When you pass through those arches, a strange feeling comes over you and you are excited and eager. If you've never been there, you don't know what I am talking about. But, if you have, you feel like for the next week, or however long you'll visit, all will be happy and wonderful and fun. You get there and you are in this happiness fog that comes with being in Walt Disney World. I know because I've been there 14 times. Disney is my happy place.
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| Image from the day that Walt Disney died. |
If a lesson comes out of this awful tragedy, let it be this: Watch your kids. Keep them within arm's reach. It is wonderful Walt Disney World, but danger does lurk at every corner because that's a fact of life.
I am not saying that these parents weren't being responsible because they were. They were close by and watching their children. I am just saying to still be careful with your kids, even at Disney. This tragedy could happen to anyone anywhere, which is why this blog post by Pebbles Thompson is completely relatable. She's so right in saying, "I am you." Tragic accidents happen every day and that is the true discomfort of parenthood. You worry about your children until the day you die.
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| Cinderella Castle |
When I took my son to Disney at 16-months-old, it was the first time I bought and made him wear a child harness. It was a little stuffed elephant backpack with a leash. I always looked down at them, but then my kid was a runner. He had two speeds, asleep and running. I couldn't explain stranger danger to a one year old. I couldn't even demand for him to stay near mommy and daddy. I first bought the wrist leash, but he cried and was annoyed by it. So, that night, I sent my husband and my cousin to Walmart to buy the harness. I gave in, and I was so relieved and happy that I did. I used it at Disney with crowds at their highest and my son was walking freely, but with a little blue elephant attached to him and attached to me. We traveled with my aunt, uncle and cousins, who were not used to caring for a toddler, so when my son was with them, he wore the harness. I felt much more comfortable and they kept him near and secure. It was Walt Disney World, but kids get lost, kidnapped or hurt every day in the real world, and I had to make sure it was not my kid. Yea, I got looks and laughs, but those people were not going to help me if I had to search for a missing toddler, would they?
To this day, I still defend my decision to harness my kid at Disney, but I now have another child and if we go to a theme park, I will break out the harness for her too. It is a tool that I use to help me keep my kids under control and safe, especially at Walt Disney World.
After this horrific tragedy, I read in all of my Disney groups how people were apprehensive about bringing their children to Disney. Don't be. It was a freak accident. Yea, it could happen to anyone, but as long as you learn from this incident, and I believe Disney also should, your child will stay safe and you will have the magical time you were promised as a guest.
I am heartbroken for the family because I cannot fathom what they are going through and pray I never have to. They are in my family's thoughts and prayers, even though that is all we can offer. We never met them, but we hope they can find happiness again.
