Tips about ChildId and Kids

When we traveled to Hawaii with my young sons, ages 4 and 7, I discovered a company that makes temporary "Lost and Found" tattoos with a space to write in your telephone number. Various bands, lanyards, cards or pins can get lost during a day in the parks, but a tattoo applied to your child's arm or hand is always there. And kids love them! There are also tattoos available for allergies, autism, Alzheimer's, etc. I always use these tattoos on my children when we visit Walt Disney World now. Even the teenagers will still wear them! - Becky

A wonderful way to keep toddlers entertained is to purchase inexpensive disposable cameras for them to use. My son was 2 when he made his first visit to WDW. He loves having his picture taken and usually cries for my camera. Rather than risk losing or damaging my camera, I found disposable cameras at our local dollar store. I bought a package of four for $8. Needless to say, we have some priceless pictures! - Charlotte

Disney character toys are so expensive. We have found a great way to save money on our trip and let the grandchildren enjoy the characters on the way to Disney. We buy the toys on eBay for a fraction of the price, sometimes for as little as 99 cents plus shipping. I know it gives us more spending money and our grandchildren are just as happy. - Susan Smeltzer

Epcot - Since we're passholders, the kids have been so many times it can get boring for them. They've done the masks and passports at Epcot over and over. What I do before each trip is make up a new passport. I include a picture on the page and certain facts about the country that they need to find. It's interactive with the Cast Members in that country and they enjoy teaching the kids! For instance, in China, learn how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese. In Germany, have a Cast Member tell you about the wall that used to separate their country. In America, what does the Liberty Bell stand for? As I said, the Cast Members love the interaction with the kids. They are proud to talk about their countries. As a prior homeschooling mom, I am always trying to sneak in a learning experience when I can and Epcot is the perfect place to do so without the kids realizing it! - Julie Turbide

Epcot - Since we're passholders, the kids have been so many times it can get boring for them. They've done the masks and passports at Epcot over and over. What I do before each trip is make up a new passport. I include a picture on the page and certain facts about the country that they need to find. It's interactive with the Cast Members in that country and they enjoy teaching the kids! For instance, in China, learn how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese. In Germany, have a Cast Member tell you about the wall that used to separate their country. In America, what does the Liberty Bell stand for? As I said, the Cast Members love the interaction with the kids. They are proud to talk about their countries. As a prior homeschooling mom, I am always trying to sneak in a learning experience when I can and Epcot is the perfect place to do so without the kids realizing it! - Julie Turbide

The nametag idea for lost children/parents is a good idea; however, it might be good to let people know that they also sell a similar nametag at several stores in the parks that are personalized with names. They are a little different than the Cast Member tags, but a child could get confused. - Jody Wickett

EDITOR'S NOTE: Good point, Jody. A Cast Member friend of ours concurs: "Parents come up to us all the time to point out our nametags to their kids. Invariably they say something like, "If you are lost, look for someone with a Disney nametag." I like to point out to them that children with lost parents should look for someone with a WHITE Disney nametag, as Disney does offer personalized nametags in our merchandise locations that are similar to the real ones, and these can be purchased by anyone. It's the white ones (with the current celebration, like "Happiest Celebration on Earth") that will be worn only by a Cast Member."

After reading your information about "lost parents", it made me think of our last trip to Disney. My then 2-1/2 year-old daughter got separated from us -- she just walked quietly away, while we were looking at our map. This happened as we were exiting the Magic Kingdom and immediate panic struck me, because she could have been headed toward a bus, a boat or the monorail. I immediately alerted any Cast Member I could find and then a "tourist" walked over to me and offered to go back into the park to look for her, while my husband searched outside the gate. I thought to myself, "How nice of this man to take time out of his vacation to help a stranger." Sure enough, our daughter was standing right inside with a crowd around her. I thanked the man for taking the time to help me and then he explained to me that he was an undercover security guard. He told me that there are many people like him all through the parks, just looking for cases like this. That made me feel relieved to know that there are people looking out for our kids! - Cindy Boyer

We printed dog tags at Wal-Mart for about $5, then laced them through the kids' shoelaces near the toe so they wouldn't come off if their shoe was untied. The tags had names and cell numbers on them and the children were told to show the numbers to a Cast Member. My children were both old enough to know our numbers but the tags gave us both a little extra sense of peace. This is a cheap and easy way to make your little ones safe. - Heather Pitts

EDITOR'S NOTE: Now with Magic Bands you can write your cell number inside of the band.

As a former Disney College Program Cast Member, I had a family approach me one day while I was standing on Main Street, and the mother asked if she could borrow me for a second. I said yes, and she proceeded to point out my name tag and costume to her young daughter saying, "OK, sweetheart -- if you ever become separated from Mommy and Daddy, look for someone with one of these, OK? They will help you." I thought this was a very good idea because it lets kids know that there are people throughout the park who they can trust to get them back to their parents.

Also, along the missing parents subject, I had a young girl come up to me one day whose father had become lost. As I was talking with her, she pulled out a laminated card from her lanyard, and handed it to me. The card had her name, her parents' names, and also her father's cell phone number. She had been told by her parents to give the card to a Cast Member should she become separated from the rest of the group. This card helped us find her parents very quickly. I know it may be a bit of a hassle to write that information down and figure out how to attach it to your child, but believe me, if you are ever separated from your child, you will be SO glad that you took the time. It makes reuniting families so much easier and quicker! - Ann

EDITOR'S NOTE: We wholeheartedly agree with the suggestion to familiarize young children with what Cast Member nametags look like. Just last weekend, ALL EARS(R) Researcher Kenny says he saw two separate "lost parent" incidents in Disney's Animal Kingdom, and adds that it might also be helpful to point out certain Cast Member costumes. "Guest Relations, Custodial, Outdoor Vending and Security tend to have similar costumes parkwide," he notes. "All Cast Members with nametags can help (and can at least make sure the child gets to an appropriate Cast Member). And all Cast Members with radios should be able to transmit a lost child bulletin parkwide to all other Cast Members with radios."

Wanting our kids to have the items they "needed" at WDW but wanting to build the magic before and during the trip, we decided to bring our own treat box and let the girls "shop" from that box before each day's activities began. I gave each girl a fanny pack or small backpack, water bottle and an autograph book/pen on the airplane. I packed a small shoebox with treats (gum, mints, fruit roll-ups, cookies, etc.) and another with Disney-related trinkets (keychains, playing cards, stickers, personal fan, etc.). Each morning the girls "shopped" for edible treats to place in their backpacks and a trinket -- this sometimes eliminated them even wanting to shop at a gift shop during the day! I saved countless dollars and had a great time selecting the items for the treat boxes. - Diana L. Maslowski

I am not a "ride person," so when we are at the parks at night I'm usually waiting somewhere in the crowd when my husband and son come off the rides. I stock up on glow sticks at our local dollar store, and as long as I remember what color my son is wearing, can spot him easily, especially when he waves it in the air! Perhaps I should be wearing one as well? - Cindy Strong

AllEars.Net team member Glo from Miami offers these tips on traveling with a toddler who's potty-training:
We've been to Disney with our grandson who was in the midst of potty-training for at least two visits. (It was a LONG process!) First, mark the locations of the Baby Centers on your map. There is one in each park and they are absolutely great places to take the little ones to cool off for a bit, watch some Disney videos on TV, rock in a chair, play with other children AND (drum roll, please!) use child-sized potties! They are also the place to go if you need diapers, pull-ups, wipes or any other needs such as that.

Second, use Post-It Notes! Those self-flush potties scare the daylights out of the little ones. Take a small pad of Post-It Notes with you, and when you enter the bathroom stall, put one over the sensor on the wall. That way, your child can sit there as long as he wants to, get down, get his pants pulled up and be out the door before you pull the paper off the sensor, drop it in the trash and close the door. The potty will flush a few seconds later, but you'll be all the way to the sinks to wash hands by then.

Third, think proactively: How long will it be from the time you decide to leave the park until you're back at your resort? How long will you be waiting in line for an attraction? How long is that line to get Mickey's autograph? Plan accordingly. Don't even bother asking, "Do you have to go to the potty?" Just say, "It's time to go to the potty," and go! If your child really, really doesn't have to go, what have you lost but a few minutes? But, if you ask and he/she says "no" just because he/she doesn't want to interrupt the fun, then you're going to have a problem somewhere down the line.

For more information read our Infant and Toddler FAQ at: http://allears.net/pl/infant.htm

Epcot - I have a tip for keeping children occupied while waiting for the fireworks at Epcot. On our last trip to Disney, we wandered into the Toy Soldier at the United Kingdom before we went to get a place to sit for the fireworks. While we were in the store our 3 1/2-year-old son saw a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle he wanted. We bought it for him and let him put it together while we waited for the fireworks to begin. It completely occupied his time and by the time he was finished, it was almost time for the fireworks. We are planning another trip in November 2005 and this time I am going to pack some of his puzzles into Ziplock bags to take with us. He will have something to do while we wait and we won't have the box to take up a lot of room in our bag. - Tiffany Lueck

Epcot - I have a tip for keeping children occupied while waiting for the fireworks at Epcot. On our last trip to Disney, we wandered into the Toy Soldier at the United Kingdom before we went to get a place to sit for the fireworks. While we were in the store our 3 1/2-year-old son saw a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle he wanted. We bought it for him and let him put it together while we waited for the fireworks to begin. It completely occupied his time and by the time he was finished, it was almost time for the fireworks. We are planning another trip in November 2005 and this time I am going to pack some of his puzzles into Ziplock bags to take with us. He will have something to do while we wait and we won't have the box to take up a lot of room in our bag. - Tiffany Lueck

We will be traveling to Disney this September for 10 days with two little ones in diapers. Due to luggage size and weight restrictions I am planning on using a new diaper delivery service: www.diapers.com or 1-800-diapers will deliver diapers and formula at about the price you'd pay in the store. Also, don't forget detergent discs for the laundry room. They are the size of a walnut and prepackaged. Throw a couple of those in your bag, then you only have to pack for half the time. - Kristin