It’s scary to think about your kids getting lost at Walt Disney World, given that Magic Kingdom alone has more than 50,000 people a day visiting the park. But don’t worry. Here are a few quick and easy things you can do to prevent it from happening – or prevent it from being a total nightmare.
It’s easy to turn around for a second and then lose a child in the crowds at Walt Disney World. These simple steps will help prevent that from happening. Photo: Sarah Gilliland
How to not get lost at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is a very crowded place, so it’s important to have a plan in place in case someone gets lost. Here is my #1 tip: Before you and your kids begin each day at Walt Disney World, do a quick, 30-second review and ask them, “What should you do if you get lost?”
Do it every day and make sure they know the drill. Because it’s easy to look away for a minute and suddenly find you can’t find your child in a sea of strangers. The main strip of the Magic Kingdom is notoriously congested, especially during parades and nightly fireworks. And there is nothing worse than that terrifying feeling that your child is gone. Even though you’re in the Happiest Place on Earth, your mind will immediately start thinking dark, nightmarish thoughts.
Take comfort in knowing that Disney staff (also known as Cast Members) is extensively trained to handle lost children, and the staff members are EVERYWHERE. They will help the child re-trace their steps, and walk them to any pre-assigned meeting place. If they still can’t find their parents, they’ll take them back to a lost children room that’s like a little living room with toys, until their parents can be located.
What the experts recommend
To prevent the panic and tears of getting lost, here’s what Disney experts recommend you tell your kids.
1. Point out what the Walt Disney World staff name tags look like. If they’re lost, they need to find someone with a name tag and tell them they’re lost.
2. Make sure they know their resort’s name (and make sure the resort has your cell phone number).
3. If they are too young to remember their last name or your cell phone number, put it on a sticker in their pockets. One expert recommended temporary Safety Tattoos.
Disney is crowded, so it’s important to have a plan in place in case someone gets lost. Photo by Jamie Bartosch/Suburban TravelingMom
Other helpful tips to prevent kids from getting lost at Disney
1. Take a picture of each child that morning, so you can remember exactly what they’re wearing. A photo with a real camera, as well as a cell phone photo, is a good idea. Real cameras capture facial colors and features much better than phone photos do (a truth I learned from The Imaging Alliance. Side note: I’m a fan of the Panasonic Lumix ZS40).
2. Older kids and teens probably will have cell phones with them, which makes them easy to track down. But what if their phone battery is dead? Or they’ve lost their cell phone, too? Have a predetermined meeting point where everyone should go if someone gets lost. Make sure it’s a specific place. To say, “Meet in front of the Magic Kingdom” could mean the front, sides or inside – it’s a huge building. Better to meet at a specific store, ride or restaurant.
3. Some rides and restaurants have multiple exits. Be sure to check all of them. If you can split up – with one or adult or teen waiting at the original spot and one off searching the area, that’s ideal.
4. Notify a staff member immediately once you realize your child is missing. They’ll start searching too and bring in other cast members to help.
5. Is there a character or some other eye-catching thing nearby? They may have wondered over to take a closer look.
6. Carry small children away from places where large groups are exiting all at once, like shows or crowded rides.
7. On your way to Walt Disney World, drop regular reminders about the importance of staying together in the parks. That way even if they tune you out the first time, they’ll have heard it multiple times after that.
8. Check out these tips on Walt Disney World safety from one of the other TravelingMom.com bloggers.
If you do get lost, it shouldn’t be for long. And you’ll be glad you had that 30-second review.
If you lose something other than people, here’s some good advice from Twins TravelingMom Sarah Gilliland.
Since no one has more Disney World fails then me, here are some tips to avoid making other mistakes at Disney.
Even the buses are crowded at Disney. Photo by Jamie Bartosch/Suburban TravelingMom
We’ve been there and we want to help you get there too.
2 Comments on “Tips for Not Getting Lost at Disney World”
One tip that I used with my kids now that they’re older, was that if they got lost they should go to the nearest ride or attraction, scan their MagicBand at the FastPass entrance and stay there. Disney can’t track where kids are with the MagicBands, but they can look to see where the bands were last scanned – and that’s one of the first things cast members are now trained to do. 🙂
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One tip that I used with my kids now that they’re older, was that if they got lost they should go to the nearest ride or attraction, scan their MagicBand at the FastPass entrance and stay there. Disney can’t track where kids are with the MagicBands, but they can look to see where the bands were last scanned – and that’s one of the first things cast members are now trained to do. 🙂
Deb, that is an excellent suggestion! And another thing to like about the Magic Bands.