DIS Vets Please Advise

[6Smiles]

We'll be in the parks in June and a week later my older daughters turn thirteen and fifteen. They are pretty responsible and will have their cell phones, so my question is would you let them go off and do some of the rides alone (well together) with an arranged check in and meeting place?

 

[FlameGirl]

Depends on a lot of different variables but the short answer is probably. Do they know their way around well? How long would they be off on their own? Depends on how crowded the park is too.

We let our 10 year old go off on her own to A Bug's Land while we went on TOT last time. She did fine. But because she's 10, I was kind of nervous and that was just the right amount of time to let her go.

 

[skiingfast]

Defitnately.

If you have some concernse I would set some rules. Like don't leave the parks or go back to the hotel without the parents. Or plan to meet a couple times during the day. It's hard if lines are long but lunch, parade and fireworks are good rendezvous times.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

If they are going to be together, and understand that they are not to park hop, I think it would be a great idea to let them have a couple/few hours where they can do things on their own, and then meet up for lunch or dinner.

Disneyland is pretty safe, with lots of CMs and security guards so this would really be a neat opportunity for them to have fun without the adults. (If that is what they want to do) My cousins let their 16 & 11 year old go off for a few hours last year, and the girls had a blast.

 

[alexandria674]

I would let them go on their own. However, I would also remind them that if they are having any trouble to remember their cell phones also, it would be a smart idea to have a meeting area that is a recognizable landmark. You wouldn't want to meet at the Snow White Wishing Well or some bench but instead the statue of Walt and Mickey or the Firehouse.

 

[blackjackdelta]

A parent should know what there children are cabable of handling. We let our 14,16 daughters(few years back) go out on their own with their cells. We set a time limit and a meeting place and they met us early. They were not allowed to leave the park or join anyone while by themselves. Gives them the rope to hang themselves but also gives them your trust and help develope your expectations of responsibility.

Jack

 

[rentayenta]

We'll be in the parks in June and a week later my older daughters turn thirteen and fifteen. They are pretty responsible and will have their cell phones, so my question is would you let them go off and do some of the rides alone (well together) with an arranged check in and meeting place?

Obviously it depends on the children but we are letting three 13 y/o's along with 2 11 y/o's have a little teen/tween time without us. They will check in every 30-45 minutes just like they do here when at our local amusement park. The 5 of them know to stay together and the rules include: no one waits alone, goes into the restroom alone, and no leaving the park.

 

[6Smiles]

Thanks everyone for your advice! I think the first couple of days we'll stick together and then let them have some freedom. Being it is their first time in the park and I haven't been since the 80's I was just trying to feel out how safe this would be and how others have done this after we have been there a few days.

Reasonable Rules: No park hopping, frequent phone check-in, stick together and meet at the assigned times at popular landmarks.

Any other advice or suggestions would be most appreciated .