Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

[disneytim]

WESH in Orlando reports that a couple left their 3-year old child in a stroller outside Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom for as long as an hour in 90-degree heat on Saturday afternoon. A park guest alerted employees inside POTC, who found the child sweating profusely. Paramedics were called and the child was treated for heat exhaustion.

The parents, who have been charged with felony child abuse, claim the incident was an accident.

Source: WESH.com

[Alice's Wonderland]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Good. Glad to hear that they didn't get away with it.

[Chernabog]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Unless the parents were having some kind of medical emergency, why would they do such a horrible thing?

I've heard stories though about parents leaving small kids (like, under 6 years old) alone (or with even younger siblings!) at a table at Red Rockett's Pizza Port in Disneyland while the parents rode Space Mountain. Apparently they thought that the CMs would babysit their kids. I think the CMs should call the police if something like that happens.

[Neverlandtink]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

I used to have people leave their kids in my Disney Store so they could meander through the Mall. We just had security pick the kids up instead.

When I think of all the friends I have who can't physically have their own children, I think those people in WDW should have to relinquish their parental rights to the people who really want them.

[DCACM]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Sadly, this happens all the time in the parks. I recently had some parents leave a sleeping toddler in a stroller outside while they enjoyed and attraction. Their excuse to security and APD was that they didn't want to wake him. Unfortunately he woke up on his own, and his screaming alerted a passing guest.

[pineapplewhipaddict]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

It's funny...people that want to adopt go through hell, doing tests and everything else, to prove that they would make a good parent.

And then we have people like this.

I wish all people had to take parent idiocy tests.

[pratt55]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Some people should not be allowed to procreate.

[Xharryb]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

The parents, who have been charged with felony child abuse, claim the incident was an accident.

I'm sorry, but how do you "accidentally" walk away from your child?! I know plenty of people who would gladly offer that kid a much better home.

[Tinkerbelle]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

This just disgusts me....
I don't even have words...

[frecky]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

How is that an accident? They left their kid in the stroller while they went on a ride. "Ooops, forgot my kid?" Please.

[Fantasmico!]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

I swear there needs to be a parent license. Not that it would help some people.

[Princess_Crystin]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

How in the world do you leave a child out in the sun by it's self, at WDW, a place where there a millions of people everyday? You just say " Oh,let's go see that attraction!Oh wait,he/she(meaning their child) isn't tall enough to ride. Well we'll just leave her/him here and we'll be back in a little while. " ?!?! That is definitely not an accident. Glad they didn't get away with it.

[sleepyjeff]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

The parents were using the "village" concept of watching the child. It wasn't like it was just the two of them and they said "hey, lets go into Pirates and leave the baby out here"

They were with a large group of family and probably thought someone else was watching the child.

Irresponsible? Yes. But understandable too.

[AidensDaddy]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Simple Solution for a crowd that large.....


assign a person to watch the kid(s). (Such as if there is a large group with 5 or more kids, keep it at a 3 to 1 ratio, 3 kids to one adult.) But if its just one or two, then give that job to a specific person, preferably someone who doesn't go on the rides that much. Trade off with one or more persons so that the same person isn't being stuck watching the kid(s) all day.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Our kids are 9 and 11 and we still haven't let them wander around the parks by themselves.

[sleepyjeff]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Our kids are 9 and 11 and we still haven't let them wander around the parks by themselves.

I was 15 before I got let loose to run around on my own; I doubt if I'll let my son(who is also now 11) run loose in any of the parks until he's about that age too.....although I have let him go on a few rides without a parent(but he was with his 13 year old cousin).

[imagineerthat]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

Last time when I was getting in line for Cali Screamin' I heard a parent asking a CM to watch her son while she went on the ride.

[k_peek_2000]

Re: Couple Arrested for Abandoning Child at WDW

jeeze and the wdw version of pirates isnt even that good! That shows you how bad those parents really are.