Allowing Children Some Freedom

[BarbaraMB]

What is your opinion on allowing your children (of course depending on the age) about the ages of 12 and 13, going together, to the resort arcade room together without a parent? What about to the pool? I understand that many people will feel differently about this. Do you feel a sense of security in Disney? (maybe having some communication such as those 2-way radios might make the difference?)

 

[cinder1]

My oldest is only 8 so I cannot totally relate, but I'd say that at 12 and 13 (depending on the child, of course) that you should be able to allow some freedom. I don't think I'd let them go to the pool alone, but probably the arcade, food court, things like that. (I have a fear of kids drowning so the pool would worry me.) But I was babysitting at 12 and plenty of 12 and 13 year olds in our neighborhood babysit too. I'd think that at WDW you'd be safe letting them have a bit of freedom. Just enough freedow so they feel cool, but not so much that you have to worry. It's a fine line. Good luck!!!

I'd post this on the family board too. I've seen other questions like this there.

 

[DNSDisney]

I think a little freedom at that age is a good thing. Lets them know you trust them and they feel cool.
I do think Disney has age restrictions at the pools , might want to check that out first. Seems like I read it somewhere but I don't recall what the age to be at the pool without parents was.
I have an 11 yr old trying to spread her wings too. I am sure on our next trip I will be parnoid about letting her spread them too.
If you have two cell phones let them take one with them to where ever they are going. They feel even more cool and you have a leash then. And they are more reliable than the radios.

 

[karebear1]

For me it's not so much of trusting my kids as it is trusting other people! Just set up some time limits, or meeting places, and be sure they know that their being in on time will determine their ability to be free or not! Make it very clear that this "freedom" is a privledge- after all, you're on vacation too and worrying about the kids not being back on time is NO vacation for you! Start with small amounts of time- an hour at the arcade etc. - and increase time as they show responsibilty. We did this with our kids and they never failed to meet us when and where they were supposed to. I LOVE the idea of cell phones or the 2 way radios- it will be much easier to let them have a little freedom while they are there. Above all, even though they are in the happiest place in the world, go over the "safety rules" with them. They'll roll their eyes, but hey, if that's the price they have to pay to go off by themselves for a while, they'll survive it!!!

 

[JillU-DVC]

I have no kids so can't comment about this topic, but I did want to say I"ve read many posts on these boards about the lack of cell phone reception in and around WDW.

So the 2 way radios may be a better way to go to stay in touch.

Just a suggestion!!

 

[DisneyLisa]

In August 2000 we let my DD & nephew (then 13 & 11) go to our resort arcade & pool together. They were given strict instructions to stay together (as well as the usual warnings) and we felt comfortable with it. I wouldn't, however, let them go off the resort alone, but that's just me. I do feel fairly safe at WDW but not that safe. I know there are people who won't let their kids out of their sight for a second & I've heard of people who let their kids go & do whatever they want...even to the parks on their own. You'll have to see how comfortable you feel there and judge for yourself.

 

[Mitla96]

I would let my kids go to the arcade and periodically check on them without them knowing -gosh, I let my son walk home from school 8/10th of a mile from when he was 8, yet I would never let my daughter do this.

 

[Magic2000]

When my two older girls were in their early teens, we used to let them walk to the arcade and the food court by themselves. When we get to the parks, we let them go off in that park together and then just meet up with us for lunch and/or dinner. Believe me, my kids never miss a meal!!

In 2000, we were staying at the Contemporary. My DH and I (and my 5 yr old) went to Wilderness Lodge for dinner. The two teens caught the monorail and went to Grand Floridian for the dinner with the Villians. They loved it! They used the room key to charge the meal (with our permission of course). Then they rode the monorail and did some shopping and were back in the room writing postcards when we got back from dinner. It was a really fun night for us all!

 

[Kallison]

My oldest DS will be 13 next trip, he is responsible now for watching his brother 10 and our DD 8. I would allow them to go to arcade and/or pool, but we would probably be following shortly behind. Last trip we gave them some freedom to go get food while we were sitting to watch British Invasion in Epcot or run ahead to the next attraction etc. None of them wanted to ride RNR so we let them wait in the gift shop. They usually do what they are told, stay together, don't touch anything, don't talk to strangers. It's too bad we live in a world where we have to be so neurotic.

 

[mom_rules]

We allowed this the last two trips (1st time DD 14, DS 11; 2nd time DS 13, DD16). They were able to go anywhere on the resort as long as they checked in at the designated time. We stayed at BC last time and since they were a little older they were allowed all around the Boardwalk and anywhere in Epcot WS. If they didn't meet a check in time-the privilege would be gone. They were great! We have also allowed them free time in the theme parks, again as long as they stayed together and met up with us at the designated time. They had such a great time and never abused their privilege. They realized that even if they had been waiting in a line for a ride for 1/2 hour and they would be the next to ride, they would have to leave if it meant missing the deadline. They learn very quickly how to make the best use of their alone time.

This time it will be great- DD18 and DS15-We will go to one park together, they will know where and when the PS are and we will meet up with them then. It's almost like WDW kidless!!

 

[clkelley]

On our first trip in 97 our boys were 10 & 11 and we let them go to the arcade and the pool, and the football field at All-Star Sports by themselves.

On a trip in 99 when they were 12 & 13 we were on a trip with a group of 10 (6 kids (ages 11-16) and 4 adults), the 6 kids would go to a different part of the park than us or go to the pool, food court and arcade by themselves. There were a couple of times we even let them hop on a bus back to the resort and go to the pool or arcade while we adults had a nice dinner. We also let them go to Disney Quest while we spent the evening at Pleasure Island.

On our last trip in 2002, our boys were 15 & 16 and we let them have free reign of all of WDW with charging priveledges. We only made them check in with us for our one nice meal of each day, and of course, they had to be back at the room on the first bus after Disney Quest closed or call us to meet them at PI's gate so they could join us in Adventurers Club.
This was with the knowledge that if they abused either their free time by not meeting us, or charged above their budget, they would have to spend the rest of the trip with us.
We have cell phones with a family share plan, that allows us unlimited calls between each other with no roaming, so that let us stay in touch. If we got their voice mail due to no reception or if we had it off during an attraction, we didn't worry too much unless they didn't call back within an hour or so.

What was really nice on the last trip, is the boys chose to spend a couple of mornings for EE with me at the parks while their daddy and uncle slept in

The only thing I regret about splitting up so much is that I collect the attraction photos, and we never managed to get any with all 5 of us on them.

 

[kilee]

Don't the pools have a minimum age requirement? Usually it is 14 and older w/o adult supervision.

On the trip we took last April, we had a bad expierence w/ unsupervised kids. EVERYDAY, there was a family of 5 children at the pool w/o their parents. The older 2 were probably 12-15. The younger ones looked to be 4-8. I swear these children had no parents. They were at the pool all day, every day. They were loud, they were obnoxious. Even if 20 other people were in the pool, you would of thought they were alone. The older children were so busy with themselves, they weren't really watching the younger ones. An accident could of easily happened.

 

[eeyore0062]

I think it totally depends on the individual kids... if they have handled this type of separation without problems before, I see no problem with it. However, if the children are prone to pranks and such, they should not be allowed. They have to prove they are mature enough to handle it.

I think that the game room in the resort is a pretty safe bet, as well as the pool, if they are strong swimmers. They just need to know that the rules are in place, and if you hear any complaints about their behavior, then the freedom will be curtailed. Then I would peak in without them seeing me, just to make sure!

 

[LvsTnk]

DS16 and DD14 both have cell phones and they work fine while at WDW.

DS has been going off more and more by himself the last 2 yrs. I still have a problem with him being at MK while we are at MGM at night, and I haven't let him go to DD by himself (or should I say using WDW transportation). He did get a little more freedom since he made plans with a girl he met there last year this past trip. They had a few dinners and went to see Fantasmic.

DD is not allowed to go off without us or her brother, I have caught men staring at her numerous times. Gives me the willies!
She doesn't argue and is fine with it.

She is allowed to run down on the BW if we are watching from the balcony.

You know your kids and what you are comfortable with, go with that and things will be fine.

 

[opal]

When dd and my nephew were about 12, we started by first letting them have a few hours on their own in the same park we were in. We made sure they both had watches and set a meeting time, usually no longer than a few hours. When they were about 15, we let them do E-nights together. The rule was that they had to stay together at all times (only exception of course was bathroom breaks!) They were so thrilled to be treated like responsible "young" adults that there was never a problem with them being late. The first few times it was a little nerve wracking but letting go always is. Of course it helps knowing that Disney is a pretty safe place and that someone is almost always watching.

 

[mm4me]

i think you should allow them some freedom

 

[mom2of2]

This isn't excatly a freedom question but I have 2 DS 12 and 5. DS12 is going to be doing the passport in Epcot and asking the CM's at the countries a few ? and then writing up a short report on them (SS teacher said for extra credit!) I was thinking about me and DH stealing away for dinner at our resort while 12 went over his notes, started his report etc and 5 watched a movie or played. We have 2 way radios and 12 watches 5 for me here at home when I run to do errands. What do you all think? I feel very comfortable allowing 12 freedom, he's very responsible and he's very afraid of the wrath of Mom if he messes up!

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

I think a lot of the posters have given you some good suggestions ... but only you know your own kids. I'd lay down some restrictions and then let them start out with something simple like going to your own resort's arcade (2 way radios are great). If they come back when you've asked them, stayed together, etc., then you can give them a bit more freedom if the issue comes up.

We stay at Ft. Wilderness and have let the two kids (when they were that age) go on the resort bus down to WL on their own, etc. This is because I am comfortable that they will stay together, they've been to WDW and are comfortable with knowing their way around, etc.

Because it is a family vacation, however, we stay together at the parks and outings.

 

[jeannej]

I really think it depends on the children. It the kids are trustworthy and respeonsible then I would think the arcade would be definitely ok. The pool is a bit iffy to me. My children are 11 and 10 and we travel a great deal. I would be comfortable allowing both of them to go to the aracade now. But, not the pool unless I had a pool view room and I could sit on the balcony or porch and watch them. I have also left the kids in the room with a walkie and my husband and I have gone to the hotel lounge and enjoyed about 45 minutes alone. (Of course that was a relative term as the kids checked in every 10-15 minutes) This is new territory for us.

jeannej