Keeping Your Child Safe at Disney
An unfortunate by-product of Disney World, and it’s hundreds of thousands of visitors every week, is that children occasionally get lost. 99.99% (maybe even 100% in the last several years) of the time it turns out to be a little scary but nothing more, with parent and child happily reunited. Still, for the child and for the parent, getting lost at Disney can tarnish a beautiful memory. In our humble view, here is how to prepare for the situation, and we highly recommend preparing for the situation.
By the way, before we get into the detail, Disney has a wonderful “child safe program” to help children if they get lost on the Disney Properties. In fact, having the lost child discussion with Disney staff (and I unfortunately have) is like watching mild manner Clark Kent turn into Superman right before your very eyes, but with no phone booth to hide what comes next. The uber’ happy Disney team turns into a commando unit within a few seconds. They definitely have dealt with this before (how many times have you heard of a child getting abducted from Disney – my guess is zero). Still, before the Disney Marines get called in, it’s better if you just have a few simple rules in place to keep the family safe. Here’s what we recommend.
Children Up to Age 11
If the child is up to the age of about 11, they don’t “get” that this could happen to them. No matter what you tell them, they are too innocent to see this coming. The good news is that if it happens they probably won’t initially be too afraid, but this is also the bad news – if there is a bad guy out there, they are an easier target. For children in this age category, getting lost at Disney means wandering over to Mickey, Goofy, etc. (who is trained to deal with lost children believe it or not), into a candy store (ditto), or toward their favorite ride (double ditto). Total Disney recommends the “light pole rule.”
“Honey if you and mommy (or daddy) get lost or separated just go to the nearest light pole and stay there – don’t move, we’ll come get you.”
Disney World has thousands of light poles and they are easy to find as an adult backtracking their steps. The very first thing you do, in fact the best one minute investment of your entire trip, is practicing the “light pole rescue.” As soon as you walk into the Magic Kingdom, or Epcot, or Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom, or Blizzard Beach, or Typhoon Lagoon ask your child “where is the nearest light pole?” He or she will point at one and then you say “good, if we get separated, walk over to the very closest light pole and give it a big hug and don’t let go – we’ll come find you. Can you show me how you’d do that honey???” Let them physically demonstrate. A few minutes later, ask them to show you again with a different light pole deeper into the park. That should do it. If you get separated, stop, keep your cool and look for the nearest light pole – chances are they will be hugging it for dear life!
Children 12+
The Giant Mickey at the Entrance to Magic Kingdom is a Great Meeting if Your Child Gets Lost
The light pole rescue works well if the child does not spend too much time over analyzing, but at 12+ they start to second guess “the rules.” “Is it this light pole or that light pole???” “Should I wait one minute, ten minutes or go look for them???” In this situation you need to give them a little more control. I choose a meeting spot at the very front of the park (in Magic Kingdom for example, I choose the giant Mickey in the grass as I walk in). “Go there and wait – do not move!”
All children of all ages
“If you see someone who works for Disney (character, janitor, or any staff), tell them you’re lost and ask them to talk you to ‘parent meeting center.’” They will and after you’ve combed the light poles and the marker at the front of the park, you’ll likely find them at the meeting center.
So, to summarize, you have two different instructions depending on your child’s age:
– under 12 – go to a pole and wait, unless Disney staff walks up and then ask for help;
– 12 and over, go to the front of the park and wait, unless Disney staff walks up – then ask for help.
More importantly – don’t worry. These instructions are here to make your vacation enjoyable and safe, not to create unnecessary fears. Most of the time this will not be a problem for you.
