At what age can kids be on their own at resort?

[migirl]

My kids are 11 and 15 (will be a few weeks shy of 16 at the time of the trip). If my partner and I wanted to exercise (run 30 min around the resort) and leave the kids in the room would that be okay? The kids are responsible, happy to play games on a device or watch tv and have a phone. They are left on their own at home often but this isn’t home so I wasn’t sure about it. Thanks for any input on this.

 

[MommaKetch]

From what I have found in the property rules, it states:

Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter a theme park or water park. To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/

 

[MommaKetch]

But, other than stating Children should be supervised, it doesn't say anything about resorts vs parks etc...

I have left my kids in the room to run and pick up food or coffee, or throw a load of laundry in, 20 mins max.

 

[HooperSnag]

Our 11 year old has free rein around our house. Would trust them around a resort but certainly not around a park.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Doesn't seem to be any rule against it. As long as you tell them what to do/not do if someone knocks at the door I don't see why not.

 

[nherbert]

Doesn't seem to be any rule against it. As long as you tell them what to do/not do if someone knocks at the door I don't see why not.

There was another thread about security checks, if a kid is in a room by themselves, can we tell them not to open the door (even to security)? I am asking as my son is 17, and we are comfortable leaving him in room by himself but very concerned about strangers entering to do a security check if we are not there and he is alone - I would be more concerned if like the OP he was only 11 or 15. We are not American so I think I am also asking from a legal/cultural perspective - in Australia we don’t have these security checks.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...my son is 17, and we are comfortable leaving him in room by himself but very concerned about strangers entering to do a security check if we are not there and he is alone...

Don't leave your kid alone then. Disney can enter your room at any time, you can throw the interior lock and request the security check return but if Disney has cause to believe they need to enter the room anyway they can and will. (Normally they will return later- but if you're worried about your son because he has some sort of issue security could misinterpret his issues as him being in trouble if he tries to tell them to return.)

 

[nherbert]

Don't leave your kid alone then. Disney can enter your room at any time, you can throw the interior lock and request the security check return but if Disney has cause to believe they need to enter the room anyway they can and will.

Ok thanks, my DS likes to sleep in and we like breakfast before lunchtime

 

[gottalovepluto]

Ok thanks, my DS likes to sleep in and we like breakfast before lunchtime

I updated but you were too fast for me. He doesn't have issues right?

 

[nherbert]

I updated but you were too fast for me. He doesn't have issues right?

No issues, except a late sleeper and not too keen on them entering when he is in pjs.

 

[mjkacmom]

With a 15 year old I’d let them go anywhere together, including the parks.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Our 11 year old has free rein around our house. Would trust them around a resort but certainly not around a park.

I am not asking to be snarky.
i am genuienely interested!
Why do you feel a resort is ok to be left alone but not a park?

My first thoughts are 1) a resort ( especially a deluxe with inside hallways and room doors) can be an isolated place depending on what building you are in and what time of day it might be. 2) in the parks, a cast member should be within seconds of finding to ask for help whether they are working a foodcart or sweeping or are inside a store or standing near an attraction entrance.

I'm a grandmother of an almost 10year old and hoping to get back in Jan 2026 so I'm interested in any other thoughts! THX

 

[mjkacmom]

I am not asking to be snarky.
i am genuienely interested!
Why do you feel a resort is ok to be left alone but not a park?

My first thoughts are 1) a resort ( especially a deluxe with inside hallways and room doors) can be an isolated place depending on what building you are in and what time of day it might be. 2) in the parks, a cast member should be within seconds of finding to ask for help whether they are working a foodcart or sweeping or are inside a store or standing near an attraction entrance.

I'm a grandmother of an almost 10year old and hoping to get back in Jan 2026 so I'm interested in any other thoughts! THX

My parents let me go to MK alone at 10 (no age rules back in the day). We always stayed at the contemporary so took the monorail, otherwise I’d be in the game room with my roll of quarters. I took my little sister to dinner one night by myself.

 

[greeneyedchick]

I would be fine with leaving a 11 year old and 15 year old in the room together or letting them wander around the resort together (as long as they stayed together). I would also be fine with the 15 year old going to the park by himself or the 2 of them going to the park, as long as they stayed together. You can work as a cast member at age 16, so having someone be 15 and being at the resort by himself shouldn't be an issue. I would instruct them to let the security people in if they knock and tell them to step outside while they do the check. If security has an issue with teens sleeping in and thinks it's nefarious, I would have a nice chat with a manager and then my lawyer if necessary.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

When our oldest DD was 15, our youngest was 10 and we had no issues letting them do stuff together without us at the resort or parks. Our oldest was baby sitting by then also.

 

[Anthony1971]

The ages are fine if it is ok with you…..
Most states do not have an age where kids can be home alone just when they are responsible…. Many cruise lines will allow 10 yo to wander the ship get drinks if they have the drink package and eat which I have first hand experience with…. Most hotels will not have a policy especially Disney as they do have kids activities. Of course as I said responsible and only a parent knows that. So long as the 15 yo is there no one would give them a second look. You can also give one or both charging privileges with a magic band or room card. At 10 my son would have had no issues leaving a park and going back to the hotel if we were separated. At 16 he started going to water parks by himself.

 

[SteveH]

Here is a good story from the Jacksonville/Florida Times-Union, talks about Florida law:
What age can kids stay home alone in Florida? What the law says, or doesn’t say

 

[tinkerjo]

at 15, almost 16 if there are no delays or concerning mental health issues. The older should be fine to watch the 11yo while you go out for a little. By 14-16 my kids were going to the parks by themselves (they had to stay together) BUT as I say that, I know there are different maturity levels. Only you know your kids. If you let your kids at home, and feel ok with it, nobody will bat an eye at Disney.

 

[sponica]

They'll be fine. I mean they can be left to their own devices IN the park.

 

[lanejudy]

There was another thread about security checks, if a kid is in a room by themselves, can we tell them not to open the door (even to security)? I am asking as my son is 17, and we are comfortable leaving him in room by himself but very concerned about strangers entering to do a security check if we are not there and he is alone - I would be more concerned if like the OP he was only 11 or 15. We are not American so I think I am also asking from a legal/cultural perspective - in Australia we don’t have these security checks.

No issues, except a late sleeper and not too keen on them entering when he is in pjs.

My only comment here is that if housekeeping/security knocks and he doesn't respond (because he's asleep), they WILL enter the room. The only way to prevent that is to throw the extra security latch from inside the room, which means your son will need to get up to do that when you leave for breakfast (and again when you return).