14 y/o Fly/Magical Express Alone

[brockash]

Hi,
We're headed to WDW towards the end of August for our annual family trip. My DS will be starting high school next year and plays football. The football schedule for high school just came out and it's much different than what he's used to as in scheduling. He has his first game (actually just a scrimmage) the day we fly down to MCO. Our flights are already booked, have been for months. I'm considering allowing him to possibly fly down to MCO later that day (after the scrimmage) or first thing the following morning and possibly taking the ME by himself to the resort (I'll be at the customs house waiting on him before he gets there - we're staying at CBR). He has a cell phone. Thoughts/opinions?

He's flown/traveled a good amount (multiple times a year) however always with me. Having said that the last couple of years, I've been having him take the lead as far as getting through the airports etc., just because I think it's important for kids to learn how to navigate new situations etc. We also have 2 other trips requiring air travel and connections coming up before the Disney trip (so we could really make sure we go over anything etc.)

We go to Disney every year and every year via Magical Express, so it's not new to him, however it def. wouldn't be a situation in which he knows the MCO airport like the back of his hand or anything. He'd def. have to read the signs and I would give him basically step by step directions from his gate to the ME area.

My DH does not come on our Disney trips (just doesn't like them and we go with extended family), so my husband would be the one taking him to the airport from home.

The flights I can find, there's one that is nonstop, but does not leave until the next morning (is also a good amount more expensive, but that's not my main concern). The flights he could take the afternoon after his game all have 1 connection. Obviously I'd feel like it'd be a total breeze for him if it were the nonstop and would prefer that, however he knows the deal with connections and generally knows how to navigate an airport and knows he goes directly to the next gate etc.

He's a pretty responsible kid, however there are def. times that I feel like shaking him because of his somewhat forgetfulness/laziness etc., but I think that's more of just a teen boy thing. I think that he generally can be very responsible when needed (for example, I always leave for work before he leaves for school in the morning, yet he has always gotten to school and has never missed the bus -I was concerned about that when the situation first arose lol).

Also, the min. age to fly and use ME alone is 12, so I know that technically he is allowed to, just trying to figure out what others think, as he's my oldest and this would be the first time for this kind of thing.

I have been flying by myself, with my 2 younger sisters since I was about 12/13 as my parents were divorced and we flew across the country twice a year by ourselves for that, so I know it's not unheard of. I'd also be sure to talk to him about it first to see if it's obviously something he's even comfortable with, but I'm guessing he'll say he is as he's pretty bummed he's going to be missing the scrimmage.

Thoughts?

 

[tami82]

Yes I think he can handle going alone and won't have a problem. The flight is non stop and I'm guessing he is just doing a carry on so he would just need to know where to go for the Magical Express. My daughter is 14 and I would probably let her do it as she is a very smart kid.

 

[Dashzap]

I'd think he'd be fine to travel on his own. I'd book the morning non-stop. If he flies the day before and there is a delay/missed connection, it would be difficult for him to get a hotel room on his own.

Have your DH take him to the gate if they'll give him a companion pass to see him through security, give him some cash or a credit card, be sure his phone is charged and pack an charging pack. It's more than we had when we traveled solo as kids, but why not make it is easy as possible.

 

[Allison]

He will be fine.

 

[msmama]

Is he okay with it? If he's okay with it if have no issues, but if he wasn't super confident than I don't know what I'd do.

Also I'd probably do the flight with no stops. I wouldn't want to risk him getting stuck in an airport alone if the flight gets cancelled. If pay more for peace of mind in that case.

And finding ME is easy (though I might call Disney and make sure they are okay with him riding alone).

 

[DopeyDame]

Another vote in favor of the non stop. As a 17 year old I got stranded when a flight was delayed and I missed a connection. I was totally fine and comfortable but it was a huge pain in the butt to get a hotel that would let me stay alone.

 

[ariane37]

Interesting that I found this! We are going Thanksgiving week. Resort/flights booked. Oldest DS14 will most likely (as long as I'm not jinxing anything by writing this!) be on the basketball team again and, while his modified team didn't start games until Dec., JV games start prior to Thanksgiving so there's an extremely good chance he'd miss at least one game if not 2. DH and I were just discussing this with DS the other day, as DS of course said there's no way he'll miss games.......so I figured I'd probably be rebooking him a flight either the day after we fly down or even a couple days later. It would end up being my mother bringing him to the airport. DS has never flown alone but has flown about 11x to Disney so neither flying nor Disney are unfamiliar to him, same with taking ME. He's on the fence about flying alone so there'd have to be more discussion about it and unfortunately we won't have any schedule until late Oct. at the earliest so it'll be a pretty last minute thing but something I want to have in the back of my mind just in case.

My DS is (usually) very mature, very responsible, and has a much better sense of direction than I do lol. I have no doubt he'd be totally safe and would not get lost along the way.......but I will say OP, the forgetfulness/laziness is definitely an age thing because it's happening here, too Bottom line I see nothing wrong with a 14yo flying there alone if both you and he are comfortable with it

 

[Thing 1]

I would be fine with the plan, but I agree that I would prefer the direct flight.

 

[KateMW]

He'll be fine. I started flying alone at 5 when my mom and I moved away from our family and she was divorced so I flew home to my grandparents anytime there was a school break bc she worked full time. My then 10 year old flew alone for the first time last year. A direct flight would be easier but if he can go to HS and play football, he can find a connecting flight.

 

[Tozzie]

The age for using magical express alone is 16

 

[Allison]

The age for using magical express alone is 16

It is 12 according to this article.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

When I was thirteen, I flew across the country to attend conventions. I managed connecting flights, checked luggage, and shuttle services alone. If you think your kid can do it, and he wants to do it, he'll more than likely be just fine.

Also, to settle the age thing, Disney's written policy is that "Guests must be 12 or older to travel unaccompanied on Disney's Magical Express."