Disney should lighten up with their age requirements

[Lorix2]

Would it work if he were accompanied by an 18 y/o? I'm wondering if that would work if he were traveling with friends/family that were of age...

 

[TDC Nala]

If they don't want to be responsible for unaccompanied minors, then they don't. I can't really blame them.

 

[jamounger]

Just list them as 18 on the reservations. They never get my daughter's age right on the reservations. i tell them how old she is (13) but every time I have made a reservation they say "and Sara she's 10, right?"My paperwork always comes and the age isn't right on it either.

 

[DebbieB]

Just list them as 18 on the reservations. They never get my daughter's age right on the reservations. i tell them how old she is (13) but every time I have made a reservation they say "and Sara she's 10, right?"My paperwork always comes and the age isn't right on it either.

Keep in mind that could add an additional adult charge to the room.

 

[bgirl29]

How much later is his flight arriving? Could you wait for him at the airport and then take ME? Otherwise, why not let him take a cab or a shuttle? You don't know the ME drivers any more than you know the cab/shuttle drivers.

I too do not blame Disney for not wanting the responsiblity of unaccompanied minors on their busses. At least on a plane if someone got out of hand a FA could deal with it. There is no one to handle rowdy passangers on a bus. And I am not saying your son would be one of these people, just that I can see it being a problem.

 

[clkelley]

what could possibly happen to a 16 yr old and a 17 yr old in 30 minutes driving to their hotel.

please bear in mind that both these individuals have gone to school all day and then played a sport for 2 and 1/2 hrs........

now it is time for them to go to the airport..they check in by themselves., check their luggage, find the right terminal, right departing arear, plus their own seats on the plane....wow!!!!

yet when they get off the plane,......

they are too young to board another bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One thing they could do is purchase a Mears ticket for transportation to the Swan or Dolphin. If possible, include their luggage in your allowance so they only have a small carryon, then they could walk over to the Studios, and get a regular Disney bus over to your resort. A one-way Mears for each of them should be less than a taxi.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Minijeanie-
I am with you on this one. They are old enough to drive and be held responsible for their actions while driving an auto but not mature and responsible enough to get on and off a bus? I live in a subro of Phila and ride the train occasionally to downtown, Phila. The train is full of high school students (not all over 16) riding the train to their private schools - St. Joe's Prep, etc. Students also use public bus transportation to go to school. Maybe it is different because they are paying for the public transportation.

That said, I am sure Disney has their reasoning but I question the logic if it is related to liabilities. Disney allows children under 18 to use their internal bus service. On several occasions, I let my DS who was 10, 11, & 12 at the time, to go on his own with my nieces and/or nephew who were only 15, 16 , and 17. Before doing so, I called Disney pre-triap, checked with the front desk, guest relations and the bus driver.

Maybe it is just an issue that has fallen between the cracks as someone else has mentioned.

 

[helenk]

I thought that DME was actually run by Mears, so is this rule Mears or Disney's? I ask this because if they will not let him ride on the DME bus, then perhaps he will not be able to us Mears either. And if that is the case then sending a letter to Disney will not be useful.

 

[simzac]

I recommended this on your other thread. Why doesn't one of the adults just wait at the airport til your DS and his friend land, then the 3 of you can travel on ME together. Just a suggestion.

 

[clkelley]

My son rode Mears by himself at age 17. Now we didn't mention his age, we just bought the ticket and he got on. Of course at 6'2" they didn't question him either.

 

[jamounger]

Put his flight info down as the same flight as yours, They will send him tickets with yours and have him check his luggage without the DME tags on so he picks it up and carries it to the bus himself. There is no time limit on how quick you have to get on the bus. Do they actually verify with the airlines?

 

[GEB@okw]

What's this world coming to? You are complaining because you do not want to adhere to the rules of a free service? Instead others are recommending to lie and cheat? You will write a nasty letter about this? You don't sound like people I would want to do business with. Come on you guys, stop it.

 

[seashoreCM]

the rules of a free service? ... You don't sound like people I would want to do business with.

If you were in charge of running the free service and he was just a sweet darling little (or big) boy with loving kind parents who did nothing other than ask nicely to be served free, would you still not want to do business with them?

 

[minijeanie]

Do they have to show proof of age? If they have vouchers for DME, why not just have them get on?

I don't want to take the chance of them not getting on the bus.

They are not coming in until 10:30 pm

It's all settled,,, I am just picking them up with our rental car

 

[minijeanie]

I recommended this on your other thread. Why doesn't one of the adults just wait at the airport til your DS and his friend land, then the 3 of you can travel on ME together. Just a suggestion.

my flight gets in at noon and theirs does not get in till 10:30 pm

 

[Evil Princess]

They're 16, I don't blame disney for not allowing unaccompanied teenagers on the bus. It's really not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be, it's Disney's policy, and it's actually quite rational.

Next thing you know, you're going to state that because they are old enough to fly themselves, they're old enough to stay in a hotel themselves. If they fly themsleves, why shouldn't they do everything unattended themselves?

Your decision is to rent a car. They could also take a cab. Your choice is to rent the car, it is not your only alternative.

 

[bavaria]

Maybe it is just an issue that has fallen between the cracks as someone else has mentioned.

I doubt it.

ME is not 'just a bus ride' as some others have said.

It involves airline travel, luggage, and potentially checking into a hotel. There are age restrictions on checking into a hotel, so I understand the ME restriction.

Hotels and car rental agencies also have age restrictions. That is a reality which the OP cannot change.

(and FWIW, I was on my own at age 17 and travelled extensively; I couldn't stay in hotels at that age, nor did I get a driver's license until age 18. I survived perfectly fine and have great memories of that time)

 

[minijeanie]

They're 16, I don't blame disney for not allowing unaccompanied teenagers on the bus. It's really not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be, it's Disney's policy, and it's actually quite rational.

Next thing you know, you're going to state that because they are old enough to fly themselves, they're old enough to stay in a hotel themselves. If they fly themsleves, why shouldn't they do everything unattended themselves?

Your decision is to rent a car. They could also take a cab. Your choice is to rent the car, it is not your only alternative.

obviously you have small children....talk to me again 10 yrs from now.

I find you very offensive. I have already stated I am getting a car....do you see me ranting about getting a car. It is what it is!!!

Yes I can lie and say the kids are older. I will not!!. I have owned up to the fact that I have to make alternative arrangements.... I really don't need you to belittle me about it..

 

[Evil Princess]

obviously you have small children....talk to me again 10 yrs from now.

I find you very offensive. I have already stated I am getting a car....do you see me ranting about getting a car. It is what it is!!!

Yes I can lie and say the kids are older. I will not!!. I have owned up to the fact that I have to make alternative arrangements.... I really don't need you to belittle me about it..

Actually, I don't have any children, I just worked at Epcot and was once 16 years old myself. I went to Disney twice with travel camp as a teenager, and while I didn't cause problems unsupervised (I was a bit of a counselors pet, if you will, haha) MANY of the teens did.

As far as not having children or having children at a certain age go, I have lots of experience babysitting and working as a camp counselor, I'm surrounded by kids all the time. I can't really blame Disney for the rule, from a liability standpoint.

You are in fact, ranting about having to rent a car, as you've stated it many times so far in this thread.

I'm sorry that you find me pointing out the obvious to be offensive to you. You clearly are someone who takes offense when others don't agree with you. I'm being quite respectful, but apparently to you disrespect and being offensive is when someone shares a differen't viewpoint than your own.

 

[CleveRocks]

I thought that DME was actually run by Mears, so is this rule Mears or Disney's? I ask this because if they will not let him ride on the DME bus, then perhaps he will not be able to us Mears either. And if that is the case then sending a letter to Disney will not be useful.

DME is run by Disney, not by Mears. Disney subcontracts out the driving and the supplying of the buses to Mears, but Disney sets all of the procedures and makes all of the decisions. In a way, Mears is the muscle and Disney is the brains.