I need serious opinions on this

[Mskanga]

We will be going to WDW again in 5 more weeks, by that time my oldest will be almost 10 ( in six more weeks after that ) , she's a pretty responsible kid but I know I will be facing the problem that she will not want to do some of the kiddie rides.
I do not plan on giving her complete freedom but I'm debating if I should let her do her own thing within a certain area for a short time and having the two way radio with her so we can keep in touch and also have a meeting point as a back up. I haven't mentioned that to her and I'm wondering if any of you have done this with your kids, what do you think? too young? I would like to give her some freedom but not too much.

[Pam]

I personally would not do this - 10 is still young and even though you're at WDW, there are tons of sick and disturbed people out there in the world.

Pam

[PamOKW]

I would not recommend letting a 10 year old be on their own at WDW. It is too easy to get lost in the parks, even for adults trying to meet up and the radios are not a reliable way to keep tabs. You might want to give her the "illusion" of being independent but I would never let her be out of view. If she wanted to go on a ride by herself you might do that as long as you see her get on and then are waiting right at the exit point.

[Marla Hellwig]

I wouldn't -

[snowball22]

My dd is 10 and there is no way I would let her on her own even with a radio. Too many things could happen. In some states, a nine year old (almost 10) is even too young to be left home alone. This world is a crazy place now and with the threat of war and with terrorists on the loose I would not even consider it. These are just my opinions.

[Mskanga]

That's what really holds me back Pam. I also think that her personal choice would probably be stay with us because she would probably be afraid or at least nervous. I want to give her some freedom but not too much.

[Michelle]

Olga, I definitely would not. Your daughter may be responsible but WDW is a huge place and you really can't be sure of other people. I wouldn't let a child be on their own at WDW until they were at LEAST a teen.

I know it's hard with kids of differing interests but sometimes they just have to hang for the kiddie rides too. :)

[Buckalew]

Hunter will be 9 in a month. She is very mature and responsible. However, I would never even think of giving her that kind of freedom anywhere. There is just no way...
Would your DD be alone or with an older sibling? I guess I am wondering if not, why would she want to be alone/on her own at all? Anyway, my answer is still no. Of course, I am also trying to picture not wanting to do "kiddie" rides...I haven't been through that one myself. ;):p

[Dan Murphy]

Another 'no' from me, Olga. 10 is just way to much of a child still. Early teens maybe, but not 10. I am sure she will enjoy the 'kiddie' rides, I do. :)

[Mskanga]

That's the problem Michelle , the little one wants kiddie rides and the older one wants RNR coaster and things like that, up until this year she was not allowed to ride the big stuff because she wasn't tall enough or old enough but by the time we go she will be a month away from being 6 and she's definetely tall enough so I already told her, she is going to ride RNR and other things like this, I guess they both will have to compromise.
I just think that I liked when my parents gave me a little bit of freedom but then again those were different times, you all got a point.

[bfeller]

I also do not think a 10 year old should be on her own. I don't know what your family situation is, but is it possible for your family to split up for some of the rides? Maybe one parent with the younger one for a couple of hours and the other with the older. You can still use the walkie talkies to keep in touch.

[Lorix2]

Yep, another vote for no here.

I have a DD10 too and would never let her more than a few feet in front of me, always within eye shot.

If you got busy with the younger ones and didnt' see her exit a ride, or get on, etc...it could get very stressful. I think the sick ones would be looking for kids without parents right by their side.

My DD begged to stay home alone one night while I ran to the convenience store less than 5 minutes away. I didn't want to let her, but I had my cell phone and locked the door and told my neighbor, etc...I didn't even get in my car, she was too scared and decided to come (i actually don't think I could have left). If your DD got spooked or the battery went out in the radio, or for whatever reason...your putting alot of unnecessary stress on yourself. Just my opinion...have a great vacation.

[kejoda]

Is it possible to separate for a afternoon? Or even take the younger to one of the drop off centers for a evening?

[janette]

I gave my 10yo DD some limited freedom during our last trip. She likes thrill rides but my 8yo DD does not. I would let her ride TOT & RnR but not really wander around. I'd usually wait at the exit.

When she was a little younger I'd walk her to the FP line and then wait at the exit.

If she had someone else with her I'd probably give a little more freedom but with her alone I really limited it.

[PRINCESS Ariel34]

I understand your daughter wanting to ride non kiddie rides, but please don't let her roam around by herself. There are so many predators out there. There are people walking around with the friendliest faces and sweet smiles, but behind close doors they are the SICKEST KIND OF FREAKISH DEVIL that ever walked this earth. Dh, ds 9, dd13 (who will be 14 on the 11th of this month) and moi went to WDW last July. My daughter is smart and responsible and also has the body of an adult woman:( Who dresses appropriately for her age. (belly tops and short short anything is a no no in my home;) :p ) Even though she is responsible we wouldn't dare let her roam around WDW or any other establishment by herself. Goodluck with whatever choice you make

[allicat]

No way! There are sick people roaming around even at the happiest place on earth! I remember seeing a website that listed things that went on at WDW that you never heard about and there was mention of a peeping tom type incident. Now, keep in mind I have no idea if this was true but still...

[DonnaS]

I'd say no, too.

Perhaps, speak with both children and let them know that they need to be patient while the other child rides their rides of choice. For the older one, this might mean riding the kiddie rides while for the younger, it will mean waiting in line for a ride she can't ride.

Alternatively, if you are going with another adult, perhaps each of you can take one child for a while each day.

[Snow White]

I'd also vote no, I agree, even though it's Disney, there are still some scary people out there, and you just never know! She'll still have fun on the rides....afterall it's Disney!!!:D

[janette]

One of the best parts of our trip in 2000 was when I took each of my DD's separately to MK. My DH isn't a big park person so I left one with him and did an E-Night with my then 8yo thrill rider / night person. The next morning I did EE with my then 6yo Fantasyland lover / morning person. It would have been better for me if I could have done it without doing it back to back but it was really nice to tour with each on their terms. We had a great time :)

[sha_lyn]

Wouldn't let the 10 off on her own or force the 6 to ride RnR. Please don't force her to ride anything that she is afraid to ride.

[minniecarousel]

No - she's too young.

Our boys are two and a half years apart and there was a time when the older one wouldn't do the kiddie rides, and the younger one was too little to do the roller coaster rides. It teaches them patience! Also, DH & I would split up & take them in different directions for a short time (agreeing to meet back at a certain time.) Besides, vacation is family time, we don't want to spend too much time apart.
(A new first coming up for us: DSs, ages 23 & 21 will go to Pleasure Island without us this summer while the 4 of us are on vacation!)

[MerryPoppins]

I don't let my 11 year old go off on her own in the parks. Too many strange people in this world. I would let her ride a ride with her 15 year old brother if they had a radio, but not alone.

I did let her have a little more freedom on the cruise ship last year. She had a radio and her instructions were to call us for permission when she wanted to change locations and call back when she got there. That way we knew who she was with and where she was at all times. I could even meet her to walk her from one location to another if she was alone. She loved the "freedom" even though she was having to constantly touch base. We found that she spent most of her time with a group of kids or with us. :)

But the crowds at the parks scare me more. It's a different situation. I'd be worried and I'm not sure she'd want to go off on her own in that kind of crowd.

[Tuffcookie]

I wouldn't do it at the parks however, when DM, youngest DS (age 10 1/2), and I were there in August, DM and I wanted to shop at DD. I decided to let DS spend the time at Disney Quest and then we picked him up at a designated time.

TC:cool:

[shortbun]

I think I'm a pretty liberal parent and aunt but
I wouldn't let my 12 year old neice do it. I don't
even leave her alone in a mall near my house.
I lurk around her with her friends-don't talk to them
but I'm always in their view and they in mine.
I don't know your family makeup-are there two
adults going to WDW too? If so, split up once in a
while. Hey-I LOVE the kiddie rides!! ;)

[snoopy]

Hmmm, I remember being younger than 10 and running all over the place by myself or with a friend.

Times have changed.

I know your dilemma, Olga, as my oldest is never interested in the things his younger brother is. But I'm with the others - and I think you are too - 10 is just too young to allow her to roam by herself.

I just know you guys will have a blast anyway. :)

[Mskanga]

When I said giving her some freedom I didn't mean like letting her roam around the park, more like ok if you don't want to ride Peter Pan , you can wait for us at the store outside with the radio , I know she's happy just taking her time looking in those stores but I do know there can be crazy people out there too.
DH is not a park person at all, he's at the park maybe 3-4 hours at the most in a day , basically we are the ones in the park all day having as blast , but when he is at the park with us , we do split up , one takes the thrill rider and I usually get stuck in kiddie land which I don't mind because then I make sure one morning I get my thrill ride time for me.
I also think this time may be different because the youngest one is older and she can ride more things and yes I plan on making her go on RNR, she's not afraid of it but if you give her the choice she won't go because she does not know what it's like, she's been on other coasters just at the end of last summer at Hershey Park and she loved it , she does say though that she is going to go on RNR herself so it may not be so much of a problem after all.
I just remember being 10 and having my freedom , man , times sure have changed, haven't they?

[zurgswife]

Olga...I think 10 on there own is 2 young.....My DD 11 is still a couple of years away from have time alone....Though as a family of 6 with kids from 5 to 11 this past trip we split up several times and the youngest didin't ride the TOT, RnR etc. usually because she was frightened.....

I also suggest that you do not try to force your youngest to go on rides just because she is now tall enough.....Also, if a CM see's a child visiable frightened they will not allow the ride to happen....

any how good luck and I'm sure the kiddie rides won't kill your DD....my 3 oldest 9, 10, 11 still love em....

[Mamu]

No matter how mature a 10-year old child is they are still a child. My answer is also no.

[Mskanga]

Kim, the problem with the youngest one is that usually after the first ride she loves them, it's just to get her to go that first time. My oldest was the same, if I asked do you want to go on Space Mountain she would say no....I said one day we are going to ride space mountain just once, if you don't like it then you don't have to ride it anymore, she rode it and the moment she got off it she asked, can we go again? she's been a roaller coaster nut ever since. They don't act like they are afraid or anything, it's just that they won't try what they don't know unless I push them to.

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with everyone else about 10 being too young too. It will be a good time to specificaly teach patience to both children if they have to wait for each other. We allowed our DS to go to the learning programs they used to have at WDW when he was 9. They were usually for 3-8 hours and they were dropped off and picked up at Epcot. We were there to pick him up before he came out of the class. He didn't even want to go by himself until he was about 15. If she had an older sibling who was able to take her along, that would be different.

[AmyA]

Hi,
I agree that 10 is proabably too young. My parents didn't let my sister and I separate from them at the MK until I was 16 and she was 12. Then of course she had to be with me at all times.

My kids are 6 years apart so this is an issue for us, too. If your family can't split up, I like to do this: we let the oldest DD pick all the rides for a specified time period (ie, 2 hours) and we all go on them w/o complaining (barring height restrictions, overly fearful reactions--then we'd baby swap). Then youngest DD gets to pick all the rides for the same amount of time and we all go on all those rides w/o complaining.

Even though your oldest DD won't have her freedom, it may be nice for her to decide which rides to do, and not feel like she has to do only "baby" rides b/c that's what her sibling wants to do. I know that annoyed me when I was 10, lol.

[Kitty 34]

What we do when the kids want to split up and do different things is my DH and I would split up too........ one goes with one son and the other goes with the other one.:cool:

[janette]

On RnR the chicken exit is the same hallway used to exit the ride. You can wait in line with her, if your younger DD doesn't want to ride (also a good way for the younger one to see the take-off - my 8yo hasnt' ridden yet) you can wait in the hall for the older one, it is just a few minutes and she will be on the ride most of the time. We've done this before and also on Space Mountain.

On TOT my older DD has ridden it so many times she was very comfortable waiting in line on her own, the first times she did it she was only 9yo but we used fast passes I went with her to the FP line and waited at the exit. TOT has a benches in the exit area so you can wait right there. Takes about 15 minutes for them to complete the ride.

On our last trip she was still 10yo, and like I said I let her ride TOT & RnR on her own. I was very comfortable that she wouldn't do anything but go between the 2 rides and I waited right where I knew I could see her. Than my younger DD & I did a few other things like muppets that we didn't have to wait for.

[Patio]

I would not allow a 10 yr old to be out of my eyesight at any time. Heck, my DD is almost 14 and I walked to the Mara for drink refills with her every time last month. You can never be too careful.

[Mary Jo]

<font color=navy>Why don't you set aside a part of the day where the little one can go back to the resort w/dad & go swimming & stuff, and you take the 10 yr old to do the more mature rides?

Sometimes we go to parks with my friends & their younger kids, which restricts my own, but I always make sure they have time to go on "their" rides, and so they are patient with the younger ones.

Another option is to have a map, and have the kids pick out a certain number of attractions each, so they feel they have some control (especially the 10 year old).

What a fun problem, Olga. ;) You guys are going to have a blast no matter what. :)

[Pin Wizard]

A vote for NO WAY here! At least she's still happy going to WDW. My 9 year old tells me NO DISNEY...only UNIVERSAL! :eek: :(

[wdwnutze]

I would say "no way". My dd is 10 and I don't think she is old enough to be on her own even for a short time. I would definately work out a plan where the adults separate and 1 takes the younger child and the other goes on the the big rides with your dd. The world is just too full of strange people.

[SplshMtn99]

I don't have children --- and I don't really think you need another opinion -- you got alot already. :)

But, based upon experiences with our niece at WDW & amusement parks every summer -- I too say "no".

You may be surprised when you get there --- she may actually want to still ride the kiddie rides TOO. :)