At what age would you let your child wait for you outside of a ride alone?

[tobikaye]

I have been thinking about this too because I really want to ride GoTG at EPCOT in December but my 9-year-old son would NEVER go on a roller coaster. He hates thrill rides. I know that if I put him on a bench and told him to stay put, he wouldn't move a muscle (he's a rule follower, and definitely not a risk taker, hence the dislike of thrill rides) but I think HE would be freaked out more than mom. I'm considering booking some time at the Swan & Dolphin kids camp for one evening at EPCOT instead. OP might consider that as well if budget and time allows.

This thread is from 3 years ago and for Disneyland, not WDW. So, the kid would be a teenager now as well and no access to S&D.

 

[disneymum58]

Officially Disney says age 14 to ride alone and I guess just go to the park alone. But if he’s willing to just sit calmly outside the ride exit, and he’s mature enough I’d say 10 could work. Especially if he has a screen to occupy him! So, it would just depend on the kid.

I'm pretty sure Disney rules are 7 to ride alone. My 7 year old rode Goofy's Sky School alone as a Single Rider over and over. I just couldn't ride that one more than once. Lol

 

[ClaraOswald]

For the average child, I think 13. (My child is autistic with a developmental disability so maybe never for him. So I'm always shocked to hear about young kids because left alone when that's just nowhere in my realm of thinking.)

 

[mom2rtk]

I was babysitting other people’s kids for hours at a time at age 12. Depending on the child’s maturity, I could see allowing them to wait at the gift shop exit of the attraction at 11 or 12.

 

[Tinkaboo]

18

 

[AZMermaid]

Not DL, but Last Dec we bought Genie for Seven Dwarves for just my kids (11 and almost 10 at the time) and also sent them on the speedway alone (Autopia) also using Genie. We waited outside for them. My husband and I went on HM while they browsed the shops nearby. They are both very independent, my older one more so, but my younger one too. They semi-regularly ride together to the grocery store for me, one stays outside with the bikes and one goes in and gets what I need. I know that may not work for all kids, but I’ve always tried to let mine be as independent as I can. I think it’s helped them know how to behave when “alone.”

 

[disneyerin]

I would not do this until my child was in high school.

Same.

 

[Aurora0427]

It totally depends on the child…. My oldest is almost 12, and Disneyland is practically her second home, and we’ve had lots of conversations about what to do if a stranger approaches etc etc.

I don’t know if I’d leave her alone right now while I rode a ride, but I’m counting down the days for when my youngest turns 7, and they can ride rides without me, and I never have to ride Star Tours again.

 

[emmybee]

I think we started letting her wait alone for us when she was 10/11. We then started letting her go to DTD for a beignet run when we were staying at the GCH about a year later, so 11/12. We felt more than OK with that, but she did come back to the room telling us that a lady asked if she was OK. I guess that lady didn't agree with our style, lol. This last time, being almost 14, she was feeling grumpy about being at Oga's so I sent her off to see Pooh, and we caught up maybe 40 min later. It's so easy now with cell phones.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I agree that it totally depends on the child. At a younger age, I wouldn't leave my kids at the exit. I would have them go through the line and if they were still not ready, the not-ready-for-thrill-ride-child would cross to the other side and stand near a CM while we went on the attraction.

I once was walking to the Mickey & Friends parking structure in the evening because the lines for the trams were so long, and this little boy raced his parents - he walked and they rode the tram. He must have been 6/7 years old (at least, to me he seemed that age), and I was freaking out because he was by himself - at night - walking to the parking structure from Disneyland. So, I followed close behind him, but didn't engage, because I wanted to make sure he got there safely. He was fine and we got to the parking structure a little before his parents. He was laughing because he beat them. I was totally .

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

It totally depends on the child…. My oldest is almost 12, and Disneyland is practically her second home, and we’ve had lots of conversations about what to do if a stranger approaches etc etc.

I don’t know if I’d leave her alone right now while I rode a ride, but I’m counting down the days for when my youngest turns 7, and they can ride rides without me, and I never have to ride Star Tours again.

I like Star Tours because there is a lot of nostalgia for me (especially the queue!) but I would be happy never to ride Autopia again. My boys love it but it will be a few more years for me as my youngest is 3!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I once was walking to the Mickey & Friends parking structure in the evening because the lines for the trams were so long, and this little boy raced his parents - he walked and they rode the tram. He must have been 6/7 years old (at least, to me he seemed that age), and I was freaking out because he was by himself - at night - walking to the parking structure from Disneyland. So, I followed close behind him, but didn't engage, because I wanted to make sure he got there safely. He was fine and we got to the parking structure a little before his parents. He was laughing because he beat them. I was totally .

Wow! And I thought I was laidback!

 

[Lm3js]

As soon as they were old enough for single rider (7), they were doing it by themselves and waiting for us before/after. My kids were also going to the bathroom by themselves much much younger as well -- basically as soon as they were independent enough to wipe, flush, wash. Disney is the perfect controlled environment to start trying these things out if you haven't yet.

 

[Aurora0427]

I like Star Tours because there is a lot of nostalgia for me (especially the queue!) but I would be happy never to ride Autopia again. My boys love it but it will be a few more years for me as my youngest is 3!

Star Tours makes me super sick… so I have to sit there with my eyes closed the entire time!

 

[AustinTink]

My son has been riding California screamin by himself since was about 12. Invariably he would be seated with a mommy who was at the park by herself while her kids were at school. He thought those gals were pretty cool.

We would take his pic in the coaster on the pier and watch him blast off.

 

[GoingSince1990]

In the mid nineties my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I were at a theme park in England and a random couple asked us out of the blue if we would watch their daughter (who looked to be about 6 or 7) while they went on a ride that she was too small for! We agreed but needless to say were a bit surprised!

 

[Becx N Gav]

In the mid nineties my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I were at a theme park in England and a random couple asked us out of the blue if we would watch their daughter (who looked to be about 6 or 7) while they went on a ride that she was too small for! We agreed but needless to say were a bit surprised!

Probably before the Madeline McCann incident! But that is very trusting of them (or careless!)
My son (7) now will not go to the restroom with me (if I have to go) and wants to go to the gents if he needs to go. I do worry but he is sensible and I trust he won't do something silly. We've spoken about what to do if a stranger talks to him - he said he'd yell at the top of his lungs (which he does anyway so I would definitely hear him LOL!) and stamp on their feet
He will be 8 next year when we visit DLR but I don't think he would want to go anywhere without me - if he doesn't want to ride and if his aunt can't watch him I will just have to miss out, but I'd rather he be happy and we stay together!

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

For those who says Disney is a "perfectly controlled environment" to leave kids alone, I would strongly disagree. There are too many people moving around, and too many ways that a kid could get distracted. At 12 I was babysitting, but I was in a house with a locked door and could call the parents or the police if there was a problem. I just had to keep my charges entertained and not burn down the house.

In our town DS has a 1.5 mile walk to school beginning in 6th grade, which is 11. We bought him a phone and he goes with his friends. It's a suburb but not very busy and we went over the route several times in the summer. I was still nervous about it in the beginning. I don't think I would let him just wander around free.

When it comes to Disney, I would probably consider it now if he really wanted to. We let him buy a drink by himself the last trip while we waited somewhere. BUT at the same time, as a parent, I don't think I would CHOOSE to ride something and have my kid wait outside for me unless there were a specific reason to do so (eg. 1 adult, 2 kids). I would either ask that we all do it together, we would break up into different groups (adults usually outnumber kids) or I would skip that ride that trip. Disney time is family time. There will be a point soon when he might want to break off and do something on his own, but that's different from me going off and abandoning him.

 

[CeCe0906]

One thing I found out about on a recent VIP tour; while the guide did ride with us sometimes, and would ride with a child, while we we also on the ride, she wasn't allowed to be alone at the exit with my 5 yr old grandkid( or any minor) while we rode something she was too short or scared to ride. That makes sense, I just hadn't thought about it ahead of time.

 

[Malcon10t]

There will be a point soon when he might want to break off and do something on his own, but that's different from me going off and abandoning him.

I think saying "abandoning him" is a little strong. For some, their child may not be ready at 8-12, for others they are. I prefer parents look for a way around forcing a child to ride something they don't want to.

I do consider Disneyland a safe place.