Losing a child while traveling is a parent’s worst nightmare. Learn tips for keeping your child safe at Disney Parks.
On our last trip to Walt Disney World, we lost one of our children. While shopping at Disney Days of Christmas in Disney Springs, we turned our backs for just a moment and Jackson was gone!
Our hearts sank. We frantically began searching the store, checking by his favorite things, looking in the corners. No luck. James asked a Cast Member if they’d seen him. They didn’t. On the verge of tears, I went outside and began circling the building calling his name. Nothing. Once I came back in I hoped and prayed James had found him. He was still not found. We did one more sweep of the store when suddenly he popped out of the inside of a clothing rack gleefully yelling “Surprise!” We were relieved to say the least. After we got done covering him with hugs and kisses, we looked at each other and knew we did something wrong.

This moment was a huge wake up call for our family. We realized that in the event that Jackson or Bella actually did become separated from us, they were not fully equipped with the knowledge or information that would get them back to us safely. It prompted us to make some changes in order keep our kids safe and protected while on vacation.
While the scenario above cannot be entirely avoided, there are some things you can do to keep your kids safe. Learn from our mistake and set this plan into motion before your next trip. Here are some suggestions.
Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe at Disney Parks
Learn Your Cell Phone Number
While Bella knows our home phone number, she does not know either one of our cells. When you’re on vacation, this will be the number they will need to contact you. If your child is capable of memorizing, before your vacation, teach them your cell phone number. Back in the day, I taught Bella using the old ’80s hit, Jenny 867-5309, replacing that number with ours of course. Recently, Genevieve Goings of Choo Choo Soul came out with a new song to help kids learn their number.
Safety tattoos
Tag Their Magic Band

Find a Cast Member

Parents: Cast Members will take your children to the Baby Care Center if they don’t see you in the immediate area.
Know Who Has the Kids
Here’s a tip for you. Know who has which kid. This may seem like a no brainer, but it’s something that needs to be done. There have been a few time when we each assumed that the other had one or both of the kids. Let each other know who is with you before you go off to explore.
Take a Picture

Here are some helpful products:
You might also like:
How to Handle Medical Emergencies at Walt Disney World
Preparing for a Toddler’s First Trip to Walt Disney World
How to Survive Disney with a Baby
Lauren
Monday 14th of January 2019
I'm a big fan of Road ID for everyone. We all wear them at the parks and they make them for little kids wrists and you can buy bigger bands as they grow.
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Thursday 29th of June 2017
[…] Keeping Your Child Safe at Disney Park from Adventures in Familyhood […]
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Monday 2nd of January 2017
[…] your family – you’ll have a pic of what you’re all wearing if anyone becomes lost. (Lisa wrote about this hack as a way to keep your kids safe at the parks) […]
How NOT to Lose Your Kids, Your Stuff, or Your Mind at Disney | Adventures in Familyhood
Sunday 27th of November 2016
[…] your children safe while at Disney is a subject that Lisa wrote about not too long ago. She recounts the story of how Jackson disappeared on us at Disney Springs. It was a nightmare, […]
Christy Dunn
Sunday 21st of August 2016
Lisa, Thank you for writing this article! I think this is one of those topics that parents can't hear enough. Most people don't think about this until its too late. The more we get people to think about this before they go somewhere like Disney World, the less likely it will be that a child will be permanently lost. I just recently quit working in the child abuse field and started my own blog about Disney World. I intend to write an article about this very topic. I hope it is ok with you if I link to your article in mine. Thanks again!