children alone in park?

[hotwheels]

at what age do you think its ok to allow children to go into the park themselves? i have an EXTREAMLY mature 15 yer old and a 14 year old and a 12 year old .. do you guys think it will be ok for them to spend an evening alone in the park,ith me back at the resort?

 

[Mecha Figment]

if you are having to ask us instead of trusting your own parenting skills,(after all who knows your kids better than you) then the answer is probably no.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I went to amusement parks alone when I was under 12 and have let my kids go at that age, so I vote Yes.

I do think this is a decision everyone should make for themselves and you should do what YOU feel comfortable with. I know I wouldn't make my parenting decsions based on what other people thought and wouldn't be at all upset if someone told me they didn't value my opinion.

 

[bytheblood]

My initial response is......18 = legal adult.

But, you know your kids better than anybody, so if you feel that they are mature enough to look after one another and be respectful to other guests, you should consider.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Worrying about how your kids behave is only half of the equation. I am very leary of what other people are up to.......I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to my kids...I only have 2 young ones you've got half a herd. Good luck.
Chris

 

[mjkacmom]

I have fond memories of staying at the CR with my family, and I would get on the monorail myself, and head off the MK alone (with the tickets - 1970's). We're talking 5th and 6th grade, and then me and my sister (2nd and 3rd grade) would go to the buffet for dinner, and charge it back to the room. That said, I wouldn't send my 5th grader alone, but in your case, I would have no problem. My 11 year old rides bikes with friends around the neighborhood, my youngest 3 walk to school (6, 9, 11), and if I had a mature 15 year old, I would have no problem with your situation.

 

[pixiemel]

I wouldn't have so much of a problem with older children IN the parks-although
we always stay pretty much together because we are having fun together-
but the part that would really worry me is from the bus to the resort/cabin/room. Many times those areas are very secluded, and sometimes quite a distance to walk without an adult. We love the Fort Wilderness cabins
but there is no way I would allow my dd to be alone there-just too secluded.

 

[dreamergirl78]

If you are comfortable with that then go for it!!! I would make sure they had a cell phone or whatever to to able to contact you. I would also not allow charging on their cards but give them each some cash to take with them.
You may want to do a trial run with them off on their own and you still in the park. See how it goes and then decide from there!
Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[Doc CW]

Yeah if they are mature and can handle them and by what you posted they obviously are.

 

[MissMet]

When I was 15 I was extremely mature for my age. At the age of 14 was the first time my brother & I stayed home alone for the weekend while my parents were away. So I say, yes. The parks are very safe & I'm sure if they have any issues they know to go to any CM nearby. Just send them with at least one cell phone & call every once in a while & check up on them.

I do agree, however, about the trip back to the room. I would say, have them call you when they get on the bus & meet them at the bus stop to walk them back, because now we're talking about complete strangers with vehicles, hundreds of hotel rooms & no CMs in sight, you never know with people anymore.

 

[DisneyWisher]

10 years ago I let my DD11 and DD13 go to MK alone. We were staying at ASMu. I told them to be back in 4 hours. I had my 3 yr and she needed a nap. When I was 11 and 13 we went to MK with school and went off on our own to check in at 1pm and as it was time to go. My girls had been to Disney 5 times that year so I knew they knew where everything was and who to talk to (CMs), and which resort and room number. They were suppose to be back at 7:00pm, They were back by 6:30 because oldest was afraid to be late. After that they would have a day during any trip to go off alone. When they were 14 and 16 I allowed them to go to DTD by themselves, it was during the day. They were fine. In fact every now and then they will talk about the times they had at Disney alone. The only time I really worried was during Sept 11. Youngest DD8 (now 14) and I went to MK early that morning while older girls soon to be 18 and 16 slept in. We never even turned on the TV that morning. MK was empty. After we were evacuated from MK and I found out what had happened I worried because the older girls had planned on going to MGM to ride ToT and maybe go to BB(didn't want DD8 to know because they wouldn't have enjoyed themselves as much) they had gone to MGM and then back to POR to change. As they were on their way to BB the bus turned around. So they were in the room when I got back to it. Very relieved.

You know your kids. Would you allow them to go to a movie or the mall without you? Now cellphones are more common. I'm sure your family has more than 1. My DD14 always ask to go to the park alone but since it is alone I say no. Its always good to have a buddy.

 

[Slapster]

I think it's great that you would trust your kids enough to consider it. Does Disney have a minimum age restriction? I'm not sure, but you may want to know that going in.

Kids under a certain age may need to be supervised by an adult (18 and up). If something happens, such as an injury or some other incident, you may give up your legal recourse if you or another adult is not present. Not trying to freak you out or anything but you may not have considered the situation from that angle.

If you're cool with that I would say go for it. Kids need to learn how to behave independently, and I think the theme parks are a good place to let them have a certain degree of autonomy.

 

[Hannathy]

I would have no problem letting them do what you are asking about. My DD was 14 last yr and we let her come back from EPCOT on the bus by herself to POP. She forgot to buy something for her Best friend in Japan and we were already at the front gate-no way I was walking all the way back to Japan! so we went back to the room and she went to Japan and came back on her own. We also let her take her little brother 8 to the pool and to the arcade by themselves and to rides with in the park.

2 things to think about at 15 my DD will be going to Italy with a group and will be on her own in a distant country and when the High Schools go to march at Disney many of those kids are 14 and 15 and they are on their own in the parks for several days not hours. So I think your kids are at the right ages for that independence.

 

[hotwheels]

Does Disney have a minimum age restriction? I'm not sure, but you may want to know that going in.

Kids under a certain age may need to be supervised by an adult (18 and up). .

this is the actual question i was asking... my only thing i worry about is either them getting lost .. or then getting kicked out because of no adult.



i already plan to have the oldest one be able to use his card to purchase things. as i said he is very mature, know he wont get anything more then something he will pay me back for ,or something to drink and what not. he wont go overboard.. i allow these kids to go just about anywhere alone here.they go to a local amusement park on their bikes. they go to movies, they even go do the grocery shopping since the accident . the oldest was a camp councelor in training last year . trusting them is not the issue.



thank you for all the replies .
ohh and yes the would have a cell phone.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I remember going on trips with my church youth group when I was 12-13 and my friends and I would be on our own in the parks all day. We had to meet up with the rest of the group at a certain time for lunch and Bible study but we were free the rest of the time.

I'm sure your kids will be fine. Have a great trip!

 

[flexsmom]

Holy Cow! 18?

I know DL is on a smaller scale than WDW, but I grew up in So Cal, and Knott's Berry Farm or DL was considered "date night" from the time I was 16 on. I went to college at USC when I was 17, with my parents moving from the region, so certainly, I think my parents expected I was OK to go to DL alone from the time I was 16 on - having been driven there by a younger driver. It was the norm for our "sadie hawkins dances" to go to one of the parks prior to the dance, for most of us who were 15 or so.

So - I know WDW is larger, etc. But I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that teens could go to a park alone (in a group) and stick to certain parameters around when they return to their resort, etc. I'm sure the local Orlando population would probably agree! No way would I let my 15 or 16 year old go ALONE. For crying out loud, when I was there on business, I wouldn't go ALONE, (I don't go anywhere alone - even now that I'm in my 30s and almost 40s!) but with another person, I think we need to be vesting some responsible expectations in our youth......

 

[Schmeck]

With the recent report of a sexual molestation at the Dolphin/Swan resort, no, I would not let my children be traveling anywhere without me. Sure, I'd let them go to a different attraction at the same park (with cell phones) with a time to meet up/check in, but that's it.

What if there was a situation like the time the girl's leg got stuck in the Splash Mountain log and no parents were even in the park? What if there was an accident on a ride? How long would it take you to get word of it, and to get to the park?

 

[Boston5602]

Disney's tickets state " no one under the age of 8 may enter a park without and adult " So it looks like Disney says as long as you are 8 or older your good to go !

I am not saying you should let any 8 year old go alone , just reading whats on the ticket.

 

[MichelleVW]

With the recent report of a sexual molestation at the Dolphin/Swan resort, no, I would not let my children be traveling anywhere without me. Sure, I'd let them go to a different attraction at the same park (with cell phones) with a time to meet up/check in, but that's it.

What if there was a situation like the time the girl's leg got stuck in the Splash Mountain log and no parents were even in the park? What if there was an accident on a ride? How long would it take you to get word of it, and to get to the park?

I have to ask....does this just mean an amusement park or everyday life? Because my girls are in high school (14 and 16) and I give them the keys to the car and they go to the mall/movies/Walmart/etc.....which in my opinion is WAY scarier than letting them ride the monorail/bus by themselves at Disney.

While the incident at the Swan was scary, kids are molested every day at school and other places, you can't keep them in a bubble forever (as much as I would like too!!)


To the OP, no Disney would not have a problem with your kids being there under the supervision of the 15 year old. Just give them rules and a cell phone which it seems like you have planned for and go for it!

 

[momandseandodisney]

at what age do you think its ok to allow children to go into the park themselves? i have an EXTREAMLY mature 15 yer old and a 14 year old and a 12 year old .. do you guys think it will be ok for them to spend an evening alone in the park,ith me back at the resort?

let them , give it a try just set some ground rules