<p>You sound exactly like me right down to the serial killer. I would tell my daughter to make their meeting spot INSIDE the exit to the park and not budge until the rest showed up. Disney is all about the comfort of their guests and they would see that a young lady is not left stranded. I also would make sure all cell numbers are entered in her phone including the hotel where they are staying. Now I need reassurance about my daughter taking a bus to Penn Station alone in two weeks. I think thats where all the serial killers live.</p>
<p>Disney here in CA is so safe that they have had problems with parents who live near Anaheim buying a summer pass and using Disneyland instead of summer daycare. Dropping kids off in the am, pick them up at night.
They have security everywhere…same in Florida.<br>
My sis left her purse at the top of a slide/ride once. We contacted an attendant and within five minutes we had the purse back.</p>
<p>Disney is full of families, as are the shuttle buses, the hotels, the entire area. IF there is any big issue, people will step up and so will the people at Disney.</p>
<p>She will be fine. </p>
<p>momkaes, my D is in school in NYC and takes the trains and subways everywhere. All by her lonesome, and when my 17 year old went to see her, she did as well. </p>
<p>Something that my Ds both use, when they are doing something like this, is instead of a purse, a big one anyway, they get something small that is worn across the body, that is big enough for cash, cell phone, a small sunscreen and that is it.</p>
<p>Not for pick pockets or anything, but for rides, walking fast, etc. Less chance of forgetting something, or something falling out. And no not a fanny pack. </p>
<p>My Ds have learned to love the little bags i got them, which are good for concerts, shows, shopping, etc. Phones can fall out of pockets, but those purses easily sit on your lap, or between two people on rides.</p>
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<p>I get off the bus right there every day. Let me know and I’ll stand guard for you!
Seriously, it’s all tourists all the time in that area nowadays (foreign tourists) so she’ll be fine.
(I’m so glad someone understood my serial killer phobia!)</p>
<p>Ebeeeee, wow about the safety at Disneyland. That sounds like some daycare.</p>
<p>Not to highjack the thread, but I guess that’s what I am doing-- momkaes-- penn station is totally fine! Lots of normal people and police to mask the serial killers and protect the Charming Young Things. She will be fine. NYC at Penn Station is very used to people not knowing where they are going. People will help her if she gets confused, and she will have a great time! OK Back to Disney. Sorry :)</p>
<p>We stayed at a non-Disney hotel, and there were free shuttle buses every 20-30 minutes. Very easy, and if she and her friends have cell phones or can agree on a rendezvous point to meet if they get separated, I doubt they’ll have any problems.</p>
<p>How old is your D? Has she traveled much without you before? Do you know the girls she’s traveling with?</p>
<p>My two teen girls were on a band trip to Europe last spring, and I had no contact with them while they were there. So of course I worried, but they were fine. It was good for them to learn that even if they got lost in a foreign city without knowing the language, they were resourceful enough to handle the situation.</p>
<p>Make sure that you have the cell numbers of all d’s friends also. If your d’s cell phone is not working at one of those crucial “mom panic” moments, then you will at least know you can reach someone else. (Though, of course, you won’t use the other numbers without the direst need to do so.)</p>
<p>zoosersmom-Disneyland is VERY good about running safely. I’ve known several parents who lost kids there (well, maybe not SEVERAL, but enough to know) and found them very quickly thanks to the staff. Those shuttles are excellent and run very often.</p>
<p>I agree about getting cell phone numbers of the friends, and I would make it mandatory that she check in with you every night before bed. Just a “I’m safe and still breathing.”</p>
<p>Also, have them agree on a checkpoint within Disneyland where they can meet up should someone get separated from the group. We always use Cinderella’s Castle, as it’s pretty central and easy to find anywhere in the park.</p>
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<p>This the first question that should have been answered. As far as access to non-Disney hotels, Disneyland could not be more different from Disneyworld.</p>
<p>Nothing that is relevant to California remotely applies to Disneyworld. While it would take a complete dunce to get lost in California, it does not take much to be overwhelmed in Florida --talking about Disney, of course. Despite all the signage, the Florida property is so vast that the access from anywhere else than the properties served by the monorail (or the boats to a certain extent) can be confusing. While you can count on Disney’s help, they are not beyond leaving people stranded at the wrong bus stop or in the middle of the Wilderness Camp.</p>
<p>However, the answer is not farther than the next Borders … just get a recent book and make your D study it back and forth BEFORE letting her on the plane.</p>
<p>zoozermom, I stayed off Disney property without a car when I was just couple of years older than your D. The purpose of my trip was not for Disney or vacation, but it was was work related. I only knew one other person in that hotel. I did take a day to go to Disney and I used the hotel’s shuttle. It was really very convenient. Since I really did not know anyone, I went alone. I still had a great time. I had not been to Disneyworld before, and I was not about to miss it!</p>
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I’m sure their ‘emergency funds’ would cover this if need be but I really doubt they’ll have any issues.</p>
<p>If she has with her the phone number of the hotel and her cell phone and somehow misses the last bus, she could just call the hotel, tell them she’s stuck at DW, and ask them to make arrangements to retrieve her but again, I doubt if she’ll have a problem.</p>
<p>Assuming you’re talking about Disneyworld rather than Disneyland, we stayed at an off-site hotel once (Marriott Courtyard) and took the shuttle bus. It was easy and a quick trip. </p>
<p>There are huge numbers of people staying at the offsite hotels and I’m sure DW doesn’t want a lot of people hanging around their parking lot after they close so I’m sure they have it worked out so that everyone manages to get picked up (by the bus that is - not the killer).</p>
<p>I suggest warning your D about crime in the Orlando area. Doing things like hanging out with guys she has just met, taking a midnight dip in the closed hotel pool, taking a stroll around the hotel – all are things that have resulted in tourists getting murdered, raped or robbed.</p>
<p>Some tourists become so happy and careless in Orlando that they can become easy prey. While Disney itself is safe, there have been crime problems at hotels off the property.</p>
<p>Orlando is a big city, and has big city problems.</p>
<p>Missing the hotel shuttle would be the least of my worries. Make sure she realizes that letting her guard down, drinking could make her a target.</p>
<p>"
ORLANDO, Fla., – The city of Orlando leaped past Miami and other large cities to become the nation’s 11th most dangerous city, according to a private research group’s controversial analysis of FBI crime statistics…</p>
<p>he study ranked Orlando the 25th most dangerous city in 2006 and the 34th most dangerous city in 2005…"</p>
<p>[Study:</a> Orlando Is Most Dangerous Fla. City - Orlando News Story - WKMG Orlando](<a href=“http://www.local6.com/news/14635757/detail.html]Study:”>http://www.local6.com/news/14635757/detail.html)</p>
<p>I was just at Disney (Orlando), 2 yrs ago and also traveling from NYC and had no problems. I was amazed at how friendly people are – they are very used to tourists, so you can always walk into any retail business if you’re lost. </p>
<p>Suggestions – have her review the maps of the area she’s staying in, the transportation routes/schedules, and also generally know the Disney properties, so if they do get lost or delayed she will know the area enough to describe to others where they need to be picked up; make sure she has the hotel’s number in her cell; I would have her carry emergency money for a cab, just in case – 99% chance she won’t need it, but it’s better to have it than to have a cab stop at a lonely ATM or have a cabbie follow her in as she gets money from the hotel ATM; also – have her put the numbers of a few cab companies into her cell.</p>
<p>Though it’s good to have the hotel’s number handy, unlike what others have said, I would not rely on the hotel just picking you up if you’ve missed the last shuttle. The hotels on the property are incredibly helpful, as are some of the higher end off-site hotels, but typically the regular holiday inn/sheraton etc. won’t do that sort of thing even in Orlando. They may want to, but often don’t have enough staff members to accomodate individual needs; at best, they may send you a cab or tell you how to take a city bus. It’s better to know the schedule and get on the second to last shuttle, even if that means having to jet right at the end of the fireworks shows at night. </p>
<p>And being from NYC she knows this, but I would warn her about individual hotel employees being too “helpful.” Meaning if they miss their ride, call the hotel and if the hotel can send the shuttle around again – great. But if an individual employee wants to come pick them up in a personal car – there’s no reason for it. I’ve seen this happen in lots of touristy cities and usually the person is being nice and maybe trying to get a small monetary tip as he finishes up his shift, but you just can’t be that trusting because sometimes that’s also how trouble starts. Just keep in mind that Orlando does have a crime problem and part of that is due to the fact that tourists are so carefree and trusting while there.</p>
<p>On a practical note - have your D ask the hotel desk people what time the last bus leaves DW for the hotel. Have her ask the bus driver the same question when they drop her off. Have her chack at the DW bus stop to see if there’s a sign indicating when the last off-site hotel bus leaves. Have her be sure to be at the bus stop at least 30 minutes before the earliest answer.</p>
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<p>she’s 18 but has never traveled without us, although one of the girls is an experienced world traveler. ZG is incredibly competent in all things, but I’m a raving psychopath.</p>
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That’s what I was referring to when I said to contact the hotel desk as a fallback. The desk staff will usually be helpful to guests although it may be nothing other than calling a cab for you. It’s fairly normal for hotel staff, even at a Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, to contact transport, usually taxis, for guests. Late at night especially they typically wouldn’t have anyone to actually go themselves to retrieve anyone and even if they did, likely wouldn’t do it.</p>
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<p>That is excellent advice.</p>
<p>Z, if you can wait until I get back into my office - mid next week or so - I can PM to you some names and numbers that will be of help.</p>
<p>zoosermom, you are getting many good informative responses. One thing I would urge you to do is speak to your daughter and her friends about exercising particular caution and street sense if they decide to go to Pleasure Island which houses all of the nightclubs and adult night time social venues. It is accessible by payment of a cover charge and attracts an older crowd, not all of whom are “Disneyworld guests”. I am not an “alarmist” nor “fear monger” by any means (my daughter at 18 vacationed safely and enjoyably with a friend in Cancuun). But the combination of onsite booze and outside traffic creates certain heightened potentials. Four years ago, I chaperoned my daughter and her dance team who were invited to perform at Disneyworld. The evening after the performance, the girls were still pumped and wanted to spend the night dancing so a bunch of moms and I took them to Pleasure Island relatively early in the evening. There was an incident in which I had to intervene involving 3 intoxicated guys in their early 20’s. The club was crowded and security was oblivious to what was occurring until it turned into a little tussle between one of the guys and me. You don’t indicate the age of your daughter or her friends but I am assuming they are over 18 and therefore meet the age restrictions for visiting Pleasure Island. I would urge you to reemphasize all the well known rules such as always staying together including bathroom breaks, never accepting ANY drink from anyone other than the bartender who makes it in plain view, keeping their beverages in their hands etc. Also know that if they miss the last Disney bus from Pleasure Island back to the transportation area where their hotel shuttle meets guests, the only alternative will be a taxi.</p>
<p>These girls will be going off to college and a few drunk guys at Disneyland will be good practice for the “real” world.</p>
<p>Here is what you need to do. Learn to text. It is the fastest and easiest and least invasive way to communicate. </p>
<p>Mm bck on bus…xo</p>
<p>ZG- hvn fn? </p>
<p>I find that my Ds are very responsive to text messages, because I am a long phone talker, and will just blab away and they hate to go, Mom we need to get on the ride!! But a quick text, of “got here okay, will text when on bus” can do a lot for mom’s peace of mind and they can text and talk and do whatever at the same time.</p>