Disney Quest without mom and dad?

[timC]

My 2 boys DS10&13 are itching to do Disney Quest on our next trip... Trouble is that neither DW or I are at all interested. Been there, built the roller coaster.

Assuming DS13 is a very responsible kid, and would be packing a cell phone, and DS10 is also good too, what would you think about allowing them to go without mom and dad?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We just dealt with this issue in Aug. There is a lot for you to consider. We have been to disney many times and our 3 ds 15,13 and 11 really know their way around. It depends on your kids maturity level etc. Our 15 yo is 6 foot so that helps too. We told them the family rules. They were told they could not leave the bldg. unless they were all together. Had to use the same route and transportation back to the Poly etc. Gave them their room cards to charge food there etc. We were in epcot and they went through the gateway to the bc (Where we have also stayed before) and hopped the disney bus there. They also went another time too. They knew this was a privilege they could instantly lose etc. We did not have a cell phone but I would have felt better if they had one. One ds also has asthma so he had to have his rescue inhaler with him etc. It is a decision you will have to make and live with. I would not recommend it for very busy week end times when there are locals there too.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Thats a tough call!! I would feel better if they were both 13. Lots of questions to ask yourself. Will the 10 year old listen to the 13 year old and accecpt that he is in charge? Would they have a cell phone? Could you and DH spend time somewhere in DD so you would be close by? I would not consider letting them take the bus there, or even leaving them there with out you being near by. If the price is included in your tickets, maybe you could agree to spend just a few hours there together or you and DH could spend sometime just talking and hanging out in the cheesecake factory. No answers, just some things to ponder and bump you back up for someone that has done that. My DS is 11 and I am no where near ready to let him try this, but I tend to be a little over protective.

Good luck.

Jordan's mom

 

[ahutton]

My girls are very small so I haven't had to face this as a parent. I do know that when I was 9 and my cousin was 12 he and I were allowed to do things on our own, but we had to stay together. We were both responsible enough to understand that meant if we disagreed we had to find a resolution ourselves. WDW was much smaller then, but we went swimming, to the resort beaches and rented boats while our parents explored the parks. No such thing as cell phones then! We did great, and had a ball. If your boys are responsible enough to follow the rules, then I think WDW is a good place to allow them some freedom. It is not a perfect world, but inside Disney Quest there is plenty of staff so if they need help it is close by. If they haven't been allowed to explore off by themselves on a trip yet, maybe start with letting them go to the resort or into a close by park on their own, and let them show you they can be where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be there. They have a phone they can use if there is an unusual delay like bus trouble to let you know.

That was always our number 1 rule - be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there. And if for ANY reason you won't be, you have to call. It has served me well, and will be the rule my children learn first too.