Disneyland: Tips for Your Children Safety

Disneyland is every child's dream. That is why loving parents want to fulfill this dream at the first opportunity. However, such a fun and interesting experience can be dangerous for children, because they can get distracted and get lost, get hurt or something else. 

Therefore, we decided to write a detailed guide on how to make a visit to Disneyland safe and full of positive emotions for your cartoon lovers.

What Can Children Do in Disneyland?

Children can enjoy a lot of activities and attractions in Disneyland. It may be a magical experience for all ages. Here are some of the examples of what your kids may like there:

Rides and Attractions

1. Fantasyland:

• It's a Small World: A gentle boat ride through scenes representing cultures from around the world.

• Peter Pan's Flight: A magical flight over London and Neverland.

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant: A classic ride where children can control how high they fly.

2. Adventureland:

• Jungle Cruise: A guided boat tour through exotic jungles.

• Tarzan's Treehouse: An interactive playground in the treetops.

3. Tomorrowland:

• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters: An interactive shooting ride featuring Buzz Lightyear.

• Autopia: Children can drive their own cars on a guided track.

4. Mickey's Toontown:

• Mickey's House and Meet Mickey: Explore Mickey Mouse's house and meet Mickey himself.

• Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin: A spinning ride through Roger Rabbit's cartoon world.

Parades and Shows

• Mickey’s Soundsational Parade: A lively parade featuring Disney characters and musical performances.

• Fantasmic!: A nighttime show with fireworks, water projections, and Disney characters.

• Frozen – Live at the Hyperion: A theatrical production of Disney’s "Frozen."

Character Meet and Greets

• Meet Disney Princesses: Locations like the Royal Hall where children can meet their favorite princesses.

• Star Wars Characters: Meet characters like Darth Vader and Chewbacca in Star Wars Launch Bay.

Interactive Experiences

• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple: Kids can train to be Jedi and battle Star Wars villains.

• Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom: An interactive card game that takes children on an adventure through the park.

• Themed Areas and Play Zones

• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: An outdoor play area with rope bridges, rock climbing, and slides.

• A Bug's Land: (in Disney California Adventure) Themed around the movie "A Bug's Life," featuring gentle rides and play areas.

Special Dining Experiences

• Character Dining: Meals where Disney characters visit the tables, such as at the Plaza Inn or Goofy's Kitchen.

• Themed Restaurants: Dining in themed settings, e.g., the Blue Bayou Restaurant in New Orleans Square.

Shopping

• Themed Shops: Stores offering Disney-themed toys, costumes, and souvenirs, e.g., the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A.

Educational Activities

• Animation Academy: Learn to draw Disney characters from professional animators.

• Disneyland Railroad: A train ride around the park that provides historical information about Disneyland.

Your children will definitely enjoy all these entertainments, and we recommend that parents carefully monitor the safety of their little family members. But what exactly can you do? Now we will tell you.

The Most Common Safety Concerns for Children at Disneyland

1. Crowds and Getting Lost

• Large Crowds: Disneyland can get very crowded, especially during peak times. So it is easy for children to get separated from their parents.

• Precaution: Establish a meeting point in case anyone gets lost, and ensure children have a way to contact you, e.g., a phone number written on their wristband or clothing.

2. Rides and Attractions

• Height and Age Restrictions: Some rides have height or age restrictions to ensure safety.

• Precaution: Check the restrictions for each ride and ensure your child meets the requirements before queuing.

3. Weather-Related Concerns

• Heat and Sun Exposure: Long hours in the sun can lead to dehydration, sunburn, or heat exhaustion.

• Precaution: Apply sunscreen, provide hats and sunglasses, and ensure children drink plenty of water. Take breaks in shaded or indoor areas.

4. Health and Hygiene

• Illness: Large gatherings of people increase the risk of spreading illnesses.

• Precaution: Encourage regular hand washing or use of hand sanitizers, especially before eating.

5. Food and Allergies

• Food Allergies: Children with food allergies need to be cautious about what they eat.

• Precaution: Inform staff of any allergies when dining and consider bringing safe snacks from home.

6. Stranger Danger

• Interacting with Strangers: In a large and busy place, there's always a risk of children encountering strangers.

• Precaution: Teach children about the importance of staying close and not talking to strangers. Ensure they know to seek help from a Disney cast member if they feel unsafe.

7. Physical Injuries

• Trips and Falls: Excitement can lead to running and potential falls.

• Precaution: Encourage children to walk and be mindful of their surroundings. Choose sturdy, comfortable footwear.

8. Ride Safety

• Proper Restraints: Ensuring children are properly restrained in rides is crucial.

• Precaution: Double-check that seat belts, lap bars, and other restraints are securely fastened before the ride begins.

9. Lost Items

• Losing Belongings: In the excitement, it's easy to lose track of personal items.

• Precaution: Label important belongings with contact information and keep a close watch on valuables.

10. Lost and Found

• Child Tracking: Even with precautions, children can sometimes get lost.

• Precaution: Equip children with a location tracking app or a smart wearable device that allows you to track their location.

More Tips: Location Tracking Apps

These tools help parents and guardians everyday, and visiting Disneyland is not an exception. Here are several ways they can make your journey calm and safe:

1. Preventing Lost Children

• Real-Time Location Tracking: Parents can see the real-time location of their children, helping them stay aware of their whereabouts at all times.

• Geo-Fencing: Some apps allow setting up a virtual boundary. Parents receive alerts if their child moves outside the designated area.

2. Quick Response in Emergencies

• SOS Features: Many location tracking apps have an SOS button that children can press to send an immediate alert with their location to their parents or guardians.

• Emergency Contacts: These apps often allow you to quickly contact multiple people in an emergency, ensuring a fast response.

3. Meeting Points

• Shared Locations: Parents and children can share their locations with each other, making it easier to coordinate meeting points if they get separated.

• Navigation Assistance: Apps like Google Maps can help guide children back to a predetermined meeting spot.

4. Monitoring Activities

• Activity Logs: Some apps keep a history of locations visited, allowing parents to monitor where their children have been throughout the day.

• Health Tracking: Certain wearable devices with location tracking also monitor physical activity, helping parents ensure their children are not overexerting themselves.

5. Ensuring Safety in Crowded Areas

• Alerts for Parents: Parents can set up alerts to notify them if their child enters or leaves specific areas, such as ride entrances or food courts.

• Lost and Found: If a child does get lost, the location data can help Disneyland staff quickly locate them.

6. Parental Controls

• Usage Limits: Parents can set usage limits on their children’s devices to ensure they are not distracted by screens and remain aware of their surroundings.

• Content Filtering: Some apps allow parents to filter out inappropriate content, ensuring a safer digital experience for children.

7. Peace of Mind

• Less Worry: Knowing they can easily find their children and respond quickly to any issues, parents can enjoy their day more and focus on making the experience fun and memorable.

All this only confirms that apps that track locations can be very useful. 

Please note that they can be used for any other purpose. For example, Phone Locator allows you to create joint routes for more efficient meetings with friends; it can be used while traveling to take care of elderly relatives, children, and also has benefits for doing business.

Happy Times

It turns out that your cartoon lovers may not be in any danger if you take care of their safety in advance when traveling anywhere, even to Disneyland.

Protecting your children is not only your responsibility, but also a way to find your own peace of mind. Forewarned is forearmed. Have a great time together! 

Sources:

1. https://babesindisneylandblog.com/tips-for-keeping-kids-safe-at-disneyland-and-walt-disney-world/

2. https://www.charlesullman.com/keeping-kids-safe-amusement-parks

3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273890500_Tracking_children_constructing_fear_GPS_and_the_manufacture_of_family_safety

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