15 year olds taking taxi from Pop to Caribe Royale

[Victoriasmom98]

Ok. I have a question for you parents out there…..Would you let your 15 year old and her 15 year old friend take a taxi from POP to the Caribe Royal for an event? The distance is about 6 miles. We would use Mears Taxi service as I’ve dealt with them before. What do you think?

 

[grumpydad]

I wouldn't, but mabe it's because I'm just grumpy

I would let them at 16, a year does make a difference in my opinion.

 

[Missytara]

I have never been a parent, but I would honestly say it would be dependent on the maturity level of each child, plus whether that other child's parent would agree to it.

 

[prplgiraffe89]

I'm not a parent, but when I went to Disney World almost 10 years ago with my dad and step mom and step sister, my dad let my step sister and I go off on our own in the parks every day. He ave is each $40 each day and said we could buy food or souvenirs wit hit and then we would meet up for dinner. We were about 14 at the time. I was and still am pretty mature for my age so I agree with the previous poster that it sort of depends o their maturity level. My 15 year old brother would never make it on his own doing something like that

 

[TaraPA]

Only you know their maturity level but yes, I would let my DS15 go off in a taxi alone or with a friend. I guess the question is, how would they handle an emergency - anything from the taxi being in a car accident to the driver being innapropriate, to them being dropped off at the wrong spot? NOT saying these would happen but I always play the "what if" scenario game in my head to decide if DS15 could handle himself or not.

 

[Hannathy]

I would without thinking about it. My 15 yr old went to Italy and they were on there own for days at a time traveling around and that was in a country they didn't speak the language.

I don't get what the problem would be getting in a cab sitting on your butt and then getting out. Why wouldn't they be able to do that?

 

[Alesia]

Assuming they're generally responsible, then yes. Think about all of the things that could go wrong - I can't think of anything that a couple of 15-year-olds couldn't handle, especially if one of them has a cell phone.

 

[shoney]

Yes without question!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I'm not sure I would, and my dd is almost 16. I'll probably get flamed for this, but I would call the company and ask for a female driver.

 

[SaraJayne]

I don't know if I would. DS15 has no experience with public transportation and in a large city like Orlando...hmmmmm.

I'd have to seriously think about it.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

I would let dd16 and friend go "within the parks" on Disney buses/monorail , etc. But would not let them outside the parks alone in a Taxi...too many if's. I would go with them in the taxi and just hang out at the resort myself while they were at their function....sit by the pool and get a bite to eat while they were busy.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I just want to say thank you to all who replied. After careful consideration, my hubby and I will be staying at Caribe Royale itself, so all the girls have to do is go from the room to the conference center. Again, thank you everyone!!!

 

[Rpsemont]

What kind of event at Caribe Royal? - Will there be adults there to greet the taxi? For me, it's not the taxi ride, it's that they're going off Disney Property to an event. Who's going to supervise at Caribe Royal??

DD has gone to numerous shows at HOB in DTD. She will be 18 in December, and this is the first time we're letting her go to a show alone. But we will probably hang out in DTD for the evening.

 

[jpeppers]

I would without thinking about it. My 15 yr old went to Italy and they were on there own for days at a time traveling around and that was in a country they didn't speak the language.

I don't get what the problem would be getting in a cab sitting on your butt and then getting out. Why wouldn't they be able to do that?

All I can say is wow! I'm glad it worked out for you!

 

[jpeppers]

I have rode in many taxis in Orlando and have had some very good experiences and have been in cars with some real a-holes. I personally would never let my minor child get in a cab with someone I didn't know anything about. The drivers are representing a company but it's not like they are representing Microsoft, who the hell knows how they obtained the job? I will admit I am a bit tainted from working in a prison for the last 24 years so my opinion might be different than most peoples but I have no problem saying my child isn't getting in a car with anyone without me unless it is a Disney bus and I'm still not ready for that!

 

[Hannathy]

All I can say is wow! I'm glad it worked out for you!

And the other 50 kids on the trip. It was a school sponsored trip.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I have no problem saying my child isn't getting in a car with anyone without me unless it is a Disney bus and I'm still not ready for that!

I wouldn't say anyone is safer on a Disney bus than they would be in a taxi (maybe less so, because you not only have to trust the bus driver but also the rest of the people on the bus). Disney employees, just like the rest of society, aren't above reproach either. This story was easy to find in seconds:

http://www2.tbo.com/news/news/2012/...child-nets-38-arrests-in-polk-coun-ar-414503/

That said....my son was 14 when he flew from Ontario to Alberta with his 14 year old friend, without adult supervision, to vacation with the friend's mother (who lives in the other province), then flew home alone after two weeks while the friend stayed behind. It was a great learning experience for him. Much as I'd like to keep him in a bubble, I have to let him live in this big, bad world of ours. So yes Victoriasmom98, I would have let them go even if you didn't decide on staying at Caribe Royale. But I do want to know.....are ya doin' a split stay with Disney or trying offsite for a change of pace?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

my son was 14 when he flew from Ontario to Alberta with his 14 year old friend, without adult supervision, to vacation with the friend's mother

Not to be this guy:

...but my wife and her friend were 14 when they traveled alone from Hong Kong to North Carolina to go to summer camp. And I was 14 when I went to boarding school. Had to take a Greyhound bus from western Massachusetts to Manhattan a few times on my own.