How To Keep Kids Safe At Theme Parks: Part 3-The One Picture You Need to Take Daily!

We tend to take dozens of photos a week and even more if we’re traveling.  However, there’s really only ONE picture you need to keep kids safe on vacation.  Learn what that ONE picture  is plus my Top 3 Hacks to incorporate it easily into your day so you don’t forget!

Editor’s Note:  This is the final post in a series of 3 in Keeping your Kids Safe in Crowded Theme Parks.

If you missed the first article: “Preparing for Crowds,” click here.

If you missed the second article:  “My Secret Weapon for Nighttime Safety,” click here.

The One picture you need to keep kids safe on vacation

The Most important picture you can take when traveling to theme parks or just any crowded place is a plain shot of your child that clearly shows their face and what they are wearing.    If they get separated from you, you’ll need to remember exactly what they were wearing-which in the heat of the moment, can be a little tricky.

Was it the pink unicorn shirt?

Or Was it the pink princess shirt with a flying Pegasus?

And why do my kids have so many pink princess unicorn shirts??

So having a daily picture to grab off your cell phone can be a life saver as you push through the alarming nerves of worry and panic.

The picture should include the following:

• The child should be looking at the camera (this is often easier said than done).
• It should be clear and fairly close-up. (No blurry shots here).
• It should include their entire outfit from head to toe.

If something happens and your child gets separated from the group, you’ll have a clear picture to show security what they look like, their hair style, their clothes…providing a complete description in seconds flat.

When to take this important picture

I recommend TAKING THIS PICTURE FIRST THING before you ever leave your hotel room or get into the family car, so then it’s done and you don’t have to worry about it.

But, having said that, there are also a couple of ways to incorporate this necessary picture into your vacation–ways that will enable this picture to serve multiple purposes.  

Tip #1:  Take the picture by the Entrance Sign

I like to try and take the picture by the entrance sign. This way I can use the picture later in my scrapbook.

Below is a picture I took of my daughters as we entered Typhoon Lagoon (in Walt Disney World).

Notice you can clearly see:

• Their face
• Their bathing suits
• Their floaty (one pink, one purple)
• Their flip flops
• Their hair styles

Tip #2:  Take a group picture at the beginning of the day

If you’re traveling with a group of people, maybe another family or even just the grandparents, take that coveted group picture at the beginning of the day.

Again-use the park entrance sign as a backdrop, if possible.

This way, if anyone from your group gets separated, it’s much easier to find them-even if they’re an adult. (And yes, I speak from experience! LOL)

And you’ve gotten the group picture out of the way, while everyone’s still happy, smiling, and cooperative.

Tip #3:  Take the picture in the parking lot

If you’ve parked in a big parking lot, you can take a picture by the parking spot number.  We always do this at the Magic Kingdom parking lot. And by the time we stumble back late at night, believe me, we’re happy to have that cute reminder of exactly where our car is.

It’s form meets function!

Tip #4:  Taking a Picture of your kids’ shoes-is it necessary?

I’ve often heard the urban legend that kidnappers will grab your kids, sweep them off to a bathroom and change their clothes and cut or dye their hair rendering unrecognizable.

(Yikes!  That’s enough to scare anyone never to leave their house!)

And in this case, it’s helpful to have a picture of your child’s shoes for the police because according to urban legend—Kidnappers will change anything and everything EXCEPT the SHOES!

You can see in the parking lot picture above that I included my girls’ shoes AND the parking spot number at Disney World.

However—don’t get too caught up in stressing about photographs of shoes…I did some very quick research and according to Snopes.com, this is very rare and more of an urban legend.

So, go ahead. Unwrap your bubble-wrapped child and proceed with your vacation plans.

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Do you have any safety-related photo hacks you use?  If so, I’d love to hear them.  Leave me a comment below.

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HI! I’m a Shana, self-proclaimed Media Mixologist, wife, and mom to two little girls. I love to mix up cocktails of crafts, recipes, wellness, family and business with just the right amount of sparkle to help you shine everyday. So, grab a glass, and let’s celebrate the cocktail of life!