A visit to the Disney Parks is full of beautiful imagery in the planning stages. Rides, characters, castles, it’s the stuff our pre-trip dreams are made of. One aspect of Disney planning that none of us like to think about is what to do when things go sideways. You only need to speak with one parent who has felt the cold-chilling fear of losing their child, even for a few moments, to understand that a solid plan can change everything. With the right planning and preparation, you can keep your child safe even when they are out of your sight. Here are five tips to create a solid plan and share it with your family.
1: Create a Meeting Spot
Regardless of the number of family members and their ages, it’s always a good idea to establish a meeting spot in case anyone gets disconnected. It’s easy to assume that a simple phone call will do the trick, but with dark spots of no reception or loud crowds drowning out the ringer, there is one fool-proof way to regroup: create a meeting spot! Adults can navigate their way there, and kids can ask a cast member for directions to a specific landmark or attraction without feeling lost. Be very clear about where to meet and visit the spot at the beginning of the day. Consider a shady spot in case someone is standing there for more than a few moments.
2: Take a Photo of your Child Each Morning
If you are visiting with younger children, take a photo of them every morning. It doesn’t need to be a mug shot behind the resort room door, but anything that shows their face, outfit, and features, just in case you need to engage a cast member for help. The clearer the picture of who they are looking for, the faster they will be found.
3: Make Sure Your Child Can Be Identified
No matter how well you’ve practiced your cell number with your child, it’s not uncommon for them to clam up when they are scared or unsure. Make it easy for them to be identified if they are found by a cast member. There are some really cool ID wristbands for kids on Amazon, or you can use more creative methods. I know one family that had temporary tattoos made for their children with their names, parents’ names, and phone numbers. Anything that keeps the necessary information with them.
4: Show Your Child A Cast Member
When you enter the Disney Parks, show your child how to identify a cast member. Even though they have different uniforms in different areas of the park, the nametags are a good detail to point out to help your child find the right person. When my children were little, we worked on being comfortable talking to cast members by encouraging them to go and ask questions or say hello so that it would be easier for them to feel comfortable if they ever needed help.
5: Go Over the Plan Regularly
When it comes to kids, one run through the plan isn’t going to do it when it comes to the weighted stress of feeling lost. After all, how many times do we have to tell them to pick the towels up off the bathroom floor? The more repetition you invest in prepping your children before your vacation, the easier it will be for them to take action if they get separated.
Losing touch in the parks is an unlikely scenario, though I’ve always had a bit of a take-an-umbrella-and-it-won’t-rain theory in that the more prepared you are for a situation, the less likely you are to need it.
Feature Image: Photo by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash
