At what age...

[FlameGirl]

Well my DS is 9 and for our DLR visits this year it's been just the 3 of us. DD is not tall enough for Indiana Jones or Screamin' so DS rides those Single Rider - DS also has been a Fast Pass runner for us ~ DD & I wait in line for Thunder while he picks up a set of Fast Passes for Splash, this is always during the day never in the evening when it's dark. DS also enjoys Innoventions ~ DD and I have no interest in this so while he's hanging out in that building DD and I visit Small World. He always has a cell phone and knows if there's a problem to find a Cast Member. For our WDW visit last month he was never alone ~ that's a big place and it was his 1st visit.

Thanks DisneyMomma81....that's interesting. Has he ever had a problem? And more importantly...how was your heart rate the first time you let him go off by himself?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Nope no problems ~ would I do it again - yes. My heart was fine I hope you have a fun, safe trip whatever you decide.

 

[pixiewings71]

My girls are 9 (almost 10!) and 13, we've had APs for 2 years now averaging a trip per month. We are all very familiar with DL/DCA and we are comfortable there. DBF and I do let the girls go off on their own, they go together, usually to ride Space Mtn when DBF and I don't want to (it can trigger migraines in me and upsets his tummy lol), the girls have a cell phone with them and we are always in a certain spot, whether it's pin trading at the Little Green Men store or sitting between Star Tours & Buzz they know where we will be. They take goofy pics of themselves in the ride queue's and text them to DBF and I and they send another one that says "here we come" when they are done. We are usually in the same "land" they are in, the exception being 2 times they wanted to do Space and we were in Frontierland pin trading, we did let them go and I was nervous the whole time. LOL But they got back just fine and they definitely followed our "straight there and back" rule. I think the choice is up to each family, each child has a different level of maturity and responsibility, each child reacts to situations differently and the parents should be able to judge their child and make their decisions based on that. FTR, DD13 was 12 when we first let them go off on their own.

 

[Delilah Bleu]

We just came back from our Halloween trip and I let my dd (12) and her friend (13) go by themselves to different parts of the park while I waited in line for Fantasmic check-in. Both had cell phones and were told to text after getting off each ride. My dd is familiar with the park. It's an individual choice and it really depends on how much responsibility you give your child.