Mouse and the Magic
  • Home
    • Contact >
      • Disclosure
      • Privacy Policy
      • Instagram
  • Blog
  • Disneyland Resort
    • Dining and Hotels
    • Planning and Tips
  • Disney World
  • Disney Cruise
  • Disney Life

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland

1/7/2019

1 Comment

 
How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
By Jennifer Stuart
Disneyland is a magical place and undeniably a great place for families but it can also be very crowded.  It only takes a moment for a child to wander. Read on for our tried and tested ways to keep track of your kids at Disneyland and where are the most likely places to lose track of them.
**This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links. 
Thank-you for supporting our blog.
​
Officially at Disneyland there are no lost kids only lost parents, but we believe that you should always plan for any eventuality.  So here are our tips for keeping track of your kids.

A picture is worth a thousand words

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
It's an old saying but a true one.  We recommend taking a picture of your child (children) every morning before you leave the hotel.  This way you have a picture of them in their current outfit to show to cast members if they do become lost.  This is a huge time saver and so much more accurate than trying to describe what they are wearing when you are in panic mode.
​

Tag them

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
We ALWAYS tag our kids when we travel.  There are so many different ways to do it.  One of the easiest is with an ID wristband.  We usually put our last name on it and our cell phone number.  These are handy if they do wander off and a cast member has to get in contact with you. There are lots of different styles available on Amazon.


Picture


​Our favourites are the ID bracelets from Mabel's Labels.  They are a soft paper like a hospital ID bracelet so also very durable.  Best yet-- they are 100% personalizeable and you can pick from lots of cool designs based on your kids' interests.

Here is a link to the Mabel's Labels website.

​There are also temporary ID tattoos if you feel like your child would do better wearing those than a bracelet.

Make a Plan 

Like anytime you go to a crowded place or event make a safety plan with your kids.  Make sure that they know what to do if they get lost or separated from you.   If they are older choose a family meeting spot that they can go to.
​

Teach them to look for the name tag

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
The cast members are there to help you and your kids.  Teach your kids what a Cast member name tag looks like as part of your safety plan.  These are safe people that they can approach and talk to if they are lost. 
​

Keep your phone charged

I find I use my phone for everything these days and it can drain so quickly when I am in the parks and taking lots of pictures and video.  We always recommend carrying an external battery pack so you can keep taking all those pictures but in an emergency it is vital that your phone is charged.  If your child is older and knows your phone number this may be how they get in touch with you.  Also it may be how a cast member gets in contact with you if you have included that information on their ID bracelet, tag or tattoo.  These battery packs can be picked up in any electronics store or on Amazon.  Here are a couple that we recommend in different sizes.
​

Light Them Up

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
One of the trickier times to keep track of them is after dark (which in the winter can be any time after 5pm).  It would be a shame to miss out on Disneyland at night (it's beautiful) or the fireworks (they are amazing!) It is just that much harder to see your kids in the dark.  Our solution is simple, inexpensive and will make your kids super happy ---- Glow sticks.   
​
Kids are SO much easier to spot when they are wearing a glowing bracelet or necklace.  Disney actually sells lots of ridiculously-priced glowing merchandise from carts right before the fireworks or night-time parades and shows.  Avoid your kids begging for these and keep track of them by getting glow sticks in advance.  We like to visit our local Dollar Store and stock up on lots of fun glow sticks before every trip.  Its a win-win.  You saved a bundle AND you can keep track of the kids in the dark AND they are super happy.

​
​

Disneyland -- Where you are most likely to lose them

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
Really they can get lost anywhere. Anyone with kids knows it only takes a split second and they can be gone.  That being said, there are a couple of spots that you are more likely to lose your kids.

- Tom Sawyer's Island -- this is an amazing place to go with kids. They will love the chance to get some of that extra energy out by climbing around in Pirate's Lair.  It is also an easy place to lose them because of the caves.  There is a whole cave complex in the centre of the island that is so much fun, but also dark and full of nooks and paths and passageways.  You will find them again.  They are in there SOMEWHERE.  There are also a number of different exits so it is possible for them to come out on the other side of the island from where you expected. Our family lost my cousins and I in there when we were kids and it took the adults ages to corral all of us-- so I'm speaking from experience.

- Fantasyland -- there are a number of rides close together in Fantasyland and when it is a busy day it can get CROWDED -- sometimes one stroller looks like the next and it is easy for a child to follow the wrong on.

-Adventureland -- this can be another bottleneck on busy days.  Always take extra care in those heavy crowds. 

- Main Street USA.  -- many of the shops are interconnected so it is very easy for them to wander into another shop and be out of sight.

- Fireworks or Fantasmic!  -- the nighttime shows are deservedly popular and that means VERY crowded. It is so much harder to keep track of them in heavy crowds at night (see the tip above about glow sticks).
​

Disney California Adventure -- Where you are most likely to lose them

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
-Redwood Creek Challenge -  This is another amazing and interactive space for kids to explore and get out some of their energy.  It is like a giant playground.  The good thing is that there is really only one exit.  The bad is that there are so many levels, slides and tunnels that they can be gone in an instant. 

- World of Color - another nighttime crowd situation where there are many different ways for the crowd to flow.  

What to do if you lose them

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
Try not to panic (easier said than done) Look around -- change your height -- sometimes it is easier to see them in a crowd if you can look down -- so try standing on a bench or planter if there is one nearby.  Notify the closest Cast Member immediately.  Show them the picture on your phone so they will know who to look for. They will swing into action and get more cast members looking.  They have a whole lost child protocol and are amazingly helpful.  


Our Experiences

How to Keep Track of Your Kids at Disneyland
We know just how scary it is to lose a child at Disney.  Our daughter was 3. We were in Redwood Creek Challenge when she slipped away from grandma and went down a slide and was off and running.  She didn't know she was lost, she was just playing, but in an instant we had lost our pre-schooler.  I immediately went to the cast members at the entrance.  As soon as I explained what happened they snapped into action.  I was able to show them her picture on my phone and as one stayed at he entrance to ensure that she didn't leave the area, the other went with me to look.  Meanwhile the rest of the family was searching all over the different levels looking for her and eventually my husband was able to spot her from above and by calling me was able to give me directions to snag her as she came down yet another slide.  It was only about 10 minutes that we didn't have her but any parent will understand what a horrible feeling that is.  We really appreciated the responsiveness of the cast members and their reassurances that we would find her.  
​
If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in some of our other Disneyland Posts.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photos by Jennifer Stuart and Kim Stuart
Comments?  Questions?  Do you have any other tips that we should include?  We would love to hear from you.
1 Comment
Mabel's Labels link
1/8/2019 06:43:12 am

Great suggestions! Thanks for including Mabel's Labels Safety Bracelets!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Find Us on YouTube

    Picture

    Follow us on Pinterest

    Mouse & the Magic

    For Canadians

    Categories

    All
    60th Anniversary
    Adult Disneyland
    Alaska
    Allergies
    Amazon
    Animal Kingdom
    App
    Batuu
    Best Of
    Blue Bayou
    Cabanas
    California Adventure
    California Adventure Dining
    Canadians
    Castaway Cay
    Castaway Club
    Christmas
    Classic Snack
    Counter Service
    Cove Cafe
    Cruising With Kids
    DCL
    Dining
    Discount
    Disney
    Disney +
    Disney At Home
    Disney Characters
    Disney Cruise
    Disney Cruise Dining
    Disney Cruise Line
    Disney Cruise Planning
    Disney Dream
    Disney Fantasy
    Disney Food
    Disneyland
    Disneyland Classic Snack
    Disneyland Dining
    Disneyland Hotel
    Disneylife
    Disney Magic
    Disney Movies
    Disney Plus
    Disney Springs
    Disneystyle
    Disney Style
    Disney Wonder
    Disney World
    Disney World Dining
    Disney World Planning
    Disney World Resort
    Downtown Disney
    Drinks
    Epcot
    Fall
    Family Travel
    Fantasmic
    Fastpass
    Fireworks
    Frozen
    Galaxy' Edge
    Galaxy's Edge
    Good Neighbour Hotel
    Halloweentime
    Holidays
    Hollywood Studios
    Hotel
    Hotel Review
    Information
    Kids
    Kids Clubs
    Magic Kingdom
    Maxpass
    Money Saving
    Oogie Boogie Bash
    Packing
    Pandora
    Parade
    Photopass
    Photos
    Pirate Night
    Planning
    Pre Schooler
    Pre-schooler
    Quick Service
    Quick-service
    Reviews
    Rides
    Secrets
    Shopping
    Silhouettes
    Souvenir
    Souvenirs
    Spring
    Starbucks
    Star Wars
    Summer
    Tableservice
    Table Service
    Tiana's Place
    Tickets And Passes
    Tips
    Transportation
    Tritons
    Vancouver
    Walt Disney World
    Winter

    Click to set custom HTML

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

Mouse and the Magic Copyright © 2016. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any other way associated with the Walt Disney Company. For official information concerning Disney, visit Disney.com
  • Home
    • Contact >
      • Disclosure
      • Privacy Policy
      • Instagram
  • Blog
  • Disneyland Resort
    • Dining and Hotels
    • Planning and Tips
  • Disney World
  • Disney Cruise
  • Disney Life