Children On The Loose...

[SumWhrOvrThRanBo]

I'm certain this has been discussed time & time again- so feel free to link me to previous discussions or simply comment... But what are your thoughts on what age is acceptable for children to be allowed to 'run free' at the parks? I realize this is different with each family and each child depending on levels of maturity & responsibility. My children will be 16,15, 10, 8 & 16 months at the time of our trip... I would like us all to stay together at all times, but I realize the older two especially would like to have some freedom. Does anyone have any experience using walkie-talkies in the park? How is the cell phone service in the parks?

Thanks!

 

[BeveMom]

I can't speak to WDW, or cell phone reception, but I was allowed free reign at Disney LAND at around 13 or 14. We would set a meeting place and time, and then I'd go have fun. Usually I'd go on some rides by myself while my parents held our spots to watch Fantasmic.

I think if your older two are pretty responsible, you can let them go.

 

[lucifie]

I would think the 15 and 16 year old would be fine - remember, 16 year olds can drive, so they're pretty independent and I would think the 8 and 10 year olds would be fine if they're with the 15 and 16 year olds.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would think the 15 and 16 year old would be fine - remember, 16 year olds can drive, so they're pretty independent and I would think the 8 and 10 year olds would be fine if they're with the 15 and 16 year olds.

I'd also be comfortable with the 8 and 10 year olds with the teens. I'd let teens that age use the disney transportation and park hop without us.

 

[Dizisfun]

I'm certain this has been discussed time & time again- so feel free to link me to previous discussions or simply comment... But what are your thoughts on what age is acceptable for children to be allowed to 'run free' at the parks? I realize this is different with each family and each child depending on levels of maturity & responsibility. My children will be 16,15, 10, 8 & 16 months at the time of our trip... I would like us all to stay together at all times, but I realize the older two especially would like to have some freedom. Does anyone have any experience using walkie-talkies in the park? How is the cell phone service in the parks?

Thanks!

Cell phone service is good at the parks. If my husband and I go and we separate for some reason we text each other and meet up somewhere. Texting is easier bc the ringing phone may not always be heard. We went years ago, my daughter was 16, no cell phone and no walkie-talkie. We let her go on her own when she wanted to. We met up every so often at designated areas.

 

[chris31997]

If you trust your kids, than set some rules and if they break them. Gotta hold Momma's hand, totally make them keep to the rules

In all seriousness, cell phones will work fine. Meeting times may be an issue due to wait time in lines, so having the ability to text while in the line is great. The older 2 should be fine. If they take the younger with them than I would make them contact you more often.

 

[delmar411]

it's easier to text in the parks than call. It's hard to hear phones ringing.

Your teens are nearly adults. Unless they have special needs there is no reason they cannot be alone in the parks.

My teen watches her younger siblings in the parks and DQ. She's younger than your teens (14) and has been doing that for several years. She likes the kid only time and the younger ones listen to her very well when we aren't around.

 

[Hannathy]

it's easier to text in the parks than call. It's hard to hear phones ringing.

Your teens are nearly adults. Unless they have special needs there is no reason they cannot be alone in the parks.

My teen watches her younger siblings in the parks and DQ. She's younger than your teens (14) and has been doing that for several years. She likes the kid only time and the younger ones listen to her very well when we aren't around.

I agree with you!

I can't imagine even having to think about it with 15 or 16 yr olds.

they will probably want to stay at the parks for EMH if you leave with the little ones and I would have no problem with them staying .

I thought you were going to ask about 11 or 12 yr olds. And at 12 my DD often took her brother off to do something like the arcade at the resort or to go on a ride. By 14 she was riding Disney transportation by herself.

 

[pookybean]

my son has been going off on his own for since he was 15, he does have a cell phone. he is totally trust worthy and laid back (really, his idea of a perfect day is "loitering" in japan chatting with the cm's and "people watching"...his words." he meets up with us for dinner and i text him throughout the day. i also make him spend some time with us for pics...so i can prove he was there!

however we did have an altercation on our last trip with 2 13 year old girls who should not have been alone imho. my 2 dd's and i were walking through the stores to get to the alcove on main st. i was pushing the stroller with one had holding an ice cream cone with another. it was 7/3 and PACKED (plus our last night) so i was on edge. anyways, we were in the glass store and these 2 girls are running around chasing each other. one trips over my dd's stroller and just laughs. i said really? how old are you and she said 13...i then told her maybe she should learn how to act it. we then continued and went out to a table and was eating. then the girls mother came over and started yelling at me about how i am never to speak to her dd again. i told her that since i was leaving tomorrow that wont be a problem. she continued to yell at me for a few minutes...to the horror of 2 elderly ladies sitting next to us.

oh well. if your kid cant not run around, at least in the glass store! then maybe they shouldnt be allowed to roam the park alone. just sayin.

im sure your 16 and 15 year olds will be fine! probably happier too if they have a little alone time!

 

[laughinplace199]

I'll let my DD13 & DS11 go off on their own if they want to. I can't imagine any issues with letting your teens have some freedom.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Well - there are different ways to do "alone."

The 15 and 16 year old are certainly old enough to actually be alone if needed. (At the resort by themselves, using the transportation by themselves, entering a park by themselves, meeting up with the family after sleeping in, etc...) I agree that texting is the easiest way to contact one another.

The 8 and 10 year old are not old enough for that, IMO, (unless with the 15 and 16 year olds), but can certainly have some small "alone" freedoms if needed. For example, they are old enough to ride the rides by themselves if there is a ride that the adults needs to sit out (for me it would be the teacups). Or, they could go to the buffet by themselves, or use the restroom and meet back up outside etc.... But, I would be VERY clear with this age about what the rules are and what to do if separated from the group.

 

[Maiden]

I'm thinking based on your post you mean letting them go elsewhere in the park while you remain in the park as well? If so I think it's totally reasonable for your older 2 to go on their own, or with the younger 2 provided you can reach them with cell/text.
One thing to consider: We let our two go on attractions together while we would wait at the exit when they were 9 & 12. Our son who was 9 "chickened out" in the space mountain line, and our 12 year old daughter found it frustrating and it took her a few minutes to find us. Be sure your kids who are together will be OK to stay together and agree on what they are going to do. A clear plan on where to meet if seperated is a must do- cell phones can go dead, etc.

Ours are now 13 & 16 and they love to go off by themselves sometimes. In Epcot they'll go on Test Track sometimes twice, and we stroll around the lagoon & have a nice drink.... everyone is happy!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[badblackpug]

I let mine go off at 14 and 11. We've never had a problem with cell phone reception.

We are also willing to let them take the bus back to the hotel at a later time if we wanted to leave early.

 

[Granny square]

We've never had cell phone coverage problems in the park, and agree that texting works best. We tried walkie talkies a couple of times and found too many people using the frequencies an too hard to hear.

 

[Tinkerpeas hubby]

I'm certain this has been discussed time & time again- so feel free to link me to previous discussions or simply comment... But what are your thoughts on what age is acceptable for children to be allowed to 'run free' at the parks? I realize this is different with each family and each child depending on levels of maturity & responsibility. My children will be 16,15, 10, 8 & 16 months at the time of our trip... I would like us all to stay together at all times, but I realize the older two especially would like to have some freedom. Does anyone have any experience using walkie-talkies in the park? How is the cell phone service in the parks?

Thanks!

Your better off utilising mobile phones as appose to radios, as the frequency bands are limited and you get alot of cross over.

 

[HappyMomma]

IDK, maybe I'm paranoid........but, the world is so crazy now a days. I can't see myself allowing my teens to go off and be at a park without me. Maybe in the same park, but off at a certain ride, and then right back to me. Or they could go down to the pool at the hotel without me. But to jump on a monorail and go about willy nilly without me, no. Just can't even wrap my mind around it. I too have a little and two bigs. But they are still my babies. For me personally, I just couldn't do it.

 

[mjkacmom]

IDK, maybe I'm paranoid........but, the world is so crazy now a days. I can't see myself allowing my teens to go off and be at a park without me. Maybe in the same park, but off at a certain ride, and then right back to me. Or they could go down to the pool at the hotel without me. But to jump on a monorail and go about willy nilly without me, no. Just can't even wrap my mind around it. I too have a little and two bigs. But they are still my babies. For me personally, I just couldn't do it.

I don't know how old your "bigs" are, but teens are out and about in the real world without adults all of the time. The world isn't crazier - it's actually safer than when I was a teen. Dd16 has been using public transportation for over a year now (to NYC and the shore). I can't imagine worrying about her at WDW (FYI - she's been going on choir trips since the age of 12, and the kids go off in amusement parks without chaparones).

How are your kids going to function as adults?

 

[HappyMomma]

I don't know how old your "bigs" are, but teens are out and about in the real world without adults all of the time. The world isn't crazier - it's actually safer than when I was a teen. Dd16 has been using public transportation for over a year now (to NYC and the shore). I can't imagine worrying about her at WDW (FYI - she's been going on choir trips since the age of 12, and the kids go off in amusement parks without chaparones).

How are your kids going to function as adults?

I think they'll function just fine. For me personally, this is what I feel comfortable with. At home the oldest has done things on his own over the last several months. But far away, at a huge park on vacation. No. That's what I'm comfortable with. If anything happened to them, I'd never forgive myself. I can live much better with the being over protective in other peoples eyes more than I can live with harm coming to one of my kids.

I'm not criticizing other peoples choice to do otherwise. What works for one, may not work for another. I apologize if it appeared to be that way because I simply stated what I would do in the same situation. And I take umbrage with you insinuating my children will be non functioning adults because I choose a different path.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think they'll function just fine. For me personally, this is what I feel comfortable with. At home the oldest has done things on his own over the last several months. But far away, at a huge park on vacation. No. That's what I'm comfortable with. If anything happened to them, I'd never forgive myself. I can live much better with the being over protective in other peoples eyes more than I can live with harm coming to one of my kids. .

But what could possibly happen? I base my real fears on facts. No one has ever been killed, abducted, or seriously injured at WDW. There are tons of employees around.

I have an irrational fear of flying - I start panicking about 2 weeks ahead of time. However, the logical me knows that it would be far more dangerous to drive places far away. I stifle my fear.

As parents, we are NEVER 100% comfortable when our kids aren't with us. That's normal.

 

[HappyMomma]

But what could possibly happen? I base my real fears on facts. No one has ever been killed, abducted, or seriously injured at WDW. There are tons of employees around.

I have an irrational fear of flying - I start panicking about 2 weeks ahead of time. However, the logical me knows that it would be far more dangerous to drive places far away. I stifle my fear.

As parents, we are NEVER 100% comfortable when our kids aren't with us. That's normal.

It is not the employees job to keep my children safe. It is mine. You aren't going to persuade me otherwise. And there are no winners in an argument like this. Let it go.