V.I.N.CENT.
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 511
We were comfortable at 13, with a cell phone.
Disney is safe but definitely remind your kids that it’s still public.I do consider Disneyland a safe place.
That's a good point. With ILL/Genie+ it might be tempting to think "it's only 15 minutes" but life doesn't always work out that way. It once took us almost an hour to get through Guardians in DCA with Genie+ and without a ride breakdown beyond only running 1 tower. There is no way we would have guessed that in advance.Something to keep in mind in this discussion, especially lately, is that the child needs to be mature enough to be waiting alone for potentially a LONG time if a ride breaks down while the parents are on it. This is happening so often now that you have to assume any ride you get on might stop mid ride and you may be stuck for a bit before a CM gets you out. This has happened to us recently on a few rides. This is where it is immensely helpful for the child to have a cell phone so you can communicate with them.
If your kid can't be okay alone for at least an hour, don't leave them waiting for you outside a ride. Wait until they are old enough or skip that ride altogether.
Or the opposite. We frequently let the kids ride. They know they may get stuck and they know we will be waiting and they may have to wait on the ride a while. They view E-Stops as adventures, but I know not all kids will.Something to keep in mind in this discussion, especially lately, is that the child needs to be mature enough to be waiting alone for potentially a LONG time if a ride breaks down while the parents are on it. This is happening so often now that you have to assume any ride you get on might stop mid ride and you may be stuck for a bit before a CM gets you out. This has happened to us recently on a few rides. This is where it is immensely helpful for the child to have a cell phone so you can communicate with them.
If your kid can't be okay alone for at least an hour, don't leave them waiting for you outside a ride. Wait until they are old enough or skip that ride altogether.
I worry less about the ride breaking down for them. Unless they are actually ON the ride when it breaks down they can always leave if they get nervous, and from a parent's perspective they will only exit in 1 of 2 ways. Plus you can use "Find My" or the Android equivalent to see where they are at all times. Even though it may feel like freedom for them you have a lot more control.Or the opposite. We frequently let the kids ride. They know they may get stuck and they know we will be waiting and they may have to wait on the ride a while. They view E-Stops as adventures, but I know not all kids will.
Yes, if there is a break down and they aren't on the ride, not a biggie. But I always wanted to make sure they knew what to do if they get walked off. Also, if they are on a ride and get returned to a different exit (ie Racers.) The oldest is 11 and she has been in training for about 6 years! Her request for her 7th birthday was to ride single rider. Well, riding single rider amounted to her and her "girl friends" (teens of my friends who come and help, they were 16 and 18 then) where one friend was in front of her, and one behind, but she felt independent on Matterhorn. We did limit the rides.I worry less about the ride breaking down for them. Unless they are actually ON the ride when it breaks down they can always leave if they get nervous, and from a parent's perspective they will only exit in 1 of 2 ways. Plus you can use "Find My" or the Android equivalent to see where they are at all times. Even though it may feel like freedom for them you have a lot more control.
When DS was 9 or 10 we let him and his best friend ride a roller coaster than neither mom wanted to be a part of. We showed them where the exit was, dropped them off in the line, and then sat and waited for them to come out. They were all smiles about 30 minutes later.
I think this would be my comfort zone too. I am leaning toward doing this for GotG if my 9-year-old is okay with it. But if he freaks out (which is likely) I won't do it.10 with a cell phone and we had a fast pass