13 Year Old DS...Help!

[Emme]

We are staying at the Swan this month and I have a question...Is there any place for my DS who is 13 to go while Hubby and I have a night out together?

I will not leave him in the room alone, and I believe he is too old for a sitting club, so what to do? Are there any supervised teen clubs or clubs that take 13 year olds? I would love just to have one night with my dh alone, but I can't think of what to do...any suggestions? Thanks!

Only 17 days to go

Emmy

 

[jamsmom]

I have wondered this myself, but have not seen anything. I hope someone offers a great solution.

 

[HM]

I've heard of folks dropping their kids off at DisneyQuest for a few hours while they do something else. It is certainly not a supervised program, but it all depends on what kind of trust you can put in his judgement. -HM

 

[ducklite]

My DS is 15 (a couple weeks shy of 16) and I'm still just beginning to get comfortable with even thinking about leaving him alone in the evening. I'm much more comfortable leaving him at DisneyQuest. It's not "supervised" per say, but he doesn't realize he can leave and come back in (and I'm not going to tell) and he has a great time in a safe atmosphere. We give him a defninite time to meet us downstairs, and he hasn't been late yet. We've stressed dire consequences of being late, he's always been a bit early.

Anne

 

[mchames]

We have had the opposite problem, in that our girls now 4 and 2 were too young for the kids clubs on our last visit. We've used Kindercare twice and were happy both times. On our trip last November we stayed at the Dolphin and the sitter took them to Tubbies for dinner and out to the playground before bringing them in get ready for bed. She had a bag of activities to keep them entertained in the room as well.

Since your son is older, perhaps you could have a sitter take him out for an activity of his choice, like a round of miniature golf (next door to Swan/Dolphin) and pizza and ice-cream on the boardwalk. I believe both Kindercare and Fairygodmothers will take your children places as long as you pay for their admission/fees.

If you have a cell phone or pager make sure your son has the number so he can call if there is a problem or let him carry a cell phone and you could cotact him at anytime to see how things are going.

Just another idea. Good luck and have a great trip.

Mary

 

[cmr]

I have been thinking along this same line...I have a 14 year old dd and a 9 year old dd. I'm not comfortable leaving them in our room at the Dolphin, but the dd-14 is too old for a sitter.

I know the 9-dd can go to a kids club, but that leaves the 14-dd alone, I'm even less comfortable with that.

Has anyone ever taken your children along with you to PI?

I know kids aren't permitted in some of the clubs, and my dh and I wouldn't be alone, since they'd be with us, but we'd like to go to a club or 2.

Not sure about leaving them in DQ, either.

Those early teen years pose all sorts of problems, don't they?

We'd go to PI fairly early, and probably leave before the late night crowd gets going - but I'm just not sure if anyone ever takes kids there.

Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[soccer mom]

The first time I left my kids unattended anywhere, my oldest was 17! I knew he would be fine (for heavens sake he had a girlfriend back home!) We left the three of them at DQ for about three hours while we ate at Wolfgang Pucks and walked through PI. I was a nervous reck! My DD was 11 my other DS was 13. It was impossible for them to stay together every minute, but they promised they would always be on the same floor. I worried about my DD being alone some of the time. I felt guilty thinking that if something happened, my oldest would feel terrible and it shouldn't be his responsibility. I know it is probably my over active imagination, but I wouldn't do it again until I felt comfortable with everyone being alone.

Regarding PI -- I personally think it is very adult. The partying spills out into the streets, the girls are dressed for clubs, and the dancing is very suggestive. Not a family kind of place.

The moral of my long story is...a family vacation is a family vacation and our day alone will come...(at least I hope so!!)

 

[Pooh's Pal]

Two years ago while my friend and I were at Disney with her son and my daughter, both age 12 & 13 at the time, one night we let them go to DQ early....around 7pm & Her and I went over to PI and caught the early part of the Adventurer's club. We stayed till around 8:30 and when we got back to DQ the kids were waiting for us!
There were some smaller children in the Adventurer's Club also that night & I Thought this trip in April I would take DD & her friend (15 & 16) and maybe try the Advent. Club & the Comedy Club with them...
Early though, before the real crowds get to PI.

 

[jamsmom]

My son is 11 now and I have taken him to the Adven Club from @ 7 to almost 9:00 pm 3 or 4 times and the 1st showing of the comedy club once. He likes them both and it gave me a chance to go also. I make sure we leave when adult humor takes over and as more people show up. There have always been other kids when we went to Adven Club and the one time we went to Comedy Club. I know LOTS of people have different opinions about kids at PI. But when you leave before most adults are getting there (and there are other kids) than I felt comfortable with it.

 

[tor29c]

We took our 4 teenagers to PI for a night of "clubbing" at their request (I would have been happier sleeping) and they found the whole atmosphere revolting. We tried a couple of the dance clubs before we found the one geared for teens. Everywhere we went there were obnoxious drunk men making fools of themselves. My husband and I ran interference as necessary but the girls had had enough after 90 minutes. None of them ever want to go back!! My advice... find something more suitable for the whole family.