Traveling with young children brings a whole new world of concerns, and unlike the world of Aladdin and Jasmine, it doesn’t come with a dreamy song and a spirited Magic Carpet to guide the way. While you might be more worried about them getting tired or enjoying the most they can in each experience, there is another side of visiting Disney Parks that we would all rather not think about.
There is nothing scarier than the thought of losing your child in a crowd of people. Anyone who has experienced it can tell you that the moment of dread is a feeling you won’t forget in a hurry. It’s a flood of terror accompanied by the sensation that all the blood is draining from your body—the ability to grip reality and function with reason slipping from your reach. If you can’t tell already, I’ve been there, and it will haunt me as one of the darkest moments of my life. Ever since that event, I’ve always been more conscious of keeping tabs on my kids, even now as teenagers. I’ve got four travel planning tips to help keep your kids safe while visiting Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and one of them might be the best Disney hack ever for parents.
Attach an Air Tag or Tile to Them
I will kick this off with my favorite tip: attaching a tracking tile to your child. Whether you attach it around the belt loop of their waistband or connect it to a necklace, adding either an Apple Air Tag or Tile to your child is a fantastic way to keep an eye on their location if they wander off. It can also be helpful in keeping tabs on older children if they are testing those boundaries with new independence.
Your AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth® signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. The whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your privacy. And itʼs efficient, so thereʼs no need to worry about battery life or data usage.
Apple.com
Take a Photo Each Morning in Their Park Clothes
When the worst thing happens, and you can’t immediately locate your child, you might need to ask for help. Over the years, I’ve made it a habit to take a photo of my kids each morning in their park clothes to help make them more easily identifiable to strangers. You don’t want to wait until that moment to realize that you don’t have a recent photo since your child got a drastic haircut and now looks very different. This is a quick and easy way to show anyone who is trying to help you precisely who they are looking for.
Add a Wearable Wristband With Contact Details
Have you ever encountered a lost child who clammed up when you tried to help them? It’s not uncommon. Once the child understands they are lost, it can be very scary. Stranger danger training might kick in, or the confusion and upset feeling may make it hard for you to understand their needs. By adding an ID bracelet to their wrist or clothing, all they need to do is offer those details to the nearest Disney cast member to help. Be sure to talk with your kids about who to ask for help with if they become lost. Go over how to identify cast members using examples like looking for someone with the unique Disney name tag. This will make things a lot easier for them if they do need to find help.
Have a meeting spot as a backup.
Not every moment of uncertainty spells disaster. Before you set out, discuss a meeting spot that you can all reach if someone becomes lost. This is generally a good idea for older kids who might be able to navigate their way around the park a little easier. I like to have a meeting spot with my family, even when they all have devices we can stay in contact with. It allows us to have a backup if our tech has any untimely international connection issues. It also keeps me breathing a little easier if we all need to go in different directions, knowing we aren’t solely relying on technology if all else fails.
Even though you might be confident in your plans to stay together as a family, touring the parks can throw up unexpected circumstances. Following these four easy tips is a good way to ensure you’ve covered all of your bases, making things a little easier to cope with if you find yourself out of touch with kids or family members while visiting Disney Parks.
If you have any tips to add to the list, mention them in the comments below.
** Feature Image: Photo by Andrea on Unsplash
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
