhibit. There were four adults and two children. We had just finished taking a picture in front of the exhibit. My son ran off to see the rays in the back of the exhibit, and I took off after him. I guess my niece started to follow us, according to my brother and DH, who we talking to each other. I went back to them after we watched the rays for a few minutes, and found there was no Elise! We looked all over, and finally found her in the gift shop with a CM. She was very upset and crying, but had only been gone for about 5 minutes or so. From what she told us, another guest had found her alone and looking for us, and taken her to the gift shop. Now, my son is pretty good in aquarium-type exhibits, and I usually let him move ahead a little if he wants to, but, I think she didn't see where we were going and panicked.

Eventually I took to dressing Mr. M in overalls whenever we went to Disneyland and I put the wrist leash around the back of his overalls.

I love this idea. We have used the wrist leash before. Sometimes my daughter would tolerate it it, or sometimes she would pretend she was a dog and get on all fours. (she was 2 at the time) It was funny, but kinda got old in a crowd. Think a belt loop would work, also? It is my worst fear to have my kids disappear in a crowd. I think this year we will make ID tags and make necklaces or bracelets out of them. Hmmm... leashes? and ID tags? ;)

Think a belt loop would work, also? It is my worst fear to have my kids disappear in a crowd. I think this year we will make ID tags and make necklaces or bracelets out of them.

Yes, a belt loop works as well but they're not as strong as overalls so if they get to tugging hard, it's not as reliable as overalls.

I would be careful about necklaces because you don't want something that can get caught easily. If you do these, I'd tuck them inside their shirts. Also, many advise keeping identifying information hidden. One thing you could do before you leave home, print up your child's information on address labels and then put the stickers (a new one each day) inside their shirts.

Adrienne

Ooo, I like the info on a label hidden inside their shirt idea. I am going to do that for our trip. I will just tell the kids that if they get lost to find a CM and let them know their info is inside of their shirt.

Ooo, I like the info on a label hidden inside their shirt idea. I am going to do that for our trip. I will just tell the kids that if they get lost to find a CM and let them know their info is inside of their shirt.
We use the guest name badge. On the back of J's Tigger badge with his name on it, we write "Dad's cell" and my cell phone number. We tape over it so that the marker doesn't rub off. J knows that it's there, and if he gets lost, he should find someone wearing a white name badge and tell them that they should call the number on the back.

kids can get lost anywhere, I once found a sobbing child at the best buy and had to have the dad paged, i guess he was too busy looking at the tvs or something b/c he came running from another floor when they paged him.

I think the thing with disneyland is that there are so many distractions for children and adults that it's easy to think that someone is watching when they're not, or it's easy to be waiting outside a bathroom and have the kid walk the wrong way (happened to my friend when she was 6). I like the idea of those stickers that i've seen, however that creeps me out a tiny bit b/c of the dont' label your children thing, in case a creepy person is like 'hi there sarah, come with me" etc.

but to the orig poster, don't be too mad at that CM, they kept your sibling safe and he wasn't scared, that's pretty good!

jt

I was in the park with my husband and my girls September 8-12. On Saturday, we were walking out of the Jungle Cruise and I noticed a little boy about 3 or 4 years old standing off by himself crying. I walked over to him and I asked him if he lost his mommy and he nodded. So I asked him what his mommy's name was and he told me her name was Wendy. So I grabbed his hand and started yelling "Wendy!" hoping to find her.

The woman was all the way over at Tarzan's Treehouse and she was still walking. She hadn't even noticed her son was missing when she finally turned around. I gave him back to her, and she proceeded not to thank me, but to instead, yank on his arm, spank him, and yell at him never to wander off again. Then she turned around with him and stomped off.

Some people are not equipped to be parents. :rolleyes: Oh, and when my oldest daughter is not in a stroller, she is wearing a kiddie "leash" as well as "lost children stickers" from City Hall.
My last trip to Disney World was December 02. My family got of the Wedway and I went to get the stroller thinking my husband was watching our 3 year old son. He thought he went with me. We did not walk away but immediatly started yelling his name and me crying. A kind stranger tapped me on the shoulder and had my son in her arms. Asked if this was who I was looking for. I thanked her thanked her. My husband came back at that time and I showed him the women who had been kind enough to help our son and he to thanked her and cried. I had never been so frightened. My son had stopped to look at a Buzz Lightyear toy display at the bottom of the Wed Way and then wandered away looking for us. Thank heavens for the nice person who helped us. Unlike the parent Emma helped I am forever grateful to this complete stranger. ( I cried again typing and reliving this scary moment) He could not have been gone more then 5 minutes but it still feels like he was gone for hours.

We go to DL just about every year buit we will be moving to Florida in the next few months wich means our new 'home' will be WDW...rright now, at the Disney Store online, they are having a sale of t-shirts (there are a few designs to choose from) where you can have them custom print up to 3 lines, 36 spaces each. They are $9.99 each. I am getting a few, in graduating sizes, for my kids. They don't have to have a name, they can say just about anything, but all my kids will be wearing them! They will work even for family bar-b-q's....this won't stop wandering kids, but DOES help get them back together and also lets any cast mambers see how many people will be going on a ride together, etc.