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Disneyland, often referred to as the “Happiest Place on Earth,” is a magical world where dreams come true for children and adults alike. Families from all over the world flock to this iconic theme park to create cherished memories together. However, amidst the joy and enchantment, there have been instances where parents have made the unthinkable decision to abandon their children at Disneyland.
Instances of parents leaving their children behind at Disneyland are rare, but they have occurred over the years. Such incidents leave children in a vulnerable and potentially dangerous situation, raising questions about the motives behind such actions.
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Disneyland Resort can be an overwhelming experience for parents, especially when managing the needs and expectations of multiple children. Overwhelmed parents may leave a child behind unintentionally. Parents struggling with substance abuse or mental health challenges may make impulsive and harmful decisions, such as abandoning their children.
Being abandoned at Disneyland Resort can be a traumatic experience for children. They may feel frightened, confused, and alone in a place that is meant to be joyful. The park staff and security personnel are trained to handle such situations and ensure the child’s safety. However, the emotional scars of abandonment can linger long after the child is reunited with their family or taken into protective custody.
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The official Disneyland Website includes in its rules and regulations that children should be supervised.
“Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter a Theme Park. To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.”
In a social media post, A Disneyland Resort guest staying at Paradise Pier Hotel talks about a child screaming in the room next to them. This guest decided after a while to go to the front desk to see about the child and come to find out, the parents were gone. These Disney parents had left the child in the room and went down to have breakfast alone. While we are unsure of the outcome, the guest who asked about the child received a credit on the room and removed their room service bill for helping.
“Last time I stayed there, a fire alarm wasn’t needed,” the guest said. “There was an absolutely SCREAMING child in the room next to us, and we eventually had to go to the front desk because it JUST. WOULDN’T. STOP. SCREAMING! Turns out, the parents LEFT the screaming kid in the room to go down and have breakfast. The angel of a desk agent gave us a credit on the room, and wiped our room service bill completely, all without me asking for anything. You best believe I left a nice compliment for her.”
Disneyland takes child abandonment cases very seriously. Their well-trained staff immediately notify security and local law enforcement agencies to ensure the child’s safety. The child is typically placed in the care of Child Protective Services until their family can be located or an appropriate guardian can be identified.
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Disney guests bringing children on vacation should be prepared to care for the child. Guests have been seen leaving newborns while they go ride different attractions and much more. Disneyland does not allow guests to leave children unattended due to safety.
