Age for Kids to do the parks alone

[jkjs]

When is a good age to let the kids go about the parks themselves?

 

[ChelleinNC]

We've been going for years, so my kids are park veterans. Last June when DD was 13 1/2 she went off with a couple of friends in MK (we were in the park) and in December we let her go to Epcot by herself from BWV (she was 14). Then she & her brother (almost 11) went to Epcot themselves. She texted and sent pics constantly showing where they were and what they were doing.

Some may not agree with this, but I know my kids and what they're capable of handling. I also know some kids that at 15 aren't comfortable staying home alone for a few hours.... so I think it depends on the actual kids involved.

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

I agree with the PP. I think it all depends on the kids. you know what your kids can handle. I remember going to WDW when I was 13/14? and my friend and I did everything at the parks by ourselves and we just checked in with her parents ever so often. And that was before cell phones! LOL!

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes, ITA with pp's, it is so different for each kid/family. I would have to go through several senarios and see how they apply to my kids before I would consider it. You know all the "what if's".

A big one for me would be how they would act/react if a ride broke down or if someone got hurt. Could they manage transportation or would we need to be in the same park? Do they stay home alone already and for how long? I recall a post a while back where a bus didn't end up going where it was supposed to go - instead of the Polynesian it went to the TTC and told folks to walk.

My neices spent some time alone but in the same park with us during a family trip last year and did well. I think I will start with that when the time comes.

TJ

 

[Barb D]

My older kids (then 13 and 15) went to MK by themselves late one evening when the rest of us were just too wiped out. They did fine. They've been to Disney many times and know how to use the transportation system, etc. They also have cell phones, and I know they're responsible, good kids.

This year we're going for 2 days after my niece's wedding in Orlando. DH isn't going with us, and I'm dealing with health issues that might make it so that I can't go to the parks. The big kids (now 14 and 16) are prepared to take their 8yo sister to the parks without me if need be.

 

[DisneyTigers]

When I was 10 years old/ 5th grade, the Safety Patrol in my school district went to WDW. Epcot had just opened up. We were allowed to roam freely in pairs. That was 25 years ago (wow, I feel old saying that!!), though!

 

[crisi]

I believe by park policy they must be eleven. From that point it depends on your kids and their maturity level and also you and your comfort level. There are kids that I wouldn't let out of my sight at seventeen and kids that have run households for sick parents at eight. There are parents comfortable with their kids playing alone in the back yard at four and parents who would move into the dorms with their eighteen year olds if they could.

Whatever age they are, stranger awareness is important if you are going to let them be alone.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

We go to WDW every year and for the last three trips we let our OLDER DD's who are now 19 and 17 go off on their own (in the SAME park) ... we meet up for meals and we all have cell phones. So I guess they were 16 and 14 years old when we started. I don't think they'd even ask, but I can't even imagine letting my younger two who are DD13 and DD11 1/2 go off on their own!! Too young IMO!!! Three more years for this "pair" to hang out with mom and dad in WDW!! Then we'll cut them loose ... maybe!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I went to WDW for a middle school field trip (like a PP, that was about 25 years ago) and we went around the parks in groups of 3 or 4. It was fine.

I would probably let DS12 go around the parks with other kids his age, but not by himself.

 

[pixiepower1971]

I believe by park policy they must be eleven.

I have never seen anything like this. Anyone know if this is an in place rule?


As for age, it depends on the maturity of the child. My girls have grown up in the parks and they have been given a lot of freedom. At 11 and 9 they are allowed to be alone for a given time period in the same park that we are in. They must check in by phone after every ride. We started a couple of years ago by letting them go ride something different in the same area that we were in. They both carry cell phones and are mature for their age. Both are comfortable staying home alone and babysitting at other homes.

I know we are more lax on this then others. I respect everyone elses choices, please respect mine!

 

[Dazer22]

30 sounds good to me.

 

[kxmeeh]

I also remember seeing a rule somewhere with disney stating that a child must be 10 to go to the park without an adult. I could not ever let my child go at that age. She was lucky that I let her swim alone in the quiet pool outside our room on our last trip.

 

[graygables]

I have never seen anything like this. Anyone know if this is an in place rule?

As for age, it depends on the maturity of the child. My girls have grown up in the parks and they have been given a lot of freedom. At 11 and 9 they are allowed to be alone for a given time period in the same park that we are in. They must check in by phone after every ride. We started a couple of years ago by letting them go ride something different in the same area that we were in. They both carry cell phones and are mature for their age. Both are comfortable staying home alone and babysitting at other homes.

I know we are more lax on this then others. I respect everyone elses choices, please respect mine!

My now 19yo was given free reign at 15, park hopping, etc. She had to call us when leaving a park and when she got back to the resort. We did have dinners together, so she'd meet up with us for that. My 12 & 9yos will get a trial run of "same park" alone time in June and again in August. They can give directions to pretty much anywhere in the parks and both have cell phones, so I'm not too worried about them. I also have the parental tracking thing on my phone, so I can Big Brother them, if need be...

 

[crisi]

I have never seen anything like this. Anyone know if this is an in place rule?

I'm not sure where I got it from - a thread here? a sign at Disney? a piece of information I collected twenty years ago? Nor does google turn up anything.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

When they are old enough to take their own trip to WDW? Of course by then I will still want to tag along and they wouldn't want their Mom to get lost so I guess no age is really good huh? Not really helpful I suppose.

 

[Steffi]

My 13 (and a half) year old DD did a local theme park with a friend earlier this year. I was nervous about it, but she kept in touch via cell phone, followed the rules about staying with the friend at all times and all was well.

I think I would be even more inclined to allow this at WDW, because it's a better overall environment than the local theme park, and also one that DD is more familiar with. She brought a friend to WDW in February, but they didn't get to do the parks alone that time, because the friend's mom wasn't comfortable with that (which is perfectly fine, I was just thrilled that DD got to bring a friend.)

It definitely depends on how mature and responsible your child is, and also how comfortable you feel with the situation.